questions about Jewish prayer
2
votes
0answers
53 views
Facing east when standing in prayers
I was praying with my kid in a synagogue wherein the aron was against the eastern wall, and most of the seats were facing north or south. My kid wondered why the people around us turned to face east ...
0
votes
1answer
39 views
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?
0
votes
0answers
22 views
What should one do if he forgets the changes in the tefilla during the Aseret Yemei Teshuva?
What should one do if he forgets all the changes in the Tefilla during the Aseret Yemei Teshuva? When should he go back, when may he continue?
0
votes
0answers
22 views
When do we add Avinu Malchenu?
According to Shulchan Aruch, (please cite Saeef and Siman so I can read further):
What are all the days we add Avinu Malchenu?
What should one do if he forgets to say it?
1
vote
1answer
34 views
When do we add Al Hanisim?
According to Shulchan Aruch, (please cite Saeef and Siman so I can read further):
What are all the days we add Al Hanisim? (Just Purim and Hanukkah?)
What happens if we forget to say it?
1
vote
0answers
33 views
When do we add Ye'aleh V'yaboh?
According to Shulchan Aruch, (please cite Saeef and Siman so I can read further):
What are all the days we add Ye'aleh V'yaboh?
What happens if we forget to say it?
0
votes
0answers
38 views
How to act when somebody walks into a minyan?
According to Shulchan Aruch, (please cite Saeef and Siman so I can read further):
How must one conduct himself when he is in a minyan that hasn't yet begun, or a Minyan that has already begun, and ...
1
vote
1answer
68 views
What parts of the service do you say when late to Shacharit?
According to the Shulchan Aruch (please cite Saeef and Siman so I can read further):
What should one do when he's late to Shachrit? What should he skip and what must he say?
3
votes
1answer
57 views
Is there a halachik problem with wearing shorts while davening?
I have often heard that one should not wear shorts while davening. This makes intuitive sense to me that we should do this out of respect. But is there any halachic reasoning behind this? Is it ...
3
votes
2answers
52 views
What is the proper way to hold one's hands while praying?
Similar to Not interlacing fingers in prayer
What is the proper way that one should hold his hands while praying, if there is such a way? What is the level of obligation to hold one's hands in that ...
-1
votes
1answer
89 views
What are the most recited verses during Jewish prayer?
What are the top three most recited/used verses/supplications (from or not from Torah) in Jewish prayers? Not asking about the single most used one only.
I think, if a passage or a sentence is ...
7
votes
2answers
71 views
If you must stop shmoneh esrai, should you take 3 steps back?
If you are davenning shmoneh esrai and you must stop (for example there is filth, something untznius, pictures, a dangerous animal, etc), should you take 3 steps back?
I'm asking both about taking 3 ...
6
votes
1answer
78 views
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 ...
-3
votes
0answers
54 views
Prayer and tefillin for Jews who were not raised in religious Judaism? [closed]
I was born in a family who has abided by the Torah for more than five generations. Last weekend, I was approached by an Orthodox Jew to pray. As he began to place the tefillin, he asked me whether I ...
2
votes
1answer
116 views
Is it permitted for a minyan to daven outdoors?
The weather in New York is beautiful recently. It crossed my mind to daven outside in the glory of HaShem's beautiful Creation.
Is it permissible to daven outdoors?
4
votes
0answers
73 views
What should I do if my synagogue faces away from Jerusalem?
Due to an major oversight in its design the synagogue in my home town (London) is built with the Aron facing north west instead of east. A while ago I asked someone about this and they said that it ...
0
votes
1answer
59 views
Is the expression “we do not rely on 'bar elahin'” a reference to Christianity?
The prayer Brich Shmeh from the Zohar Vayakhel 206a, which is recited during the Torah service, contains the statement ולא על בר אלהין סמיכנא. All the translations I've seen render "bar elahin" as ...
1
vote
0answers
25 views
Meditation before Mitzvah activities
Who invented the meditation that is often printed before such things as counting the 'Omer, inviting the Ushpizin, and other Mitzvoth or Mitzvah-related activities, and what is the basis for it?
4
votes
2answers
71 views
Men davening in the women's section while they catch up
A seemingly knowledgeable guy who davens with me early each morning is sometimes found in the women's section (which is usually empty during that service). He says that he learned that from a ...
1
vote
0answers
32 views
If a Jew visits a mosque and offers a prayer to “Allah”, which commandments are being violated? [duplicate]
If a Jew visits a mosque and offers a prayer to "Allah" as a good-will gesture, which commandments are being violated? What are the views of the Jewish Sages on this type of interfaith ...
3
votes
0answers
37 views
Catching Up When Saying Tachanun M/Th
On Mondays and Thursdays I often fall very behind during tachanun. I see two options — I can start with the congregation after having listened with proper intent during chazarat hashatz, or I can ...
0
votes
1answer
37 views
other names of Hashem (instead of Ado..) in davenning and brachos?
IS there halachic basis for using other names of Hashem (instead of Ado..) in davenning and brachos, if one chooses?
0
votes
1answer
37 views
Interpreting events during prayer as signs
Suppose a person is praying for parnasah as they drop a coin into a tzedakah box. At that very moment, there is a loud rumble of thunder, even though the weather conditions wouldn't seem to warrant ...
3
votes
1answer
46 views
Is the bracha of Retzei (avodah) a Bakasha?
In a standard shmoneh esrei, we have a middle section of bakashot. Because we do not make bakashot on Shabbat (as evidenced in this question), the middle 13 brachot are omitted. However, the final ...
1
vote
0answers
21 views
What exactly constitutes the 13 attributes for the purpose of not saying them without a minyan?
The answers to this question mention that the 13 attirubtes of God are not said in selichos when davening without a minyan. If one is saying selichot without a minyan, exactly what parts constitute ...
1
vote
0answers
54 views
Agnostic Jew serving as the tenth for a minyan
I remember reading a responsum on the issue of agnostic Jew's serving as the tenth for a minyan, but do not remember the outcome. Does anyone know the rule?
Also, do we count, as the tenth man, a ...
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)?
4
votes
1answer
75 views
Can you join a minyan in another room?
I recently davened (prayed) at a hassidic Rebbe's minyan. I found something peculiar, namely that the Rebbe didn't actually daven in the same room as everyone else. Instead, he davened in a different ...
5
votes
2answers
81 views
Fixing incorrectly-said word in davening
When one has incorrectly uttered a word or syllable of davening and immediately realizes it, how far back does one go in order to correct it?
Does one need to return to the beginning of the pasuk or ...
3
votes
1answer
69 views
How can you keep Shabbos till Tuesday?
I have heard that there are people who keep Shabbos till Tuesday. I would like to understand how that works practically. A few examples of puzzling situations:
What shmoneh esrei does such a person ...
2
votes
1answer
62 views
How is the prayer of אל ארך אפים on Mondays and Thursdays different from tachanun?
Ashkenazim say a short paragraph starting אל ארך אפים on most Mondays and Thursdays before reading from the Torah.
It is a request to Hashem not to rebuke us in His anger and to give us ...
5
votes
0answers
61 views
Any good sources for Ashkenazi prayer modes and melodies for the whole year?
Anyone know of any good sources for Ashkenazi prayer modes and melodies for the whole year? I'm looking for traditional Ashkenazi nusach, but perhaps not embellished like concert chazzanut. A good ...
4
votes
1answer
105 views
Not interlacing fingers in prayer
I have heard from an unauthoritative source that one should not interlace his fingers while praying, because, l'havdil, Christians do. Is there any authoritative source for the claim that it's ...
3
votes
0answers
24 views
Shliach Tzibbur and Tashlumim for missed tefillah
The M"B in Siman 108 Sif-Katan 4 brings that someone who missed a tefillah and is now the shliach tzibbur may use the chazaras ha'shatz for his tashlumim.
(Makor in Radbaz Siman 361.)
The Radbaz ...
1
vote
0answers
32 views
MiSheBerach for someone who doesn't like his/her own name
Another question asked about a case in which someone does not want to use his/her mother's name in a MiSheBerach.
What if someone dislikes his/her own given name and goes by a different name? What ...
2
votes
1answer
55 views
Mishebeirach for someone who doesn't want their mother's name used
Suppose someone really dislikes his mother and does not want to be known as (for example) "יוסף בן רחל". He's sick, and people wish to pray for him in a Mishebeirach.
Do his wishes have to be ...
0
votes
0answers
61 views
Formatting Benching / Davening in a design program [closed]
Where can I get the text of the siddur/prayer book and benching/grace in a free computer friendly format? I'd like to be able to make materials that include commonly needed teffilos(prayers) (e.g. a ...
3
votes
4answers
86 views
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 ...
6
votes
0answers
81 views
May Hallel be said on Yom Nicanor?
I know that usually, Yom Nicanor is displaced by the Fast of Esther. But in years (such as 2013 / 5773) when the Fast of Esther is displaced due to Shabbat, may Hallel be said on the 13th of Adar, ...
1
vote
3answers
402 views
Jews allowed to pray and join Muslim congregation in Mosques and Experiences
I had read somewhere in Maimonidian literature that Jews are allowed to pray in Mosques. Is it even allowed for them to Join the Muslim congregation and pray the Salat for they worship the same God ...
5
votes
3answers
200 views
How to get drunk on Purim and still pray?
There is a halachic problem, as has been discussed previously, with praying while being drunk. If someone gets drunk on Purim, how does he manage to fulfill the mitzvah to pray three times a day?
...
3
votes
1answer
54 views
Mi Shebeirach for one that is ill - if you do not know the mother's name
Can one make a Mi Shebeirach for an ill person if they do not know the mother's name?
2
votes
2answers
118 views
Can one make a mi'shebeirach for animals?
Is it proper to conduct a mi'shebeirach prayer (which is a prayer normally said by a synagogue official, at a communal Torah reading, for the health and recovery of a sick person) for the ...
2
votes
0answers
46 views
Times where one must refrain from flatulence?
From my understanding one should refrain from passing gas during the amidah prayer and when wearing tefillin. Are there other times where one is adjured not to flatulate, perhaps when holding a sacred ...
1
vote
0answers
74 views
Has anyone since Rashbi been considered so regularly involved in Torah study so as to be exempt from prayer?
In SA OC Siman 106 Sif 2, the Machaber says that someone that for whom "Toraso Umanaso" ("his torah is his occupation", ie a person that is constantly engaged in Torah study) like Rebbe Shimon Bar ...
2
votes
1answer
83 views
Earliest time for Mincha Gedola
Looking at this myzmanim.com chart for Brooklyn, NY on 01/21/2013 it gives me the following Zmanim for Mincha Gedola.
30 fixed minutes after midday 12:37:27
Gra & Baal Tanya 12:31:53
...
0
votes
2answers
68 views
Berachot in Kriat Shema
I'm sorry if the question is too general, but I was just wondering about Berachot Kriat Shema. What exactly are they? What kind of relationship do they have with the Shema? We need to make a Beracha ...
3
votes
3answers
67 views
When do you interrupt to answer Kaddish?
Often I find myself in the middle of some part of davening when the chazzan starts saying kaddish. Should I interrupt to answer or does it depend on which part of davening I am holding?
2
votes
2answers
314 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?
3
votes
0answers
114 views
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 ...
