questions about Jewish prayer
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 ...
8
votes
0answers
132 views
Inhaling prayers?
Elsewhere I ask whether it's sufficient to pray in a whisper. See there, please, for a description of whispering and how it differs from speaking quietly.
Answers to that question indicate that ...
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 ...
7
votes
4answers
406 views
Our Father who art in heaven
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed
be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy
will be done on earth as it is in
heaven. Give us this day our daily
bread, and forgive us our trespasses,
as we ...
7
votes
3answers
179 views
What should be said after “sh'mei d'kudsha, brich hu” in Kaddish?
I have noticed in Chabad synagogues and sefarim, in the Kaddish after "sh'mei d'kudsha brich hu," "amen" is said by the congregation. In every other source I've seen and every other synagogue I've ...
7
votes
2answers
438 views
Mixed Minyan in a Shiva House
What to do when helping make a minyan for mourners in a shiva house when at prayer time they insist on davening conservative style, men and women sitting together?
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 ...
7
votes
3answers
173 views
What's so moving about Kol Nidrei
Wikipedia describes Kol Nidrei:
Though not a prayer, this dry legal formula and its ceremonial
accompaniment have been charged with emotional undertones since the
medieval period, creating a ...
7
votes
3answers
3k views
What is the earliest time one can daven Shacharis?
When is the earliest time you can Daven Shacharis?
7
votes
2answers
172 views
How to learn Amidah, Shma and others?
I live 3000km from shul and take conversion classes remotely. I am learning from Koren Siddur. Because I do not ever hear how the words should be spoken, I sometimes wonder if it is a waste of time. I ...
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 ...
7
votes
2answers
92 views
Why didn't Noach Pray for his generation like Avraham did for Sodom
Why didn't Noach Daven to save his generation like Avraham Davened for Sodom?
7
votes
3answers
184 views
Bimei Matisyahu ben Yochanan Kohen Godol
In "Al Hanisim" we say "Bimei Matisyahu ben Yochanan Kohen Godol", "in the days of Matisyahu the son of Yochanan the Kohen Gadol (=high priest)".
Who was the Kohen Godol: Matisyahu or Yochnan?
7
votes
2answers
113 views
How to inspire tears in davening?
Rebbe Nachman said that it is especially powerful to allow tears to flow during the Amidah. How does one come to tears? What thoughts should one have while davening to allow tears to flow in order to ...
7
votes
1answer
375 views
What's wrong with using “Adoshem” for the name of G-d when singing?
If seen it written that many chazzanim use "Adoshem" when singing (if not in the davening) as it has the same number of syllables as what they would be saying, namely Ado-noi, but that this is ...
7
votes
2answers
677 views
What are “Chukei Rosh Chodesh”?
In the Musaf of Rosh Chodesh, we mention that Hashem has given us "חוקי ראש חודש". What are these Chukim?
7
votes
3answers
229 views
Correct Nusach for Ana Bechoach (אנא בכח)
In אנא בכח, I've usually said "בָּרְכֵם, טַהֲרֵם, רַחֲמֵי צִדְקָתְךָ תָּמִיד גָמְלֵם". However, in my Artscroll Siddur I noticed it says רחמם (with a ם instead of י). Which of these are correct?
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 ...
7
votes
1answer
101 views
Can the chazzan use the vernacular quietly?
When saying a private portion of the service, such as pesukei de-zimra, may the shaliach tzibur (aka chazzan, or the person leading services) use English, and switch to Hebrew for the portions said ...
7
votes
1answer
119 views
What to think about during each shofar sound
There are all kinds of meanings traditionally associated with the shofar blowing, as well as with each of its individual sounds. During the Rosh Hashana service, we have many sets of repetitions of ...
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, ...
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 ...
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?
7
votes
1answer
272 views
Why “new-mother bat her-father” for a woman who gives birth?
When we pray for the healing (refuah) of a woman or girl, we refer to her as "(patient's name) bat (patient's mother's name)", for example "Shoshana bat Michal" or "Rivka bat Shifra Aviva". This is ...
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, ...
7
votes
2answers
204 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 ...
7
votes
1answer
505 views
Keeping in mind the meaning of every word of prayer, vs. being mindful of general concepts
If I were to sit down with my prayer book, I could translate it. I know what the words mean, and I know what they are saying conceptually. However, when I'm praying, if I try to translate in my head ...
7
votes
2answers
161 views
Davening with a Minyan
Would someone explain the requirements to daven (pray) in a minyan, when the minyan is needed and what can't one do absent a minyan? Where can I confirm this? Thanks.
7
votes
1answer
176 views
Organized prayer in the synagogue with less than 10 people - community or not?
Inspired by this question.
There are parts of prayer that are not said when praying alone.
Some examples (please add any I missed):
Friday Night: Birchat Me-in Sheva
Shabbos Day before Mussaf: ...
7
votes
1answer
107 views
Tachanun on Monday and Thursday
Why do we say a longer Tachanun on Mondays and Thursdays compared to the other days of the week?
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: ...
7
votes
1answer
120 views
Does praying at the wrong time count for anything?
(This question might be a prerequisite to be able to answer this question.)
Does praying at the wrong time count for anything? What does it accomplish? Sources, please.
7
votes
3answers
125 views
Can you pray something that isn't true or (at least) that the petitioner doesn't believe to be true?
In the Aruch HaShulchan OH 581:4, he writes regarding the selichos we recite before Rosh HaShanah:
האחת: דאלו שאינם מתענים, ובהסליחה מוזכר לשון "תענית" או "צום" – לא יאמרו זה, דלא ליהוי כדובר שקרים. ...
7
votes
1answer
212 views
When saying the Mi SheBerach prayer for a sick amputee, do you say “for his 248 limbs”?
The standard text of the Mi She-Berach prayer for the sick asks that G-d send healing "to his 248 limbs and 365 sinews."
What if someone, G-d forbid, lost a foot a few years ago; and now prayers are ...
7
votes
1answer
208 views
Are there any ill-effects for mis-directed prayers?
Inspired by the end of this answer:
Just remember that all non-Jews don't follow the Sheva Mitzvot and could [even] be in Avodah Zarah and then would...a blessing [of theirs] matter? It might even ...
6
votes
3answers
233 views
Saving a Life During Tefillah
If one is in middle of Shemoneh Esrei (which is the only part of Tefillah, I could think of where there might be a problem), and there is a life to be saved, is he/she allowed to interrupt the ...
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
191 views
Talis over head
Why is it that most Ashkenazim that are not married do not put the Talis over their head?
6
votes
3answers
2k views
Text of S'lichos Online
Is there any fully digital (i.e. searchable) edition of the סליחות? Is it publicly available online?
6
votes
3answers
106 views
Why do we Daven for (יראת שמים) fear of heaven twice?
In the Birchas HaChodesh that we say monthly the Shabbos prior to Rosh Chodesh we say as follows:
Chaim Sheyesh Bohem Yiras Shomayim V'Yiras Chet and then in the same paragraph we later say Chaim ...
6
votes
6answers
219 views
Saying words of prayer or Torah while an immodest photo or drawing is in your field of vision?
The halachah is clear (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 75) that one may not recite Shema, or any other words of Torah or prayer, while in the presence of parts of the human body that should be covered.
...
6
votes
2answers
129 views
Why doesn't Al Hanisim Mention the Miracle of the Oil?
Why is there no mention of the miracle of the candles burning for eight nights in Al Hanisim?
6
votes
2answers
253 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 ...
6
votes
4answers
385 views
hat and jacket during davening
I wear a hat to davening normally.
Is it better to daven with a minyan without a hat or without a minyan with a hat?
6
votes
2answers
182 views
Why is There No Tachanun on Tu b'Shvat?
Or, more specifically, what is/are the reason(s) for not saying tachanun on various occasions and how does Tu b'Shvat fit in.
(I'm looking for classic reasons, not 'it's got to be somebody's birthday ...
6
votes
1answer
204 views
Silent Amidah when praying without a minyan
If one is davening b'yichidut (praying by oneself), without a minyan, do they need to say the amidah silently or can they say it out loud?
Phrased another way, what is the reason for praying the ...
6
votes
2answers
93 views
Avinu Malkienu on Shabbos
Why do we not say Avinu Malkienu on Shabbos and why is the Teffilah of Neilah the exception to this very rule?
6
votes
2answers
354 views
Nun in Ashrei- Psalm 145
The prayer Ashrei, which we recite three times a day, is an acrostic consisting of all the letters of the Hebrew alphabet except for nun (נ). Why is the nun omitted?
6
votes
4answers
415 views
Lecha Dodi (לכה דודי) - Last Stanza
At Boi Veshalom (in Lecha Dodi), we turn around to greet the Shabbos queen. Firstly, to which direction are we supposed to turn? Is it towards the door of the synagogue, always to the rear of the ...
6
votes
1answer
67 views
Final Nun vs. Final Mem in “Madlikin”
In the Hanerot Halalu that we recite when lighting the Hanukkah candles, it says "anachnu madlikin." Why madlikin and not madlikim? Why is a final nun used and not a final mem? I have searched ...
