Tachanun

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Tachanun

Tachanun or Taanun (Hebrew

Hebrew language

Hebrew is a Semitic languages of the Afro-Asiatic languages. Modern Hebrew is spoken by more than seven million people in Israel and Classical Hebrew is used for prayer or study in Jews communities around the world....
: ????? "Supplication"), also called nefillat apayim ("falling on the face") is part of Judaism

Judaism

Judaism is a set of beliefs and practices originating in the Hebrew Bible , as later further explored and explained in the Talmud and other texts....
's morning (Shacharit) and afternoon (Mincha) services

Jewish services

Jewish services are the prayer recitations that form part of the observance of Judaism. These prayers, often with instructions and commentary, are found in the siddur, the traditional Jewish prayer book....
, after the recitation of the Amidah

Amidah

The Amidah , also called the Shmona Esre , is the central prayer of the Siddur. As Judaism's prayer par excellence, the Amidah is often designated simply as tfila in Rabbinic literature....
, the central part of the daily Jewish prayer services. It is omitted on Shabbat

Shabbat

Jewish holiday

A Jewish holiday or festival is a day or series of days observed by Jews as a holy or secular commemoration of an important event in Jewish history....
s and several other occasions (e.g., in the presence of a groom in the week after his marriage).

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Encyclopedia

Tachanun or Taanun (Hebrew

Hebrew language

Judaism

Jewish services

Amidah

Shabbat

Jewish holiday

Minhag

Minhag is an accepted tradition or group of traditions in Judaism. A related concept, Nusach , refers to the traditional order and form of the Jewish services....
recite a longer prayer on Mondays and Thursdays.

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 synagogue

Synagogue

A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer.Synagogues usually have a large hall for prayer , smaller rooms for study and sometimes a social hall and offices....
s, Tachanun begins with introductory verses from II Samuel

Books of Samuel

The Books of Samuel are part of the Tanakh and also of the Christianity Old Testament. The work was originally written in Hebrew language, and the Book of Samuel originally formed a single text, as they are often considered today in Hebrew bibles....
(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
Tefillin

Tefillin, , also called phylacteries, are a pair of black leather boxes containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with bible verses. The hand-tefillin, or shel yad, is worn by Jews wrapped around the arm, hand and fingers, while the head-tefillin, or shel rosh, is placed above the forehead....
on the left) as per Shulchan Aruch

Shulchan Aruch

The Shulchan Aruch is a codification, or written manual, of halacha , composed by Rabbi Yosef Karo in the 16th century. Together with its commentaries, it is considered the most authoritative compilation of halakha since the Talmud....
, Orach Chayim 131:1-2). The second paragraph, "???? ?????" ("Guardian of Israel") is recited seated, but erect (some communities only recite it on fast days

Ta'anit

A ta'anit or taanis is a Fasting in Judaism. A Jewish fast may have one or more purposes, including:*A tool for repentance*An expression of mourning...
). 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
Kaddish

Kaddish refers to an important and central prayer in the Jewish Jewish services. The central theme of the Kaddish is the magnification and sanctification of Names of God in Judaism's name....
" 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; Sephardic (and Hasidic, in imitation of Sephardic) 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

Bava Kamma

Bava Kamma is the first of a series of three Talmudic tractates in the order Nezikin that deal with civil matters such as damages and torts. Bava Kamma discusses various forms of damage and the compensation owed for them....
) marks Monday and Thursday as "eth ratzon", a time of Divine goodwill, on which a supplication is more likely to be received.

According to the Sephardic rite, Tachanun begins with viduy (confessional prayer). In this prayer several sins are mentioned and the heart is symbolically struck with the right fist during mentioned of each sin. This is followed by the mention of G-d's thirteen attributes of mercy. By and large, Sephardim do not have the custom of resting their head on their hand, but due to Ashkenazic influence in Morocco, some Moroccan prayer books include this custom.

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, Talmud

Talmud

The Talmud is a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Halakha, Jewish ethics, customs, and history. It is a central text of mainstream Judaism....
ic 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.

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 hand of God"). It is also reminiscent of the Daily Sacrifice

Korban

Korban , in Judaism, is the term for a variety of Sacrifice described and commanded in the Torah. Such sacrifices were offered in a variety of settings by the ancient Israelites, and later by the Jewish priesthood, the Kohen, at the Temple in Jerusalem....
brought in the Temple

Temple in Jerusalem

The Temple in Jerusalem or Holy Temple , refers to a series of structures located on the Temple Mount in the old city of Jerusalem. Historically, two temples were built at this location, and a The Third Temple features in Jewish eschatology....
, which was laid on its left side to be slaughtered. A person's arm should be covered with a sleeve, tallit

Tallit

The taleth or talet tallit , also tallis is a Jewish prayer shawl worn while reciting morning prayers as well as in the synagogue on Sabbath and holidays....
, or other covering. This posture, developed in the post-Talmudic period, is symbolic of the original 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

Moses

Moses is a Hebrew Bible Hebrews religious leader, lawgiver, prophet, to whom the Mosaic authorship of the Torah is traditionally attributed. Also called Moshe Rabbeinu in Hebrew , he is the most important prophet in Judaism, and also an important prophet of Christianity, Islam, the Bah?'? Faith, Rastafari movement, Chrislam and many ot...
and Joshua

Joshua

Joshua, Jehoshuah or Yehoshua , born in Egypt, was a biblical Israelite leader who succeeded Moses. His story is told in the Hebrew Bible, chiefly in the books Book of Exodus, Book of Numbers and Book of Joshua....
, who fell on their faces before God

God

God is a deity in theism and deism religions and other belief systems, representing either the sole deity in monotheism, or a principal deity in polytheism....
after the sin

Sin

Sin is a term used mainly in a religion context to describe an act that violates a morality rule, or the state of having committed such a violation....
of the Golden Calf

Golden calf

The golden calf was an idolatry made for the Israelites during Moses' absence, as he went up to Mount Sinai. According to the Hebrew Bible, the calf was made by Aaron to satisfy the Israelites, whereas the Quran indicates the maker to be Samiri....
. Because of this practice, Tahanun is also known as nefilat apayim ("falling on the face"). Because Joshua fell on his face before the Ark

Ark of the Covenant

The Ark of the Covenant is described in the Bible as a sacred container, where in rested the Tablets of stone containing the Ten Commandments as well as Aaron's rod and manna....
, one only puts one's head down when praying in front of an Ark

Ark (synagogue)

The Ark or Torah Ark in a synagogue is known in Hebrew as the Aron Kodesh by the Ashkenazim and as the Hekh?l amongst most Sefardim....
containing a Torah

Torah

The term "Torah" , or Five Books of Moses or Pentateuch, refers to the entirety of Judaism's founding Halakha and ethical religious texts....
scroll. Otherwise, it is proper to sit with the head up.

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

Jewish-Roman wars

The Jewish-Roman wars were a series of revolts by the Jews of Iudaea Province against the Roman Empire. Some sources use the term to refer only to the First Jewish-Roman War and Bar Kokhba revolt ....
. 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
David Abudraham

David ben Josef ben David Abudraham or Abudarham was a Rishonim who lived at Seville, Spain, and who was known for his commentary on the Synagogue liturgy....
states that the words "rachum ve-chanun" ("merciful and gracious") mark the beginning of the next segment.

Days on which Tachanun is omitted

Tachanun is omitted from the prayers on Shabbat

Shabbat

Shabbat or Shabbos , is the weekly day of rest in Judaism, symbolizing the seventh day in Genesis, after the six days of creation. Though it is commonly said to be the Saturday of each week, it is observed from sundown on Friday until the appearance of three stars in the sky on Saturday night....
, all the major holidays and festivals (including Chol HaMoed
Chol HaMoed

Chol HaMoed, a Hebrew language phrase which means "weekdays [of] the festival", refers to the intermediate days of Passover and Sukkot. During Chol HaMoed the usual 39 categories of activity prohibited on Shabbat that apply to the Biblical Jewish holidays are relaxed, but not entirely eliminated....
, the intermediate days of Pesach and Sukkot), Rosh Chodesh
Rosh Chodesh

Rosh Chodesh, , is the name for the first day of every month in the Hebrew calendar, marked by the appearance of the New Moon. It is considered a minor holiday, akin to the intermediate days of Passover and Sukkot....
(new moon), Hanukkah

Hanukkah

File:PikiWiki Israel 146 Hanukka ?????.JpgHanukkah , also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE....
and Purim

Purim

Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people of the ancient Persian Empire from Haman 's plot to annihilate them, as recorded in the Hebrew Bible Book of Esther ....
, 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 Tishrei Tishrei is the first month of the civil year and the seventh month of the ecclesiastical year in the Hebrew calendar. The name comes from the Talmud....	The day before Yom Kippur Yom Kippur Yom Kippur , also known in English as the Day of Atonement, is the most solemn and important of the Jewish holidays. Its central themes are Atonement in Judaism and Repentance in Judaism.... (but not the mincha of the day beforehand).
11–14	Tishrei Tishrei Tishrei is the first month of the civil year and the seventh month of the ecclesiastical year in the Hebrew calendar. The name comes from the Talmud....	The days between Yom Kippur and Sukkot Sukkot Sukkot , is a Hebrew Bible pilgrimage Jewish holiday that occurs in autumn on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei . The holiday lasts seven days, including Chol Hamoed.... .
24–29	Tishrei Tishrei Tishrei is the first month of the civil year and the seventh month of the ecclesiastical year in the Hebrew calendar. The name comes from the Talmud....	From after Simchat Torah Simchat Torah Simchat Torah is a celebration marking the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle. Simchat Torah is a component of the Bible Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret , which follows immediately after the festival of Sukkot in the month of Tishrei .... until the conclusion of the month (not a universal custom).
10 & 20	Kislev Kislev For the Warhammer Fantasy location see Kislev Kislev is the third month of the civil year and the ninth month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar....	(according to Chabad custom)
19	Kislev Kislev For the Warhammer Fantasy location see Kislev Kislev is the third month of the civil year and the ninth month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar....	(according to chasidic custom—yortsayt of Magid of Mezritch)
2	Shevat Shevat Shevat is the fifth month of the civil year and the eleventh month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. It is a winter month of 30 days....	(The day when a fire almost burned down the Ghetto of Rome, but the community was miraculously save. Not a universal custom.)
15	Shevat Shevat Shevat is the fifth month of the civil year and the eleventh month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. It is a winter month of 30 days....	Tu b'Shevat Tu Bishvat "Tu Bishvat" is a minor Jewish holiday in the Hebrew month of Shevat, usually sometime in late January or early February, that marks the "New Year of the Trees" .... , New Year of the Trees.
11–17	Adar Adar Adar is the sixth month of the civil year and the twelfth month of the religious year on the Hebrew calendar. It is a winter month of 29 days. In leap years, it is preceded by a 30-day intercalary month named Adar Aleph , Adar Rishon or Adar I and it is then itself called Adar Bet , Adar Sheni or Adar II....	(according to chasidic custom)
15	Adar Adar Adar is the sixth month of the civil year and the twelfth month of the religious year on the Hebrew calendar. It is a winter month of 29 days. In leap years, it is preceded by a 30-day intercalary month named Adar Aleph , Adar Rishon or Adar I and it is then itself called Adar Bet , Adar Sheni or Adar II....	Shushan Purim
14–15	Adar I Adar Adar is the sixth month of the civil year and the twelfth month of the religious year on the Hebrew calendar. It is a winter month of 29 days. In leap years, it is preceded by a 30-day intercalary month named Adar Aleph , Adar Rishon or Adar I and it is then itself called Adar Bet , Adar Sheni or Adar II....	Purim Katan and Shushan Purim Katan Purim Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people of the ancient Persian Empire from Haman 's plot to annihilate them, as recorded in the Hebrew Bible Book of Esther ....
Entire month	Nisan Nisan Nisan is the seventh month of the civil year and the first month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. The name of the month is Babylonian; in the Torah it is called the month of the Aviv, referring to a stage in the ripening of barley which occurs during the month....
14	Iyar Iyar Iyar is the eighth month of the civil year and the second month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. The name is Babylonian in origin....	Pesach Sheni Passover Passover is a Jewish and Samaritan holy day and festival commemorating God sparing the Israelites when He killed the first born of Egypt, and is followed by the seven day Feast of the Unleavened Bread commemorating the Exodus from Ancient Egypt and the liberation of the Israelites from Judaism and slavery.... (but not the mincha of the day beforehand; not a universal custom).
14–20	Iyar Iyar Iyar is the eighth month of the civil year and the second month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. The name is Babylonian in origin....	(according to chasidic custom)
18	Iyar Iyar Iyar is the eighth month of the civil year and the second month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. The name is Babylonian in origin....	Lag b'Omer
1–5	Sivan Sivan Sivan is the ninth month of the civil year and the third month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. It is a spring month of 30 days....	The beginning of the month until Shavuot Shavuot is a Jewish holiday that occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan . Shavuot commemorates the anniversary of the day Names of God in Judaism#In English gave the Ten Commandments to Moses and the Israelites at Mount Sinai.... .
8–12	Sivan Sivan Sivan is the ninth month of the civil year and the third month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. It is a spring month of 30 days....	(the Isru chag Isru Chag Isru Chag refers to the day after each of the three Shalosh regalim in Judaism: Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot. The origins of the phrase ?Isru Chag? is from the verse in Psalms 118:27 that states ?Bind the Korban with cords to the corners of the altar.? This verse, according to the Sages of the Talmud should homiletically be understood to... and compensentory week to bring an offering to the Temple in Jerusalem Temple in Jerusalem The Temple in Jerusalem or Holy Temple , refers to a series of structures located on the Temple Mount in the old city of Jerusalem. Historically, two temples were built at this location, and a The Third Temple features in Jewish eschatology.... after Shavuot; not a universal custom)
12–13	Tammuz Tammuz (month) Tammuz is the tenth month of the civil year and the fourth month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. It is a summer month of 29 days....	(Chabad custom)
9	Av	Tisha B'Av Tisha B'Av is an annual ta'anit in Judaism, named for the ninth day of the month of Av in the Hebrew calendar. The fast commemorates the destruction of the Solomon's Temple and Second Temples in Jerusalem, which occurred about 656 years apart, but on the same date.... .
15	Av	Tu B'Av Tu B'Av Tu B'Av is a minor holiday in the Hebrew calendar. In modern times, there are no special religious customs, apart from the omission of Tachanun after the morning and afternoon Jewish services ....
29	Elul Elul Elul is the twelfth month of the Jewish civil year and the sixth month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. It is a summer month of 29 days....	The day before Rosh Hashanah (but not the mincha of the day beforehand, nor in the Selichos Selichot Selichot are Judaism penitential poems and prayers, especially those said in the period leading up to the High Holidays, and on Fast Days. The Thirteen Attributes of Mercy are a central theme throughout the prayers.... in the early morning).

It is also not recited in the house of a mourner (see bereavement in Judaism
Bereavement in Judaism

Bereavement in Judaism is a combination of minhag and mitzvah derived from Judaism's classical Torah and Rabbinical literature texts. The details of observance and practice vary according to each Jewish community....
), (reasons vary: either so as not to add to the mourner's grief by highlighting God's judgment, or because a mourner's house is a house of judgment, and a house of judgment is not a suitable place for requesting mercy) 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

Brit milah

Brit milah , also berit milah , bris milah or bris is a religious ceremony within Judaism to welcome infant Jewish boys into a covenant between Names of God in Judaism and the Children of Israel through ritual circumcision performed by a mohel , on the eighth day of the child's life unless health reasons or certain spe...
is taking place in the synagogue at that time, and when either the father of the baby, the sandek

Sandek

Sandek is the term for a person honored at a Judaism brit milah ceremony, traditionally either by holding the baby boy on the knees or thighs while the mohel performs the brit milah or by handing the baby to the mohel....
(the one who holds the baby during the circumcision), or the mohel

Mohel

A mohel is a Jewish man who performs the Jewish ritual of Brit milah ....
(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

Rebbe

Rebbe which means master, teacher, or mentor is a Yiddish word derived from the identical Hebrew language word Rabbi. It mostly refers to the leader of a Hasidic Judaism Jewish movement....
(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.

External links

A historical perspective on Tachanun from a Yemenite and Maimonidean perspective.
Has translation of and guidance on how to pray the Amidah and Tachanun according to the Mishneh Torah
Mishneh Torah

The Mishneh Torah , subtitled Sefer Yad ha-Chazaka , is a Legal code of Judaism religious law by one of the important Jewish authority Maimonides ....