May a Woman Lead Selichot? by Rabbi Dov Linzer

This teshuva is part of a series. To read Rabbi Ysoscher Katz’s response to this teshuva in Hebrew, click here. To read Rabbi Katz’s response in English, click here. To read Rabbi Linzer’s response to Rabbi Katz, click here. To read Rabbi Katz’s response to Rabbi Linzer’s response, click here.

May a woman lead selichot if she does so with a minyan of men present, and from her side of the mechitza?

For the purposes of this teshuva, I will bracket the larger discussion of partnership minyanim. I will also bracket any discussion of kol isha, as there is sufficient evidence that this is not a problem with chanting, as opposed to singing, in a seriousminded context, such as that of a beit knesset or of a funeral¹. I will look only at the question of whether the selichot is a davar she’bikdusha or something similar that would formally exclude a woman from leading them.

Although our practice of reciting selichot is not found in the Gemara, an aggadah in Rosh HaShanah (17b) discusses the reciting of the י”ג מדות של רחמים, the Thirteen Divine Attributes, which form the centerpiece of our selichot:

This aggadic passage, while not a halakhic statement, serves as the model for the use of the י”ג מדות as a central form of our prayers for repentance. It also indicates that this prayer is a communal one (“when Israel sins… let them perform this order”) and that the person leading the service has a status of a shaliach tzibbur, a prayer leader of communal prayer.

If this aggadah were to define the halakhic nature of the recitation of the י”ג מדות, we would most likely conclude that it would be a communal prayer which would require a minyan of 10 men, as this is the classic halakhic definition of a community. However, since the text does not explicitly use the term tzibbur, perhaps another definition would be possible for the term “Israel” in this context. For example, women might count towards the requirement of 10 for something to be considered to have taken place bi’farhesya, in public, or bi’rabbim, amongst the many, for example, in the cases of kiddush HaShem² and the reading of megillah³. Perhaps the same would be true here.

The most relevant and specific term, though, is shaliach tzibbur, the prayer leader who represents the community. If this aggadic text is treated halakhically, then the act of reciting the י”ג מדות would require a shaliach tzibbur and by extension a tzibbur as well. While it is true that this passage does not say that God was functioning as a shaliach tzibbur, but rather that He “wrapped himself like a shaliach tzibbur,” there is no doubt that the simple sense is that the recitation of the י”ג מדות is led by someone who has the status of a shaliach tzibbur. This would mean that not only would 10 men be required for the recitation of י”ג מדות, but also that the one who leads the recitation, the shaliach tzibbur, would have to be an adult male, the standard criterion for a shaliach tzibbur⁴. The Sefer HaMinhagim⁵ sums up this approach succinctly in the name of Rabbeinu Meshulam:

Although there are a few voices of dissent, this is the approach adopted by the large majority of Geonim and Rishonim who discuss the issue. They treat this aggadah as halakhically relevant, and require a minyan for the recitation of the י”ג מדות. Although only a few mention the requirement of a shaliach tzibbur as explicitly as Rabbeinu Meshulam, this requirement is often implied, and indeed follows logically from this approach. We will return to this point after exploring the positions regarding the requirement for a minyan.

Recitation of the י”ג מדות Requires a Minyan

The majority position that a minyan is required is found first in the Geonim. Seder Rav Amram Gaon quotes Rav Natan Gaon who states that the י”ג מדות may only be said in a minyan and are forbidden to be recited by an individual⁶. Rav Natan is quoted verbatim and li’halakha in Siddur Rashi (no. 545), Machzor Vitri (no. 271), Or Zarua (2:416), and Sefer HaManhig (p. 275). A slight reservation appears in Ri Migash, who at the outset states that there is nothing in the Gemara to indicate that an individual could not recite the י”ג מדות but then proceeds to quote the opinion of Rav Natan Gaon that they may only be recited with a minyan⁷.

While Rav Natan requires a minyan, he never claims that this recitation is a davar she’bikdusha – a recitation that sanctifies God’s name and requires the presence of a tzibbur – and, indeed, it does not appear in the Gemara Megillah (23b) which discusses the need for a minyan for devarim she’bikdusha. Later authorities do designate this recitation as such. Shibolei HaLeket states that an individual reciting selichot must skip over the recitation of the י”ג מדות, quoting Rav Natan’s ruling, and then adds that Rav Avigdor Kohen Tzedek declared this to be a davar she’bikdusha⁸. Rashba in a teshuva responded similarly, stating that an individual may not recite them because they are כדברים שבקדושה, like devarim she’bikdusha⁹. Rashba does allow an individual to recite them as verses not in the form of prayer because their special status as devarim she’bikdusha exists only when these verses are used as a type of prayer.

While there is no textual support in the Gemara for the idea that the recitation of the י”ג מדות is a davar she’bikdusha, this position makes intuitive sense. The exact definition of devarim she’bikdusha is elusive, but it stands to reason that a ritual where the shaliach tzibbur is understood to be acting as God, כביכול, as he recites God’s Attributes, would be a statement of great holiness and a sanctifying of God’s name. Whether this is enough to qualify for the technical definition of davar she’bikdusha is less clear. This explains why Rashba says that it is like a davar she’bikdusha, indicating that it might not be a davar she’bikdusha in the technical sense¹⁰.

Rav Natan, who demands a minyan for the recitation of the י”ג מדות but does not define it as a davar she’bikdusha, understands that the minyan is coming to serve a different purpose, namely, to create a tfillat ha’tzibbur, a communal prayer . Rav Natan connects the idea that the prayers of the community are never rejected by God – an idea found in Berakhot (8a) – to the Gemara in Rosh HaShanah (17b) which states that the recitation of the י”ג מדות do not return unanswered:

Just as God promises to answer every communal prayer, God made a special covenant regarding the communal prayer of the י”ג מדותי. This prayer exists only as a communal prayer, according to Rav Natan; for the individual it holds no meaning.

The requirement of a minyan for communal rituals is distinct from the requirement of a minyan for devarim she’bikdusha. In fact, the Mishna in Megillah (23b) which lists those things which require a minyan includes devarim she’bikdusha, like kaddish and barkhu11, and also rituals which may not be devarim she’bikdusha bur are chovot tzibbur, communal obligations, like the reading of the Torah¹².

The difference between these two categories is as follows. Devarim she’bikdusha are acts of sanctifying God’s name which even when done by an individual, for example kaddish yatom, may only take place in the presence of a community based on the verse ונקדשתי בתוך בני ישראל. In contrast, the recitation of the י”ג מדות for Rav Natan is not a sanctifying of God’s name; it is rather a communal prayer to God. The reason a minyan is necessary here is not because this is something that may only be done in the presence of a minyan, it is because this is something that may only be done by a minyan, by the community as a whole.

Whether recitation of theי”ג מדות requires a minyan because it is a davar she’bikdusha or a communal tefillah, it must be acknowledged that it does not appear in the Mishna Megillah (23b) which lists those rituals that require a minyan. One explanation for this found in the Rishonim is that that Mishna only lists obligatory prayers, and the recitation of the י”ג מדות is an opportunity, not an obligation¹³.

The idea that this recitation requires a minyan because it is a tfillat ha’tzibbur is also found in Rashbash (Rabbi Shlomo ben Rabbi Simeon Duran). In a teshuva (Shut Rashbash, no. 191), Rashbash quotes his father, the Tashbetz, who questions Rav Natan’s position that the recitation of the י”ג מדות requires a minyan, since there is no textual evidence that the י”ג מדות are considered devarim she’bikdusha. Rasbhash then offers the following explanation:

Rashbash’s explanation is simply this: while this recitation does not qualify as a davar she’bikdusha, and is not forbidden to be said by an individual, it is a ritual that was given only to the tzibbur and which requires a shaliach tzibbur. The recitation of theי”ג מדות is a tfillat ha’tzibbur and never a tfillat yachid. Therefore, when an individual recites them they have no more meaning than reading any other verses from the Torah. While not technically forbidden to read them as a form of prayer, it would be ineffectual to do so. One might go further and say that it would be inappropriate to do so, as it would be appropriating a ritual that only has meaning at the communal level.

Rav Soloveitchik (Harerei Kedem, no. 1, section 5),¹⁴ without reference to Rav Natan Gaon or the Rashbash, develops a similar approach based on Rambam’s statement (Hilkhot Teshuva 3:4) that the practice during the asseret yimei teshuvais to say selichot in the synagogue. The emphasis on the synagogue is evidence for Rav Soloveitchik that this recitation is a communal and not an individual prayer. He specifically rejects calling it a davar she’bikdusha¹⁵.

The idea that the recitation of the מדות ג”י are a tfillat ha’tzibbur is further developed in the Levush (Orah Hayyim 581:1), who says that the entire structure of selichot is modeled after the structure of tefillah:

For Levush, the central prayers of selichot are the recitations of the י”ג מדות, which are joined with the supplications that precede them, and which stand in the place of Shmoneh Esrei. When they are said in the tzibbur, the י”ג מדותbecome a tfillat ha’tzibbur and thus kaddish titkabel may be said, and must be said, following its recitation¹⁷.

In summary, we have a long list of Geonim and Rishonim who follow the lead of the aggadah of God wrapping Himself as a shaliach tzibbur and require a minyan for the recitation of the י”ג מדות, either because this recitation is defined as a davar she’bikdusha or as an exclusively communal prayer.

One important implication of this debate is whether it is strictly forbidden for an individual to recite the י”ג מדות, or just ineffectual to do so. If we define the recitation as a davar she’bikdusha, it would be forbidden outside of a minyan. As the ,כל דבר שבקדושה לא יהא פחות :Gemara states מעשרה “any davar she’bikdusha may not be done with less than ten people” (Berakhot 21b and Megillah 23b). However, if it were a tfillat ha’tzibbur it would not be prohibited to be done by an individual just ineffectual and without purpose; it would be no different than reciting any other Biblical verses¹⁸. The approach that is forbidden for an individual to recite the י”ג מדות is implicit in Rashba and Shibalei HaLeket, who state that an individual must either skip the י”ג מדות or recite them as Biblical verses, but not as prayer. Consistent with this, they both explain that the recitation of the י”ג מדות is a davar she’bikdusha. In contrast, Rashbash states merely that such a recitation serves no purpose; it is not technically forbidden to do so: א”כ מה לו ליחיד לאומרן והוא אינו צריך עכשיו לקרות אותם פסוקים. This follows his explanation that the recitation is not a davar she’bikdusha but rather a tfillat ha’tzibbur¹⁹.

Regardless of which explanation is given, it seems that according to this camp which requires a minyan, a woman could not lead the י”ג מדות just as she may not lead tefillah bi’tzibbur or devarim she’bikdusha.

However, there are some devarim she’bikdsuha that a woman may lead, such as kaddish yatom. We will explore below if this is relevant to the question of a woman reciting the י”ג מדות, and to the question of a woman leading the selichot alone, without the recitation of the י”ג מדות.

Recitation of the י”ג מדות May Be Done by an Individual

There are Rishonim who disagree with the above quoted authorities and state that a minyan is not required for the recitation of the י”ג מדות. Trumat HaDeshen quotes a number of authorities, including Sefer HaMinhagim,20 who allow an individual to recite the י”ג מדות. Trumat HaDeshen rules in the end against this position, and allows an individual to say theי”ג מדות only if he reads them with cantillation. This is similar to Rashba’s position, quoted earlier, that theי”ג מדות may only be read by an individual if it is not done in the form of a prayer. This is achieved for Trumat HaDeshen by the use of cantillation which identifies the act as a non-prayer reading of Torah verses.

Tur clearly states that a minyan is not required. After quoting Rav Natan, Tur states (OH 565):

Tur seems to rule that in principle the י”ג מדות may be said by an individual²¹. This position is not unique to Tur. Beit Yosef cites the Abudraham who states that this is also the position of Rabbeinu Yonah. Likewise, Rema in Darkhei Moshe (565:4) quotes Sefer HaMinhagim that an individual may recite the י”ג מדות as long as he does not do so in the middle of the Shmoneh Esrei, which used to be the practice on fast days. This position is found in more than one of the Ashkenazi works on Minhagim²² and seems to reflect an existing practice that individuals recited the י”ג מדות. In fact, one of the Sefer HaMinhagim ends his discussion by saying וכן אנו נוהגים, and this is our practice²³.

Halakhic Conclusion Regarding Recitation of י”ג מדות by an Individual

Although Beit Yosef and Rema both quote positions that support the Tur, in their final rulings they side with the majority that requires a minyan for the recitation of the י”ג מדות. Beit Yosef concludes his quote of Abudraham by saying לא נהוג עלמא הכי, the practice of the world does not follow this, that is, the practice is to not allow an individual to recite the י”ג מדות. And Darkhei Moshe follows up his quote from Minhagim by quoting Mahari Weil and Trumat HaDeshen who only allow an individual to recite them if he does so in the form of reciting Biblical verses.

This is also the ruling in Shulkhan Arukh. Addressing the practice of saying selichot on fast days, Shulkhan Arukh (Orah Hayyim 565:5) states:

The second part of this statement echoes the Shulkhan Arukh that an individual may not recite the י”ג מדות, clarifying that this starts at ויעבור. It is not clear whether Rema agrees with Shulkhan Arukh’s formulation that the recitation is a דבר שבקדושה, or whether he understands it as a tfillat ha’tzibbur; either way an individual may not recite the י“ג מדות.

The first part of Rema’s statement, that an individual may not recite selichot, is more difficult to understand, since until now it was only the recitation of the י“ג מדות that was considered to be a davar she’bikdusha or a tfillat ha’tzibbur, and not the selichot themselves. Rema is not alone in this position. Shalah, a contemporary of Rema, posits that the entire selichot are considered to be devarim she’bikdusha and may not be recited by an individual²⁴.

Rema’s source for this position is Or Zarua (2:416), who says that selichot may not be recited by an individual: דאין היחיד אומר סליחות כלל. Or Zarua bases this on the position that an individual may not say the י“ג מדות; it is likely that Or Zarua only meant to prohibit an individual from reciting selichot as they are usually recited, that is, together with the י“ג מדות. This is the position of Bach (OH 565), who states that even according to Or Zarua it is permissible for an individual to recite selichot if he does not recite the י“ג מדות. Taz (OH 565, no. 5) interprets Rema’s prohibition to be referring to the selichot which make mention of the י“ג מדות in the text of the selichot themselves²⁵. The consensus among the Achronim is to follow Bach and reject Rema completely. They rule that an individual may say all the selichotas long as he or she does not do the recitation of the י“ג מדות that follows the selichot²⁶. As Mishna Brurah states: והסכימו דסליחות בלא י“ג מדות יכול יחיד לומר “and the consensus is that selichot without the י“ג מדות may be recited by an individual.” (OH 565, no. 13).

Since Shulkhan Arukh and Rema rule that the recitation of the י“ג מדות may only be done bi’tzibbur, the logical conclusion is that a woman may not lead this recitation, just as she may not lead other tefillot ha’tzibbur.

The consensus position that an individual may recite selichot without the י”ג מדות since they are not devarim she’bikdusha or tfillat ha’tzibbur is equally significant for our purposes. This suggests that a woman might be able to lead the selichot sections as long as she does not lead the י”ג מדות. We will explore this point in the conclusion.

The selichot of עשרת ימי תשובה

Until now we have been assuming that all recitations of the י”ג מדות, whether on fast days or the asseret yimei teshuva, have the same status. This is the dominant position (see, for example, Mishne Brurah 581, no. 14)²⁷ with some notable exceptions. The rulings of the Shulkhan Arukh quoted above are in the laws of fast days (OH 565). They are not stated in the section dealing with the selichot before Rosh HaShanah and during the asseret yimei teshuva (OH 581). Pri Megadim (Eshel Avraham, 581, section 3) questions whether an individual might be permitted to recite the י”ג מדות during the asseret yimei teshuva. Although he only touches on this topic, his discussion indicates that he is inclined to think that individual would be allowed to recite the י”ג מדות during this period²⁸.

How are we to understand the position of Pri Migadim? Why should the recitation of the י”ג מדות of asseret yimei teshuvabe treated differently? This position is found in the various Minhagim books quoted by Rema in Darkhei Moshe, who state that an individual may recite the י”ג מדות if he is not inserting them into the Shmoneh Esrei as was the practice on fast days. This leads these poskim to conclude that an individual may recite them during asseret yimei teshuva, since during this period selichot are recited first thing in the morning and not in the Shmoneh Esrei. This seems inconsistent with how Rema rules since the practice in his time was to recite the selichot on fast days after the Shmoneh Esrei and not to insert them in the body of the Shmoneh Esrei itself (see Orah Hayyim 566:4), and he nevertheless forbids an individual to recite the י”ג מדות on these days.

There are other reasons why the recitation of י”ג מדות might be different during the asseret yimei teshuva according to Pri Migadim. As this is a period when everyone is saying selichot, one could argue that the recitation of the י”ג מדות even when done privately is part of the larger tfillat ha’tzibbur of all communities at this time, and thus constitutes a tfillat ha’tzibbur for these purposes³⁰.

Rav Soloveitchik in Harerei Kedem (vol.1, no. 1, sec. 5) offers another reason for distinguishing the selichot of asseret yimei teshuva. According to Rav Soloveitchik, selichot on the fast days are the exclusive prerogative of the community, for it is only the community as a whole that has the privilege of approaching God in this way. Since they can only exist as a tfillat ha’tzibbur, on a fast day they must be incorporated into the communal repetition of the Shmoneh Esrei or, as is our practice, be recited immediately following the repetition of the Shmoneh Esrei, for it is the connection to the communal Shmoneh Esrei that makes them a tfillat ha’tzibbur. During the asseret yimei teshuva, however, the prayers of individuals have equal access to God as those of the community. The recitation of the י”ג מדות at this time can exist as a tfillat yachid, as evidenced by the fact that it is recited first thing in the morning, and not after or during the communal Shmoneh Esrei³¹.

This explanation follows the Sefer HaMinhagim’s ruling that a tzibbur is only required when the selichot are inserted into the Shmoneh Esrei and not when they are recited independently. Rav Soloveitchik makes this consistent with Rema’s ruling that requires a minyan on fast days even when the selichot are recited after the Shmoneh Esrei by treating the post-Shmoneh Esrei recitation as equivalent to their recitation in the Shmoneh Esrei. This leaves the asseret yimeiteshuva recitation to be permitted to be done by an individual. Rav Soloveitchik goes further and adds that the same would apply to the saying of selichot in the days leading up to Rosh HaShanah, as here too the selichot are said in the morning and not as part of the Shmoneh Esrei.

We have been exploring the possibility, raised by Pri Migadim, that the recitation of the י”ג מדות may be done without a minyan during the asseret yimei teshuva. In practice, however, most poskim either reject or ignore Pri Migadim and assume that a minyan is required, whether during a fast day or during the asseret yimei teshuva (see, for example, Mishne Brurah 581:14). Regarding Rav Soloveitchik’s analysis, is it not clear if he would follow his theoretical discussion to its practical halakha li’maaseh implications. In addition, Rav Soloveitchik was only discussing the selichot; it is possible that his position would be different regarding the י”ג מדות, although his silence on this matter indicates that he would treat them similarly and allow them to be recited by an individual during the asseret yimei teshuva³².

In addition to the Pri Megadim and Rav Soloveitchik, this approach may find support in other poskim as well. We should note that Rav Soloveitchik’s approach is actually an explication of the position found in the Minhagim, quoted by Rema in Darkhei Moshe, which stated that the practice was for individuals to recite selichot and even the י”ג מדות on asseret yimei teshuva. This position then carries the weight of these earlier poskim and practices as well.

Thus, while we are only dealing with the minority positions, there may be room to rely on this in cases such as a girls high school, or women’s seminary or a women’s tefillah group, when no formal minyan is present.

May a Woman Lead the Selichot in a Minyan?

We have seen that the recitation of the י”ג מדות, whether on fast days or asseret yimei teshuva, must take place in a minyan, either because it is a tfillat ha’tzibbur or a davar she’bikdusha. While Pri Migadim raises the possibility that an individual may recite them during asseret yimei teshuva, most other poskim do not follow suit. Were one to want to rely on the position of Pri Migadim, would this allow a woman to serve as a prayer leader, since there would not be a need for a tfillat ha’tzibbur?

I believe that the answer is still “no.” Even if an individual may recite the י”ג מדות when alone according to Pri Migadim, when recited by a tzibbur it would take on the status of tfillat ha’tzibbur, no different than Shmoneh Esrei. Although we recite Shmoneh Esrei without a minyan, when it is said in a minyan, it becomes a tefillah bi’tzibbur and the repetition may only be done by a shaliach tzibbur.

Another possibility suggests itself. Why not just recite the י”ג מדות with the cantillation and the intent that it not serve as a prayer? Done with this intent and in this form, it should be considered a reading of verses and not a tefillah, let alone a tfillat ha’tzibbur, and may thus be led by a woman. I believe this position is untenable. First, the presence of a minyan might ipso facto define the recitation as a tefillah, regardless of intent. More to the point, it would be in no way acceptable to forgo the opportunity to recite the י”ג מדות in the standard way. This is a tfillat ha’tzibbur which constitutes the central tefillah of the selichot and of the asseret yimei teshuva, and one that we are promised will always be answered. If there is the opportunity to recite the י”ג מדות as a tefillah with a minyan, this cannot be exchanged for the recitation of them as Biblical verses.

One argument, however, requires serious consideration. We have been assuming that since halakha derives the need for a minyan for the י”ג מדות from the aggadah of God acting as a shaliach tzibbur, this would indicate that the shaliach tzibbur for the selichot must satisfy the standard halakhic criteria for a shaliach tzibbur. As we have seen, this position was stated explicitly by Sefer HaMinhagim:

This role of the shaliach tzibbur is also tacitly assumed by all the Rishonim who treat it as a davar she’bikdusha or a tfillat ha’tzibbur based on this Gemara.

Against this, one could argue that this may have been true in the past, when it can be surmised that the shaliach tzibburwas the only one who recited the י”ג מדות on behalf of the whole tzibbur³³. This would be exactly parallel to God’s proclamation of the מדות ג”י to Moshe. If God was acting as a shaliach tzibbur, we can reasonably infer that the actual shaliach tzibbur would recite it alone with everyone else listening. This is also implicit in the passage from Sefer HaMinhagim who speaks of the shaliach tzibbur reciting the י”ג מדות in, but notably not with, a tzibbur.

Even in some contemporary Sephardic and Edot Mizrach communities, the shaliach tzibbur plays a distinct role as prayer leader. He recites the י”ג מדות first by himself and is then answered responsively by the community. This role is even more pronounced when it comes to the recitation of the selichot themselves. In many of these communities, the shaliach tzibbur alone recites the selichot and the community participates only during the responsive reading.34

None of this is the case in Ashkenazic communities where the shaliach tzibbur functions more as a pacer, like the person who leads פסוקי דזמרה. The recitation of the י”ג מדות along with the rest of the selichot is done together, unlike when a shaliach tzibbur alone repeats the Shmoneh Esrei, and it is done without a responsive component, unlike when a shaliach tzibbur leads barkhu or kaddish. The only distinct role that the shaliach tzibbur plays is in prompting the recitation of the י”ג מדות by reading the verse ויעבור, and it is not clear that his prompting should be seen as an actual leading of the י”ג מדות. It will, however, be remembered that Rema, following Ri Migash, Shibolei HaLeket and others, states that when an individual is reciting the י”ג מדות without a minyan, he must also skip over the lead-in verse of ויעבור, understanding this to be part of the recitation of the י”ג מדות. The shaliach tzibbur’s recitation of this opening verse might then identify him as the leader of the י”ג מדות, although this is not conclusive.

In addition to ויעבור, the shaliach tzibbur also functions in a distinct role when he leads the responsive recitation of the פזמון and שמע קולנו, however neither of these has halakhic status as a davar she’bikdusha or tfillat ha’tzibbur. The only time that one functions as a classic shaliach tzibbur during selichot is for the reciting of kaddish after Ashrei and at the end of selichot. An argument could thus be made that, those kaddishes aside, a woman may lead the selichot, including the י“ג מדות.

The problem with this approach is that we would have to conclude that our selichot do not constitute a tfillat ha’tzibbur. Without a shaliach tzibbur, we would have many people praying together, but nothing to unify them as a tzibbur. It is helpful to introduce a distinction that Rav Soloveitchik makes between tefillah bi’tzibbur and tfillat ha’tzibbur. The first one – prayer in a community – describes the silent Shmoneh Esrei. Each individual is saying his or her tefillah in the presence of, and together with, the community. In contrast, tfillat ha’tzibbur – the prayer of the community – describes the repetition of the Shmoneh Esrei. Here, the entire community, as a single corporate entity, is reciting the Shmoneh Esrei through their representative – the shaliach tzibbur, the agent of the community, who is their assigned spokesperson.

Without a shaliach tzibbur for the י”ג מדות, not only would we not have a tfillat ha’tzibbur, we would not even have tefillah bi’tzibbur. Unlike Shmoneh Esrei, the recitation of the י”ג מדות does not exist as a prayer for individuals. As an exclusively communal prayer, it may not be recited by individuals even in the presence of a community. For the recitation of the י”ג מדות, we can only have the prayer of the community as a whole and without a shaliach tzibbur this is not possible³⁵.

This also emerges from the recitation of kaddish titkabel which follows the selichot. Levush, as we saw earlier, points to the fact that the recitation of the מדות ג”י is modeled after classic tefillah bi’tzibbur. It is preceded with Ashrei andkaddish, and followed by kaddish titkabel, a structure found in Seder Rav Amram Gaon, as quoted by Tur (OH 581)³⁶. The presence of kaddish titkabel as a part of selichot says a lot about the nature of this tefillah.

The recitation of kaddish titkabel is always done by the shaliach tzibbur who led the communal tefillah. Without a formal shaliach tzibbur it isn’t said. Thus, we find that if there was a minyan when the shaliach tzibbur began to repeat the Shmoneh Esrei, he may say kaddish titkabel even if the minyan is no longer present. In contrast, if there was a minyan for the silent Shmoneh Esrei, but not for its repetition, kaddish titkabel would not be said. It is not enough that a many individuals prayed together; they must have prayed as a community through the agency of the shaliach tzibbur³⁷.

If our selichot are a tfillat ha’tzibbur led by a shaliach tzibbur, what are we to make of the phenomenon that the shaliach tzibbur is merely reciting the prayers together with everyone else? The answer can be found in a statement in Perush haTefilot vi’haBrakhot by Rabbeinu Yehudah ben Yakkar, a teacher of Ramban. He writes in the section on Fast Days:

It is the shaliach tzibbur who is reciting the selichot, and the rest of the community joins in and adds their voices to his. This is eminently logical. If the institution began with just the shaliach tzibbur reciting the selichot, as we have surmised, then even at a later stage when everyone recites them together, this does not change his role. Far from it being a recitation of individuals paced by the shaliach tzibbur, what we actually have is what we’ve always had – the primary recitation of the shaliach tzibbur, only now, joined by the rest of the community. This is the reality that is being reflected in the leader’s reading of the lead-in verse ויעבור: he is the shaliach tzibbur for the recitation of the י”ג מדות, no different now than in the past.

The discussion above follows the tfillat ha’tzibbur model of the recitation of the י”ג מדות. If, however, the reason a minyan is required is based on devarim she’bikdusha model – and this is the reason given explicitly by Shulkhan Arukh – one could argue that the leader for the י”ג מדות does not have a formal status of shaliach tzibbur. A simple example of this is kaddish yatom, which is a davar she’bikdusha. which may be said by women in the presence of a minyan of men (see Teshuvot Chavot Yair, no. 222).

While we cannot assume that this is the case for all devarim she’bikdusha,38 it is certainly worth considering for the recitation of the י”ג מדות. Once we drop the tfillat ha’tzibbur model, who is to say that a woman cannot be the leader or prompter for this recitation?³⁹

The problem with this approach is that it assumes that those who assert that the recitation of the י”ג מדות is a davar she’bikdusha would say that it is only a davar she’bikdusha and not also a tefillah bi’tzibbur. But not only is there no evidence to this, it also goes against Rosh HaShanah (17b) which describes the recitation as taking place with God in the role of shaliach tzibbur and which was used as the halakhic source for the requirement of a minyan even by those who those who defined the י”ג מדות as a davar she’bikdusha (for example, Teshuvot HaRashba 1:211). Once this source defines the halakhic parameters of the recitation of the י”ג מדות, it is hard to escape the conclusion that even those who say that the recitation is a davar she’bikdusha would agree that it is also a tefillah bi’tzibbur and that a shaliach tzibbur is required. What is added by saying that it is a davar she’bikdusha is that it is forbidden to be recited by an individual, as discussed above.

The more conclusive proof is the practice of reciting kaddish titkabel at the end of selichot, a practice that goes back to the time of the Geonim. As argued above, this practice clearly shows that the selichot or some part of it – i.e., the י”ג מדות– is defined as a tfillat ha’tzibbur. And this can happen only through the agency of a formal shaliach tzibbur, who unifies and represents the tzibbur and who can thus recite the kaddish titkabel following this communal prayer.

It seems clear, that even those who explain the need for a minyan as based on devarim she’bikdusha, also agree that the selichot, or at least the י”ג מדות, constitute a tfillat ha’tzibbur when said in a minyan and led by a shaliach tzibbur. One could argue that a community could choose to forgo this tfillat ha’tzibbur and recite the י”ג מדות only as devarim she’bikdusha without a formal shaliach tzibbur, and to forgo the kaddish titkabel at the end. As discussed earlier regarding a similar proposal – the reading of the י”ג מדות as verses and not as prayer – this suggestion is not tenable. It sacrifices tefillah bi’tzibbur and kaddish titkabel, and goes against the Gemara’s model of the recitation of the י”ג מדות as something led by a formal shaliach tzibbur.40

Our conclusion, then, is that a woman may not lead the recitation of the י”ג מדות as this requires a formal shaliach tzibbur.

What about having a woman leading the selichot if a man leads the י”ג מדות? On the one hand, we have seen that the selichot may be said without a minyan, and thus perhaps they should not be considered to be a part of the tfillat ha’tzibbur even when said with a minyan. On the other hand, it will be remembered that Rema states that selichot are like the י”ג מדות and that they as well require a minyan. Rema’s position is rejected, and when selichot are said by themselves, they may be said by an individual. Nevertheless, the ruling may be different when they are said together with the י”ג מדות. When this happens, they become connected to the י”ג מדות and the entire unit – selichot and י”ג מדות–becomes a tfillat ha’tzibbur.

Levush in fact states that when they are said together they combine as a type of Shmoneh Esrei, and this position is adopted and expanded on by Rav Soloveitchik (Harerei Kedem, 1:1.1). If the selichot become part of tfillat ha’tzibburwhen joined with the י”ג מדות, then they too would require a shaliach tzibbur and could not be led by a woman.

There is also the fact that the selichot are concluded with the recitation of kaddish titkabel. As we have seen, this kaddish ties back to the beginning of the selichot, and it thus might have the force of incorporating all the selichot and tefillotwhich precede it into one unit of prayer. It would seem hard to allow a different prayer leader, who is not a shaliach tzibbur, to cut out and lead separately pieces of this single prayer unit, whose core elements – the י”ג מדות – require a formal shaliach tzibbur.

Finally, and significantly, the texts of many of the selichot describe the reciter as a representative of the tzibbur who is coming to pray on their behalf before God, that is, as a shaliach tzibbur. 41 While this could be seen as a preparation for the recitation of the י”ג מדות and not an actual tfillat tzibbur itself, it would seem at very least inappropriate for a non-shaliach tzibbur to describe herself this way and to recite this preparatory tefillah only to have the real shaliach tzibburrecite the actual tefillah of the י”ג מדות. This is different from a case when these selichot are recited without a minyan, for while the descriptions of the reciter as shaliach tzibbur are inaccurate in that case as well, they are not confusing or misleading, as they would be in this case of a woman leading the selichot in a minyan.

Based on these arguments, I would rule that a woman should not lead the selichot even when a man leads the י”ג מדות. Nevertheless, for those who want to be lenient, there may be what to rely on. First, the Gemara only discusses the י“ג מדות and never discusses, let alone gives any significance to, the selichot that precede the י”ג מדות. In fact, it is highly questionable if the Gemara even knew of the practice of reciting selichot prior to the ,י“ג מדות 42 and they certainly were not given any weight by the Gemara. Thus, from the standpoint of the Gemara, at least, such selichot are not part of the י”ג מדות and are not considered part of a tfillat ha’tzibbur. Whether they took on this status once they became a staple of the recitation of the י”ג מדות remains an open question, as discussed above. The evidence strongly points to the conclusion that the selichot are now part of the י”ג מדות, and this is clearly the position of the Levush. This conclusion, however, is not irrefutable, and an argument could be made that the selichot remain independent of the י”ג מדות even when said alongside them. If one chooses to rely on this argument – which is not my position – and permit a woman to lead selichot, the woman leading should skip over the lines in the selichot that describe the reciter as a shaliach tzibbur or choose other selichot to recite.

Conclusion:

The following are the rulings that emerge from our discussion above:

1. The recitation of the י”ג מדות must be done only in the presence of a minyan, unless they are recited as a reading of Biblical verses.
2. There is a debate whether an individual may say the י”ג מדות which are embedded in the selichot, and one may rely on those poskim that say it is permissible (see Mishna Brurah, 565:16).
3. The Pri Migadim raises the possibility that an individual may say the י”ג מדות for the selichot of asseret yimei teshuva. While the dominant position is against this, there is room to rely on this opinion. This is relevant not only for individuals praying alone, but also for girls high schools, women’s seminaries, and women’s tefillahgroups.
4. When recited in a minyan, theי”ג מדות are considered either a davar she’bikdusha or a tfillat ha’tzibbur, or both, and the one who leads the recitation has the formal status of a shaliach tzibbur.

Regarding what role a woman may play in the presence of a minyan from her side of the mechitza, as a matter of strict halakha and bracketing the larger discussion of partnership minyanim and any other concerns such as communal norms and the like:

1. A woman may not be the shaliach tzibbur for the recitation of the י”ג מדות.
2. A woman should not lead the selichot that are attached to the י”ג מדות, even if a man is leading the י“ג מדות themselves.
3. A woman may, in principle, lead the portions of the selichot service that precede the first of the selichot (the petichah) and that follow the last of the י”ג מדות, including the שמע קולנו. While the שמע קולנו is recited responsively, there is no evidence to say that this requires a shaliach tzibbur. If she is doing so, she should stop before the עננו section, so that a man can lead this43 and the kaddish titkabel which follows.
4. A woman may not lead the kaddish titkabel or the kaddish after Ashrei, both of which require a formal shaliach tzibbur .

Footnotes:

1. A woman in principle may read from the Torah – הכל עולים למנין שבעה אפ’ אשה – and women were wailers – מקוננות – at funerals, without a concern of קול אשה being raised. For a discussion of these issues, see Shut Benei Banim 2:10 and 4:2.

2. Minchat Chinukh, 296, ד”ה ושל השעת הגזירה; Rav Yosef Engel, Gilyoeni HaShas, Sanhedrin 74b and Yam Shel Shlomo, ad. loc.; Pitchei Teshuva, YD 157:7; and others. And see phrasing of Rambam, Yesodei HaTorah 5:2, 4 and 10 in regards to kiddush haShem and chilul haShem where he refers to עשרה מישראל without any qualifiers. Presumably the same would be true for the definition of מחלל שבת בפרהסיא where the general definition found in the poskim is עשרה מישראל without any qualifications.

Rambam also uses the phrase עשרה מישראל without qualifiers in regards to the ma’amad and moshav and the shura for a mourner (Hilkhot Avel 12:4 and 13:1), zimmun bi’Shem (Hilkhot Berakhot 5:4), reading the megillah (Hilkhot Megillah (:7), and bo’el kutit bi’farhesya (Issurei Biah 12:4). These categories, it would seem, are not based on the classic definition of tzibbur. In contrast, he mentions the additional criteria of גדולים ובני חורין in the cases of tfillat ha’tzibbur and kriyat haTorah Hilkhot Tefillah 8:4, and 12:3), and implicitly by juxtaposition, kedusha, haftarah, barkhu, kaddish and birkhat Kohanim (Hilkhot Tefillah 8:4-5). He also mentions these criteria for sheva brakhot under the chuppah (Hilkhot Ishut 10:5).

3. Rema Orah Hayyim 690:18, Hayye Adam 155:12, either based on farhesya as opposed to tzibbur (see Ramban, Milchamot, Megillah (RIF 3a)) or based on women’s equal obligation in reading the megillah (see Ran (RIF 6b), ד”ה הכל כשרין). See also Rambam, Hilkhot Megillah (1:7).

4. See Mishna Megillah 4:5-6; Rambam Tefillah 8:11; Shulkhan Arukh, Orah Hayyim 53:6-7. For a conceptual explanation of the relationship of the requirements for a shaliach tzibbur and the core membership of the minyan, see Reshimat Shiurim of Rav Soloveitchik, Mesekhet Sukkah, 38a (p. 183). See, also: “Further on Women as Prayer Leaders and Their Role in Communal Prayer: An Exchange, Communal Prayer and Women,” Michael Broyde, Judaism 42:4 (1993).

5. Minhagim Klausner, no. 3

6. Seder Rav Amram Gaon, Order of Fasts:

והכי אמר רבינו רב נתן שאין מנהג אצלינו לומר שלש עשרה מדות אלא בצבור ואין רשות ליחיד לומר אותן בתפלתו אלא בצבור. ולואי כשהצבור מתקבצין ומתענין ועושין צדקה ומבקשין רחמים ומכוונין את לבם לאביהן, הב“ה מרחם עליהם ואין מואס תפלתן של רבים ועונה אותן, שנאמר הן אל כביר לא ימאס. וכרת הב“ה ברית עם משה ועם אבותינו שאין חוזרות ריקם שנאמר הנה אנכי כורת ברית. לפיכך אין אומרין אותן אלא בצבור.

7. Shut Ri Migash, no. 83:

וששאלת אם יש ליחיד לומר בתחנוניו ויעבור ה‘ על פניו אם לאו. תשובה לא ראיתי בתלמוד מה שיורה על מניעתו מזה אלא שראיתי תשובה לגאון ז“ל נראה ממנה שאין ליחיד לומר ויעבור ונתלה בזה באמרם מנין שאין ה

8. Shibolei HaLeket, no. 29:

דין שלש עשרה מדות אם ראוי ליחיד לאמרם. ויחיד המתפלל בשני ובחמישי…כשמגיע לומר פסוק ויעבור מדלג… ואין אומר פסוק ויעבור שבו הזכרת שלש עשרה מדות. וכן מצאתי במנהגות לותיר. כשמשכימין בעשרת ימי תשובה לומר תחנונים בעלות השחר אם לא נתקבצו עשרה בבית הכנסת אין אומרים י“ג מדות אלא כשמגיע לומר פסוק ויעבור מתחיל וסלחת דהכי אמר רב נתן גאון זצ“ל ושאר חכמים… וכן השיב ה“ר אביגדור כהן צדק נר“ו לר‘ צדקיהו ב“ר בנימין אחי השני זצ“ל שאין לאמרם בפחות מעשרה לא בסליחות ולא בתחנונים שהן דברים של קדושה וכל דבר שבקדושה אינו בפחות מעשרה אלא מדלג ואומר ויקרא בשם ה‘ ושם נאמר וסלחת לעונינו ולחטאתנו ונחלתנו

And similarly, in no. 282:

ומזכירין שלש עשרה מדות בין כל ענייה וענייה ואומר סליחות ווידוים כפי רצונם ואם אינם מנין עשרה מדלגין שלש עשרה מדות וכשמגיעין לויקרא בשם ה‘ ושם נאמר מדלגין ואומר וסלחת לעונינו.

9. Shut HaRashba 1:211:

מה שאמרת אם אומר שלוש עשרה מדות ביחיד? תשובה מסתברא לי שכל שאומרן דרך תפילה ובקשת רחמים אין נאמרין ביחיד וכדבר שבקדושה הן. כמו שאמרו באגדה נתעטף הקדוש ברוך הוא כשליח צבור והראהו למשה בסיני. ואמר כל זמן שישראל חוטאין כשיגיע עת צרה יעשו לפני כסדר הזה ואני מוחל להם. אבל אם בא לאמרו כך דרך קריאה בעלמא אומר כדרך שאומרין אף האופנים וקראי דקדושה דרך קריאה.

10. This point is also made in Betzel HaChakhma 5:61. Other poskim assume that according to Rashba it is a real davar she’bikdusha. See, for example, Ha’Elef Likha Shlomo, Orah Hayyim 44.

11. This is Rashi’s understanding of porsin al Shema.

12. The simple sense of the Gemara (Megillah 23b) is that the reading of the Torah and the entire first set of rituals in the mishna (until ma’amad u’moshav) are devarim she’bikdusha, and this is stated explicitly by Meiri ד”ה ונשוב לביאור המשנה. However, it is not immediately obvious why this is so for the reading of the Torah or the haftarah, or even for birkhat Kohanim. It is easier to understand these as communal obligations, and not as devarim she’bikdusha. This is the position of Ran (on Rif 13b), who explains that birkat Kohanim requires 10 based of the verse כה תברכו את בני ישראל, and that kriyat haTorah and haftarah require 10 becauseדתקנתא דרבנן הוא ולא תקון אלא בצבור, these are rabbinic institutions established specifically for the community (See also Ramban, Milchamot HaShem (Megillah 3a, in Rif) who states that all the rituals listed in the Mishna are communal obligations: השנויים במשנתנו כולם חובת ציבור הן.

13. Rashbash (Shut Rashbash,191).

14. Harerei Kedem was written by Rav Michal Shorkin based on shiurim he heard from Rav Soloveitchik. The quotes from this sefer, then, are not the actual writings of Rav Soloveitchik.

15. He writes as follows:

ונראה הביאור, דהנה האחרונים נקטו דהטעם דאין לומר י”ג מדות אלא בציבור היינו משום דהוי כמו דבר שבקדושה דצריך עשרה… אך יעויין בהריטב”א בר”ה (יז:) דויעבור ה’ הוא מלשון עובר לפני התיבה כש”ץ… ולפ”ז נראה דעיקר החפצא של י”ג מדות אינם אלא בציבור ולא מצד דבר שבקדושה… אלא מתחילה כל עיקר תפילה זו לא נתקנה אלא לציבור.

It seems that the explanation is as follows. The Achronim adopt the position that the reason that we do not say the י”ג מדות except in a communal context is because they are like a davar she’bikdusha which requires 10 [men]… But see Ritvah on Rosh Hashana (17b), who states that the phrase “and God passed, va’ya’avor [in front of Moshe]” is from the same phrase as “to pass – o’ver – in front of the ark like a shaliach tzibbur” [showing that it is a prayer that requires a shaliach tzibbur]… According to this it seems that the basic “entity” (i.e., ritual recitation) of the י”ג מדות exists only in a communal context, and not because it is a davar she’bikdusha… but rather because from the very outset this entire prayer was only established for the community.

16. It’s actually easier to see this Ashrei as paralleling the Ashrei of Mincha, since here, like at Mincha, there is no קריאת שמע or ברכות קריאת שמע.

17. See a further elaboration of this in Harerei Kedem, vol. 1, no. 1, sec. 1, where Rav Soloveitchik explains that it is for this reason that one must stand during the selichot and even the viduy that follows.

18. The reason one is forbidden to do other communal obligations, such as kriyat haTorah, without a minyan is because without the communal institution, the blessings would be brakhot li’vatalah. That is not a concern here, where no brakhot are present.

19. Another possible difference between these approaches would be the question discussed in the poskim whether an individual has to interrupt his davening to respond to the י”ג מדות – something that we would expect if they are framed as devarim she’bikdusha but not if they are a communal tefillah. See Ha’Elef Likha Shlomo, Orah Hayyim 44, Tzitz Eliezer 11:3.6, and Betzel HaChakhma 5:61.

20. He is likely referring to Sefer HaMinhagim Klausner, no. 3, written by R. Avraham ben Hayim Klausner, uncle and mentor of Rav Yisrael Isserlin, the author of Trumat HaDeshen. Sefer HaMinhagim quotes Rabbeinu Eliezer miMetz (author of the Yireiyim) who states that an individual is allowed to say the י”ג מדות, as long as he does not insert it into the Shmoneh Esrei.

ורבינו אליעזר ממיץ אומר דווקא תוך י”ח ברכות אין לומר ביחיד אלא בציבור, שאין רשאי להפסיק בי”ח ברכות, אבל כשאין הפסק בתוך י”ח ברכות, כגון זה ובי’ ימי תשובה רשאי לומר י”ג מדות וכן אנו נוהגין.

21. See, however, Maharlach (in new edition of the Tur), who understands the Tur to be stating the position of the Rashba and Trumat HaDeshen, that it is permitted for an individual to recite them if he does so as if he is reading Biblical verses. Tur, however, seems to be adopting a more principled position, that there is no need for a minyan at all. See Yechave Da’at 1:47, who understands Tur similarly.

22. This is found both in Sefer HaMinhagim Tyrnau (Laws of Elul) and Sefer HaMinhagim Klausner (no. 3). This position is also found in Trumat HaDeshen.

23. Sefer HaMinhagim Klausner, ad. loc

24. Shalah, Hullin, Emek HaBrakha, p. 126b, ד”ה ובלאו:

דכדאי הם פסוקי הסליחות שאומרים אותם קודם היום לברך בעדם ברכת ענט”י כמו לק”ש ותפילה או ברכת שחרית הואיל והם פסוקי דרחמי רבו כמו רבו אזכרות מתחילת לך ה’ הצדקה עד סיום הסליחות וכל הפסוקים כלם שמותיו של הקב”ה הם ותוכן רצוף אהבה שלש עשרה מדות שאינן חוזרות ריקם קדושים הם ולפי שהם דברים שבקדושה סוברים קצת שאין נאמרין ביחיד וז”ל שבלי לקט ח”א סימן ר”ב מצאתי בשם ר’ נתן גאון וז”ל ושאר חכמים אין מנהג לומר שלש עשרה מדות אלא בצבור וכו’ וכן השיב הרב אביגדור כ ץ וז”ל שאין לאומרם בפחות מעשרה לא בסליחות ולא בתחנונים שהן דברים של קדושה ולא יהיה פחות מעשרה מדלג ואומר וכו’ וגם אנו אומרים הווידוים אשמנו כו’ ג”פ והזכרות אבות העולם אברהם יצחק ויעקב משה ואהרן דוד ושלמה ושבטים ואמהות ואומרים ג”כ ענינות ופזמון וקדיש בתחילה וקדיש בסוף ואם כן הואיל ואנו מזכירים בסליחות דברים שבקדושה כ”כ ראוי מפני זה להיותם נחשבים כק”ש ותפלה עצמה לענין לברך על נטילה זו זו ברכת ענ”י

And see Tana deBei Eliyahu – Eliyahu Zuta (23), which states that God showed Moshe סדר סליחה – not specifically the י”ג מדות – and instructed him that it should be recited by Israel באגודה אחת, as one unit, i.e., bi’tzibbur.

25 This idea is already present in Shibolei HaLeket, 29:

וכן השיב ה“ר אביגדור כהן צדק נר“ו לר‘ צדקיהו ב“ר בנימין אחי השני זצ“ל שאין לאמרם )דהיינו, השלש עשרה מדות( בפחות מעשרה לא בסליחות ולא בתחנונים שהן דברים של קדושה

26 See, for example. Pri Megadim, Mishbetzot Zahav, 581:1. Some poskim still recommend skipping the י”ג מדות when they appear in the text of one of the selichot; see Mateh Ephraim 581:21.

27 See also Eliyah Zuta, 581:6, who states that the requirement of a minyan for the י”ג מדות is not different during the asseret yimei teshuvathan during the rest of the year:

וכן הסכימו כל האחרונים, ולאפוקי מה שכתב במנהגים דמברכין. גם נ”ל דאין לנהוג נמי כמ”ש במנהגים דיחיד יכול לומר שלש עשרה מדות בעשרת ימי תשובה, כי כן כתב על פי דברי הטור סוף סימן תקס”ה, אבל בש”ע ואחרונים שם פסקו דאסור, ומשמע אפילו בעשרת ימי תשובה אם לא כשאומרה דרך קריאה בעלמא שלא בדרך תפלה ובקשה, וכ”מ בספר תניא דף ע”ב, ומ”מ הסליחות בלא ויעבור כתבתי לעיל [סי’ תקסה סק”י] דמותר ליחיד לאומרה

28 A partial support for this position can be found in Shalah, who states thatסוברים קצת שאין נאמרין ביחיד , “a few authorities are of the opinion that the י”ג מדות may not be recited by an individual” (Hullin, Emek HaBrakha, p. 126b, ד”ה ובלא). If only a few authorities say that it may not be recited, it means that the majority says it may. This is certainly not true when it comes to fast days, so it is likely that he is referring only to the recitation on asseret yimei teshuva, which is the larger context of this passage.

29 Darkhei Moshe OH 565:4. This position is found in Sefer HaMinhagim Tyrnau (Laws of Elul) and Sefer HaMinhagim Klausner (no. 3).

30 This is somewhat analogous to the argument that defends the practice of women praying in the vernacular, even when they pray at home, although one is not allowed to pray in a language other than Hebrew when not praying bi’tzibbur. Rosh (Berakhot 2:2) argues that this is allowed because the praying of the text of the communal prayer, even when done privately, it is considered for these purposes to be like tefillah bi’tzibbur. This explanation would not work according to the approach that the recitation is considered a davar she’bikdusha. If this were the case, it would always require the presence of a minyan when recited, regardless of whether it was considered to be part of a tfillat ha’tzibbur.

31 Rav Soloveitchik asks why Rema only states his position that an individual cannot recite selichot in the laws of fast days but not in the laws of the asseret yimei teshuva. He answers that such a recitation might be permitted during the asseret yimei teshuva:

דשאני עשי”ת דכתיב בהו דרשו ה’ בהמצאו קראוהו בהיותו קרוב… וע”כ אפשר לעשות בהם סדר תפלה מיוחד של סליחות בפני עצמו שאינו מצורף לתפילת י”ח. וא”כ י”ל דמה”ט הסליחות הם גם ביחידות, עיין בגמ’ ר”ה (יח.) דבעשרה ימים אלו יחיד כציבור וז”ל הגמ’ שם… ויחיד אימת [מצוי לו דכתיב בהמצאו – רש”י] אמר רבה בר אבוה אלו עשרה ימים שבין ראש השנה ליום הכיפורים”, ולכן בעשי”ת שהם זמן של בהמצאו ליחיד אומרים סליחות ביחידות

The asseret yimei teshuva are different [than fast days], for it says regarding them “Seek out the Lord when He may be found, call Him when He is close” (Yishayahu 55:6)… Therefore it is possible to make on these days a special independent prayer of selichot that does not adjoin to the Shmoneh Esrei. It is for this reason that selichot may be recited by the individual. See the Gemara Rosh HaShana (18a), that during the asseret yimei teshuva an individual has the same standing as the community [regarding approaching God]. And this is what the Gemara says there: “When is the time for an individual [when God is close to his calling out – Rashi]? Said Rabba bar Avuha, these are the ten days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.” Therefore, during the asseret yimei teshuva, a time when God is found for the individual (i.e., responsive to his prayers), one may say selichot alone (without a minyan).

32 He also notes that Rambam’s formulation indicates that even during the asseret yimei teshuva the selichot are a communal and not individual prayer.

33 This is almost certainly true when it comes to the selichot. The text of the selichot bears this out. See Goldschmidt, Seder HaSelichot KiMinhag Lita (Mossad HaRav Kook, 1965), p.9, where he cites the following examples of phrases from the selichot that are only intelligible if it were the shaliach tzibbur alone who was reciting the selichot: בקר אערוך לך בעד קהלי; הצליחי במשלחי ואשיב שולחי דבר; גשתי פני תבה; כהגון מדות ובתפלה שלם, כזקן ורגיל ולא כגולם; ההוקם סרסור. Other selichot texts were clearly written as a communal performance, with the community serving as a choir or playing a responsive role. It also should be remembered that before printing the text of the selichot were not available to the masses, and the community would be dependent on the shaliach tzibbur to recite them. In fact, in many communities even now, the shaliach tzibbur chooses each day which selichot he will recite for that day (Thanks to Dr. Ruth Langer for her help with this).

34 See Goldschmidt, p. 9.

35 This is also suggested by the passage in Tana deBei Eliyahu – Eliyahu Zuta (23), which parallels Rosh HaShana (17b) and refers to the people coming together באגודה אחת, as one unit, to say selichot:

יענך ה’ ביום צרה, היה דוד יודע שעתיד בית המקדש להיות חרב וקרבנות בטלין בעונותיהן של ישראל והיה מצטער על ישראל ואמר, בשעה שהצרות באות על ישראל מי מכפר עליהם, אמר לו הקדוש ברוך הוא, דוד אל תצטער שכבר גיליתי סדרי סליחה למשה ואמרתי לו, בשעה שהצרות באות על ישראל יעמדו לפני יחד באגודה אחת ויאמרו לפני סדרי סליחה ואני עונה אותם, והיכן גילה אותם, אמר ר’ יוחנן ויעבור ה’ על פניו ויקרא (שמות ל”ד ו’) מלמד שירד הקדוש ברוך הוא מערפל שלו כשליח צבור שמתעטף בטליתו ועובר לפני התיבה וגילה לו סדרי סליחה

Also noteworthy of this passage is the reference to the entire “order of selichah” and not just the י”ג מדות.

36 As quoted by Tur, Rav Amram Gaon states that selichot end in kaddish, although he does not say which kaddish. Nevertheless, given the parallels to the standard structure of tefillah, and the practice in all communities, Sefarad and Ashkenaz, to say kaddish titkabel, it is reasonable to assume that this is the kaddish being referred to. It should be noted that while the Tur’s text of reciting a final kaddish is found in some editions and manuscripts of Seder Rav Amram Gaon, but not others. Sefer HaMinhagim (Tyrnau, Laws of Elul) states explicitly that kaddish shalem is recited after selichot.

37 See Rema, Shulkhan Arukh, Orah Hayyim 55:3. This stands in contrast to ma’ariv, where there is no repetition of the Shmoneh Esrei, and yet we recite kaddish titkabel. See Levush, Orah Hayyim, 55:3, Noda BiYehudah Tinyana OH 7; Shaarei Teshuva, 55:6, and Mishna Brurah – Beiur Halakha, 55, s.v., vi’tfilat aravit. Since ma’ariv never had a repetition of the Shmoneh Esrei, the kaddish titkabel can connect to the silent Shmoneh Esrei. One possible way to understand this is that the recitation of chatzi kaddish before the silent Shmoneh Esrei serves the function of uniting the individuals as a tzibbur and thus defining the prayer as a communal tefillah. For example, if 9 people started davening Shmoneh Esrei of ma’ariv, and a tenth arrived and joined in, it would seem clear that they could not recite kaddish titkabel afterwards.

The above discussion follows Rema’s understanding that kaddish titkabel is so tightly connected to the repetition of the Shmoneh Esrei that it can be said as long as there was a minyan when the repetition began. According to many, the Shulkhan Arukh disagrees and requires a minyan present at the time of the recitation of the kaddish regardless; see OH 55:3, Beit Yosef OH 55 ד”ה ומ”ש ומיהו אם התחילו, and Kaf HaChayim, 55:35, 38, and 39. Although this position sees kaddish titkabel as independent and not merely a conclusion of the Shmone Esrei, it would still recognize that this kaddish is only said when there is a tfillat ha’tzibbur and, in the case of Shacharit and Mincha, when the repetition of the Shmoneh Esrei took place.

However we understand the kaddish titkabel of ma’ariv, it is clear that this was a special kaddish instituted for a tefillah which was never led by a shaliach tzibbur. There is no basis to assert that the kaddish titkabel of the selichot is a similar special case, and should thus not need a formal shaliach tzibbur, given that the selichot was originally a prayer that was led by a shaliach tzibbur and it was in this context that kaddish titkabel was instituted. We could only continue saying this kaddish if the selichot continued to exist as a tfillat ha’tzibbur..

38 See Beit Yosef, Orah Hayyim 53, and Shulkhan Arukh 53:10 and Magen Avraham, no. 12, regarding the possibility of a minor leadingma’ariv, and saying kaddish and barkhu.

39 This point is made explicitly by Rabbi Ben Zion Uziel regarding the question of having a minor lead the services in schools for chinukh purposes, even when adults are present in the minyan (Mishpetei Uziel, vol. 3, miluim, no. 2). In the course of his discussion he writes:

אבל במקום שהשומעים אומרים מלה במלה אחרי המברך והקורא אינו אלא מקריא לפניהם הדברים, הרי שהם יוצאים ידי חובתן בברכת עצמם והקורא אינו אלא מסדר הדברים פותח וחותם כל ברכה. וכן בקדושת השם פותח דברי קדושה והקהל עונים אחריו שפיר יכול המקריא להיות קטן או אשה…

[One requires an adult to lead services when it is necessary to discharge others their obligation.] But in a place where the listeners say along word for word after the one making the brakhot and the reader is doing nothing more than reading the words in their presence, behold they fulfill their obligation through their own brakhot and the reader is only ordering the words, opening and closing each bracha. The same is true with kedusha, he opens with the words of kedusha, and the community recites after him [word for word]. [In such a case] it is acceptable for the reader to be a minor or a woman…

On the basis of this argument he allows a minor to lead the services, including, it seems, barkhu, chazarat ha’shatz, and kedusha, although he pulls back at the end due to concerns for כבוד הציבור which may not be able to be waived.

His application of this idea – that the reader nowadays is, at times, just a pacer – to extend even to the repetition of the Shmoneh Esrei and the saying of kedusha is very hard to accept. According to him, we never have an actual shaliach tzibbur, and in principle should be able to say kedusha and barchu without anyone serving as shaliach tzibbur.

Nevertheless, this argument seems relevant to the case of the reciting of the י”ג מדות.

40 Rema’s ruling (OH 581:1) that we must look for a person with the highest qualifications to serve as a shaliach tzibbur for selichot, while seeming to point to formal requirements for a shaliach tzibbur, is not relevant for this discussion. Rema’s source for this is the Hagahot Ashri (Taanit 4:38), who states this in the name of Or Zarua (2:416). Or Zarua, however, is not discussing the reciting of the י”ג מדות, but the reciting of the עננו prayer, as discussed in tractate Taanit (this connection is also made by Gra in his notes on Shulkhan Arukh, ad. loc. What status עננו has is a discussion for another time. For our purposes, this Rema is not relevant for the role of the shaliach tzibbur in the recitation of the י”ג מדות.

41 For example, and as quoted above, footnote 32, from Goldschmidt, p. 9:

בקר אערוך לך בעד קהלי; הצליחי במשלחי ואשיב שולחי דבר; גשתי פני תבה; כהגון מדות ובתפלה שלם, כזקן ורגיל ולא כגולם; ההוקם סרסור

42 According to Goldschmidt, p.6, prior to Rav Amram Gaon (9th century) there were no selichot and Biblical verses were used to introduce the י”ג מדות. Tana deBei Eliyahu – Eliyahu Zuta (23) refers to סדר סליחות, but this is almost definitely post-Talmudic.

43 The עננו and מי שענה sections are based on the early order of prayer from fast days, as described in Taanit (15a). The role of a prayer leader is pronounced here, and the Gemara’s description of the qualities of the prayer leader serves as the basis for Rema’s list of qualifications for the shaliach tzibbur for selichot (OH 581:1), see earlier note 40. Whether this defines this person as a formal shaliach tzibbur is not clear, but regardless, a man should take over now so as to allow him to complete the selichot with kaddish titkabel.