Tachanun

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Tachanun or Taanun (Hebrew: תחנון "Supplication"), also called nefillat apayim ("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 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.

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[edit] Format

On all days except Monday and Thursday (days when the Torah is read in the synagogue), 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 final paragraph is recited while 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 recited before (or after, depending on custom) the short Tachanun. It is recited standing. The length of this prayer varies according to community. Ashkenazic communities have the longest text of it; Sepharadic (and Hasidic, in imitation of Sepharadic) communities have a somewhat shorter, but similar, text; and Italian communities have the shortest text of all. The Italian text begins not with Psalms 78:38, but with Daniel 9:15.

The Talmud (Bava Kamma) marks Monday and Thursday 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 (Taanun) 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 16b). 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 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 classical 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), Hanukkah 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:

9 Tishrei The day before Yom Kippur (but not the mincha of the day beforehand).
11–14 Tishrei The days between Yom Kippur and Sukkot.
24–29 Tishrei From after Simchat Torah until the conclusion of the month (not a universal custom).
10 & 20 Kislev (according to Chabad custom)
19 Kislev (according to chasidic custom—yortsayt of Magid of Mezritch)
2 Shevat (The day when a fire almost burned down the Ghetto of Rome, but the community was miraculously save. Not a universal custom.)
15 Shevat Tu b'Shevat, New Year of the Trees.
11–17 Adar (according to chasidic custom)
15 Adar Shushan Purim
14–15 Adar I Purim Katan and Shushan Purim Katan
Entire month Nisan
14 Iyar Pesach Sheni (but not the mincha of the day beforehand; not a universal custom).
14–20 Iyar (according to chasidic custom)
18 Iyar Lag b'Omer
1–5 Sivan The beginning of the month until Shavuot.
8–12 Sivan (the compensatory days after Shavuot; not a universal custom)
12–13 Tammuz (Chabad custom)
9 Av Tisha B'Av.
15 Av Tu B'Av
29 Elul The day before Rosh Hashanah (but not the mincha of the day beforehand, nor in the Selichos in the early morning).

It is also not recited in the house of a mourner (see bereavement in Judaism), 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 hamishte (the seven celebratory days subsequent to his marriage, see marriage in Judaism). Additionally, Tachanun is omitted in a synagogue when a circumcision is taking place in the synagogue at that time, 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. In many congregations, Tachanun is omitted if a simchat bat (naming ceremony for a baby girl) is taking place that day and one or both of the parents are present.

In Hasidic congregations, Tachanun is omitted on the anniversary of the death of the Rebbe (head), since that is considered a day for religious renewal and celebration. Some communities omit Tachanun on 7 Adar because it is the anniversary of the death of Moses.

In many congregations, it is customary to omit Tachanun on holidays established by the State of Israel: Yom Hazikaron (Day of Remembrance of Israel's war dead), 4 Iyar; Yom Haatzmaut (Independence Day), 5 Iyar; and Yom Yerushalayim (the anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967), 28 Iyar. It is also the custom in many congregations to omit Tachanun on certain days of celebration on the civil calendar such as July 4 and Thanksgiving Day in the United States.

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