The Tur writes (and this is how the Shulchan Aruch holds as well) that the day before Rosh Hashanah, Erev Rosh Hashanah, we do not say Tachanun (a penitential prayer said after the shemoneh esreh on weekdays) in the morning. The Tur states that we don't say tachanun on Erev Rosh Hashanah "just like on all the other Erev Yom Tovs". On the day before Passover, Sukkot, Shavuot, we do also do not say Tachanun, and it sounds like Erev Rosh Hashanah is for the same reason.
But what is that reason? The Perisha points out that there is no such rule as "every Erev Yom Tov you don't say Tachanun". Instead, each Erev Yom Tov happens to have an independent reason not to say Tachanun. Thus, we don't say Tachanun the entire month of Nissan (because the first 14 days of Nissan is each a mini holiday because a separate tribal head brought an offering for the dedication of the Mishkan in the desert) , so Erev Pesach obviously is included. We don't say Tachanun starting the first day of the month of Sivan until after Shavuot (6 days later), (because of the Jewish people's several days' preparation for the revelation at Sinai). Further, we don't say Tachanun from Yom Kippur onwards, (because in the time of Shlomo Hamelech, he dedicated the Temple during this time period) so Erev Sukkot is obviously included. And Erev Yom Kippur is itself considered a holiday with its own special halachot, (such as a mitzvah to eat!) so no Tachanun is said then.
So what does it mean for the Tur to say (and other authorities, including the Mishneh Berurah, to repeat) that we don't say Tachanun Erev Rosh Hashanah "just like every other Erev Yom Tov"?
1. Popular Perception and the Misunderstanding of Rosh Hashanah:
Maybe people won't remember the specific reason we skip Tachanun the other Erev Yamim Tovim, and when they notice that we say it Erev Rosh Hashanah, they will read into it that it must be because of the penitential aspect of Rosh Hashanah. (They will say, "why do we say Tachanun on Erev Rosh Hashanah and not on any other Erev Yom Tov?", and will answer "because Rosh Hashanah is not a happy day, but a time for asking for forgiveness of sin." But the truth is the opposite. Rosh Hashanah is indeed a time of teshuvah (repentance), but it is the beginning of teshuvah--- the recognition by each individual that God is above me. Penitence and confession come later. Thus, in order to prevent us from confusing the nature of Rosh Hashanah by improperly contrasting it with other holidays and thinking it overly penitential, we skip Tachanun on Erev Rosh Hashanah as well.
2. Perhaps the reasons for the skipping of the Tachanun on the eve of the other holidays have a common theme which applies to Rosh Hashanah as well. The other Erev Yamim Tovim (I think the proper term should be "Arvei Yom Tov") all do not include the tachanun prayer because of the theme of preparation. Before Pesach, the princes of each tribe brought sacrifices to dedicate the Mishkah. Before Shavuot, the Jewish people made special preparations for receiving the Torah. Before Sukkot, King Solomon dedicated (a form of preparation) the Beit Hamikdash. On Erev Yom Kippur, we are eating in order to prepare for Yom Kippur.
What is the preparation for Rosh Hashanah? See this post where I recorded the customs of Erev Rosh Hashanah like getting a haircut and preparing nice clothing as a sign of happiness. Yes, we are trembling in awe before God's judgment. But we are also happy because God will do for us a miracle.
What is the nature of that miracle? See here.
The seemingly small detail of skipping tachanun on Erev Rosh Hashanah, in light of the Perisha's question, ends up highlighting for us the themes of Rosh Hashanah. According to the first explanation, Rosh Hashanah's place in the Ten Days of Repentance is about making God King--- placing ourselves in the proper relationship with God, so that we can then do the work of confession and penitence after Rosh Hashanah. According to the second explanation, it highlights that Rosh Hashanah is also a day of happiness.
But what is that reason? The Perisha points out that there is no such rule as "every Erev Yom Tov you don't say Tachanun". Instead, each Erev Yom Tov happens to have an independent reason not to say Tachanun. Thus, we don't say Tachanun the entire month of Nissan (because the first 14 days of Nissan is each a mini holiday because a separate tribal head brought an offering for the dedication of the Mishkan in the desert) , so Erev Pesach obviously is included. We don't say Tachanun starting the first day of the month of Sivan until after Shavuot (6 days later), (because of the Jewish people's several days' preparation for the revelation at Sinai). Further, we don't say Tachanun from Yom Kippur onwards, (because in the time of Shlomo Hamelech, he dedicated the Temple during this time period) so Erev Sukkot is obviously included. And Erev Yom Kippur is itself considered a holiday with its own special halachot, (such as a mitzvah to eat!) so no Tachanun is said then.
So what does it mean for the Tur to say (and other authorities, including the Mishneh Berurah, to repeat) that we don't say Tachanun Erev Rosh Hashanah "just like every other Erev Yom Tov"?
1. Popular Perception and the Misunderstanding of Rosh Hashanah:
Maybe people won't remember the specific reason we skip Tachanun the other Erev Yamim Tovim, and when they notice that we say it Erev Rosh Hashanah, they will read into it that it must be because of the penitential aspect of Rosh Hashanah. (They will say, "why do we say Tachanun on Erev Rosh Hashanah and not on any other Erev Yom Tov?", and will answer "because Rosh Hashanah is not a happy day, but a time for asking for forgiveness of sin." But the truth is the opposite. Rosh Hashanah is indeed a time of teshuvah (repentance), but it is the beginning of teshuvah--- the recognition by each individual that God is above me. Penitence and confession come later. Thus, in order to prevent us from confusing the nature of Rosh Hashanah by improperly contrasting it with other holidays and thinking it overly penitential, we skip Tachanun on Erev Rosh Hashanah as well.
2. Perhaps the reasons for the skipping of the Tachanun on the eve of the other holidays have a common theme which applies to Rosh Hashanah as well. The other Erev Yamim Tovim (I think the proper term should be "Arvei Yom Tov") all do not include the tachanun prayer because of the theme of preparation. Before Pesach, the princes of each tribe brought sacrifices to dedicate the Mishkah. Before Shavuot, the Jewish people made special preparations for receiving the Torah. Before Sukkot, King Solomon dedicated (a form of preparation) the Beit Hamikdash. On Erev Yom Kippur, we are eating in order to prepare for Yom Kippur.
What is the preparation for Rosh Hashanah? See this post where I recorded the customs of Erev Rosh Hashanah like getting a haircut and preparing nice clothing as a sign of happiness. Yes, we are trembling in awe before God's judgment. But we are also happy because God will do for us a miracle.
What is the nature of that miracle? See here.
The seemingly small detail of skipping tachanun on Erev Rosh Hashanah, in light of the Perisha's question, ends up highlighting for us the themes of Rosh Hashanah. According to the first explanation, Rosh Hashanah's place in the Ten Days of Repentance is about making God King--- placing ourselves in the proper relationship with God, so that we can then do the work of confession and penitence after Rosh Hashanah. According to the second explanation, it highlights that Rosh Hashanah is also a day of happiness.
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