liturgical wording and syntax
12
votes
2answers
908 views
Proper recitation of Hamakom Yenachem
Is the proper phrase to console a mourner always the plural המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים or should it be changed depending on whom it is said to (singluar, feminine, etc.)?
9
votes
2answers
213 views
Why don't we follow the Shulchan Aruch's nusach of the blessing on a rainbow?
Background:
The Talmud (Berachot 59A) and the Rambam (Berachot 10:17), and Tur 229 tell us the blessing of the Rainbow is as follows:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֶלוֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם זוֹכֵר ...
8
votes
2answers
100 views
V'Al Brischa SheChasamta Bivsoreinu - ועל בריתך שחתמת בבשרנו - does a lady say this?
In Bentching (grace after meals) - both in the Ashkenazic and in the Sefardic version - we say V'Al Brischa SheChasamta Bivsoreinu - ועל בריתך שחתמת בבשרנו - "and for Your covenant, which you sealed ...
8
votes
1answer
108 views
And let who say Amen?
In light of this answer, why do we say V'imru amen and V'nomar amen at various points in bentching and davening when saying that passage alone? (eg. bentching by yourself, or oseh shalom at the end of ...
8
votes
3answers
78 views
In front of Moshe, why not all of Klal Yisrael?
We say in Tefillas Maariv
בוקע ים לפני משה
that the sea split before Moshe.
Why does it say "lifnei Moshe" (in front of Moshe) wasn't it lifnei (in front of) all of Klal Yisrael (the Jews)?
7
votes
3answers
497 views
Why do we comfort a mourner with Hamakom Yenachem Eschem?
Why, when comforting a mourner at the completion of a Shiva visit, do we refer to G-d as Hamakom? We say Hamakom Yanachem Eschem - why not Hashem Yenachem or Elokim Yenachem?
7
votes
2answers
126 views
Should we say Al Naharos Bavel?
Tehillim 137 is printed in several bentchers before birkas hamazon, but from what I have seen most people do not say it. What is the correct thing to do: say or omit? Are there different minhagim?
7
votes
3answers
112 views
K'shaim Shenichnas L'Bris Kain Yikones L'Torah L'Chupa U'Lmaasim Tovim: why that order?
When a baby boy has his Bris we wish him "K'shaim Shenichnas L'Bris Kain Yikones L'Torah L'Chupa U'Lmaasim Tovim" - just like you entered the covenant so to should you enter into Torah, marriage, and ...
7
votes
3answers
125 views
Can you pray something that isn't true or (at least) that the petitioner doesn't believe to be true?
In the Aruch HaShulchan OH 581:4, he writes regarding the selichos we recite before Rosh HaShanah:
האחת: דאלו שאינם מתענים, ובהסליחה מוזכר לשון "תענית" או "צום" – לא יאמרו זה, דלא ליהוי כדובר שקרים. ...
6
votes
2answers
129 views
Proper bracha on Chanuka candles: lhadlik ner (shel) Chanukah
Why do some people have the custom to say, in the blessing on the Chanukah lights, the word "Shel" before "Chanukah" and some do not? And I have been told some people put the words together as ...
6
votes
2answers
105 views
Repeating Seder HaKitores
Why do Nusahos Ari, Sefard, Edot HaMizrah, and Ashkenaz of Eretz Yisrael repeat the order of the kitores (incense offering) at the end of Shaharis every day and why does Nusah Ashkenaz of Hutz LaAretz ...
6
votes
1answer
65 views
Are you required to say YiHyu LeRatzon before Elokai Netzor?
After Sim Shalom/Shalom Rav in Shemoneh 'Esreh, many Siddurim print YiHyu LeRatzon (Tehillim 19:15) before Elokai Netzor.
Not every Siddur prints this. I don't recall which editions I've seen without ...
6
votes
1answer
124 views
“Hayom yom X b'shabas” or “bashabas”?
A sidur I used this morning had the introductory line of the shir shel yom as "hayom yom sheni b'shabas". When I checked the two sidurim I trust the most for excatitude in these matters, one had ...
5
votes
2answers
160 views
Source of shabbat evening kiddush text?
The beginning of the shabbat evening kiddush (vayehi erev, vayehi boker, yom hashishi...) is from Bereshit, 1:31 ff. Where does the second part (khi hu yom tehilah lemikraei kodesh...) come from? Is ...
5
votes
3answers
72 views
Does poseach es yadecha belong in the first paragraph of bentching?
Some bentchers include the pasuk 'poseach es yadecha..." at the end of the first paragraph of bentching (before the closing bracha), while others do not. What is the correct girsa? Are there different ...
5
votes
3answers
153 views
multiple versions for Baruch She'amar
Being that Baruch She'amar fell from the sky (as said in the Baeir Heiteiv Orach Chaim 51:1), how is it that the Rambam (seder tefilos kal hashna) has a different version than what we have in our ...
5
votes
1answer
77 views
What authority is there for the text of Kaddish Derabonon regarding the words וארעא, טובים, and ברחמיו?
There are variations of the text in Kaddish Derabonon. My questions are how they have arisen and whether there is any authority for each form.
1) The use or non-use of the word וארעא in the phrase
...
5
votes
2answers
105 views
Correct Niqqud for ואטהר in Sefira Nusach
Context: In the Ashkenaz / Sefard (and possibly others) Nuschaos of Sefira, there is a prayer starting with the words "Ribbono Shel Olam [רבונו של עולם]" that is said. Towards the end of this prayer ...
5
votes
1answer
40 views
Order of words (Oizer U'Moshia) in Shemona Esrei
In Shemona Esrei in the first Bracha it ends with Melech Oizer U'Moshia U'Magen מלך עוזר ומושיע ומגן, however towards the end of the Bracha of Modim it says HaKail Yeshuasainu V'Ezrasainu Selah האל ...
5
votes
1answer
47 views
What does בהם refer to in some texts of אַתָּה חונַנְתָּנוּ?
In Maariv after Shabbos we insert אַתָּה חונַנְתָּנוּ into the Amidah. In some siddurim the word בהם is introduced making it read
אַתָּה חונַנְתָּנוּ לְמַדַּע תּורָתֶךָ. וַתְּלַמְּדֵנוּ לַעֲשות בהם ...
5
votes
2answers
69 views
What is the origin and meaning of the prayer “Koh Kaili” said before Musaf on Chagim?
The prayer “Koh Kaili” is said by some before the “Ashrei” before Musaf on Sholosh Regolim.
1) What is the origin and meaning of the prayer?
2) In the “chorus” what are the “miluim”? Are they the ...
5
votes
2answers
81 views
What is the source of the additions before תתקבל צלותהון, יהא שלמא, עושה שלום in Kaddish Tiskabel?
In Kaddish Tiskabel, there are parts to be said (see page 131) by the congregation just before the three phrases that begin: תתקבל צלותהון, יהא שלמא, עושה שלום.
These do not appear in all siddurim ...
5
votes
1answer
107 views
What is the origin of “deah, binah, v'haskel”?
There are two nusachos with the fourth brocha in Shemoneh Esreh of which I am aware. One, extant today in nusach Ashkenaz, certain nusach Sefard, and Teman Baladi, and present in very old siddurim, ...
4
votes
4answers
190 views
Sefira Nuschaos Differences
What are the differences between the various Nuschaos in Sefiras Haomer (e.g. Ashkenaz says this, Sefard says that...)?
4
votes
1answer
77 views
why do we start mincha shmoneh esrai differently?
Before reciting the amidah for mincha many nuschot add the sentence
כִּי שֵׁם ה' אֶקְרָא, הָבוּ גדֶל לֵאלהֵינוּ
before אֲדנָי שפָתַי תִּפְתָּח וּפִי יַגִּיד תְּהִלָּתֶךָ.
Why is that sentenced added ...
4
votes
1answer
75 views
Yotzros for Musaf on Shabbos Shekalim
Those who have the custom to say the Yotzros for Musaf on Shabbos Shekalim finish off each stanza with the following words:
אור פניך עלינו אדון נשא, ושקל אשא בבית נכון ונשא
Hey, wait a second, ...
4
votes
2answers
237 views
V'Nomar Amen (וְנאמַר אָמֵן) vs. V'Imru Amen (ואמרוּ אָמֵן)
In Bentching by the end of the Harachamon's we say וְנאמַר אָמֵן and at the end of Magdil we say ואמרוּ אָמֵן. Is there a difference? What is the difference? Why the difference?
4
votes
1answer
52 views
Tfilat ha-Derekh “ותחזירנו לשלום”
In Tfilat ha-Derekh there are optional words "ותחזירנו לשלום". When do we add these? Sometimes it is written "if somebody means to return immediately say also..." and sometimes I've seen "at the same ...
4
votes
1answer
113 views
Modim DeRabanan - UThHonnenu or UThKayemeinu?
There is a very common poster that I've seen in virtually every Shul I've been in over the past 10-15 years. Unfortunately, I cannot find a photo at the moment. It is a (generally laminated,) white ...
4
votes
2answers
159 views
What's the difference between LaZman and LeZman?
In the Mishnah Brurah (676:1) it says:
והגיענו לזמן הזה הלמ"ד בחיר"ק ולא בפת"ח
That in the Bracha of Shehechiyanu, the Lamed in the word Lazman should be said with a Hiriq and not with a Patach.
...
4
votes
1answer
176 views
הרחמן הוא יברך את בעל הבית הזה… Why the extra אותם?
הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אֶת בַּעַל הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה וְאֶת בַּעֲלַת הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה. אוֹתָם וְאֶת בֵּיתָם וְאֶת זַרְעָם וְאֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁר לָהֶם.
The word otam in this harachaman seems superfluous. ...
4
votes
1answer
128 views
Song while dressing the Torah
As we dress the Torah in my congregation and many congregations I've been to, we sing (from the siddur's liturgy on putting away the Torah):
Mishlei 3:18,3:17
עֵץ חַיִּים הִיא לַמַּחֲזִיקִים ...
4
votes
0answers
44 views
Different names for Dovid in regular Selichos vs Yom Kippur Selichos
Why do we refer to Dovid Hamelech as "Mashiach Tzidkecha" in Selichos (towards the end, paragraph begins with those words) except on Yom Kippur when we refer to him as "Dovid Avdecha" (in the same ...
4
votes
0answers
78 views
Why would a siddur choose תתברֵך instead of תתברַך?
My siddur of choice is the סדור תפילת השלם but I am wondering about one bit of vocalization used therein.
In the davening of shacharit for both weekdays and shabbat, there is a sentence before shma ...
3
votes
2answers
66 views
ורב להושיע instead of רב להושיע in אתה גבור
Siddur Tefila Yeshara (the Berdichever Siddur) has, in the second blessing of the Shemoneh Esreh, ורב להושיע - "v'rav l'hoshea", "and abundant in deliverance". Literally every other siddur I've ever ...
3
votes
1answer
114 views
What do we know about the Yemenites adding (deleting?) Maimonides from their prayers in the 1100s?
I've always heard that the Yemenite Jews of the late 1100s were so grateful for the theological support they were given by Maimonides' writings (Rambam's Igeret Teiman), that where their kaddish ...
3
votes
1answer
89 views
Al Hanisim or V'Al Hanisim
There seems to be different Nuschaos regarding Al Hanisim. Some say Al and some say V'Al. What is the difference and what do most Halachic authorities recommend.
3
votes
2answers
158 views
What siddur do Satmerer Chasidim use?
Many Chasidic groups have a particular siddur that is used by most in that group. Does Satmer have such a siddur?
3
votes
1answer
83 views
Why are a couple words in Ma'oz Tzur different in some sidduriim?
The Text I am referring to is:
רָעוֹת שָׂבְעָה נַפְשִׁי, בְּיָגוֹן כֹּחִי כָּלָה
חַיַּי מֵרְרוּ בְקֹשִׁי, בְּשִׁעְבּוּד מַלְכוּת עֶגְלָה
וּבְיָדוֹ הַגְּדוֹלָה הוֹצִיא אֶת הַסְּגֻלָּה
חֵיל ...
3
votes
2answers
110 views
Why “eretz chemdah tovah” before “shehotzesanu meeretz Mitzrayim” in bentching
Why in Birchas Hamazon do we say "Eretz chemdah tovah" before we thank Hashem for taking us out of Mitzrayim (i.e. before "Val shehotzesanu meeretz mitzrayim")? Didn't we leave Egypt before we got the ...
3
votes
2answers
169 views
Marovis on Yom Tov
Does anyone know of shuls that still say Marovis (piyutim) on Yom Tov nights? I'm particularly interested in any place in Teaneck.
Many seem to think that it's a yekki minhag but it's pretty clear ...
3
votes
1answer
45 views
Are there any nuschaos which drop one of the closing phrases when עננו is said in שמע קולנו?
We add in the special prayer עננו on fast days. It is added in two different locations. (1) as a separate brocho between גואל and רופא and (2) as an addition into the brocho of שמע קולנו.
In (1) the ...
2
votes
3answers
69 views
Why does it say (negatively) in אום נצורה “She sits and waits for Shabbos to go out"?
The Hoshano for Shabbos which starts אום נצורה contains the phrase
יושבת וממתנת עד כלות שבת
Which I translate as “She (Khilas Yisroel) sits and waits for Shabbos to go out.”
I don’t find this very ...
2
votes
4answers
273 views
Differences between siddurim of the same nusach
In nusach Sefard siddurim, there are pronounced differences between nearly every one, each reflecting the particular view of its author as to how to properly reconcile the Arizal with nusach Ashkenaz.
...
2
votes
2answers
82 views
Is there a list of Nusach -> Shevet correspondence?
It says in the introduction of the English Tehillas Hashem siddur (in the name of the Maggid of Mezeritch - Likutei Amarim 133) that each tribe has it's own Nusach (and the Nusach Arizal is the Shaar ...
2
votes
2answers
287 views
End of Davening - Al Tira MiPachad Pisom
It seems like (other than Chabad) most people do not say Al Tira at the end of davening - they finish with the end of Aleinu/V'Al Kein. Is this an error or is this intentional? If it is intentional ...
2
votes
1answer
57 views
Seeking explanation/reason for versions of “R'faenu”
I've seen the following versions (and slight variants thereof) of a portion of the eighth b'racha of the weekday sh'mone esre:
וְהַעֲלֵה אֲרוּכָה וּמַרְפֵּא לְכָל תַּחֲלוּאֵינוּ וּלְכָל ...
2
votes
1answer
42 views
Blessing for the rain; blessing for the dew
I have a question that, in light of my general unfamiliarity with variance between nuschaot (and my profound unfamiliarity with meteorology and the way that seasons actually work), may not be much of ...
2
votes
2answers
206 views
Variant vowelizations in Selichot
The repeated paragraph in Selichot that introduces the Thirteen Attributes includes the phrase "increasingly grants pardon to careless sinners and foregiveness to willful ones" (Artscroll Siddur ...
2
votes
1answer
88 views
Is it “Vay-SHA-vucha” or “Va-YASH-vucha” in Anim Zemiros?
Is it "Vay-SHA-vucha" or "Va-YASH-vucha" in Anim Zemiros? I've heard both, and seen both in different siddurim. Any insight?
