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After Hashem forgave Israel for the sin of the Golden Calf, and even agreed that Israel would be favored among all the nations in its special connection with Him, Moshe Rabbeinu implored, "Please let me have a vision of Your glory." Hashem replied, "I will make all My good pass before you, and reveal the Divine Name in your presence," meaning, I will disclose to you My Holy Name that is revealed to the world; however, it is impossible to grasp My essence, "For a person cannot see Me and live" (Exodus 33:18-20). "Hashem descended in a cloud, and stood there with Moshe, and he (Moshe) called out in Hashem’s Name. Hashem passed before him and proclaimed (Hashem called out and revealed His Names to Moshe), ‘Hashem, Hashem, merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, with tremendous kindness and truth. He remembers deeds of kindness for thousands [of generations], forgiving sin, iniquity, and error, and He cleanses’" (Exodus 34:5-7). These are the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy.
Rabbi Yochanan said, "Were the verse not written, it would be impossible to say it. This teaches us that HaKadosh Baruch Hu wrapped Himself like a chazan and demonstrated to Moshe the order of the prayer. He said to him, ‘Any time that Israel sins, let them perform before Me this procedure and I will forgive them’" (Rosh HaShanah 17b).
With the acceptance of faith on the most supreme level, attained by reciting the Thirteen Attributes, we connect to Hashem in such a profound and exalted manner that our sins become marginal and exterior. In that state, atonement is achieved.
Therefore, in Selichot, on fast days and Yom Kippur, the Thirteen Attributes are recited numerous times in the prayer service. The customs vary regarding their recital on weekdays. According to the Ashkenazic and Yemenite (Baladi) minhagim, they are recited only on Mondays and Thursdays since those are the appropriate days for saying prayers of supplication. According to the Sephardic minhag (including Sephard-Chassidi), based on the Ari, they are recited every time there is Nefillat Apayim.
The recital of the Thirteen Attributes is considered a matter of sanctity and therefore necessitates a minyan. One who prays individually is not permitted to recite them; however, he is allowed to read them with cantillation signs as one reading the Torah (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 565:5; Mishnah Berurah 12). Whoever has not yet succeeded in finishing "Kel erech apayim" before the congregation reaches the Thirteen Attributes must stop and join in with the congregation. As long as the congregation has not yet finished reciting the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy, he may still join them. However, if they have already finished, he is considered to be reciting them as an individual (Ben Ish Chai, Ki Tisa 4).
6.The Passages of Supplication and Nefillat Apayim
It is proper not to interrupt by talking between Shemoneh Esrei and Tachanun, because when the recital of the prayers of supplication is linked to Shemoneh Esrei, the prayers are more favorably accepted (Shulchan Aruch 131:1; Mishnah Berurah 1).
Concerning the nusach of Tachanun, there are differences between the various ethnic groups. The reason for this is that when most Jews lived in Israel or in Babylon, each person would recite prayers of supplication in his own tongue. Only later on, in the time of the Rishonim, when the exiles dispersed, certain set wordings took shape. Additionally, approximately four hundred years ago, some changes were made in Nusach Sephard, based on Kavanot HaAri.
According to Kavanot HaAri, it is customary to recite Vidui (confession) and the Thirteen Attributes of mercy before the Psalm of Nefillat Apayim, so that after achieving atonement from the recital of Vidui and the Thirteen Attributes, one arrives at the pinnacle of these prayers, Nefillat Apayim (Kaf HaChaim 131:5). According to the Ashkenazic and Yemenite (Baladi) minhag, we open with Vidui and the Thirteen Attributes only on Mondays and Thursdays, the days when we recite numerous prayers of supplication. However, on the remaining days, we say Nefillat Apayim immediately following the Amidah, because it is best to adjoin Nefillat Apayim to the Amidah as much as possible.
In Nefillat Apayim, according to the Sephardic Nusach, Psalm 25 is recited, whereas those who follow Nusach Ashkenaz and Sephard-Chassidi say Psalm 6.
On Mondays and Thursdays, additional prayers of supplication are recited, since those days are days of Divine grace when prayer is more graciously accepted. They are said while standing (Shulchan Aruch and Rama 134:1). The prayer "V’Hu Rachum" was compiled by three elders exiled from Jerusalem, as explained in the writings of the Rishonim (Abudraham, Ra’avan, Manhig, Kolbo 18). Distinctions in wording between the various customs are slight, except that the Sephardim add more prayers of supplication before it and the Ashkenazim add prayers of supplication after it.
Another difference is that in Nusach Sephard the additional prayers of supplication of Mondays and Thursdays are recited after Nefillat Apayim, whereas in Nusach Ashkenaz they are recited before Nefillat Apayim.
A person who practices according to one nusach and prays in a place in which most people are praying in another nusach is permitted to pray as he wishes. If he decides to follow his own custom, he should not make his different minhag noticeable. If the chazan is reciting the Thirteen Attributes, even one who does not have the custom to recite them must join the congregation. Someone reciting a longer nusach when the chazan starts saying Kaddish, must stop his prayers of supplication, respond to Kaddish, and continue on to the next stage of the prayer service. The reason for this is that the exact wording of the prayers of supplication does not prevent a person from fulfilling his obligation, and anyone who recited even a few prayers of supplication has already fulfilled his obligation. If he so desires, he may finish the prayers of supplication after the prayer service. 7
^ 7.See earlier in this book in the laws of the wordings and the customs of the different ethnic groups, 6:5. The Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:34 advises that one who is accustomed to saying Vidui but prays in a place in which it is not said, says it without beating his chest, so that it will not be noticeable. In a place where people praying with different wordings (nusachim) pray together, it is best they follow the custom of the chazan. Nevertheless, those who wish to say Vidui are permitted to beat their chest, for there is no concern of "Lo Titgodedu" (fragmenting the nation into divergent groups with different practices) or causing dissension, because everyone knows that concerning Vidui there are various customs. However, one must calculate the time in such a way that he will succeed in finishing Nefillat Apayim before Kaddish, because after Kaddish, he will have to continue on to say Ashrei with the congregation.
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
