As we bid goodbye to the summer and immerse ourselves in the month of Elul, which leads up to Rosh Hashanah, the time has come for some serious soul searching. In recent years, many more religious as well as non-observant Jews have begun participating in tours, workshops and concerts in Jerusalem, Safed and Tiberias to help prepare us spiritually for the coming High Holy Days. Many of these visits include the recitation of (or listening to) slihot, prayers that provide us with a soul-stirring introduction to the Days of Awe.
This year, the slihot tours will continue until the middle of September right up until Yom Kippur. These trips are a great way for people to learn about the customs of Elul and hear the wonderful tunes used to recite the slihot prayers. Some of the tours include singing accompanied with musical instruments and the telling of mystical stories, all of which help us get into the spirit of the High Holy Days.
Here’s a list of some of the slihot tours open to the public this year:
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