Tachanun

Tachanun or Taḥanun (Hebrew: תחנון "Supplication"), also called nefilat 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. Traditionally, only the first four words of the prayer are said aloud so that others take notice. 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.

There is a short format of Tachanun and there is a long format. The long format is reserved for Monday and Thursday mornings, days when the Torah is read in the synagogue. The short format, also said on weekday afternoons, consists of three (in some communities two) short paragraphs.

In most Nusach Ashkenaz 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. The Chabad custom, however, is to recite Psalm 25 as Tachanun. In the presence of a Torah scroll, this 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 next 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.

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