Selihot - סליחות

The month of Elul, also known as the month of Rahamim,  is the most opportune time for requesting Bore Olam's mercy and kindness. The Sephardic custom is to rise at dawn each morning from the beginning of the month of Elul until Ereb Yom Kippur (except for Rosh Hodesh, Shabbat & Rosh Hashanah) to recite Selihot. That is a total of 30 days of waking up in darkness for Selihot. The earliest origin we know of for this custom goes back to the days of Rab Ha-a-yeh Gaon and Rab Amram Gaon who refer to this custom of Selihot but only during Aseret Yeme Teshoubah, the days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Our custom though goes back in Spain, Rabbi Yisshaq ibn Giat (circa 1020, Lucena- died 1091, Cordova) who was a great Rishon mentions the custom in his day in Spain was to begin Selihot from Rosh Hodesh Elul. Rabbi David Aboudirham also refers to the custom beginning from Rosh Hodesh Elul. One of the reasons given as to why we begin from Rosh Hodesh Elul is because that is when Moshe went up the mountain to get the second set of tablets from God. On the 40th day, which was Yom Kippur, God told him SALAHTI KIDBAREKHA!

Image of Selihot Pizmonim Selections from Sassoon Manuscript #647, Aleppo, circa 1850.