Reply To: Frolicking Selichos Concert

“Other communities prepared by sitting together at a melave malka, singing, bonding, being inspired to serve Hashem with simcha, and then at midnight turning to Him to beg forgiveness. Then after selichos, dancing and singing with joy, confident that He will respond.”

Milhouse, please specify which kehilos followed this script 50 years ago and 100 years ago.

Also note that what you described in the above quote is different than the frolicking selichos concerts described in the OP that you nebech can witness today. Having a melave malka is something you should be doing every motzei Shabbos, the night before selichos being no exception. What you describe happening after selichos I haven’t heard of, but be it what it may it is *after* selichos not making a concert *during* selichos.

“So the only innovation, if it is one, is the use of instruments, since it’s a weekday. And what is wrong with that? The issur is only on organs, not guitars or violins or drums.”

Why haven’t our silly zeidas came out with that innovation anytime between 100 years ago to 1000 years ago? It took a few wise entertainers in the runup to the 21st century to innovate selichos with something that the rabbonim never thought of for thousands of years?

And the wild dancing *during* selichos you don’t deem an innovation?