The kavana-concentration tag has no wiki summary.
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How can we have better Kavanah in Tefilla? Specifically Tachnuneem?
How does one have better Kavanah in his Tachnuneem tefilla? Does he punch his chest harder? Maybe start bawling?
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1answer
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Davening in front of a picture of 'Avodah Zarah
This afternoon I found myself Davening in a classroom. It must have been a comparative cultures type of class, judging by the items that were hanging on the walls - posters and artwork and such.
As I ...
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1answer
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'Kavannah' of Shem Havayeh in the first line of Kriat Shma
The requirement when saying the name 'Havayeh' to have in mind both the meaning of 'adon ha-kol' and 'hayah hoveh ve-yihyhe' takes me some time: longer than almost anybody I see in shul taking to ...
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Pretending in kiyum hamitzvot
When a woman (or, if need be, a man) lights candles for Shabbat, she covers her eyes before making the bracha to "pretend" that the candles aren't lit yet because we generally say the bracha before ...
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4answers
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What advice do the sages give for improving one's concentration in prayer?
Following up on Isaac's question seeking experience-based advice to improve his prayer:, I am seeking something a bit different. I remember reading some advice on the subject given (I think) by Rav ...
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1answer
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Are you Yotzei Mikrah Megillah if you're spacing out?
The Mishnah in Megillah (2:2) says that one who reads the megillah while semi-asleep ('מתנמנם') is yotzei. The gemara comments(18b):
מתנמנם יצא וכו': היכי דמי מתנמנם אמר רב אשי נים ולא נים תיר ...
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If my kavanah is towards the Islamic idea of God, am I yotzei?
I have been reading through the various questions about Islam and its relationship to Judaism, and about the Rambam's view that Islam is a monotheistic religion and not idolatry and I am wondering: If ...
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May we intervene with Religious OCD sufferers?
On what level may we (or may we not) intervene with OCD sufferers when they are not related to you in any way?
I am referring to a sizable demographic of religious OCD sufferers, who don't ...
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What is the correct kavanah when going to war?
I am specifically talking about going to war that is a mitzvah such as the wars fought while conquering Eretz Yisroel in the beginning of the Neviim and the mitzvah we have and will fulfill of ...
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What kavanos should one have when sharpening a challa knife Erev Shabbos?
What are some kavanos should one have in mind when sharpening a challa knife on Erev Shabbos? I'm sure I heard that there are kavanos but never learned what they are.
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3answers
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“Think about love for fellow Jews before praying” - source?
At the risk of being a guessing-game, I thought I'd read that before starting prayers (the beginning? The Amida?), one should take a minute to think about love for fellow Jews.
Any source for this?
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2answers
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“Hit him with a hammer until he pays attention!” Literally?
Abaye makes a rather harsh judgment on someone who is unattentive in prayer (Ber. 34a): Hit him with a hammer until he pays attention!
Is this meant to be taken as Halachah? Or is it just meant to ...
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5answers
279 views
What makes prayer take so long?
I have noticed that some people take a lot longer to pray than others. I was wondering what exactly adds to this length? I do understand it's probably thinking of the meaning of the words etc. but ...
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2answers
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Mundane activities on Tisha B'Av
Tisha B'Av should be spent focusing on the destruction of Jerusalem and Beit haMikdash; but is it permissible to do daily chores as well? For example, this year, Tisha B'Av is postponed one day ...
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UvLechtecha VaDerech? With Kavanah?
How can one maintain Kavanah reciting Keriath Shema' while walking along the way? Or is the requirement waived in this case?
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4answers
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Should I be shuckling?
I was told that shuckeling (sp?) is an indication of the love-fear relationship that we have with God. You move forward showing that you want to be close to God and then backward out of fear of his ...
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5answers
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List of Kavanot for ANA BE-KHOACH
What are some of the things one should have in mind (kavanah) when saying Ana B'Khoach?
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How can I stop spacing out during davening? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How do you improve your Kavvanah [concentration]?
Any suggestions for improving concentration or advice on how to avoid daydreaming during tefilah?
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3answers
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Barchu or Kavana
If you are late to Maariv and miss barchu and you normally daven slowly should you...
Daven faster, even if it means saying the words with little to no Kavana so that you can say Barchu at the end.
...
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3answers
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Glasses and Shema
The Shulhan Aruch records the custom of placing one's hand over his eyes in Shema in order to increase concentration. What about someone who wears glasses? Must he move them or remove them?
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3answers
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No real kavanah?
There is an interesting principle and ruling established by the Smak, the Tur, and the Rama:
One who davens and did not focus on his prayer, if he knows that he can pray again and focus, he should ...
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3answers
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Pesukim/Sayings/Thoughts for Hizuk
I have a new philosophy (of course Beli Neder): never Daven before you have Hizuk. Now, sometimes I like to sing a Niggun (Shifchi by Reb Shlomo) or say some Bakashot (specifically Agadelcha by Iben ...
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1answer
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How do I say vidui in Selichos in a meaningful way
We say vidui three times in selichos. Many words are uttered in a relatively short time. How can we do this in a meaningful way that is not "vidui peh"?
I have heard tell of one of the gedolei Torah ...
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1answer
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Keeping in mind the meaning of every word of prayer, vs. being mindful of general concepts
If I were to sit down with my prayer book, I could translate it. I know what the words mean, and I know what they are saying conceptually. However, when I'm praying, if I try to translate in my head ...
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1answer
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What to think about during each shofar sound
There are all kinds of meanings traditionally associated with the shofar blowing, as well as with each of its individual sounds. During the Rosh Hashana service, we have many sets of repetitions of ...
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Sh'ma aloud but amida quietly
Shulchan Aruch Orach Chayim 61:4:
We are accustomed to reading the first verse [of "Sh'ma"] in a loud voice in order to arouse the direction [of our thoughts].
SA OC 101:2:
But he should not ...
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2answers
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How to inspire tears in davening?
Rebbe Nachman said that it is especially powerful to allow tears to flow during the Amidah. How does one come to tears? What thoughts should one have while davening to allow tears to flow in order to ...
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279 views
How do you improve your Kavvanah [concentration]?
Building on my blog post here, I ask: How do you improve your concentration when davening?
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4answers
201 views
Finding the quiet section of the synagogue
When you enter an unfamiliar synagogue, how do you find a seat in a section that's likely to have the least talking?
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Experience-based advice for focusing and slowing down prayers?
I tend to daven (pray) without sufficient focus and very quickly. In particular, I find that most of the time that I'm praying, my mind is on things other than the words that I'm saying. And, not that ...
