JERUSALEM (VINnews) — As the High Holy Days approach, leading Lithuanian charedi rabbis have issued a strongly worded letter warning against the growing practice of holding public Selichot services accompanied by musical instruments.
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The letter was signed by leading senior rabbis, including Slabodka Rosh Yeshivos Rabbi Dov Landau and Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch, and was issued under the evocative heading, “We Tremble and Shudder at the Day of Your Coming.”
The rabbis condemned what they described as an inappropriate trend that has spread in recent years: organizing large-scale “Selichot events” featuring live musical performances.
“Recently, an inappropriate phenomenon has begun in which ‘Selichot events’ are held with musical instruments,” the rabbis wrote. “These Selichot events contradict the very essence of the days of Selichot, which the Sages instituted as a time for repentance, remorse and soul-searching, to purify and sanctify oneself in preparation for the approaching Days of Judgment, and to merit being inscribed and sealed for a good and peaceful life.”
The rabbis cautioned against transforming the solemn religious observance into an entertainment event. “God forbid that a lofty and sacred concept instituted by our Sages should be turned into an event of recreation and a musical performance,” they wrote, adding that such gatherings can also involve “serious breaches of religious standards of holiness and modesty.”
The letter calls on members of the public not to attend such events and urges community leaders to take a clear stand. “We therefore join in strengthening the calls issued by leading rabbis, both those who have passed away and those who are still with us, that people should, God forbid, not participate in such events,” the letter states.
The rabbis also addressed municipal and political officials, calling on them not to provide financial or logistical support for the gatherings. “[There should be] no support or funding for these events by public authorities, in any form,” they wrote.
The letter further draws a distinction regarding the use of musical instruments in synagogues and study halls, which the rabbis say should remain places dedicated to prayer and Torah study. “Certainly, such events should not be held in the sanctuaries of God, the synagogues and houses of study,” they wrote. “Likewise, prayers and the recitation of Hallel should not be conducted with musical instruments.”
The rabbis concluded their letter with a prayer that the community would remain faithful to its religious traditions and the practices handed down by previous generations.
“May the Almighty raise us ever higher, so that we may cleave to the tradition of our fathers, and may He inscribe and seal us for a good life,” they wrote.
My Choshuv Ruv (& celebrated Posek) made in interesting Psak.
We can have musical Slichos but the only instruments allowed are a triangle & a cowbell (you can never have too much cowbell).
I can’t wait for Slichos. I heard this year there will be an open bar.
Again,
vin news as always
Being politically correct and removing
All valued comments
The VIN censorship is out of hand
Not sure what was wrong with my comment & story from Bal ShemTov
Came to see responses and to others, but they’re all gonzo.
Orwellian VIN at it again. Article shows “91” comments but the math seems to be off. All my comments and the responses suddenly disappear (because VIN is afraid of the truth). YOu can change your format but you can’t change your Stalinesque ways.
The rabbis’ letter shows the importance of maintaining the integrity of religious observance. When you build a community fund, you also build trust. That trust comes from structure and clear boundaries. Donors need to know their contributions support the mission, not something else. This is why a fiscal sponsor ensures funds align with the stated charitable purpose. It separates the mission from potential distractions.
my understanding is if someone doesnt need the music kol hakovod and for those followers of the gedolim of course musical selichoes isnt an option and the gedolim dont want people thinking its normal and ok and another option
but for those others who would stay home and dont appreciate the old time conventional selichoes this letter wasnt intended for them and if they would ask any of those who signed that letter they may even encourage those people to go
personally i daven where i daven rosh hashana and yom kippur
Chassidus is a system to reinspire jews. You can argue with every movement and make it look extreme. Forcing women not to drive is looked upon by others as strange. Playing music today is excepted especially to those who go to hotels every Yom tov. Every major orthodox hotel now has a carlbach musical havdolah. There are increasing Shul’s and outreach groups using music to touch the souls of so many young Jews. You want to criticize then what about those who smoke and vape. What about those who drink out of control. What about those who insist on living a life on extreme luxury. There are so many things going on under the radar. Rebbes know and hear the complaints every day. Many heimisha therapists hear it too. Life can be simple but to many it’s not so simple.
They are 100% correct. This isn’t Hallel where it’s said at festive times of joy and praise and thankfulness. (In fact, there is a tehilim with just such a thing of praising hashem with musical instruments that we say everyday at shachris). But slichos is a serious time of introspection and prayers and begging hashem for mercy, forgiveness and atonement. Want to gear up with a heartfelt kumzitz/farbrengen with music right before slichos in the social hall or outdoors?? More power to you. But in shul as part of slichos? Quite inappropriate.
More fire and brimstone.
So this is a declaration of war against chassidim basically. They say music does not belong in a shul. So all those big chassidic Shul’s that play music must be closed. No more Bobov or others who gather and play music on occasions. All rebbes who play violins at their Chanukah lightings or at the Sukkas gatherings or other such events are no good. Sounds like a war against chassidus has started. What about the first mitzvah of pru urevu. Why don’t the litvish allow their boys to marry before 23 years old. That’s why the chassidim are taking over every litvish area including Lakewood Jackson Toms River and of course Brooklyn. By the time a litvak marrys the average chosid has four kids. No more music in uman at the shul. No more Purim music plays on Purim in the chassidic Shul’s. The many heimisha Jews who go to music slichos are all posul. In Jackson Lakewood areas the famous mordys steibel has a musical hallel every Rosh Chodesh led by chassidim with guitars. Today’s generation needs the ways of the Baal Shem Tov more than ever. Maybe we should condemn music at weddings with mitzvah Tanzen if the wedding is held in a shul. So many young kids are learning to play music in the spirit of Dovid hamelech. Next the tehillim will be banned as Dovid our great king is featured throughout singing and playing his harp in all his troubling episodes. What’s next.