From the Rav’s Desk: Should Chabad Chassidim recite Tachanun on Hei Teves?

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  1. Question: [Sunday, 5th Teves 5781]

Should Chabad Chassidim recite Tachanun on Hei Teves?

 

Answer:

In general, it is customary not to say Tachanun on a day on which one celebrates a miracle that took place. However, there is no universally accepted practice of omitting Tachanun on the fifth of Teves, and in general it is to be recited as usual. Furthermore, by the original Heiy Teves the Rebbe motioned with surprise at the fact that they had omitted Tachanun by Mincha and only became satisfied after being told that there is a Chasan in the room, and thus Tachanun was omitted due to him. Thus, while perhaps there is room for an individual to personally omit Tachanun due to his great personal joy that he may be feeling [if true and internal and not a fictitious excuse to escape Tachanun] this should not be done by the Chazan, or by the general Minyan.

Sources: See regarding the general custom of omitting Tachanun on a day on which a miracle took place: Lev Chaim 150; Kaf Hachaim 218/9; Tzitz Eliezer 10/10; See regarding 18th of Elul: Hiskashrus 840; Otzer Minhagei Chabad p. 21-22; When asked in 1989 whether Tachanun is to be recited on Chaiy Elul the Rebbe responded that regarding matters dependent on feeling one is not to ask. [Otzer ibid] Obviously this refers to a true feeling of joy and not a feeling that simply comes as a result of reading this response. [ibid]

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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