Related reading: Selichot Livestream and Today's Omer Count.

Selichot at the Western Wall are among the most moving moments of Elul and the Ten Days of Repentance. Thousands gather in the Western Wall plaza, recite prayers and liturgical poems together, and bring a simple request to the stones of Jerusalem: to begin again. This guide explains what a Selichot gathering at the Kotel is, which customs are worth knowing, how to speak about the liturgy with children, and how to turn the experience into a family or classroom quiz.

Quick Summary

What Are Selichot at the Western Wall?

Selichot are prayers and liturgical poems recited in days devoted to repentance, self-examination and asking for mercy. At the Western Wall, a private act of prayer also becomes a public experience: different people, voices and traditions gather in one place that represents memory, prayer and hope.

The power of Selichot at the Kotel is not only the size of the crowd. It is the moment when a child hears the words for the first time, a parent pauses in the middle of a busy year, and a teacher or guide can explain that repentance is not only a large spiritual idea. It can begin with one small choice: asking forgiveness, repairing something, and beginning again.

What Happens at the Selichot Gatherings?

Selichot gatherings at the Western Wall usually take place on evenings during Elul and the Ten Days of Repentance, subject to the official event calendar, site guidelines and access arrangements. In some years, there are also livestreams, Selichot tours and related content around the Old City and the Western Wall.

During the gathering, the public recites selected Selichot and piyyutim according to a particular rite. Sometimes a cantor or prayer leader leads the service, and parts of the crowd may join through singing and responses. Families arriving with children should prepare them for a large crowd, a late hour, extended standing, sounds of prayer, and the need for patience and respect.

What Should You Check Before Arriving?

Selichot Customs in Simple Language

Selichot customs differ among communities, but the central idea is similar: preparing for the High Holidays through prayer, piyyut, asking for mercy and repairing relationships between people. Some communities begin Selichot at the start of Elul, while others begin on the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah or close to it, according to their tradition.

For children, it helps to explain that Selichot are not only “a text people recite.” They are an invitation to ask three questions:

  1. What am I grateful for?
  2. Whom do I need to ask forgiveness from?
  3. What good decision can I take into the coming week?

What About the Selichot Text?

Selichot texts include piyyutim, verses and prayers from different traditions. This page does not reproduce the full Selichot liturgy because printed versions, translations, vocalization and adaptations may be protected by copyright or tied to a specific communal rite. For official publication, use an approved text, a clear public-domain source or a file that has been reviewed for licensing.

For original educational use, you can work without quoting the full text. Explain words such as forgiveness, mercy, repentance and “open the gate for us”; ask children to choose one word that speaks to them; and connect that word to one small good action.

Short Story for Children: The Note That Was Not Written

Yoav came to the Western Wall on a Selichot night with his father. The plaza was full, and he held a small note in his hand. He wanted to write a big request, but the closer they came to the stones, the less he knew what to write.

“Maybe write thank you?” his father suggested.

Yoav thought of his grandmother who had recovered, of the friend who forgave him after an argument, and of the teacher who gave him another chance. He wrote only one word: thank you.

Then he heard the crowd reciting Selichot together. He did not understand every word, but he understood something else: sometimes forgiveness begins when a person stands quietly, remembers the good, and decides to be a little better tomorrow.

On the way back, his father asked, “So what did you ask for?”

Yoav smiled. “I didn’t ask. I started with thank you. Tomorrow I’ll apologize to Daniel.”

Printable Activity: A Family Selichot Card

You can print or copy this card before visiting the Western Wall, watching a livestream or teaching a class:

QuestionMy Answer
One thing I am grateful for this year
One person I want to make happy
An apology I need to offer
One small good deed for tomorrow
One Selichot word I want to remember

Tip for guides: after participants fill it in, ask each person to share only one line they feel comfortable sharing. Selichot are not only a knowledge test. They are also a moment that calls for privacy and respect.

Selichot Quiz

  1. In which Hebrew month do many communities say Selichot before Rosh Hashanah?
  2. What does the Western Wall symbolize for many people who come to say Selichot?
  3. Why should you check the event time before arriving at the Kotel?
  4. Name two themes that appear in Selichot.
  5. What is the difference between understanding every word and understanding the general direction of the prayer?
  6. What small action can turn Selichot into practice, not only words?
  7. Why should children be prepared for a crowded plaza?
  8. What can someone do if they cannot physically come to the Western Wall?

Answer Key for Guides

  1. Elul, and in many communities also the Ten Days of Repentance.
  2. A place of prayer, memory, connection to Jerusalem and hope.
  3. Because times, arrangements and crowd levels change from year to year.
  4. Repentance, mercy, forgiveness, repair and hope.
  5. Even without understanding every word, a person can understand that the prayer asks for repair and closeness.
  6. Asking forgiveness, saying thank you, helping someone or making a good decision.
  7. To reduce stress, preserve safety and respect the place.
  8. Watch an official livestream, learn about Selichot at home or prepare a personal reflection card.

FAQ

When do Selichot at the Western Wall take place?

Selichot gatherings usually take place during Elul and the Ten Days of Repentance, but exact times change. Before attending, check the official Western Wall event calendar and the current announcements for that year.

Do you have to come to the Western Wall to say Selichot?

No. Selichot can be recited in synagogue, at home or in a community setting. The Western Wall adds a unique public and Jerusalem-centered experience, but the act of Selichot does not depend on being in the plaza.

Is there one fixed Selichot text?

No. There are different rites and customs among communities. That is why educational publications should identify which rite they use and publish only texts that are permitted for use.

Are Selichot suitable for children?

Yes, if children are prepared appropriately. Explain briefly what will happen, choose one word or question together, and do not expect them to understand the entire liturgy or stand as long as adults.

What should you bring to a Selichot gathering?

Water, clothing suitable for the weather and the site, an approved prayer text if using one, a charged phone, and an agreed meeting point. Families may also want a short activity for children before or after the gathering.

Can Selichot be watched by livestream?

Sometimes there is an official livestream or official documentation, depending on the Western Wall Heritage Foundation and the events of the year. Check the official site close to the date.

Game Connection: Selichot Quiz

This page can lead into a short Selichot quiz in three stages:

Suggested CTA: Want to turn preparation into a family experience? Try the Selichot Quiz and see what you know about Elul, prayer and the Western Wall.

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