Literally "eighteen". Also called the "Amidah". The prayer consisting of 19 blessings, recited three times daily, and four times on Shabbat and Yom-Tov. It forms the backbone of all of the daily prayers.
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127 views
Saying Mashiv HaRuach in the Southern Hemisphere
In the Southern Hemisphere (Brazil, Australia, South Africa, etc.) in October they are heading into the summer. Do they say Mashiv HaRuach at this time of the year or do they say it from Pesach to ...
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3answers
266 views
Humming during shmoneh esre
On shabbat for shacharit and mussaf, I am usually still davening shmoneh esre by the time the chazzan gets to kedusha. In this situation, can I hum to the tune of kedusha?
This essentially boils down ...
14
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4answers
164 views
How to say go-al Yisroel before Shacharis Amida
When the leader gets to just before the Shacharis Amida, how should he say the blessing
go-al Yisroel: aloud or saying the word Yisroel so the end of it cannot be heard?
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3answers
259 views
Moving from one's spot after Kedusha
After standing still for Kedusha, some people move after saying Yimloich, whereas others wait until after the Chazan says Hokail Hakodoish. What is the correct way?
8
votes
1answer
128 views
Interrupting in the middle of Shmona esrei
Am I allowed to interrupt in the middle of Shmona esrei in order to pick up a Siddur (or any other holy book) that has fallen to the floor? Same question, if I have to make some steps in order to pick ...
8
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2answers
151 views
Leaning on things during prayer?
It says in Shulchan Aruch that one may not lean on anything while reciting sh'mona esre. (OC 94:8) The Mishna B'rura defines "leaning" as placing one's weight on another object such that if the object ...
7
votes
3answers
196 views
Shalom Rav / Sim Shalom - by Mincha according to Nusach Ashkenaz
Nusach Ashkenaz says Shalom Rav at Mincha most days. However, when there is Birchas Kohanim (such as a fast day), they say Sim Shalom. Is there a connection between Birchas Kohanim and Sim Shalom? If ...
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5answers
363 views
“Jumping” at the end of Shemoneh Esrei
Some people are accustomed to performing a few little "jumps" at the end of Shemoneh Esrei (after taking the requisite three steps backward and forward) by lifting their heels a number of times. Is ...
6
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2answers
132 views
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 ...
5
votes
4answers
190 views
Answering Baruch Hu UVaruch Shemo and Amen while learning
If someone is giving Shiur in the same room as people Davening, do the people learning answer Baruch Hu Uvaruch Shemo and Amen to the Hazarat HaShatz?
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votes
2answers
323 views
How do Karaites pray?
How do Karaites pray? If the text of the Amidah originated in the mishnaic period, do Karaites recognize it? If not, what do they daven?
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2answers
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Can you respond to קדושה if you are not already done with your own ש''ע?
Can you respond to קדושה if you are not already done with your own ש''ע? I heard that you can if you are past a certain point after שים שלום/שלום רב. I just want to know if that's true and, if so, ...
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2answers
224 views
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1answer
288 views
Transliteración de la Amidá en Español - Transliteration of the Amidah into Spanish
Estoy buscando una transliteración del rezo Shemoné-Esré en la lengua español. ¿Puede usted, por favor, ayudarme? Yo también quiero los rezos y cánticos para el Shabat.
I'm looking for a ...
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votes
2answers
87 views
Should the Chazzan say the pesukim of Kedusho loud?
In the repetition of the Amida, it seems (see Teshuvos Igros Moshe 3 (9), OC 104 (7), OC 125 Biur Halocho d.h. "elo shoskin ..") that the Chazzan should say the pesukim of Kedusho loud enough so that ...
14
votes
1answer
168 views
a wheelchair user's taking “steps” before sh'mone esre
The Shulchan Aruch, OC 94:5, writes:
Suppose someone is sitting on a boat or wagon [and saying sh'mone esre (amida)]. If he can stand up when he reaches the point of bowing, he should stand, so as ...
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5answers
270 views
Why do we still do chazarat hashatz?
This question assumes that the purpose of chazarat hashatz is to allow for those who were unable to say their own shmoneah esrei (assumedly due to Hebrew illiteracy) to fulfill their obligation to ...
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1answer
314 views
Does one choose one or two pesukim for names?
What posuk does one choose at the end of shmonei esrei if one has two names? do you use two pesukim? or take the posuk that starts with the first initial of the first name and ends with the last ...
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votes
2answers
142 views
Can you learn during chazarat hashatz?
Are you allowed to learn Torah silently during the chazzan's repetition of Shmonah Esrei?
(This is a case where you are davening with that minyan.)
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votes
1answer
98 views
Why have I never seen “Prisoh al shema”?
“Prisoh al shema”
A good summary is to be found in a shiur from the The Israel Koschitzky Virtual Beit Midrash.
In short, “…. ten men who prayed alone can subsequently fulfill their obligations ...
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votes
1answer
68 views
If repeating Shmoneh Esrei do you redo steps back/forward?
If someone has to restart Shmoneh Esrei (because of Yale Yeyavo, Mashiva Haruach, Melech Hakadosh, etc) and is still in the middle of it, do you take 3 steps back, then forward, then back and forward ...
5
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1answer
77 views
Useshuva Usefillah Utzedakah maavirin es roah hagezeira, where is this from?
Does anyone know the history of how "Useshuvah Usefillah Utzedakah maavirin es roah hagezeirah" was put into our Tefillah and/or who wrote it? (It's in the chazaras hashatz for musaf on Rosh Hashana ...
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1answer
101 views
Davening Chazaras Hashatz after minyan
I have seen people daven chazaras hashatz after a minyan has just ended out loud,and they expect everyone to answer their kedusha and then they continue the rest of their shmoneh esri quietly. Is ...
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2answers
94 views
Why is 'misod chachomim unevonim' sometimes said and sometimes omitted in the repetition of the Amidah?
In Askenazi communities, the piece beginning 'misod chachomim unevonim' is said at the repetition of the Amidah at Shacharis when there are piyuttim (except Purim) and on Musaf on Yomim Noraim as well ...
5
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3answers
103 views
The Tur's word counts for Shemoneh Esreh
I have often seen the Tur cited as giving exact word counts for each blessing of the Shemoneh Esreh. The arguments I have seen for being careful to adhere to the word counts include that this would ...
5
votes
2answers
127 views
Us'shuva us'fila utz'daka maavirin… so what?
Why is so much emphasis given to the line "us'shuva us'fila utz'daka maavirin..." in the Rosh Hashana and Yom Kipur prayers? It seems to be the most emphasized line of all, with people shouting it and ...
4
votes
3answers
140 views
How do you do the 3 steps back (forward) before/after Amidah
I know the why, and I see that's been asked/answered here many times. But I was curious about the proper mechanics of the 3 steps back (forward) before/after Amidah.
I've always started with my feet ...
4
votes
1answer
59 views
Tefillat Nedava on Yom Tov
In general, one can pray an extra shmoneh esrei beyond the regular shacharit-mincha-maariv if one wants to do so. This is called a tefillat nedava -- a voluntary prayer.
I know that one cannot do ...
4
votes
1answer
222 views
Mashiv HaRuach - V'Sain (veten) Tal Umatar
Why do we start saying Mashiv HaRuach on Shemini Atzeres yet we do not say V'Sain Tal Umatar until Dec 4 / Dec 5 (In Chutz L'Aretz)? Why should they not be on the same day when they are similar ...
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2answers
130 views
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1answer
186 views
What purpose does the repetition of the Shemoneh Esrei (Amidah) serve?
Does the repetition serve to ensure that everyone present has fulfilled the mitzvah of tefila? If so, does saying "amen" to all of the blessings work in substitution of the silent Shemoneh Esrei, in a ...
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votes
1answer
79 views
Saying HaKel HaKodesh (when must say “HaMelech”) and not going back to beginning of tefillah
When a person says "HaKel HaKodesh" instead of "HaMelech HaKodesh" during Eseres Yamei Teshuva the halacha is they must go back to the beginning of the tefillah and start over again. What would be ...
2
votes
1answer
144 views
On days when Kohanim Duchan, why do the Kohanim only do it once and not in each Shemoneh Esrei?
On days when the Kohanim Duchan, why do the Kohanim only do it once (during Mussaf) and not in each Shemoneh Esrei?
[revised question]
