Selichos Without a Minyan

Q. Which parts of Selichos must be omitted if a minyan is not present?

A. Shulchan Aruch (OC 565:5) writes that the “Yud Gimmel Middos Harachamim” (thirteen attributes of mercy, Shemos 34:6-7) may not be recited unless there is a minyan. When these pesukim are recited in the context of prayer, they have the elevated status of a “davar she’bikedusha,” like Kaddish or Kedusha, that may only be said in the presence of a minyan. The Mishnah Berurah (581:4) writes that Selichos that mention the Yud Gimmel Middos may be said, provided that those lines are skipped. If one prefers to say the Yud Gimmel Middos, he may do so if he recites them with the trop (cantillation) used for krias haTorah, as that indicates that it is not being recited as a tefillah (M”B 565:12). Mishnah Berurah also adds that any Selichos that are written in Aramaic should be skipped. The basis for this is the Gemara (Sotah 33a), in which Rebbi Yochanan states that angels do not deliver prayers that were recited in Aramaic, but when praying with a minyan one does not need the assistance of angels. Hashem’s presence is in the midst of the minyan and there is no need for angelic intervention.

The Mishnah Berurah concludes, if there is no minyan at the beginning of Selichos, Kaddish is not said after Ashrei. Instead, the group should begin reciting Selichos. When the tenth man arrives, the congregation should recite three pesukim together, recite Kaddish and then continue from where they left off.

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.