Tachanun on Bar Mitzva Day
Question: I was davening in a chassidishe shul, and they skipped tachanun due to a Bar Mitzva. Is this the correct practice? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 131:4) states that tachanun is omitted in a shul when there is a chassan present or on the day of a bris . R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yabia Omer OC 1:27; 4:14; Yechave Daas 2:15) expands this ruling to include the day of a Bar Mitzva, comparing it to the joy of a chasuna or a bris . He cites R’ Ben Zion Meir Chai Uziel, who explains that this minhag underscores the importance of becoming Bar Mitzvah and the significance of beginning to wear tefillin . However, R’ Eliezer Waldenberg (Tzitz Eliezer 11:17) disagrees, arguing that omitting tachanun does not necessarily encourage people to appreciate the mitzva of tefillin . Similarly, R’ Nosson Gestetner (Lehoros Nosson 10:16) points out that the Shulchan Aruch does not mention Bar Mitzva as a reason for skipping tachanun because it is not considered as joyous an occasion ...