The following paragraph is said on Mondays and Thursdays except on Rosh Chodesh, the eve of Pesach, Tishah b’Av, Chanukah, the 14th and 15th Adar and Adar Sheni (Purim and Purim Katan), the eve of Yom Kippur, and it is also omitted in the house of a mourner. This prayer is recited while standing, as it includes a form of viduy (confession) which must be said while standing. On Mondays and Thursdays, as we are about to open the Ark to take out the Seifer Torah for public reading, we realize that we have transgressed much that is written in the Torah and are unworthy even to take it into our hands. Aware of our inadequacy and unworthiness, we utter the words, “Almighty who is slow to anger etc....”, appealing to Him for forgiveness.

Almighty who is slow to anger and of great kindness and truth, do not rebuke us in Your anger. Adonoy, spare Your people¹ to be recited by latecomers to the synagogue, instead of the entire “Vehu Rachum”, so that they could pay attention to the reading of the Torah. and deliver us from all evil. We have sinned against You, Master, forgive us, please, in keeping with Your abundant mercy, Almighty.

footnotes: ¹ This verse from Joel (2:17) was inserted here by the sages of Italy as an abbreviated form of Tachanun