Seferdic Community of Crown Heights to Begin 40 Days of Selichot Beginning the 2nd of Elul
Moshe Rabbeinu descended from Shamayim with the first set of the Luchot on 17 Tamuz, and upon seeing the Golden Calf, he threw down the Luchot and they broke.
On the 18th of Av, he burnt the Calf to dust, mixed it with water, and many people who had sinned, perished.
On the 18th of Tamuz, Moshe Rabbeinu once again went up Har Sinai for another 40 days to beg forgiveness for Am Yisroel, and he came down on the 29th of Av to notify Am Yisroel that Hashem had forgiven them.
On Rosh Chodesh Elul, Moshe Rabbeinu went up Har Sinai for a third time to receive the new Luchot, and he came down 40 days later on Yom Kippur.
The Arizal Hakadosh explains that the 40 days from Rosh Chodesh Elul through Yom Kippur, the 13 attributes of Hashem are revealed in Shamayim, and as such, each and every person can tap into Hashems mercy and have all their prayers answered.
In commemoration of the third ascent of Moshe Rabbeinu on Rosh Chodesh Elul, it is the custom of Sefardim to recite Selichot from 2 Elul through Yom Kippur.
There will be two daily Minyanim for Selichot in Crown Heights beginning Wednesday night at Merkaz Sefarad and Thursday morning at Ner Menachem.
Merkaz Sefarad
556 Crown Street
Corner Albany
1:00 am daily
Ner Menachem / Nimni
560 Empire Blvd
5:00 am Selichot
5:55 am Shachrit to be at the Amidah by Netz currently at 6:30 am.
(The time will be later as the month moves along and Netz becomes later)
יהי רצון שיתקבל תפילתנו ברחמים