Tachanun

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Tachanun or Tahanun (Hebrew: תחנון "Supplication"), also called nefillat apaim ("falling on the face") is part of Judaism's morning (Shacharit) and afternoon (Mincha) services, after the recitation of the Amidah, the central part of the daily Jewish prayer services. It is omitted on the Shabbat, Jewish holidays and several other occasions (e.g. in the presence of a groom in the week after his marriage). Most traditions recite a longer prayer on Mondays and Thursdays.

Contents

[edit] Format

On all days except Monday and Thursday, Tachanun consists of three (in some communities two) short paragraphs. In most Ashkenazic synagogues, Tachanun begins with introductory verses from II Samuel (24:14), and then continues with Psalm 6:2-11, which King David composed - according to traditional sources - while sick and in pain. In the presence of a Torah scroll, this first paragraph is recited with the head leaning on the back of the left hand or sleeve (right hand when wearing tefillin on the left) as per Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 131:1-2). The second paragraph, "שומר ישראל" ("Guardian of Israel") is recited seated but erect (some communities only recite it on fast days). After this point, and following the words "va'anachnu lo neida", it is customary in many communities to rise, and the remainder of the completing paragraph is recited standing. Tachanun is invariably followed by "half kaddish" in the morning and by "full kaddish" in the afternoon.

On Monday and Thursday, a longer prayer commencing with Psalms 78:38 is recited before (or after, depending on custom) the short Tachanun. It is recited standing. The Talmud (Baba Kamma) marks these days as "eth ratzon", a time of Divine goodwill, on which a supplication is more likely to be received.

[edit] History

The source of the supplicatory prayer (Tahanun) is in Daniel (9:3) and I Kings (8:54), where the verses indicate that prayer should always be followed by supplication. Based on this, Talmudic sages developed the habit of adding a personal appeal to God following the set prayers (some examples are listed in the Babylonian Talmud, Berachot 17b). In the fourteenth century, these spontaneous supplications were standardized and turned into the prayer of Tachanun.[citation needed]

The custom of bending over and resting the face on the left hand is suggested by the first line of the text which includes the words "nip'lah na b'yad adonai" ("let us fall into the hands of god"). It is also reminiscent of the Daily Sacrifice brought in the Temple, which that was laid on its left side to be slaughtered. A person's arm should be covered with a sleeve, tallit, or other covering. This posture, developed in the post-Talmudic period, is symbolic of Temple practice, in which people knelt down until their faces touched the ground to show humility and submission to God. The pose was also used by Moses and Joshua, who fell on their faces before God after the sin of the Golden Calf. Because of this practice, Tahanun is also known as nefilat apayim ("falling on the face"). Because Joshua fell on his face before the Ark, one only puts one's head down when praying in front of an Ark containing a Torah scroll. Otherwise, it is proper to sit with the head up.[citation needed]

The longer version recited on Mondays and Thursdays is traced by classic sources (see e.g. S. Baer, "Siddur Avodath Yisrael") to three sages who had escaped the destruction of the Jewish community in the Holy Land by the Romans. While on a ship on the way to Europe, they were caught in a storm, and all three recited a personal prayer, after which the storm subsided. These sages went on to establish communities in Europe. Abudraham states that the words "rachum ve-chanun" ("merciful and gracious") mark the beginning of the next segment.

[edit] Days on which Tachanun is omitted

Tachanun is omitted from the prayers on Shabbat, all the major holidays and festivals (including chol hamoed, the intermediate days of Pesach and Sukkot), Rosh Chodesh (new moon), Chanukah and Purim, as these days are of a festive nature and reciting Tachanun, which is mildly mournful, would not be appropriate.

The following is a list of all the other days, "minor holidays", when tachanun is excluded from the prayers. It is typically also omitted from the Mincha prayers the preceding afternoon, unless otherwise noted:

  • Tishrei 9 – The day before Yom Kippur (but not the mincha of the day beforehand).
  • Tishrei 11-14 – The days between Yom Kippur and Sukkot.
  • Tishrei 24-29 – From after Simchat Torah until the conclusion of the month.
  • Kislev 10 and Kislev 19-20 (according to Chabad custom)
  • Shevat 15 – Tu b'Shevat, New Year of the Trees.
  • Adar 15 – Shushan Purim
  • Adar I 14-15 – Purim Kattan and Shushan Purim Kattan
  • Nissan – The entire month.
  • Iyar 14 – Pesach Sheni (but not the mincha of the day beforehand).
  • Iyar 18 – Lag b'Omer.
  • Sivan 1-5 – The beginning of the month until Shavuot.
  • Sivan 8-12 (the milluim days after Shavuot, not universally)
  • Tammuz 12-13 (Chabad custom)
  • Av 9 – Tisha b'Av.
  • Av 15 – Tu b'Av
  • 29 Elul – The day before Rosh Hashanah (but not the mincha of the day beforehand).

It is also not recited in the house of a mourner, so as not to add to the mourner's grief by highlighting God's judgment, nor is it said in the presence of a groom in the sheva yemei mishtei (the seven celebratory days subsequent to his marriage). Additionally, Tachanun is also omitted in a synagogue when a circumcision is taking place in the synagogue that day, and when either the father of the baby, the sandek (the one who holds the baby during the circumcision), or the mohel (the one who performs the circumcision) is present on the day of a circumcision.

In Hasidic congregations, Tachanun is omitted on the anniversary of the death of the sect's Rebbe (head), since that is considered a day for religious renewal and celebration.

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