Why do some communities start reciting Selihot, the penitential prayers leading up to the High Holidays, at the beginning of the Jewish month of Elul, while others start at a later date?
As we enter Elul Rabbi Professor David Golinkin, President of The Schechter Institutes explains the beautiful differences with the timing of Selihot in the traditions of Persian, Sephardic and Ashkenazic Jews.
As the High Holidays approach, may the selichot services give us the impetus and the courage to ask forgiveness both from God and from our fellow man (see Mishnah Yoma 8:9).
Watch the video below:
Rabbi Prof. David Golinkin was born and raised in Arlington, Virginia. He made aliyah in 1972, earning a B.A. in Jewish History and two teaching certificates from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He received an M.A. in Rabbinics and a Ph.D. in Talmud from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America where he was also ordained as Rabbi.
Prof. Golinkin is President Emeritus of Schechter Institutes, Inc. and President Emeritus of the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, where he also serves as a Professor of Talmud and Jewish Law. For twenty years he served as Chair of the Va’ad Halakhah (Law Committee) of the Rabbinical Assembly which writes responsa and gives halakhic guidance to the Masorti (Conservative) Movement in Israel. He is the founder and Director of the Institute of Applied Halakhah at The Schechter Institute whose goal is to publish a library of halakhic literature for Jews thoughout the world. He is the Director of the Center for Women in Jewish Law at the Schechter Institute whose goal is to publish responsa and books by and about women in Jewish law. He is also the founder and Director of the Midrash Project at Schechter whose goal is to publish a series of critical editions of Midrashim.
In June 2014, Rabbi Golinkin was named by The Jerusalem Post, as one of the 50 most influential Jews in the world. In May 2019, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Jewish Theological Seminary. In November 2022, he received the Nefesh B’Nefesh Bonei Zion Award for his contributions to Israeli society in the field of education
Prof. Golinkin is the author or editor of 65 books dealing with Jewish law, Talmud, Midrash and prayer, as well as hundreds of articles, Responsa and sermons.
For a complete bio click here.