Malkos
Before going to the mikvah and davening Minchah, we receive malkos.
The one receiving malkos bends down on his knees, facing north. The one giving malkos takes a leather strap (such as a belt) and strikes the other person lightly, first on his right shoulder, then on his left shoulder, and then lower down between the shoulders. He then returns to the right shoulder and continues in this fashion, giving a total of 39 strikes.
When striking, both men say the possuk of Vehu Rachum three times, one word per strike. Since this possuk has thirteen words, saying it three times coincides with the 39 strikes being given.
Mikvah
Before Minchah, go to the mikvah. Remove anything that may be a chatzitzah before immersing and immerse three times.
Minchah
It is customary to daven Minchah while wearing Shabbos clothing.
Give extra tzedakah before Minchah. The Rebbe would come to shul holding a large bag filled with coins, giving tzedakah before Minchah to every single tzedakah box in the shul, an event which took upwards of twenty minutes.
“The Baal Shem Tov said: The noise of the coins rattling in the tzedakah plates causes the kelipos to disintegrate.” (Ginzei Nistaros, p. 34)
Say viduy in the silent Shemoneh Esrei, after the first Yihiyu Leratzon.
Strike the chest (now and throughout Yom Kippur) at the following places: at each sin mentioned in Ashamnu; when saying the words va’anachnu hirshanu; at each Al Chet; when saying the words selach lanu, mechal lanu, kaper lanu (three times); and when saying Ve’al chata’im (each time).
For more on viduy, see below, “Hosafos.”
Shemoneh Esrei is followed by L’david Hashem ori and Aleinu. Do not say Avinu Malkeinu.
Shacharis
Tachanun is not said from today until after Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan. Omit Mizmor Lesodah. Do not say Avinu Malkeinu.
It is customary to request lekach, and to eat (some of) it.
Morning Meal
Eat and drink more than usual on Erev Yom Kippur.
“If you eat and drink on the ninth of Tishrei, Hashem considers it as if you fasted on both the ninth and tenth of Tishrei.” (Yoma 81b)
During today’s meals, dip the piece of bread/challah upon which you said Hamotzi into honey, but still keep salt on the table.
Only eat foods that are easy to digest, such as fish and chicken (as opposed to red meat). Men refrain from eating garlic and eggs.
It is customary to eat kreplach today.
