questions about Jewish prayer
1
vote
5answers
119 views
What is the benefit to praying with a Minyan?
What is the benefit(s) of Praying with a Minyan? Besides for all the additional things you can now do with a Minyan (Kaddish, Kriah etc). By prayer, I mean the Shmoneh Esreh. What is different in ...
4
votes
1answer
47 views
A meshabarach prior to going on aliyah
My family and I will be making Aliyah in a couple of weeks. Is there a customary meshabarach for a person who is about to make Aliyah?
14
votes
1answer
115 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)?
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 ...
6
votes
3answers
226 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 ...
4
votes
0answers
74 views
Ose shalom post shemona esre
Basic Background:
Following the shemona esre prayer, the sages instituted concluding the prayer with the verse "yihyu leratzon" followed by "petira"- symbolically exiting from before G-d through ...
3
votes
1answer
83 views
Who says the Tefillah of ר' נחוניה בן הקנה?
The Mishnah at the top of Ber. 28b says that ר' נחוניה בן הקנה used to say a short prayer before learning that he not cause harm in his learning, and afterwards to give thanks for the opportunity to ...
6
votes
2answers
90 views
Bracha of V'Lamalshinim
Brachos 28b Shmuel Hakattan coined the Bracha of V'Lamalshinim.
Brachos 10a mentions a story where Rabbi Meir was being bothered by people and prayed for their demise. His wife Bruria tells him do ...
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 ...
2
votes
2answers
89 views
What can a Gabbai do if no one wants to Daven for the Amud?
As a Gabbai Sheni I have noticed that often the Gabbai has a difficult time getting someone to daven for the Amud. Some Shuls have paid Chazonim, yet others can not afford that. What can a Gabbai do ...
7
votes
2answers
205 views
Refusing to Daven from the Amud
According to Bruchos 34a, one should initially refuse to Daven for the Amud, so as to feel unworthy of the duty and to not look too eager to do it. The first time one is asked he should refuse, the ...
2
votes
0answers
35 views
What does it mean to make up for prayers unavoidably missed - Tashlumin?
The laws of Tashlumin (making up for prayers unavoidably missed) are delineated in Halachipedia
“If one forgot to say Shacharit one should say Mincha twice, the first
for Mincha and the second ...
4
votes
0answers
106 views
Why do most of the shuls in Manhattan face the wrong direction?
As a first time visitor to Manhattan, I was very surprised to see that most shuls (with a few notable exceptions) are facing roughly south-south-west. This is nowhere near the direction to face ...
5
votes
2answers
244 views
Can one pray in front of a mirror?
Can it be considered avodah zarah if one prays while looking at themselves in the mirror? I mean, if you're looking at yourself, is it wrong for someone to think that you're praying to that person? ...
2
votes
0answers
132 views
Aneni prayer for pregnancy best practice
What is best practice with regards to saying the Aneni prayer by a husband whose wife is in her 3rd month of pregnancy?
Should the prayer be said only once, or daily?
If daily, then is this only for ...
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 ...
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, ...
0
votes
5answers
279 views
What makes prayer take so long?
I have noticed that some people take a lot longer to pray than others. I was wondering what exactly adds to this length? I do understand it's probably thinking of the meaning of the words etc. but ...
8
votes
1answer
162 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 ...
4
votes
0answers
78 views
Why would a siddur choose תתברֵך instead of תתברַך?
My siddur of choice is the סדור תפילת השלם but I am wondering about one bit of vocalization used therein.
In the davening of shacharit for both weekdays and shabbat, there is a sentence before shma ...
1
vote
1answer
44 views
How can Birchoth Keriath Shema' substitute for Birchoth HaTorah?
Birchoth Keriath Shema' are able to substitute for Birchoth HaTorah in case one cannot remember if he said the latter, or in case one did not sleep and is in doubt whether or not he should say them.
...
3
votes
1answer
162 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?
3
votes
1answer
63 views
Three reasons not to enter ruins (Berachoth 3a)
In Berachoth (3a) a Beraitha states that there are 3 reasons not to enter ruins - that it is unseemly, that walls might collapse, and that unsavory characters might lie in wait and harm the person. ...
6
votes
2answers
114 views
Why are different kaddishes said by different people?
The "Mourners' Kaddish" and the "Rabbis' Kaddish" are said by mourners: either all instances are said by all mourners in the synagogue simultaneously, or each mourner gets a turn at one kaddish, or ...
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?
6
votes
2answers
256 views
Davening late rather than never?
If for some reason I am held up doing something until after the time that mincha must be done by and I have not davened mincha, is it better to daven mincha after the time it is supposed to be done by ...
3
votes
1answer
285 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 ...
8
votes
0answers
78 views
“Oyoyoy” a hefsek? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Humming during shmoneh esre
Is saying "oyoyoy" in places where you're not allowed to speak (e.g. Shemoneh Esreh) a hefsek (interruption)? Does it make a difference that ...
5
votes
3answers
153 views
multiple versions for Baruch She'amar
Being that Baruch She'amar fell from the sky (as said in the Baeir Heiteiv Orach Chaim 51:1), how is it that the Rambam (seder tefilos kal hashna) has a different version than what we have in our ...
5
votes
1answer
69 views
What is the meaning of the first beracha of shema?
In shacharit we say:
לְאֵל בָּרוּךְ נְעִימוֹת יִתֵּנוּ. לְמֶלֶךְ אֵל חַי וְקַיָּם זְמִירוֹת יֹאמֵרוּ וְתִשְׁבָּחוֹת יַשְׁמִיעוּ. כִּי הוּא לְבַדּוֹ פּוֹעֵל גְּבוּרוֹת. עוֹשֶׂה חֲדָשׁוֹת. בַּעַל ...
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?
...
3
votes
1answer
45 views
Are there any nuschaos which drop one of the closing phrases when עננו is said in שמע קולנו?
We add in the special prayer עננו on fast days. It is added in two different locations. (1) as a separate brocho between גואל and רופא and (2) as an addition into the brocho of שמע קולנו.
In (1) the ...
3
votes
1answer
68 views
Where does the comma go in the Birkas Kohanim, and why?
In which of the positions (1) or (2) does the comma go in the introduction to Birkas Kohanim,
ברכנו בברכה המשלשת (1) בתורה (2) הכתובה על ידי משה עבדך
Bless us with the blessing which is ...
2
votes
0answers
42 views
Reasons for the laws of the prayers in Aramaic
Parts of the davenning are in Aramaic. I understood that the Malochim (Angels) do not understand Aramaic. Since HKB”H does not “attend” prayers with less than a Minyan, one does not say the Aramaic ...
5
votes
3answers
106 views
Does attending a regular shiur take precedence over leading the prayers on a Yahrzeit?
It is a widespread custom to lead the prayers (daven from the amud) on the anniversary of a parent’s death (yahrzeit).
Suppose that if I do this for a service on the yahrzeit of a parent it will ...
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 ...
2
votes
2answers
102 views
Nusach of Tefilas Geshem
In Tefilas Geshem we say "Al HaSela Hach Vayeitzu Mayim"
translated by Artscroll as:
Remember the one [Moses] drawn forth in a bulrush basket from the
water. They said, 'He drew water and ...
2
votes
0answers
32 views
Doing “Hoiche Kedushah” for Shacharit [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Hechi Kedushah anytime?
Do any posekim say that even in shacharit, one can do the "hoiche kedushah" if the minyan-goers really need to go to work, or are in a rush for ...
9
votes
3answers
172 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 ...
11
votes
1answer
95 views
Is God swayed by popular appeal?
When we pray for someone to be healed, we pray this individually in the Amidah but we also often have a community misheberach list. I assume that there is a theological reason for the public prayer, ...
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, ...
6
votes
1answer
134 views
Does G-d only hear one language?
I'm a little confused by Rambam Hil. Tefilla 1:4.
Consequently, when someone would pray, he would be limited in his ability to request his needs or to praise the Holy One, blessed be He, in ...
10
votes
3answers
256 views
Are there required “ritual/daily” prayers in Judaism?
I have a question about the daily prayers of Judaism. I noticed on my trip to Jerusalem that a lot of those practicing Judaism got up at a certain time in the morning on the plane and faced a wall and ...
3
votes
1answer
112 views
What Should One Do If He Forgot to Say “VeYiten Lekha” on Saturday Night
According to those who observe the custom of reciting the passage of VeYiten Lekha on Motzaei Shabbat before or after Havdalah, what should one do if s/he forgot to recite it? I have never seen ...
2
votes
5answers
118 views
List of Kavanot for ANA BE-KHOACH
What are some of the things one should have in mind (kavanah) when saying Ana B'Khoach?
5
votes
2answers
174 views
Hechi Kedushah anytime?
May a Ḥazzan decide on his own to do a Hechi Kedushah, or are there rules for when it is appropriate/mandated?
13
votes
5answers
269 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 ...
4
votes
2answers
83 views
Bird droppings invalidating location for prayer?
One may not pray near feces or other sources of biological waste and decay that give a foul odor (see the article for several opinions on when/how it applies). Does this include bird droppings?
...
