Omitting Tachanun on a Yahrzeit

Question: I was davening shacharis in a shul where they skipped tachanun, though most people didn’t know why. When I asked the chazzan afterwards, he explained that it was a tzaddik’s yartzheit. Should I have recited tachanun?

Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 131:6) lists various days on which tachanun is omitted due to the simcha associated  with the day, such as Rosh Chodesh and Chanuka.

The Mishmeres Shalom (12:4) and Minhag Yisrael Torah (OC 131:3) record a minhag to omit tachanun on the yahrzeit of a tzaddik. They cite Rashi (Yevamos 122a), who notes that it was common practise for talmidei chachamim to gather together to learn on the yahrzeit of the amaoraim, referring to such days as regalim, auspicious occasions.

Nonetheless, R' Ovadia Yosef (Yabia Omer OC 3:11:9) strongly opposes this practice, asserting that tachanun should not be omitted unless there is a solid halachic basis. If one were to follow this minhag consistently, tachanun would never be recited, as every day marks the passing of great Torah figures from biblical times until today. This would effectively nullify the recitation of vidui and tachanun altogether. On the contrary, the Shulchan Aruch (OC 568:1) prescribes fasting on the yahrzeit of tzaddikim rather than celebrating. The Kaf Hachaim (OC 568:24) even suggests adding vidui, acknowledging that the loss of tzaddikim results from communal sins. The Minchas Elazar (Divrei Torah 3:83; Nimukei Orach Chaim 131) also vehemently opposes this minhag, calling it foolish and laughable.

R’ Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Halichos Shlomo, Tefilla 13:n7) writes that if it is the established minhag of a shul to omit tachanun on the yahrzeit of their Rebbe, one should follow the kehilla and refrain from saying it. However, R' Ovadia Yosef, R’ Benzion Abba Shaul (Ohr Letzion 2:9:2), R’ Moshe Feinstein, R’ Yosef Shalom Elyashiv (cited in Tefilla Kehilchasa 15:n37), and R’ Chaim Kanievsky (cited by Ishei Yisrael 25:n37) maintain that one should still recite it discreetly.

In conclusion, if one finds oneself in a shul that omits tachanun due to a yahrzeit, they should recite it privately and unobtrusively.