Selichot: New Apologies

Podcast Episodes

10. שִׁחַרְנוּךָ בִּקַּשְׁנוּךָ: We Yearn for the Creator of Mountains

Date:
Speakers: Rabbi Jay Kelman

Our many sins run the risk of igniting G-d’s anger but if we come together as a people G-d dwells amongst us despite sins against G-d. 

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9. אֵיתָן לִמַּד דַּעַת: The Strong One Taught Knowledge

Date:
Speakers: Rabbi Jay Kelman

The universal mission of the Jewish people emerges through the story of Avraham Avinu, whose faith and devotion to G-d became the model upon which Jewish history was built. 

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8. אִמַּנְתָּ מֵאָז: You Taught us to Approach you in Prayer

Date:
Speakers: Rabbi Jay Kelman

Drawing on the notion that the Ten Days of Repentance were created even before the world came into being, the poet urges us to take advantage of this special time when our prayers for forgiveness are more readily accepted.

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7. Erev Rosh Hashanah אָדָם אֵיךְ יִזְכֶּה: How Can Man Merit

Date:
Speakers: Rabbi Jay Kelman

In this selicha for the eve of Rosh Hashanah we confront the inevitability of death, yet through prayer and tzedakah, we can be amongst the righteous who even in death live on. 

 

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6. אִוִּיתִיךָ קִוִּיתִיךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מֶרְחַקִּים: I Yearn for You from Afar

Date:
Speakers: Rabbi Jay Kelman

This selicha challenges us to confront the question, do we truly yearn for G-d and recognize that it is more important to find Him in the marketplace than in our houses of prayer.

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5. אֲנִי יוֹם אִירָא: I Dread this Day

Date:
Speakers: Rabbi Jay Kelman

In this anti-Christian polemic, we ask G-d to punish those who persecuted us for refusing to replace our G-d with the god of the one who was crucified. The steadfast refusal of the Jewish people to do so is to our eternal merit.

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4. יִשְֹרָאֵל נוֹשַׁע בַּיהֹוָה, תְּשׁוּעַת עוֹלָמִים: Israel will be Saved

Date:
Speakers: Rabbi Jay Kelman

In today’s selicha, we place our unconditional trust in G-d’s salvation in the face of ongoing persecution.

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3. אִם עֲוֺנֵינוּ רַבּוּ לְהַגְדִּיל: Even When Our Sins are Great

Date:
Speakers: Rabbi Jay Kelman

In today’s selicha we plead with G-d to remember the Pure one, the Gathered One and the Builder.

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2. אֵיךְ נִפְתַּח פֶּה לְפָנֶיך: How Can I Begin to speak

Date:
Speakers: Rabbi Jay Kelman

In the opening selicha recited on the first night of selichot we acknowledge that only by relying on the mercy of G-d can the Jewish people hope for eternity.

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1. Introduction to Selichot 5787

Date:
Speakers: Rabbi Jay Kelman

In the opening episode of our second season of Selichot – New Apologies we discuss the daily prayer for forgiveness as an integral part of the Amidah and discuss how the diverse customs of selichot is a manifestation of the beautiful symphony of Torah.

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