Teshuva Time!

Erev (evening of) 2 Elul 5775*


Tomorrow morning, Mizrahim and Sefaradim, my husband among them, will rise bright and early (about a half-hour earlier than usual) and go to beit knesset (synagogue) for more than the usual shacharith (morning) prayers.

This goes on every morning for 40 days, ending on Yom haKippurim.

In their honor, here is a video with one of the better-known songs of this period. Adon haSelichot is an alef-betical acrostic explaining all the many ways haShem sees through our every weakness and failure of character** (and all our excuses!); and at the same time is Lord of Forgiveness. Performed by David D'or...enjoy!

Words in English and Hebrew below, translated by Simcha Daniel Burstyn. Apologies for not being able to put the English and Hebrew words across from one another.

May this time lead into THE year that ends our troubles and brings Complete Redemption!

 

אדון הסליחות

אֲדוֹן הַסְּלִיחוֹת בּוֹחֵן לְבָבוֹת
גּוֹלֶה עֲמוּקוֹת דּוֹבֵר צְדָקוֹת
חָטָאנוּ לְפָנֶיךָ רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ

הָדוּר בְּנִפְלָאוֹת וָתִיק בְּנֶחָמוֹת
זוֹכֵר בְּרִית אָבוֹת חוֹקֵר כְּלָיוֹת
חָטָאנוּ לְפָנֶיךָ רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ

טוֹב וּמֵטִיב לַבְּרִיּוֹת יוֹדֵעַ כָּל נִסְתָּרוֹת
כּוֹבֵשׁ עֲוֹנוֹת לוֹבֵשׁ צְדָקוֹת
חָטָאנוּ לְפָנֶיךָ רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ

מָלֵא זַכִּיּוֹת נוֹרָא תְהִלּוֹת
סוֹלֵחַ עֲוֹנוֹת עוֹנֶה בְּעֵת צָרוֹת
חָטָאנוּ לְפָנֶיךָ רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ

פּוֹעֵל יְשׁוּעוֹת צוֹפֶה עֲתִידוֹת
קוֹרֵא הַדּוֹרוֹת רוֹכֵב עֲרָבוֹת
שׁוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלּוֹת תְּמִים דֵּעוֹת
חָטָאנוּ לְפָנֶיךָ רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ

Adon HaSelichot
Lord of forgiveness, You seek into hearts
Expose depths, Speak truths
We have sinned before You, have pity on us

Glorious in wonders, Ancient in comforts
Remember ancestral coventant, Examine hidden thoughts
We have sinned before You, have pity on us

Good and doing good to creatures, Knowing all hidden things, Conqueror of sins, Dressed in righteousness
We have sinned before You, have pity on us

Full of purities, Awesome in praises
Forgiving of sins, Answerer in time of trouble
We have sinned before You, have pity on us

Worker of salvation, Seer of futures
Calling to the generations, Rider of Skies
Hearer of Prayer, Perfect in knowledge
We have sinned before You, have pity on us  *evening comes before morning on the Hebrew calendar.**h/t to Devorah of Mashiach is Coming for the article link.
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UPDATE: I refer you to one more expert than I on the piyutim פיוטים liturgical poems of the Selichot period, Rav Yeranen Yaakov (search for Selihot Start for Sepharadim) for many, many more songs (as he pointed out to me in 2014, he doesn't do this every year). And if you still can't get your fill, go to An Invitation to Piyut, replete with Jewish melody from all the major groups. Pages are in Hebrew and English.  
More reading: Ani L'Dodi from the City of David | An Elul Primer