How to calculate Tachanun omission by a Chasan – Chasan and Kehal omitting Tachanun on the 8^th day after the Chuppah

Question:

This morning is the eighth day since my wedding. I got married on a Sunday before sunset and now it is Sunday morning the following week and I am at Shacharis in Shul and would like to know if Tachanun is to be recited. I understand that regarding Sheva Brachos they are counted starting from Sunday, being that the wedding took place before nightfall and hence I finished Sheva Brachos on Shabbos which is the seventh day counted from Sunday. However, I heard that regarding Tachanun I get one extra day, is this accurate and what does the congregation do for Shahcaris and Mincha if I am present in Shul?

Answer:

Tachanun is indeed to be omitted for a full seven 24 hour days starting from the end of the Chuppah. This especially applies if the Chasan is still wearing his celebratory Shabbos clothing which he wears for seven days after the wedding [i.e. Kapata in Chabad]. Hence, if the Chuppah was done on Sunday at 7:00 PM prior to sunset, then Tachanun is omitted until the following Sunday, 7:00 pm. Accordingly, in your case Tachanun is to be omitted by the congregation during Shacharis, and theoretically should be omitted even by Mincha if it takes place prior to the end of the 24 hours of the seventh day. However, in practice, if you are Davening close to sunset then Tachanun should be recited as usual, unless you are still wearing Shabbos clothing. However, those who do not say Tachanun even by Mincha, are not to be protested it takes place prior to the end of the 24 hours of the seventh day.

Explanation:

When it comes to Jewish legal matters that depend on the completion of a specific number of days, there is a discussion among the Poskim about how to properly calculate those days. The central question is whether we count by the calendar days (i.e., from the start of a new Hebrew day at sunset) or by strict 24-hour periods measured from the precise conclusion of the Chuppah. A well-known example is the case of a woman fasting on Yom Kippur three or seven days after childbirth, when calendar days have passed but not full 24-hour periods—such as if she gave birth in the afternoon and Yom Kippur occurs three or seven weekdays later. Ideally, a woman within three or even seven days after birth is not required or permitted to fast on Yom Kippur, and hence, how we determine the calculation of these days is a major halachic decision. Practically, with regards to Yom Kippur the conclusion is to follow calendar days and not 24 hour days. However, this is not a precedent for all legal matters and indeed as we will now explore, regarding other legal matters we do follow full 24 hour periods to calculate the passing of the days. Let us now tackle our subject of a Chasan.

A Chasan for a Zivug Rishon marriage has various laws applicable to him for seven days after the wedding, including the recital of Sheva Brachos, rejoicing his wife, not going to work, and the omission of Tachanun. Now, how are the 7 days calculated regarding these laws; as calendar days or 24 hour days? So, this matter is debated amongst the Poskim just as it is debated regarding Yom Kippur, as brought above. Some hold that the seven days is indeed calculated by 24 hours while others hold that the seven days are calculated according to calendar days.

Now here is the interesting arbitration on the subject: With regards to the recital of Sheva Brachos and the other restrictions upon the Chasan, we hold leniently that we follow calendar weekdays. However, with regards to the omission of Tachanun the custom is to extend its omission until seven full 24 hour days have passed. The reason for this is simple; as by the recital the blessings of the Sheva Brachos we must abide by the rule of Safek Brachos Lihakel. However, with regards to the recital of Tachanun we are permitted to take a lenient stance.

Example:

Suppose Yaakov’s wedding takes place on Wednesday, and the Chuppah finishes at 5:30 PM—before sunset. According to the halacha discussed above, the seven days during which Tachanun is omitted are counted as full 24-hour periods from the end of the Chuppah. Here’s how it plays out in practice: Yaakov and the congregation will begin omitting Tachanun starting from Mincha on Wednesday, after the Chuppah is complete. They continue to omit Tachanun at all Minyanim for the next seven full days—so, until the following Wednesday at 5:30 PM. If Yaakov attends Shacharis or Mincha on the following Wednesday, and the Mincha is before 5:30 PM, Tachanun is still omitted. Once 5:30 PM on the following Wednesday arrives, the period is over.

Mincha:

An interesting inference which we can derive from the wording of the Alter Rebbe is with regards to the prayer Mincha. While logic dictates that if Mincha is being prayed prior to the end of the seventh 24 hour period then Tachanun should be omitted, nonetheless, the Alter Rebbe interestingly points out in parentheses that the custom is to specificly omit Tachanun in Shacharis of the eighth day, hence implying that it is recited by Mincha in all circumstances. Practically, when Davening Mincha close to sundown, and the Chasan is no longer wearing his Shabbos clothing, I instruct for Tachanun to be recited even if it is technically still within the 24 hours.

Shabbos clothing:

It’s interesting to note that regarding the debate recorded above in how to calculate the days, some conclude that one should only calculate the days by 24 hours for the omission of Tachanun if the Chasan is still wearing his Shabbos clothing on the 8^th day.

Sources: See regarding calculating Tachanun omission as 24 hour days: Admur 131:6 “And there are those who have the custom not to say during all seven days when the groom is present in the synagogue, because the seven days of feasting are considered like a festival. Even on the eighth day after the wedding, during the morning prayers, they do not fall on their faces (i.e., recite Tachanun), since the wedding ceremony took place close to evening, and the seven days of rejoicing are not considered complete until the eighth day at that time.”; M”A 131:12; Kneses Hagedola 131; Machzik Bracha 131 Kuntrus Achron 1; Kesher Gudal 19:21; Shalmei Tzibur p. 152; Rashi Kesubos 4a; Rambam Avel 11:7;  M”B 131:26; Beir Yitzchak 23; Kaf Hachaim 131:69; Ketzos Hashulchan 24:6; Yabia Omer 3:11-12; Piskeiy Teshuvos 131:22; See regarding also omitting by Mincha before end of 24 hours: Machzik Bracha 131 Kuntrus Achron 1; Kaf Hachaim 131:69; Poskim who are stringent to calculate as calendar weekdays: Poskim in Shaareiy Teshuvah 131:7; Aruch Hashulchan 131:17; Kaf Hachaim ibid in his conclusion and that so is Minhag Yerushalayim See regarding to only omit on 8^th if wearing Shabbos clothing: Yifei Laleiv 131:2; See regarding Sheva Brachos: See Kaf Hachaim 131:69; Piskeiy Teshuvos 131:22; 188:24; Follow calendar weekdays: Kneses Yechezkal 60; Zechor Leavarahm E.H. 3:2; Shaareiy Teshuvah 131:7; Beir Yitzchak 23; Kaf Hachaim ibid Follow 24 hours: Ginas Veradim O.C. Kelal 1:28; Machzik Bracha 131 Kuntrus Achron 1 in name of Rav Yitzchak Kastro; er Guudal 19:21; Shalmei Tzibur p. 152; See Regarding Yom Kippur: Admur 617:5; Michaber 617:4; Terumos Hadeshen 148

Other opinions: Some Poskim rule that the days are measured in 24 hours. [M”B 617:13; See Kaf Hachaim 617:22; 330:21]

Summary: Tachanun Omission After a Wedding

For a first marriage, Tachanun is omitted for seven full 24-hour days beginning at the end of the Chuppah. Even on the eighth calendar day, if the full 24-hour period hasn’t passed, Tachanun is still omitted during prayers attended by the Chasan. The calculation for omitting Tachanun is different from the calculation for Sheva Brachos, which uses calendar days.