Nefilat Apayim - Resting the Hand on the Table
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Question
For someone sitting during the recitation of Tachanun, is there any significance or source for also resting one's hand on a table, in addition to covering the face with one's hand?
Answer
Hello,
I did not find an explicit source for this.
However, it seems that the idea behind it is that the root of Nefilat Apayim is in an actual 'falling', meaning a kind of lying on the ground. However, we do not perform the falling literally due to the reason explained in the Gemara (Megillah 22b), that it is forbidden for an important person to fall on his face unless he is certain he will be answered from Heaven.
And even when we modify and perform the falling on the arm, it still needs to be in the manner of 'falling' and not just covering the face.
Source
Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, Siman 131, סעיף ח
An important person is not permitted to fall on his face when praying for the community unless he is certain he will be answered like Joshua bin Nun.
Mishnah Berurah, Siman 131, סעיף קטן ג
Nefilat Apayim, as practiced in earlier days, was in the manner of Kiddah, meaning falling on one's face to the ground without stretching out hands and feet, and now it is not customary to fall on one's face literally, but only to incline the head and cover the face.