From the Rav’s Desk: Tachanun on day of Hachnasas Sefer Torah in another Shul in city

1. Question: [Monday, 16^th Elul 5781]

Should Tachanun be recited in a shul if a Hachansas Sefer Torah is taking place in another Shul within the same city?

Answer:

It depends on whether your Shul’s congregation will be participating in the rejoicing. If yes, then it is your communities joy as well, and hence Tachanun should not be said. If, however, the members of the congregation will not be participating in the rejoicing, as often occurs in large cities with many synagogues, then there is no reason to omit Tachanun.

Explanation: The idea of omitting Tachanun on the day of a Hachnasas Sefer Torah is not recorded in the Shulchan Aruch and Poskim, and is rather a tradition of certain communities. Some communities do not omit Tachanun at all, while others only omit it by the prayer of Mincha, while others omit it the entire day. Practically, the Rebbe Rayatz states in a letter that it is to be omitted throughout the day. However, it seems obvious that this only applies if the joy of the celebration will be encompassing all the people of the city, as is the case with a small town, or a city with very few synagogues, or a small neighborhood, in which case the above occasion is considered one of great joy for all the city members. However, in large cities that contain many synagogues and congregations who are geographically distant from each other and in the most part will not participate in the Hachnasas Sefer Torah and their only relation to it is regarding whether or not Tachanun should be said, then obviously the joy, which is the main justification for omitting Tachanun, is lacking and hence there is no reason to omit it in such a case in such a case, and hence we concluded as above.

Sources: See Peri Hasadeh 3:184; Chasan Sofer Tefila 84; Yeishiv Moshe 338; Igros Kodesh Rayatz 6:71; Rivivos Efraim 5:176; Betzel Hachochma 3:5; Yalkut Yosef 131:34; Piskeiy Teshuvos 131:24; Nitei Gavriel 10:1