Today, Sunday, the 24th of Elul—the first day of Selichos, according to the custom of Anshei Shlomeinu—the “First Selichos Gathering” took place in the Shuvu Banim holy community.

As is well known among Anshei Shlomeinu, and as The Rav shlit"a has said, the Rosh Hashanah Kibbutz begins already on the first day of Selichos. And indeed, hundreds of Anshei Shlomeinu from all across the country merited to come to the sanctuary of our Beis Midrash, to pour out their hearts and plead for mercy by reciting the first Selichos.

The Selichos began at 4:30 in the morning. Leading the prayers was The Rav shlit"a’s grandson and gabbai, R’ Dov Zucker, may he be granted long life, whose sweet voice stirred the congregation to teshuvah.

It is worth noting that although the Kibbutz was held without Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, who is currently abroad, a great awakening was felt—perhaps even because of this, the supplications and tears only intensified, that The Rav shlit"a should succeed in arriving for the Rosh Hashanah Kibbutz 5784 in Uman.

After Selichos, as every morning, Shacharis was held with melodies, with joy and heartfelt inspiration, together with the hundreds of Anshei Shlomeinu who came for the Selichos Kibbutz.

Below is a replay broadcast from the first day of Selichos in the sanctuary of our Beis Midrash: