Tagged Questions
4
votes
2answers
72 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
3answers
147 views
Is there a source for the custom of a Baal Teshuva not to sit in shul but rather to stand?
I have observed a number of people who have completely changed their lifestyle from irreligious to observant (whom we now call “baalei teshuvah”) standing for all the davenning and even for the ...
0
votes
1answer
129 views
Should we use a picture of the Western Wall as a “mizrach”?
Shulchan Oruch Horav 90 (22) advises against davenning in front of decorations on the wall of the shul. Is it, therefore, a good thing to use a picture of the Western Wall as a “mizrach” ("mizrach" ...
4
votes
2answers
194 views
My hands are cold in synagogue. May I put them in my pockets? May I wear gloves?
If my hands are cold when praying in synagogue:
1) may I put them in my pockets? Is it just disrespectful, as I was brought up to think, or are there more important issues?
2) may I wear gloves? ...
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
361 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?
12
votes
2answers
612 views
What are “universal minimum” standards of tznius for halachic purposes?
What are the minimum standards of tznius for halachic purposes? By "halachic purposes" I mean Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 75, which forbids praying in the presence of ervah. I am raising the question ...
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 ...
5
votes
3answers
127 views
In an average shul, how long before sunset does a combined weekday Mincha/Maariv service start?
Many shuls worldwide run combined weekday Mincha/Maariv services. How long before sunset do these services tend to start? Please specify a range, measured in "number of minutes". Also, please cite ...
0
votes
1answer
198 views
Entering a place where Gentiles and Jews Daven together from a Siddur
Would it be permitted to pray in a place where there are services that are mixed with Jews and gentiles? Meaning, a synagogue that also invites gentiles to pray with the Jews (but they all pray from a ...
4
votes
0answers
76 views
Prayer in a chapel (bes midrash room) vs. in the main synagogue
Some synagogues have a room for prayers that's used on a regular basis: weekdays, Shabasos, holidays. If there are two simultaneous minyanim, then one will be elsewhere, of course, but otherwise the ...
12
votes
1answer
131 views
Why do non-orphans leave during Yizkor?
In all the Shuls (Synagogues) I've Davened in over the years, I noticed that all those whose parents are alive leave the shul during Yizkor. Why is this so?
6
votes
3answers
247 views
Bringing little girls into the men's section in Shul
It has become the norm in mosts shuls I've been to, that fathers bring little girls into the men's section of synagogues on Shabbos and Yom Tov.
Until what age should girls still be allowed to ...
12
votes
1answer
136 views
Out-of-order minyan participation
Some shuls have several minyanim back to back. If one arrives before the Torah reading of the 8:30 minyan and has finished davening before the Torah reading of the 9:30 minyan (to whose Kedusha one ...
5
votes
2answers
187 views
Saying Baruch HaShem L'Olam without a minyan
Should one say Baruch HaShem L'Olam when davening without a minyan? What if one is davening not in a synagogue but in a home? What if one is davening alone?
Practically speaking, the prayer was ...
7
votes
1answer
79 views
forgot birkas hachodesh
If a congregation forgot to say birkas hachodesh on the Shabas before rosh chodesh, should it say it another time? When? (Does it, perhaps, depend on what day(s) of the week rosh chodesh is?)
Note: ...
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 ...
4
votes
1answer
114 views
Bowing at Modim D'Rabbanan
When the chazan reaches "Modim" during his repetition, the congregation recites "Modim D'Rabbanan." Do members of the congregation bow here? If so, in what manner should they bow?
8
votes
3answers
125 views
Proper age to take a child to Shul
What is the proper age for children to begin being taken to Shul?
6
votes
2answers
99 views
Priority rules for abridging Selichot
If the minyan doesn't have enough time allotted for Selichot to finish everything listed in the Selichot book for today, so you need to cut some parts out, what are the rules of priority for what ...
5
votes
1answer
267 views
Rules for Selichot when the minyan isn't complete at start time
If the shul doesn't have a full minyan at the time when Selichot is supposed to start, and waiting for a minyan to gather before starting is not an option, what are the rules for what you say or don't ...
2
votes
2answers
92 views
Is Shabbat prayer more special than Shabbat or prayer individually?
Is there any basis in Jewish law or practice for dressing nicer for Shabbat prayer/synagogue than one does for either Shabbat or for prayer/synagogue?
For example, I'm not generally particular about ...
9
votes
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?
