Tagged Questions
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?
11
votes
1answer
115 views
Is there a Beta Israel Siddur?
Ashkenazi siddurs are different from Sephardic siddurs, do Beta Israel Siddurs even exist?
7
votes
3answers
139 views
Sitting for “Ashre”?
I have seen people seemingly careful to sit down when beginning the paragraph of prayers that starts "Ashre yosh've vesecha" (Ps. 84:5). One such person told me that he was, in fact, careful to do so, ...
0
votes
0answers
49 views
Davening by a Tzaddik on Rosh HaShanah
Where does the inyan of davening with a Tzaddik on Rosh HaShanah come from? Where did it start? Was there ever such a minhag before chassidus come along? (Assuming it started with the Chassidim -- my ...
1
vote
0answers
77 views
Saying Misod and Reshut (introduction) for piyutim, then skipping them
I have seen that many yeshivos (and recently, even some shuls) often say just Misod and the Reshus on RH and YK, and then skip the actual piyutim they are meant to introduce!
This is even more evident ...
14
votes
1answer
114 views
Why do we open the ark for important prayers?
What is the origin of the custom of opening the ark for important prayers (not connected with the need to take out the Torah scroll)?
6
votes
3answers
225 views
spitting in aleinu leshabeach
Does anyone know the origin of the custom to spit in Aleinu after the words
Shehem mishtachvim lahevel vlarik
Where did it start? and in which sforim it is mentioned?
I have seen the sefer Hayom ...
6
votes
2answers
113 views
When do we start reciting Psalm 27?
Yesterday being the 30th of Av (and Rosh Chodesh Elul), prompted a question at shul: exactly when do we start saying Psalm 27—on the first day of Elul or the first day of Rosh Chodesh Elul? Most ...
1
vote
1answer
58 views
The “Shir Hamaalos” etc before Maariv: is it said before nightfall?
The German nusach contains the following explanation of the “Shir Hamaalos” etc said before Maariv.
When ערבית is recited after nightfall, it is preceded by the following
פסוקים, which speak of ...
8
votes
1answer
161 views
Why do we mention dreams during *Birchas Kohanim*?
I don't know how many sects actually do this, but some people have the custom to say a tehfillah which is all about dreams. In it we ask Hashem to make all our good dreams come true whether "...I have ...
3
votes
1answer
161 views
Should a woman wear a gartel?
My understanding of the halachic need for a gartel is very limited; is there any reason a woman should or should not wear one during prayer?
7
votes
1answer
79 views
Why do we strike ourselves during prayer?
Why do we strike ourselves when confessing sin either during shmoneah esrei or viduy?
3
votes
1answer
48 views
Splitting up Shacharis between two Chiyuvim
I have Davened in a few Shuls where they have split up Shacharis between two Chiyuvim. (One Davens until Ashrei after Tachanun / One davens from Ashrei until the end.) What is the source for doing so?
...
9
votes
4answers
267 views
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 ...
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 ...
6
votes
2answers
108 views
Pirkei Avos on shabbos during mincha?
It seems clear from the Rama, MB, and other sources (as well as from most printed siddurim) that Pirkei Avos is said in the synagogue at Shabbos Mincha as part of the tefillah in the summer months, ...
8
votes
1answer
354 views
What is the origin of hazak u'baruch?
Hazak u'barukh is a phrase commonly said after one does something in the synagogue (e.g., after an aliyah). What is its origin?
8
votes
2answers
137 views
When there are four aveilim (mourners), Is it better to have one minyan of 40 people or 4 minyonim of ten each?
Today I was in a shul where there were four parallel mincha services because four mourners wanted to lead the services. I thought there was a principle of ברב עם הדרת מלך?
What sources are there that ...
4
votes
1answer
46 views
Can we say the “Adir bamarom” prayer after the prayer which we say instead of “Birkat Kohanim”?
Extracted from here:
The prevailing custom in the Diaspora to relegate the Birkat Kohanim to the major holidays.
After Birkat Kohanim, the congregation silently recites the short Adir bamarom prayer.
...
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 ...
8
votes
2answers
138 views
Why don't some people say Vihi Noam Motzei Shabbos of Shabbos Hagadol 5772?
Regarding saying Vihi Noam on Motzei Shabbos Shabbos Hagadol which falls out a week before Pesach (The first night of Pesach is on Friday Night) Luach Kollel Chabad writes:
On Saturday night, we ...
10
votes
3answers
245 views
Why do Jewish people sway while praying?
Is there a reason that people sway back and forth while praying?
I saw a lot of people pray like this, but I'm too shy to ask them why do they do this.
5
votes
3answers
200 views
Status of feet while making a bracha or davening
In todays day and age where we no longer have homes with dirt floors:
do you still need to cover your feet when making a bracha or davening?
If so are socks enough?
does it depend on the custom of ...
6
votes
1answer
63 views
To sing or not to sing - Piyutim on Shabbath
Some Piyutim recited on Shabbath are widely (in the Ashkenazi world) sung by the congregation (usually in unison, but in some rare instances in the Ashkenazi world they are sung responsively). Among ...
5
votes
2answers
178 views
If it's your minhag to daven Hanetz, do you do so even without a minyan?
A friend once told me that if one's minhag is to daven with Hanetz (i.e., starting the Amida prayer at sunrise), and if there's no Hanetz minyan nearby, you should still daven Hanetz, even without a ...
5
votes
2answers
113 views
Is it permitted to have a boy under barmitzvah age sing Anim Zemiros?
Is it permitted to have a boy under barmitzvah age sing the Shir Hakavod (or Anim Zemiros)? Why is it not like any other part of davenning where we use someone over barmitzvah?
6
votes
1answer
95 views
When is “vesain tal umotor” said in Australia?
When is "vesain tal umotor" said in the Southern Hemisphere eg Australia?
5
votes
2answers
119 views
Which tefilot you say when your minhag differs from that of the shoul your praying in?
Here is the case: This past Sabbath, at an ashkanazi synagogue, a sephardi comes to pray. This is the synagogue that he normally attends (there are about 20 within 1 sq mile).
He prays with the ...
2
votes
2answers
145 views
Is Shir HaShirim recited on a Yom Tov that falls on Friday?
There are those (Sephardim and Chassidim, I guess) who have the custom to recite Shir HaShirim on Friday, Erev Shabbat. Do they also recite it on a Friday when Yom Tov leads directly into Shabbat?
If ...
12
votes
1answer
242 views
Avinu Malkeinu - middle verses said out loud by Chazan
Why do we repeat out loud the verses of Avinu Malkeinu - from Hachzireinu B'Teshuva until Kosveinu B'Sefer Slicha U'Mechila? Why only these verses? Why not others?
7
votes
1answer
95 views
When to say LeDovid HaShem Ori in a minyan with different nusach
I daven Nusach Ashkenaz saying “LeDovid HaShem Ori” at Shacharis and Maariv.
Q1 If I daven Mincha with a Minyan which says “LeDovid HaShem Ori” at Mincha, should I say it with them? (I assume yes, ...
5
votes
3answers
190 views
Saying selichos before midnight
What is the position with saying selichos (end of Elul and Aseres Ymei Teshuva) with a minyan that starts straight after maariv at say 10:30 or 11pm?
4
votes
1answer
64 views
When & whether to say El Maleh or Kaddish
I wish to honor the memory of family members (names & relationships unknown) who died when all the Jews were killed in the town from which my parents came. The date this year comes out on 8/26. ...
11
votes
1answer
280 views
Why don't we bow “correctly” during tefillah anymore?
According to the Gemara (Megillah 22b), and according to the RaMBa"M (Hil. Tefillah 5:13) (and apparently R' Avraham ben HaRaMBa"M was adamant), when we pray we are supposed to bow down ON our knees ...
7
votes
3answers
363 views
Being Shaliach Tzibbur in a Congregation with a different Nusach
In Yalkut Yosef OC 101:10 rules that a Sephardi who is davening in an Ashkenazi minyan should not daven Nusach Ashkenaz as shaliach tzibbur. He can only be shaliach tzibbur if the minyan agrees to let ...
5
votes
3answers
185 views
Bending at “s'lach lanu”
I have seen many people bow slightly when striking their chests in recitation of the sixth b'racha of sh'moneh esrei. Is this a custom? Is there a source for it?
Anyone whom I've witnessed doing ...
8
votes
3answers
202 views
Should I follow the congregation if their view on prayers for Yom Ha'Atzma'ut is different than mine?
How should one go about davening in a minyan on yom haatzmaut when his custom is not to change davening?
My minyan does no tachanun and hallel without a bracha after shmona esreh.
Should I-
do ...
4
votes
2answers
289 views
Black Hats During Mussaf
Lately, I have noticed that many people who wear a tallis during davening will deliberately put on the black hat, which they wore on the way to shul, while still wearing their tallis near the end of ...
9
votes
2answers
115 views
Purpose of announcing Molad
The custom is that the gabbai announces the time of the Molad during the course of "Bircas HaChodesh" on Shabbos Mevorchim. What is the purpose of this? The molad is anyhow not directly connected to ...
3
votes
2answers
219 views
Who says the Ribbono shel Olam in Birkas Kohanim?
I've "seen" many Talmidei Chachamim not saying the Ribbono shel Olams following each bracha of Birkas Kohanim. At least, I hear them chanting with the Kohanim from start to finish. Are these tefilos ...
4
votes
1answer
106 views
(Av Harachaman,) sh'ma kolenu
Is there a nusach hat'fila in which the 16th b'racha of the amida begins with "אב הרחמן" at shacharis only and skips those words at other t'filos?
I heard recently that this is in fact printed in ...
8
votes
3answers
162 views
Boruch Shem Kevod Malchuso L'Olam Voed - why do we whisper it?
Why do we say Boruch Shem Kevod Malchuso L'Olam Voed in Kriyas Shema in a whisper?
2
votes
2answers
286 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 ...
4
votes
3answers
219 views
Is Kel Malei Rachamim (memorial prayer) said under the chuppah at a wedding?
I'd seen a book on wedding practices and customs that said if desired in appropriate cases, a memorial prayer ("El/Kel Malei Rachamim") could be said under the chuppah, e.g. a bride/groom who lost a ...
2
votes
2answers
80 views
Ledovid - Before or After Aleinu?
I noticed that in my Siddur as well as many others, "Ledovid" (what we say extra from Rosh Chodesh Elul until Shemini Atzeres) is placed right after the Yom by Shacharis davening. However, in every ...
4
votes
6answers
290 views
Stepping Back Before Amidah
Why do people step back three steps before the Amidah (as mentioned here in Mishnah Berurah, S'if Katan Gimmel) if the Gemarah only mentions stepping three steps forward? Is there a kabbalistic source ...
7
votes
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
votes
3answers
331 views
Cutting Tefillin Retzuos
As we know, the outside of the tefillin's retzuos (phylacteries' straps) must be black. Lately, I've noticed that the very end of the retzuah of my shel yad (tefillin of the arm) is cracking and ...
2
votes
2answers
125 views
Nusach for silent Amida when chazzan in an other-nusach congregation
My understanding (based, if I recall correctly, on R' Moshe Feinstein) is that when I pray in a congregation that uses a different version of the prayers (nusach) from the one I usually use, I should ...
7
votes
3answers
119 views
Staying up all night on Shavu'ot
Every year, when I stay up learning Torah through the first night of Shavu'ot, I invariably fall asleep during the subsequent morning prayers. Last year, I tried something new: Learn all night, but ...
