Talk:Tachanun

Yemenite text length
Is the Italian one really shorter than the Yemenite text? My tiklal has a very short text quite distinct from Sephardic/Ashkenazi texts. Why no mention of the historical Nefilat alpayim/Prosration? --74.72.241.193 (talk) 09:22, 17 August 2008 (UTC)

I have rewritten this article, which looked rather messy. Specifically, I have removed a long paragraph with many direct quotes from the Rambam that seems to suggest that some Yemenites follow a particular custom based on these quotes. I will leave a message with the original author explaining why I think this material should be revised before reinclusion. JFW | T@lk  19:18, 21 October 2006 (UTC)

I don't understand. I provided the sources in the Mishneh Torah which clearly indicate that during Rambam's lifetime (roughly 1100 CE - 1200 CE) the majority of Jews WORLD-WIDE did Tahhanun with their faces on the ground, together with sources for how this was done according to Talmudic law with references in the Mishneh Torah:

"There are 8 matters which the one who prays (the Shemoneh Esreh) needs to be careful in doing them; and if he was pressured, or forced, or he transgressed and didn't do them, they do not prevent (the prayer from being valid).  And these are they:  standing, facing in the direction of the Temple, preparation of the body, preparation of clothing, preparation of the place, the level of the voice, kneeling, and PROSTRATION." (Mishneh Torah, Hilkhot Tefilah 5:1)

"The mention of kneeling {k'reya} in every place is on the knees.." (Hilkhot Tefilah in Mishneh Torah 5:13)

There are 5 places where one kneels onto the knees during this prayer (Hilkhot Tefilah 5:10).

Each time one is to kneel, he should arch his back bending over until his backbone pokes out slightly (Hilkhot Tefilah 5:12).

"What does PROSTRATION imply? After one lifts his head from the 5th bow (of the Shemoneh Esreh), he sits on the ground and falls [over] with his face on the ground, and supplicates with all the supplications that he desires." (Hilkhoth Tefilah 5:[13]14)

"..Prostration - this is the spreading out flat of hands and leggs, until he is flat with his face on the ground. And when he does the "falling upon the face" (a Jewish euphamism for prostration) after the Prayer (the Shemoneh Esreh), there are those who do qida (bending over) and there are those who do histahhawayah (prostration).  And it is forbidden to do prostration on stones except for in the Temple (in Jerusalem), as we have explained in Hilkhoth Avoda Zarah.  And an individual important (in the eyes of the community?), is not permitted to fall upon his face, unless he knows within himself that he is righteous as Joshua; but rather, he should tilt his face a little bit instead of pressing it into the ground.  And it is permitted for a person to pray (the Shemoneh Esreh) in one place, and to "fall upon his face" (do prostration) in another place." (Hilkhot Tefilah 5:[13-14]15-16)

"We are to practice respect in synagogues... and all of the People of Israel in Spain, and in the West, and in the area of Iraq, and in the Land of Israel, are accustomed to light lanterns in the synagogues, and to lay out mats on the ground, in order to sit upon them. But in the cities of Edom (portions of Europe), there they sit on chairs." - Hilchot Tefila 11:5

"..and because of this (prostration) all of Israel is accustomed to lay mats in their synagogues on the stone floors, or types of straw and hay, to separate between their faces and the stones." - Hilchot Avodah Zarah 6:7

(Talmudic references: Megilla Khaf Bet - bet;  Shavuoth Tet Vav - bet;  Berakhoth 28 bet and 34 bet; Megilla 22 bet; Tur, Orach Chayim 131)

- at the least this could be included somehow into the history section. The only way these same quotes would suggest that Yemenites follow(ed) such a practice until recently is by the fact that traditionally Yemenite Jews ruled more or less according to the Mishneh Torah... of course, traditionally, this was the practice of many non-European countries. Unfortunately way too many Talmudic practices preserved uniquely among the Yemenite Jews were cast aside upon their coming to Israel - for various reasons. The number one reason is without a doubt the fact that they were such a minority and then they were doing certain originally Jewish practices that only they were doing and practically no one else -- practices which happen to be similar to Muslim practices (high levels of modesty and prostration during Tahhanun for example). Forget the fact that many European Jewish women covered their hair in exactly the same fashion as Orthodox Christian and Catholics at the time did. It states in "THE TALMUD" published in 1982 by EL-'AM-HOZA'A LEOR ISRAEL in Tractate Berakhoth page 34 side bet on page 704 that "Ginzberg (ibid., p.181 ff.) suggests that the dislike of an excess of bowings and so on stemmed from an aversion to Christian practice." ANYWAYS, in short -- assuming you are even able to get a hold of these books if you live outside of Israel, you can see in very clear [HEBREW] writing that prostration during Tahhanun was the mainstream Yemenite practice up until around 50 years ago (though I know personally for a fact that a number of Yemenites still prostrate -- though only in private or in assemblies with likeminded individuals), in such books as Rabbi Yosef Qafehh's commentary to the Mishneh Torah - see his commentary to chapter 5 of Hilkhoth Tefila in Sefer Ahavah. There he says very explicitly that the practice in Yemen was prostration in the manner of the Geonim [such as how Rav Saadiah Gaon explains in his siddur]... and there he explains how they did it. It basically consists of sitting on the ground simi-indian style..... then leaning over to the point that one's face touches the ground. And what about the references given on the website: http://www.chayas.com/qidah.htm;  The Chisdai Letters:  Rabbi Hasdai ibn Shaprut (c. 915-c.990) http://isfsp.org/sages/letter-hasdai.html (do word search for "bow")  and Hoter ben Shlomo (Mansur bin Sulayman alGhamari) YEMEN - 1400s?? Additionally, in the book Even Sepir (page 68) you will find the testimony of a European born Jewish traveller who visited Yemen in the year of 1859. He writes that the practice of the Yemenite Jews he visited was full body-length prostration... "they fall on their faces, after the Prayer (Amida), stretching out their arms and leggs, like the custom of Ashkenazim on Yom Kippur," (translation mine from page 68 in Even Sepir). This book is in Hebrew and one can buy at at the book store 'Pinat haSefer' on Mea Shaarim in Jerusalem. As one would expect, most books about Yemenite Jews are in Hebrew. OOh oh, now I remember a reference in English.

On page 34 side bet of Tractate Berakhoth p. 705 in the translation of the Talmud known as "THE TALMUD" WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATION AND COMMENTARY commentary to this chapter by Rabbi Dr. A. Carlebach, Editor: Rabbi Dr. A. Zvi Ehrman of Fellow Jews' College, London; Member of the ISRAEL BAR, and published by EL-'AM-HOZA'A LEOR ISRAEL Jerusalem - Tel Aviv 5742 - 1982 Peli Printing Works LTD, Ramat Gan - Givatayim, it states:

"The third [type of bow mentioned in this part of the Gemara is] (hishtahawa'a),...total bodily prostration;... (''Tahhanunim; cf. Meg., ibid, B.M. 59B; El-Am Hazzahav, p. 184). YEMENITE JEWS STILL PRESERVE THE CUSTOM."

Apparently more of them were still known to be prostrating during Tahhanun at the time of the publication of this translation. I personally have only about 3 times seen Dor Daim Yemenite Jews prostrate publically... though I have seen more cases were non-Yemenite students of the Rambam prostrated in public.

One of my Rabbis told me that a well known Yemenite kabbalist called the Rashash used to do full prostration at the Wailing Wall in front of everyone... of course this was before the Rashash passed away. Enough of my personal references. I hope you look up the published references I've provided... because otherwise I don't know what you want me to do to provide evidence/basis for what I'm saying other than to see it yourself. I personally feel that I have given much more reference than is required for the section I added to the article to remain a part of the article than the amount of references many other people provide whose text remains undeleted. I apologize for not being familiar enough with Wikipedia to know how to properly use it... This is due to my very limited access to the internet and the limited amount of time I have when on it... For example, I didn't know how to respond to the message you sent. All the best. Yosef Omedyashar 23:34, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

I think it's also worth noting that towards the end of the well known book Duties of the Heart it states in Hebrew (less clearly in the translations) how to do Tahhanunim at night, including prostrating; See page 875-877 and page 897 of Duties of the Heart from Feldheim Publishers, in volume 2. My own translation of what appears on these pages (so as to avoid copyright problems) is as follows: On page 897 it is written, "Therefore, please listen, and see, and incline your ear, and forget your people and the house of your father, and arise crying out to your King [in] your days and [in] your nights; lift up your hands towards Him, and prostrate to Him [with your] face to the ground.  And your eyelids should stream waters, while kneeling upon your knees.." Towards the beginning of page 875 it says, "And among them (the signs of love towards the Almighty), is that at night he "falls [in prostration]" (a Jewish euphamism for prostration and supplication).... page 877 continues "And whoever accepts this upon himself, should practice with the "Admonition"; he should pray it while sitting; afterwards he should preface it with songs from the known songs/psalms, or others. And afterwards he should pray the "Entreaty" while standing, and [then] prostrate until the end of it. And [then] kneel and say what he desires of supplications."

There are, in fact, many references to the practice of actual prostration throughout Jewish writings... A very deep text written about the topic, one which is unfortunately equally difficult to get one's hands on, is the volume of the book HaMaspeek l'Ovdei HaShem by Rav Avraham son of Rambam where he writes around 100 pages on the practice and significance of prostration. .. as a side note, please don't think I'm obsessed with prostration, lol. I just happen to love HaShem and very much appreciate the gift of Torah He gave us... consequently it pains me that with so many deeply rooted Jewish practices that are fading into the past - already practically unknown even to most "ultra Orthodox" that so many Jews are all so eager to jump-start new practices, customs, and movements -- when there is so much Talmudicly based substance that seems to have been left on the shelves to be forgotten. Omedyashar 23:47, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Something should be mentioned about the fact that Ashkenazim traditionally do nafilat apayim with their faces actually on the ground during certain sections of the Amidah of Rosh haShana and Yom Kippur. Ethiopian Jews also traditionally prostrate - during their holiday of Sigd specifically. http://www.pbase.com/yalop/image/23648350 Omedyashar 23:51, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Reference to Ashkenazi act of prostration during Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur]]: see almost any Ashkenazi High Holiday Prayer book (Makhzor) under the section of Mussaf - Avoda as well as in 'Rite and Reason' (page 528 &529 with references to Rema siman Tav-Resh-Caf-Alaf sayid Dalet, etc..)  Omedyashar 16:03, 5 December 2006 (UTC)

I changed "temple practice" to "original practice" under 'HISTORY,' because there is no source that historically they only knelt to the ground and placed face upon the ground ONLY in the Temple; there are, however, NUMEROUS sources indicating that placing one's face to the ground was the original daily practice even outside the Temple. It is a common misconception that it was done only in the Temple, due to the fact that only in the Temple was it permitted to press one's face to stone while prostrating, whereas in other places there had to be a separation between one's face and stone. Similarly, only in the Temple, while bringing biqqurim, is prostration a Torah obligation. Other times it is Rabbinic. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 89.139.79.13 (talk) 21:39, 11 December 2008 (UTC)