Selichot in the House of Mourning

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Question

Do we say Selichot in the house of mourning?

Answer

Selichot are recited in the house of mourning, but the confession and supplications are not said. Instead, they recite up to "Zachor Rachamecha" and then skip and say three verses from "Shema Koleinu."

Source

There are two reasons found for the rule that Tachanun is not said in the house of mourning. In the "Beit Yosef" (Siman 131), the words of "Shibolei HaLeket" are brought, stating that mourning is compared to a festival, as it is written, "I will turn your mourning into joy." The "Levush" (Siman 131) writes that the reason Tachanun is not said in the house of mourning is "like the reason we do not fall on our faces at night, to not increase the power of judgment, God forbid, because the mourner is already under the influence of judgment, and it is like cutting, God forbid." This is brought by the "Mishna Berura" (Subsiman 20).
The "Pri Megadim" in "Mishbetzot Zahav" (Siman 131) writes that according to the "Levush," Selichot are said except for Tachanun since it can be said at night, but according to the "Shibolei HaLeket," which is similar to a festival, it is not said like on a festival. In practice, it is decided to say Selichot.
In "She'elot u-Teshuvot Yehuda Ya'aleh" (Assad) Part 1 - "Yoreh De'ah" Siman 353, it is written that even according to the "Shibolei HaLeket," this applies specifically to Selichot and supplications that are part of the order of prayer, "but Selichot that are instituted for specific times of the year, such as Behab and all fasts and Erev Rosh Chodesh, are instituted due to suffering and grief, whether from what happened to our ancestors or from what happened to us from sins on festivals and Erev Rosh Chodesh due to the diminution of the moon and the exile of the Shechina, and they fast in them to suffer, also in the house of mourning, which is in suffering, there is a place to say them, etc."
In practice, in "Ateret Zekenim" (Siman 131) it is stated: "It is customary not to fall, etc." and there is another reason to not awaken and increase the power of judgment, and according to this, Selichot are said in the house of mourning but not confessions and supplications. This is also written in "Gesher HaChaim" Chapter 20, Section 3, Subsection 4, to skip part of the Selichot.

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