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Elul (the month before Rosh Ha-shana) and the Ten Days of Repentance are particularly auspicious times to repent, as this was when God forgave the Jews for the sin of the golden calf. After the sin, Moses went up Mount Sinai on Rosh Ĥodesh Elul, and was in God’s presence for forty days, offering prayers and supplications on the Jewish people's behalf . His prayers were accepted on Yom Kippur.
The earlier a person begins the process of repentance, the better. Therefore, preparation in Elul for the Days of Awe includes studying works of self-improvement, soul-searching, and reciting Seliĥot (penitential prayers). It is also customary to blow the shofar, which serves as a wakeup call. Ashkenazim blow it at the end of the morning prayers, while Sephardim blow it during the recitation of Seliĥot.
The custom of reciting Seliĥot extends back to Ge’onic times. These prayers beg God to have mercy on His people, gather in the exiles from the four corners of the earth, and draw people to Him in wholehearted repentance. We ask to be able to rebuild the Temple, and thus illuminate the world with the light of faith and Torah. Many Sephardic communities begin reciting Seliĥot on Rosh Ĥodesh Elul, while Ashkenazim begin on the Saturday night before Rosh Ha-shana. Since the custom of reciting Seliĥot began when Jews were dispersed, there are considerable variations in the liturgy of the different communities.
The best time to recite Seliĥot is between midnight and dawn. This is an auspicious time, a time of mercy, a time when we await the arrival of light and the revelation of God’s word in the world. At this time, when most people are asleep, the world is pure and unsullied by evil thoughts and deeds. Prayer bursts forth from the depths of the heart, breaks through all barriers, and is accepted on high.
Reciting Seliĥot is optional. If waking up to recite Seliĥot will make a person too exhausted to fulfill one's home or work responsibilities, it is better not to do so.
