Chapter 22 : Laws of Tachanin

---

§1

After the Shemoneh Esreh, one says "Tachanun" ¹ while "falling ² on one's face;". ³ One should not talk about everyday matters between the Shemoneh Esreh and Tachanun.

---

1. Prayers of supplication.
2. i.e., leaning downward.
3. i.e., covering one's face with one's arm.

---

§2

In the morning service, as there are tefillin on one's left (arm), one leans to the right side out of respect for the tefillin. In the afternoon service, one leans to the left side.

---

§3

One should lean and cover one's face while seated. However, under difficult circumstances, one may do so while standing. After Tachanun, we say "And we do not know". We should (start) saying this while seated, and then we should stand, and say "what to do...".

---

§4

One does not "fall on one's face;" except in a place where there is a Torah scroll. However in a place where there is no Torah scroll, even though there are other sacred texts, one does not "fall on one's face." ¹ Rather, one says the psalm without "falling on one's face." When one prays in the courtyard of the synagogue and the entrance to the synagogue is open, it is considered as if a Torah scroll was there. ²

---

1. The Mishna Berurah 131:11 mentions opinions which require "falling on one's face" in the presence of sacred texts even though a Torah scroll is not present.
2. So one can "fall on one's face."

---

§5

When praying in the house of a mourner, or in the home of the deceased, even when no mourner is present, Tachanun is not said (throughout the entire) seven days of mourning. This applies even during the afternoon service of the seventh day. It is customary that also when they return to their homes, ¹ they do not say (Tachanun) it. ² If a mourner is in the synagogue, the congregation does not follow him; and they (do) say Tachanun. However, the mourner does not say (Tachanun) it.

---

1. After services there in the mourner's house.
2. i.e. they do not make up at home for not saying Tachanun at the mourner's house.

---

§6

Tachanun is not said in a synagogue where a brit will be. Or, if the father (of the child), or the sandek, or the mohel are praying there, ¹ even if the brit will be in another place. If the afternoon service is prayed, in the house of the child, ² either before the meal or during the meal, one also does not say (Tachanun) it. However, if one prayed following the grace after meals, one says (Tachanun) it. However, the child's father, the sandek, and the mohel should not say (Tachanun) even after the grace after meals, for the day is like a festival for them.

---

1. Tachanun is omitted.
2. To be circumcised.

---

§7

Also (Tachanun) is not said if in the synagogue a groom is present on any of his seven festive days ¹ if the groom was a bachelor or the bride was a virgin. ² However, a widower who married a widow, has only three days and after that says (Tachanun) it. On the day of the wedding, ³ one says (Tachanun) in the morning service, ⁴ but on the afternoon service before the wedding it is not said.

---

1. After the wedding, the couple should be invited each day to a festive party with friends or relatives where after the meal, grace is said with the special seven blessings also said under the wedding canopy. This carries on for a full week.
2. i.e. not married before.
3. If the groom is in the synagogue.
4. The Mishna Berurah 131:21 mentions opinions which state that Tachanun should be omitted in the morning service as well.

---

§8

One does not say Tachanun neither on Rosh Hodesh, nor on the 15th of Av, nor on the 15th of Shevat, nor during Chanukah, nor on both days of Purim, ¹ nor on both days of Purim Katan, nor on Lag B'Omer, nor during the entire month of Nisan, nor on Tisha b'Av, nor on the days between Yom Kippur and Succot, nor from Rosh Hodesh Sivan until after the day following Shavuot, ² and not on the day following Succot. ³ On all these (days Tachanun) is not said also in the Mincha service which precedes them. However, on the day before Rosh Hashanah and the day before Yom Kippur, one says (it) in the afternoon service before them. On the day before Rosh Hashanah, Selichot are also said. ⁴ However, afterwards, (Tachanun) is not said.

---

1. i.e., incl. Shushan Purim.
2. In many communities, Tachanun is not said until the thirteenth of Sivan.
3. In many communities, after Yom Kippur, Tachanun is not said during all the remaining days of the month of Tishrei.
4. Before the morning service.

---

§9

On Mondays and Thursdays, because they are "days of favor," since during the forty days of receiving the second tablets, Moses went up (Mt. Sinai) on a Thursday and came down on a Monday. Therefore, we increase on these (days), the prayers of supplication, and say before Tachanun (the prayers beginning) "And He, being merciful". We say this standing. They should be said with concentration and deliberately, in a manner of supplication. On the days when Tachanun are not said, these (prayers) are not said. On Mondays and Thursdays, because they are "days of favor," since during the forty days of receiving the second tablets, Moses went up (Mt. Sinai) on a Thursday and came down on a Monday. Therefore, we increase on these (days), the prayers of supplication, and say before Tachanun (the prayers beginning) "And He, being merciful". We say this standing. They should be said with concentration and deliberately, in a manner of supplication. On the days when Tachanun are not said, these (prayers) are not said.

---

§10

After Tachanun, one says the half-Kaddish. On Mondays and Thursdays, one (also) says "O G-d, slow of anger" while standing. ¹

---

1. See Ch. 25:2 for when this is omitted.