Sunday 19 January 2014

Tachanun - When an Avel during Shiva is Davening at Shul

Guest Blogger
R J Simcha Cohen

«In the event that an Avail during Shiva serves as a Shliach Tzibbur at a synagogue the Mishna Berura (MB) rules that the Shliach Tzibbur does not recite Tachanun but the congregation does. (MB 131:17)

The Shaar HaTziyyun notes that even though there are poskim  who disagree, "shomim l'hakail.
See-"Mourning  In Halacha "(Chapter 16:20)[Artscroll] who cites the ruling of the MB. Yet, in footnote (39)Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach [ZL} is cited as ruling that in the event the mourner is the Shliach Tzibbur Tachnun should not be recited at all.

Rabbi J. Simcha Cohen»

Comment:
During the Shiva for my Mom A"H, I served as Shatz one day, I followed the M"B above, namely I personally omitted Tachnanun while the Tzibbur recited it.

Kol Tuv,
RRW

1 comment:

ABG said...

Unfortunately you have not presented this halacha accurately at all according to the Mishna Berurah.

Firstly, the correct source is MB 131:20 (not 131:17), where the MB does state as you have, that in a shul the Tzibbur DOES still say tachanun, while the avel himself does NOT. However, the MB is not necessarily referring to the avel as being the shat"z. In fact there is good sevara to say that it is better for the avel not to be the shat"z in a shul for this reason and other reasons. (there are also opinions that even in a beis avel the avel himself shouldn't be the shat"z altogether, for other reasons.)

And secondly and much more importantly, the MB in his Sha'ar Hatzion, does NOT AT ALL bring other poskim who disagree. The Shaar Hatzion you mention is se'if katan 15, which is going on a different halacha altogether (the question if someone who davened in a beis avel (and obviously omitted tachanun, as the practice is in a beis avel) needs to say tachanun after he leaves the beis avel. The CORRECT Shaar Hatzion is s"k 17, where he brings the sources of this halacha as the Eliyah Rabbah and Shagas Aryeh, with NO MENTION of any dissenting poskim.

I haven't looked in the artscroll, nor seen the Rav Shloma Zlaman inside, so I can't comment there. However, if you did find all of this misinformation in the artscroll as is, I'd be very carefull quoting anyting from it without first validation everything from original sources.

HKB"H's Torahs is the greatest Chachmah, please treat it with the highest respect and learn and teach it very carefully!

Wishing you a Chag Kosher Ve'Sameach.