Mondays and Thursdays

Weekdays characterized by liturgical additions to the Morning Service. Since talmudic times, at least, these two weekdays have been singled out because on these days local district markets were open; thus all the people of the area, most of them farmers, would gather together in the market place. This was also the day when the courts convened. The Talmud ascribes to Ezra (5th cent. BCE) the institution of special Torah teaching on those days. Later, the Reading of the Law was introduced in the synagogue every Monday and Thursday. The reading, to which three people are called, divides the first section of the following Sabbath reading into three parts. The Morning Service is also extended by the addition of an extensive penitential prayer, which precedes the Reading of the Law. Extremely pious Jews often observed these days as fast days. Among Ashkenazi Jews, the custom arose of fasting and reciting Seliḥot (penitential prayers) on the Monday, Thursday, and second Monday following the festivals of Sukkot and Passover. This was meant to atone for any untoward behavior that might have come about in the general rejoicing on the festivals. Many congregations still recite penitential prayers on these days, but very few people fast on them.

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