Selichot are the season’s prayers of forgiveness. Sephardi communities recite them throughout Elul, while Ashkenazi practice begins closer to Rosh Hashanah, often with a late-night service. Selichot is filled with beautiful liturgy and often haunting language, but its purpose is clear: to invite compassion from God, each other, and ourselves.

Compassion is not forgetting. It is refusing to let injury have the last word. Think of one person you need to soften toward, or yourself if that is hardest. Write a few sentences that start with: “What I wish I could say is…” You do not need to send it today. You may never send it. But let your heart practice the words so your actions can follow when it is time.

Kavanah: Practice compassion in private so you can live it in public.

Explore the full Elul intentions here.