Slichot in a Nutshell

What are slichot? They’re penitential prayers. Now, they prepare us for the High Holydays, but they are said on somber days throughout the year. For instance, fast days. Notably, slichot are not recited on Tisha B’Av. I’d be curious to know why, if anyone here knows. My guess is that they are preempted by kinnot.

The content: depends on your minhag. I apparently don’t remember this, but my research says that the Ashkenazim recite different slichot each day, but that the Sephardim recite the same service every day.

The timing is a little tricky. Each year, check with your rabbi to make sure you have the right beginning date. 

The first time you say slichot is at midnight or shortly thereafter on Saturday night. All other days (Jewish days, night and then day), slichot are said in the early morning before shacharit (morning prayers). However, you can continue say them shortly after midnight if you wish, apparently. The Ashkenazim only say slichot a minimum of 4 times before Rosh Hashanah, but may say them up to a week and a half before Rosh Hashanah.

Most Jews continue to say slichot during the 10 Days of Repentance between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. (Note that Chabad does not.)

Some portions of selichot can only be said with a minyan, so it is preferable to go to synagogue instead of saying them at home.

A tricky semantics note: the word “slichot” refers to the prayers themselves, but also to the slichot service as a whole.