The 13 Attributes of Mercy According to the Ben Ish Chai—How They May Be Recited Without a Minyan

The 13 Attributes of Mercy According to the Ben Ish Chai—How They May Be Recited Without a Minyan

1. It is forbidden to recite the 13 Attributes of Mercy at night. This is important for those who usually pray Mincha at the end of the day—at sunset. If they begin the section of Vidui after “Kriat Ha-Mughrab” (the proclamation of evening), that is, at the very end of the 12-hour daytime period, they should not mention the 13 Attributes; they should recite only Vidui. 2. It is well known that one may not recite the 13 Attributes of Mercy alone, since these words pertain to holiness and require a minyan (10 men). A person praying alone who recites these Attributes after the Vidui prayer should use the cantillation marks, as though reading from the Torah (see the Acharonim on this subject). However, the manuscript edition of “Keter Malchut” states as follows: One praying alone should recite the 13 Attributes of Mercy not in the language of the Torah, but in the language of the Targum (Aramaic). The 13 Attributes of Mercy in Aramaic: “Ve-a'bar Ad-nai Shechinte al apohi u-kra: Ad-nai Ad-nai, Elaha Rachmana ve-Chanana, marchak ragaz, u-masgei le-me'evad tavavan u-keshut. Natar tivu le-alfei darin, shavak le-avayan ve-li-mrod u-le-chovin. Selach li de-taivin le-oraita.” [The following supplication should then be recited] אנא הי אל הי תספיק לנו שפע אור וברכה חן וחסד ורחמים ואמצ. נא הי אל פודה עטרנו  שמחנו “Ana, Ad-nai, El Chai, taspik lanu shefa or u-verachah, chen ve-Chesed ve-Rachamim ve-ometz. Na, Ad-nai, El Podeh, atreinu, samcheinu.” Translation “I beseech You, O L-rd, living G-d, send us abundance, light and blessing, grace, lovingkindness, mercy and courage. O L-rd, G-d of redemption, crown us with joy.” [The words of this supplication are composed from the letters of the words of the 13 Attributes of Mercy] (From the book “Keter Malchut”) 3. At the word ויעבר “Vaya'avor”, one should bow slightly, and straighten up when pronouncing the Name, while reciting “Ad-nai, Ad-nai, El Rachum ve-Chanun”—(“The L-rd, the L-rd, a merciful and gracious G-d”). It is preferable to raise one's voice at this point, provided that this will not provoke the mockery of those around him. This is stated in “Chesed La'Alafim.” I inquired about the custom of the Hasidic community of “Beit El” (the Yeshivah of Kabbalists) in the Holy City of Jerusalem from our friend, the Gaon Rabbi Eliyahu Mani. He wrote to me: “Our custom is as follows: to bow at the words “Vaya'avor Ad-nai al panav”—(“The L-rd passed before him”), to raise one's head at the word “Vayikra”—(“and he called out” [Moshe]), and then to bow again while pronouncing the Name: “Ad-nai, Ad-nai.” At the words “Ad-nai, Ad-nai”, one should rise onto one's toes, but I have not found support for this in the works of the halachic authorities. Nevertheless, I am accustomed to doing so, because if it brings no benefit, it will do no harm. See also “Shiurei Berachah” 138 and “Shalmei Tzibbur” (149:1). (The Gaon Rabbi Eliyahu Mani) 4. During the recitation, one must find a way to express the pause between “Ad-nai, Ad-nai”, for it contains a profound esoteric significance. This is discussed at length in the Sefer “Chesed La'Alafim,” “Sha'ar HaKavanot,” and also in the book “Sefer HaLikutim” on Ki Tisa. 5. After the 13 Attributes of Mercy, one should recite while standing: “Rachum ve-Chanun chatanu lefanecha, rachem aleinu ve-hoshieinu”—(“Merciful and gracious One, we have sinned before You; have mercy on us and save us”). Then one sits and reads Psalm 25, “Nefilat Apayim” (falling on one's face): “To You, O L-rd, I lift up my soul” (Tehillim 25).   (Ben Ish Chai, “Laws of the Torah According to the Weekly Parashah: Shemot”)