On Rosh Chodesh, Chol HaMoed, and Chanukah, Hallel is recited. On Fast Days (Monday—Thursday—Monday, Tenth of Teves, Fast of Esther, Seventeenth of Tamuz) Selichos are recited. On days when Tachanun is omitted (see below) the chazzan continues with Half Kaddish. (14 and 15 Adar Rishon in a leap year); the entire month of Nissan; Pesach Sheini (14 Iyar); Lag BaOmer; 1-8 Sivan; 9 and 15 Av; and 29 Elul. When Tachanun is omitted on these days, it is also omitted at the preceding Mincha (afternoon service). Tachanun is also omitted in the presence of a bridegroom, in the house of a mourner during the week of mourning, and on the occasion of a circumcision if the father, the sandak or the mohel is present.

The worshipper recites the Tachanun in a sitting position, while resting his brow on his arm. During the morning service, when the hand-tefillin is on the left arm, he leans his brow on his right arm, but at the Mincha service he leans his brow on his left arm. This "falling on one's face" symbolizes complete submission to God and the committing of our destinies into His hands. It is mentioned in the Talmud (Maseches Megillah 22b), and originates with Moses, who "Fell down before God" (Deuteronomy 9:18) and was followed by Joshua, who "Fell on the earth upon his face before the Ark of God" (Joshua 7:6)

Our God and God of our fathers, let our prayer come before you and do not ignore our supplication. For we are not so brazen-faced and stiff-necked to say to you, Adonoy, our God, and God of our fathers, We are righteous and have not sinned. But, indeed, we and our fathers have sinned.

We have trespassed [against God and man, and we are devastated by our guilt]; We have betrayed [God and man, we have been ungrateful for the good done to us]; We have stolen; We have slandered. We have caused others to sin; We have caused others to commit sins for which they are called רְשָׁעִים, wicked; We have sinned with malicious intent; We have forcibly taken other's possessions even though we paid for them; We have added falsehood upon falsehood; we have joined with evil individuals or groups. We have given harmful advice; We have deceived; We have mocked; We have rebelled against God and His Torah; We have caused God to be angry with us; We have turned away from God's Torah; We have sinned deliberately; We have been negligent in our performance of the commandments; We have caused our friends grief; We have been stiff-necked, refusing to admit that the cause of our suffering is our own sins. We have committed sins for which we are called רָשָׁע [raising a hand to hit someone]. We have committed sins which are the result of moral corruption; We have committed sins which the Torah refers to as abominations; We have gone astray; We have led others astray.

We have turned away from Your commandments and from Your good laws, and we have gained nothing from it. And You are the Righteous One in all [punishment] that has come upon us; for You have acted truthfully and we have acted wickedly.

You are Almighty, Slow to anger, Lord of Mercy, You are called, and the way of repentance, You have taught us. The greatness of Your mercy and kindness, remember this day and every day for the descendants of Your loved ones. Turn to us with compassion for You are the Lord of Mercy. With supplication and prayer we approach Your Presence, as You made know to [Moses,] the modest one of old. From Your fierce anger turn, as it is written in Your Torah: In the shadow of Your wings, may we be sheltered and lodged, as on the day [of which it is said:] When Adonoy descended in the cloud. Remove [our] transgression, and blot out [our] iniquity, as on the day [of which it is said:] And He stood with him there. Give ear to our cry and listen to our speech, as on the day [of which it is said:] And He proclaimed in the Name, Adonoy And there it is said:

Congregation and Chazzan:

And Adonoy passed before him [Moses] and proclaimed:

Adonoy, Adonoy, Almighty, Merciful, Gracious, Slow to Anger, and Abundant in Kindness and Truth. Keeper of kindness for thousands of generations, Endurer of iniquity and transgression, and sin, and Acquitter of those who repent.¹

footnotes: ¹ Exodus 34:5-7.

And pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for Your inheritance.² Pardon us, our Father, for we have sinned, forgive us, our King, for we have transgressed. For You, my Master, are good and forgiving, and abounding in kindness to all who call upon You.³

footnotes: ² Exodus 34:9. ³ Psalms 86:5.

The following supplication is recited while resting your brow on your arm.

And David said to Gad (II Samuel 24:14), I am greatly distressed; let us fall into the hand of Adonoy⁴ for His mercies are great, but into the hand of man let me not fall."

footnotes: ⁴ David had sinned by counting the Jews. And his heart was crushed with remorse when the prophet Gad, at God's command, offered him a choice of three punishments: seven years of famine, or three months of defeat in war, or three days of pestilence. David chose the last of these three, explaining that he preferred to trust in God's compassion rather than be at man's mercy. Indeed, the pestilence lasted only half a day instead of three.

Merciful and gracious One, I have sinned before You; Adonoy, full of mercy, have compassion upon me and accept my supplications.

Adonoy, do not rebuke me with Your anger,⁵ nor chastise me with Your rage.⁶ Be gracious unto me, Adonoy, for I am desolate, heal me Adonoy, for my bones are terrified. My soul, [too,] is utterly terrified, and You Adonoy, how long? Return Adonoy, free my soul,⁷ 41a) states that a person does not recover from his illness until all of his sins are forgiven, as it says, “Who forgives all your sins. Who heals all your ailments” (Psalms 103:3). David first requests that God free his soul by forgiving his sins; only then can his shattered body be healed.—Imros Tehoros deliver me for the sake of Your lovingkindness. For in death there is no mention of You; in the lower world who will thank You. I am worn out with my sighing, every night I cause my bed to float; with my tears, I melt my couch.⁸ (Samuel165) My eye is dimmed from anger,⁹ it has aged because of my tormentors. Depart from me, all you evildoers, for Adonoy has heard the voice of my weeping.¹⁰ Adonoy has heard my supplication, Adonoy will (also) accept my prayer.¹¹ Ashamed and utterly terrified¹² will all my foes be, they will return and be instantaneously ashamed.¹³

footnotes: ⁵ In this psalm (6:2-11) David willingly accepts Divine punishment. He asks only that it not be inflicted on him at once in a sudden, unbearable burst of fury. Rather, he pleads, that it be meted out gradually so that he can withstand the suffering.—Radak ⁶ Rebuke is offered with kind words, while chastisement, is often accompanied by harsh punishment.—Malbim ⁷ Since all physical illness stems from blemishes and sins of the soul, the Talmud (Maseches Nedarim ⁸ During the twenty-two years the Holy Spirit departed from him, David shed a cupful of tears and drank it every single day.—Yalkut ⁹ David was angry because his enemies rejoiced over his illness.—Radak ¹⁰ Weeping is the eloquence of sorrow, and our tears are liquid prayers. ¹¹ Prayer seeks spiritual purification and proper understanding.—S.R. Hirsch ¹² My enemies, who hoped for my death, will be ashamed and terrified when they see that my health has been restored.—Radak ¹³ When they witness my recovery, they will regret their animosity and seek peace with me. At that moment they will be ashamed to face me.—Radak