Thirteen Attributes of Mercy - Liturgical Usage

Liturgical Usage

The general usage is that the various recitations of the thirteen middot begin with the first "Adonai" and conclude with "ve-nakeh."

They must not be recited by only one person in prayer, but by an entire congregation, which must consist of at least ten persons, a minyan.

• They are recited on every holy day, except on Shabbat, when the Torah scroll is taken from the Ark.
• It is also customary that on the fast-days on which Ex. xxxii. 11-14 and xxxiv. 1-10 are read, the reader stops at the word "Vayikra" in order that the congregation may recite the thirteen attributes, after which he continues his reading.
• The thirteen attributes are very frequently recited in penitential prayers as in the case in the seliḥah of the eve of the New Year, which is repeated at the morning service on the Day of Atonement, and which begins with the words "Shelosh 'esreh middot," and in the pizmon Ezkera Elohim of Amittai b. Shephatiah for the fifth day of repentance, which is recited also at the evening service on the Day of Atonement (and in some liturgies is the final seliḥah of the liturgy of Neilah concluding Yom Kippur), and in which the attribute of compassion is particularly invoked.
• On fast-days as well as during the week before the New Year (the so-called seliḥot days), and on the days between the New Year and the Day of Atonement, called the days of repentance, many penitential prayers are recited in addition to the usual daily prayers. After every such petition the thirteen middot are recited with their introductory prayer, the well-known El Melech yoshev, which runs as follows: "Almighty King, sittest on the throne of mercy, showing forth Thy compassion, and forgiving the sins of Thy people by ever taking away their former guilt, ofttimes granting pardon unto sinners and forgiveness to the transgressors, making manifest Thy goodness both to body and to soul, nor punishing them according to their iniquity; Almighty One, as Thou hast taught us to recite the thirteen, so remember now the thirteenfold covenant, as Thou didst in former days proclaim it to the modest one, even as it is written . . ." (then follow the verses Ex. xxxiv. 5-7a and 9b).