DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 596 KB)
Is “Va’ani Tefilati” Recited at Minha When Yom Kippur Falls on Shabbat?

Each week, during Minha on Shabbat, we recite the Pasuk in Tehillim, "Va’ani Tefilati Lecha Hashem Et Rason Elokim Be’rob Hasdecha Aneni Be’emet Yish’echa" ("My prayer to You, Hashem, at this time of favor – G-d, in Your abundant kindness, answer me with the truth of Your salvation"). The Tur (Rabbenu Yaakob Ben Asher, 1269-1343) explains (in Orah Haim 622) that we recite this verse because David Ha’melech here observes the difference between the Jews and the other nations of his time. When members of other nations would celebrate, David said, they would eat, drink, get drunk and engage in all kinds of illicit behavior. The Jewish people, however, celebrate Shabbat by eating, drinking, and then returning to the synagogue in the afternoon to pray. This verse essentially describes what we are doing at Minhah on Shabbat – returning to the synagogue after feasting – and it is therefore appropriate to recite it as part of the Minha prayer.

According to this reason, it would seem that this verse should not be recited at Minha when Yom Kippur falls on Shabbat. Since we do not eat on Yom Kippur afternoon, this verse is not relevant to the Minha service on that day. However, some Kabbalists maintain that there is also another reason for reciting this Pasuk, explaining that the time of Minha on Shabbat is a special "Et Rason" – an auspicious time for earning G-d’s favor – and we therefore recite the Pasuk that speaks of an "Et Rason." If so, then the afternoon of Yom Kippur, which is a time of even greater "Rason," is certainly an appropriate occasion for reciting this Pasuk.

Practically speaking, however, the accepted Halacha is that this verse is not recited at Minha of Yom Kippur, even when Yom Kippur falls on Shabbat. This is the ruling of the Mahari Semah (17th century), in his work Nagid U’mesaveh, where he writes that even according to the teachings of Kabbalah, this verse is not recited on Yom Kippur. The Kaf Ha’haim (Rav Yaakob Haim Sofer, Baghdad-Israel, 1870-1939) also codifies this ruling, which he bases on the teachings of the Arizal (Rav Yishak Luria of Safed, 1534-1572). This is, indeed, the ruling of Hacham Ovadia Yosef, in Yalkut Yosef – Yamim Nora’im (p. 402; listen to audio recording for precise citation).

Summary: The verse, "Va’ani Tefilati," which is normally recited at Minha on Shabbat, is not recited during Minha on Yom Kippur, even when Yom Kippur falls on Shabbat.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Chanukah- Lighting the Menorah on Friday Night
Chanukah- Starting A Melacaha, Beginning A Meal, and Sitting To Learn Are All Forbidden Within A Half Hour Of Lighting
Chanukah- Should A Wife Light The Menorah At The Proper Time Rather Than Waiting For The Husband Who Will Come Home Later
Chanukah- Should One Say Mezonot On A Fried Jelly Donut That Is Eaten For Dessert
Chanukah- Should We Light The Menorah Before or After The Berachot and Is It Permissible To Light The Menorah At A Chanukah Party
Chanukah- Is A Student Required To Light The Menorah If Dorming Away At School
Chanukah- If One Forgets Al Hanisim in Birkat Hamazon
Chanukah- The Requirement of Lighting Falls Upon The House
Chanukah- Lighting An Extra Candle On Rosh Chodesh Tevet
Chanukah- Why Do We Not Insert A Prayer Of Chanukah In Me’en Shalosh
Chanukah- Can Mourners Say Hallel on Chanukah or Rosh Chodesh, and Is It Permissible To Have An Arayat on Chanukah
Chanukah- Where Should The Menorah Be Placed
Chanukah- Are Ladies Required To Say The Hallel on Chanukah
Chanukah- Should One Recite Again SheAsa Nissim at Menorah Lighting In Shul After Doing So At Home
Chanukah- Should One Recite Again Shehechiyanu at Menorah Lighting In Shul After Doing So At Home
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found