questions about Jewish prayer
10
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3answers
97 views
How “with” the congregation do you have to be to avoid saying “Kel Melech Ne'eman” before Shema?
As I understand it, when reciting the Shema by yourself, you add the words "Kel Melech Ne'eman" beforehand; but when praying with a minyan, you don't.
How "with the minyan" do you have to be? What ...
10
votes
2answers
153 views
saying “יתברך” when the שליח צבור says “ברכו”
The Artscroll סדורים (prayer books) — "Ashkenaz" and "Sefard" editions, Hebrew-English and Hebrew-only editions, at the morning and evening prayers for holidays, Saturdays, and weekdays — indicate ...
10
votes
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?
10
votes
2answers
272 views
Who didn't recite Kabbalas Shabbos?
In this article, R. Michael Broyde writes that:
Indeed, there have been prominent halachic authorities of the last generation who did not recite Kabbalat Shabbat.
Can anyone provide examples of ...
10
votes
4answers
197 views
Reconciling Nature with Continuous Creation
I have always understood that when God created the universe, he subjected it to a natural order and process under which the universe can function. The laws of nature are those that govern the ...
10
votes
1answer
131 views
Ana B'choach - Private prayer or Sing-Along song?
Many people have the custom to recite the prayer "Ana B'choach" after the initial six chapters of Tehillim said in Kabbalas Shabbos and before "Lecha Dodi". Based on the fact that it references ...
10
votes
1answer
68 views
Who instituted the Nusach of the Mi SheBerachs that we say?
Who instituted the Nusach of the Mi SheBerachs that we say for a newborn, for a sick person, after an Aliyah, etc.?
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?
9
votes
7answers
271 views
Experience-based advice for focusing and slowing down prayers?
I tend to daven (pray) without sufficient focus and very quickly. In particular, I find that most of the time that I'm praying, my mind is on things other than the words that I'm saying. And, not that ...
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 ...
9
votes
3answers
780 views
Author of Nishmat kol chai
Who is the author of the prayer "Nishmat kol chai" which is said on Shabbat, Yom Tov, and during the great Hallel at the Seder?
9
votes
3answers
279 views
Yisgadal or Yisgadel?
I've noticed that some people, when reciting kaddish, pronounce the first words as "yisgadal v'yiskadash" with a patach under the dalet of both words, while others say "yisgadel v'yisgadesh" with a ...
9
votes
2answers
116 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 ...
9
votes
2answers
209 views
If women are not obliged to daven maariv, should they daven if they wish to?
This source says that women are not obliged to daven maariv but may do if they wish.
Although the Shulchan Aruch (108:7) allows one to recite a Tefilat Nedava in a certain case, Halacha Berura (22nd ...
9
votes
4answers
182 views
Eating before Davening with a Minyan, or Davening at home and not eating till later?
You wake up in the morning and are famished. In order to have strength to go to Shul you need to eat prior to Davening. However, if you were to Daven without a Minyan at home you would not have to eat ...
9
votes
2answers
150 views
When you're trapped by someone Davening behind you
There's a(n) Halachah (citation help, anyone?) that you are not supposed to pass in front of someone in prayer. As a result, many people are strict and won't take their three steps back when ...
9
votes
3answers
359 views
Asking non-Jews to pray for someone
Is it appropriate to ask non-Jews to pray on behalf of someone in dire straits (sick, wrongfully imprisoned, trapped, etc.)?
Edit: If it's appropriate, would it be inappropriate if the person being ...
9
votes
2answers
129 views
How sick does someone have to be to be put on “the cholim list”?
By putting someone on a cholim list you are asking the tzibur to daven/ say tehillim on their behalf. How sick does someone need to be for it to be appropriate to put them on such a list?
9
votes
1answer
123 views
Selah ~ Does it mean 'forever' 'certainly' 'basket' 'pause', 'yahoo', a kabbalistic meditative device, or none of the above?
Does anyone know a Jewish interpretation of "selah" in the psalms? Literally it seems to mean something about basket or hanging, but I don't know how this works into psalms.
Jewish sites say it may ...
9
votes
3answers
111 views
tachanun quietly
Some people pray quietly (except where praying aloud is recommended or required, as for the first verse of "Sh'ma"), others aloud, by which I mean loud enough to be heard from a few feet away, and yet ...
9
votes
3answers
173 views
How to respond to excessive talking in a synagogue
If there is a lot of talking (or other halakhic impropriety) in a synagogue, what are some of the considerations that go into the decision regarding what to do about it?
Here are some ideas of what ...
9
votes
1answer
124 views
How come Sepharadim say “Boreh peri haGEFen” but “Shelo Asani AVed”
I think Hacham Ovadia has a footnote in Hazon Ovadia on Pesach (and probably elsewhere) in which he discusses why we don't use the pausal form of gafen instead of gefen. He writes (if i remember ...
9
votes
1answer
92 views
Greetings during Prayer
In light of YDK's answer here, Halacha permits one to greet and sometimes return greetings to other people at different times during prayer when other interruptions would otherwise be prohibited. (See ...
9
votes
1answer
101 views
Why are some bakashot made on Shabbat?
As I understand it, we don't make prayers of request (bakashot) on Shabbat (cf Rambam Shabbat 30:12).
For that reason, we omit so many liturgical requests because of shabbos - e.g., Avinu Malkeinu, ...
8
votes
3answers
187 views
Why do we say Eishes Chayil on Friday nights?
Eishes Chayil is indeed a beautiful song. But why do we say it specifically Friday nights (before Kiddush)?
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?
8
votes
4answers
555 views
How precisely oriented towards Jerusalem should we face for praying?
I know we're supposed to face towards Jerusalem when praying/davening. For most of us in the Europe or the Western Hemisphere, we're used to facing "Mizrach", east.
How precise should we be? If ...
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?
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 ...
8
votes
2answers
131 views
Davening for someone to end a painful life
Are you allowed to daven for a person to die because he is in a lot of pain?
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 ...
8
votes
3answers
166 views
Saying Tanach by Heart
מִזְמוֹרֵי תְהִלִּים וְכֵן שְׁאָר
פָּרָשִׁיּוֹת מִתּוֹרָה נְבִיאִים וּכְתוּבִים
שֶׁאֵינָם שְׁגוּרִים בְּפִי הַכֹּל, אָסוּר
לְאָמְרָם בְּעַל פֶּה. אֲפִלּוּ מִי שֶׁהוּא
יוֹדֵעַ לְאָמְרָם בְּעַל פֶּה, יֶשׁ לוֹ
לִזָּהֵר ...
8
votes
1answer
88 views
Why are Isaac and Rivka in Shochen Ad
Many siddurim capitalize the Yitzchak in Shochen Ad. Some draw attention to the Rivka. But why are either of them there? If you wanted to throw Yitzchak somewhere, why not minchah, which we ...
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 ...
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?
8
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.)
8
votes
1answer
73 views
Why does the congregation recite something different during the repetition of the hoda'ah — but nowhere else?
During the repetition of the amidah, during the hoda'ah (modim) the congregation recites a different text while the shaliach tzibbur recites the text we all did during the silent amidah. (1) Why do ...
8
votes
1answer
223 views
A Lubavitch custom of reciting zecher and zeicher in “Ashrei”?
My cousin, a Lubavitcher, says both zecher and zeicher (that is, both זֶכֶר with a segol and זֵכֶר with a tzeire) in "Ashrei". I noticed this when I visited him a good few years ago, and assumed it ...
8
votes
1answer
110 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
1answer
2k views
8
votes
3answers
97 views
What to do before death
If a doctor tells a person that he is certain to die shortly (e.g., within one hour), what should that person do during his remaining minutes?
8
votes
3answers
172 views
Falling behind during davening
If you daven more slowly than the chazzan, should you skip what someone who came late to davening would skip so that you can reach barchu with the tzibbur?
8
votes
2answers
189 views
Ashkenazic vs. Sefardic grammar tendencies
I notice that when referring to God in the second person in a possessive form, Sefardim often use the female form where Ashkenazim use the male form.
For example, where Ashkenazim say in kedusha, ...
8
votes
3answers
79 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)?
8
votes
1answer
89 views
What constitutes an acceptable barrier so that another person can pass by someone saying the Amidah?
The Shulchan Aruch/Mishna Berurah 102 (4) [15] writes that one may not walk within four Amos in front of somebody praying the Amidah.
What constitutes an acceptable barrier in front of the person so ...
8
votes
1answer
90 views
Why is Ein Kelokeinu not said on Yom Kippur?
Ein Kelokeinu isn't in my Yom Kippur Machzor, and as far as I can recall, it is not said in Shul after Musaf [or any time, for that matter]. Why is this so?
8
votes
2answers
91 views
If one hand gets dirty, do both require washing?
I'm in middle of davening, and scratch a usually-covered place using my little finger (pinky) on my right hand. This requires me to wash my hand before continuing. Do I have to:
wash both my hands?
...
8
votes
1answer
78 views
Why summarize m'nachos in musaf?
In every musaf prayer service, we read an excerpt from Bamidbar delineating the musaf animal sacrifices of the day. While each day's passage in Bamidbar includes also a description of the flour and ...
8
votes
1answer
122 views
Dealing with Other Minyanim
Many times I find myself davening in one Minyan while another is taking place within earshot. What is the proper way to handle such a situation (in terms of answering Amens, Kedusha, etc.)?
8
votes
1answer
169 views
Can one say amen to a blessing invoked by a Christian?
I was watching the blessings recited by clergy of various religions at the currently ongoing Republican National Convention to see if the blessings were made generally to G-d, or if the one giving the ...
