The Midrash relates that when King David was distressed upon prophetically witnessing the destruction of the Temple and the cessation of offerings and sacrifices, he asked himself: "How will the Jews atone for their sins?".
God answered him: "When the Jews suffer for their sins, let them gather before me in complete unity. Together, they will confess their sins and recite Selichot, and I will answer their prayers.
Selichot is a series of supplications in which we ask God for forgiveness for past mistakes and request His mercy. It serves as preparation for the special days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
At least four days of Selichot are always recited, so if Rosh Hashanah falls on Thursday and Friday, or Shabbat and Sunday, Selichot are recited starting in that same week, while if it falls on Monday and Tuesday or Tuesday and Wednesday, it starts the previous week.
Since the first set of supplications contains the words "at the end of the rest," which refers to Shabbat, the custom is to recite the first Selichot at midnight between Saturday and Sunday.
Less than 24 hours before the start of Yom Kippur, I learn that the Selichot are recited for at least 4 consecutive days, beginning BEFORE Rosh Hashanah...
Does this mean that even if I start after midnight tonight and continue for 4 days, then I will have already passed the end of everything and it will no longer have any value...?
It's a shame not to know more at the right time...
Hello, the delay in responding is because these past few days have been very busy. The core of Teshuvah (repentance and return to God) is not repeating the mistakes of the past.
In your own comment you provide the solution: instead of feeling sorry for not knowing more, the work consists of dedicating yourself to studying!
Hatzlaja raba!