622 - תרכב סדר תפלת מנחה ובו ו' סעיפים

622 - Order of the Mincha Prayer - 6 Subsections

1 We do not say "Ein Keilokeinu" after the Musaf prayer, as we say on other Shabbos and Yom Tov — because essentially it was instituted only corresponding to the middle blessings of the Shemoneh Esreh, which are not said on Shabbos and Yom Tov.

But on Yom Kippur, they have already said piyutim that contain mentions of these blessings, such as "Ahallelcha," etc.

But "Pitum HaKetores" — even though it too was mentioned in the Avodah — nevertheless the details of the spices of the ketores were not mentioned there, and therefore one should say them after the Musaf prayer.

2 There are places that practice to say "Ashrei" and "U'va L'Tziyon" before the Mincha prayer, as on every Shabbos and Yom Tov.

But in these countries we do not say "Ashrei" and "U'va L'Tziyon" until before Ne'ilah — in order to make an interruption between the Mincha prayer and Ne'ilah with the saying of "Ashrei" and "U'va L'Tziyon."

But between Musaf and Mincha we interrupt with the reading of the Torah — therefore there is no need to interrupt further with "Ashrei" and "U'va L'Tziyon." And we should hasten the Mincha prayer as much as possible.

3 We do not say "Va'ani Sefilasi," even if it falls on Shabbos — because on all Shabbosos we say it in praise of Israel, that even though they ate and drank, nevertheless they read in the Torah and pray afterward. Which is not so with the nations of the world, who eat and drink and act wantonly. But on Yom Kippur this is not applicable.

4 And we take out a Torah scroll and three men read in the portion of the forbidden relations until the end of the portion — so that whoever has a transgression in his hand should separate from them.

Because forbidden relations are a common transgression — for a man's soul desires them and his evil inclination overpowers him.

And the third one reads the haftorah in Yonah — because it contains the power of teshuvah, and that one cannot flee from before the Holy One, blessed be He.

And we practice to conclude the haftorah in Michah: "Mi Keil Kamocha," etc. (Michah 7:18).

And after the haftorah — the practice in these countries is to recite only three blessings. But we do not say "Al HaTorah V'al HaAvodah" — because the service of the day was already completed before Mincha.

And the practice in these countries is that we do not say "Tzidkasecha" when it falls on Shabbos. Because it is written in it: "Your judgments are a great deep" (Tehillim 36:7), and we do not request judgment on Yom Kippur but rather mercy and beyond the letter of the law. Similar to what is said: "And do not enter into judgment," etc. (Tehillim 143:2).

5 If the hour is pressed — they should skip "Avinu Malkeinu," in order to begin Ne'ilah at its time, as will be explained in siman 623.

6 Even though there is no raising of the hands (birkas kohanim) at Mincha on Yom Kippur, as is written in siman 129, see there — even so the chazan should say the Priestly Blessing and "Sim Shalom," for the reason explained there. See there.