questions about Jewish prayer
6
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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 ...
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 ...
6
votes
2answers
123 views
Bowing during Barechu
Many Sepharadim have a custom to take a slight bow when saying Barechu both during Shacharit and Arvit. Others insist on standing. Is there any source for such a minhag in the sifrei Halacha (or ...
6
votes
3answers
246 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 ...
6
votes
1answer
78 views
Davening in front of a picture of 'Avodah Zarah
This afternoon I found myself Davening in a classroom. It must have been a comparative cultures type of class, judging by the items that were hanging on the walls - posters and artwork and such.
As I ...
6
votes
1answer
120 views
How to find if a particular pasuk is used in davening
My father is trying to find out if a pasuk is ever quoted in any davening and I don't know of a specific resource which would help in a search. Other than using ctrl-f after downloading each ...
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
65 views
Are you required to say YiHyu LeRatzon before Elokai Netzor?
After Sim Shalom/Shalom Rav in Shemoneh 'Esreh, many Siddurim print YiHyu LeRatzon (Tehillim 19:15) before Elokai Netzor.
Not every Siddur prints this. I don't recall which editions I've seen without ...
6
votes
2answers
168 views
Where do Ashrei's intro sentences in the liturgy before Psalm 145 (Ashrei) come from?
The sentences "Joyful are the inhabitants of Your House, constantly praising You. Joyful are the people for whom this is so" preface Ashrei. They aren't in the psalm that David wrote, 145, but a ...
6
votes
1answer
73 views
Why does the 5th verse of “Yigdal”, not mention prayer as does the 5th principle of faith of the Rambam?
The piyyut, “Yigdal”, seems to put the 13 principles of faith of the Rambam in poetic form.
With number 5, the author of Yigdal seems to have made a slightly different point to the Rambam by leaving ...
6
votes
1answer
65 views
Forgiveness on Rosh Chodesh
If Rosh Chodesh is a "Zeman Kapara" (time of atonement) as we say in the Mussaf prayers, why does it contain no selichot and no tachanunim? Why doesn't it (the day of Rosh Chodesh itself) resemble Yom ...
6
votes
3answers
110 views
Barchu or Kavana
If you are late to Maariv and miss barchu and you normally daven slowly should you...
Daven faster, even if it means saying the words with little to no Kavana so that you can say Barchu at the end.
...
6
votes
1answer
97 views
Why have I never seen “Prisoh al shema”?
“Prisoh al shema”
A good summary is to be found in a shiur from the The Israel Koschitzky Virtual Beit Midrash.
In short, “…. ten men who prayed alone can subsequently fulfill their obligations ...
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?
6
votes
1answer
195 views
Pesicha during davening on Rosh HaShannah and Yom Kippur
I was recently asked to do the job of handing out the honor of opening and closing the ark during davening on Rosh HaShannah and Yom Kippur and was wondering if there was any halachic significance to ...
6
votes
1answer
83 views
Why does Nusach Ashkenaz skip מה רבו on Shabbos?
In the birchot keriat shema of Shabbat morning, we add a number of pesukim in the beginning, and we switch the piyut of קל ברוך גדול דעה for the piyut of קל אדון. But all the pesukim said on a weekday ...
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 ...
6
votes
3answers
179 views
רָקִיאַע or רָקִיַע
The מנחת שי at the beginning of בראשית (on "יהי רקיע") cites a מחלוקת whether the word 'רָקִיעַ' (and likewise for other words with a פתח גנובה) is pronounced as רָקִיאַע or as רָקִיַע, that is, with ...
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 ...
6
votes
1answer
124 views
“Hayom yom X b'shabas” or “bashabas”?
A sidur I used this morning had the introductory line of the shir shel yom as "hayom yom sheni b'shabas". When I checked the two sidurim I trust the most for excatitude in these matters, one had ...
6
votes
2answers
130 views
In Modeh Ani we thank Hashem for our neshama's return. Where do neshamas go?
In Modeh Ani we thank Hashem for returning our Neshomos when we arise. Where do they go during our sleep? Do they go to the same place as the neshomos of the deceased?
6
votes
2answers
96 views
Shabbos Chol HaMoed / Shabbos Yom Tov
Why is Kabbolas Shabbos shortened on Shabbos Chol HaMoed / Shabbos Yom Tov?
6
votes
2answers
156 views
praying in a restroom
Is it permissible to say a prayer in a restroom (or bathhouse), assuming one does not use a name of God (including things like shalom) or a quotation from Torah? I'm thinking of things likesaying ...
6
votes
1answer
476 views
Different traditions in Hebrew pronunciation
The theme of Hebrew pronunciation is one that facinates me and, as such, I want to get some feedback on some issues I've been thinking about for years. I have already discussed some of these issues ...
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 ...
6
votes
1answer
75 views
Why is Amen exclusive to the Chazzan during Tefillah?
Normally, if I hear my good friend Shimon say a bracha, I answer Amen. Nonetheless, if it's during davening, and I hear him finish a bracha, it appears to be common practice to not say Amen.
In other ...
6
votes
2answers
137 views
Audio/Video Recordings of Tefilloth/Prayers
Is there any concern with listening to audio/video recordings of Tefilloth (prayers)? If someone hears a recording of a Berachah (blessing), does he have to say 'Amen'? Is he prohibited from saying ...
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 ...
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 ...
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0answers
81 views
May Hallel be said on Yom Nicanor?
I know that usually, Yom Nicanor is displaced by the Fast of Esther. But in years (such as 2013 / 5773) when the Fast of Esther is displaced due to Shabbat, may Hallel be said on the 13th of Adar, ...
6
votes
0answers
38 views
Division of Al Cheit
Al Cheit has a chorus line ועל כולם, אלוה סליחות, סלח לנו, מחל לנו, כפר לנו after the first 20 Al Cheits, then after the next 12, then after the next 12. Who made this division? Why was it not divided ...
6
votes
2answers
260 views
Tehilim HaChida - in the order of the Aleph Bais
I recently came across the Tehilim HaChida which is the entire Tehilim with the Pesukim rearranged in the order of the Aleph Bais by first letter. From the introduction it seems like it is a special ...
5
votes
2answers
221 views
Is repeating the chorus in Lecha Dodi problematic?
Some tunes for Lecha Dodi are conducive to repeating the chorus ("Lecha dodi ...") twice each time. I've noticed that some people, when using one of these tunes, repeat, while others avoid repeating ...
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? ...
5
votes
3answers
200 views
How to get drunk on Purim and still pray?
There is a halachic problem, as has been discussed previously, with praying while being drunk. If someone gets drunk on Purim, how does he manage to fulfill the mitzvah to pray three times a day?
...
5
votes
3answers
204 views
5
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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 ...
5
votes
3answers
235 views
Missing Barchu by Maariv
If one misses Barchu at the beginning of Maariv, should one say it at the end of Maariv (as is commonly done)? If so when should it be done and who should do it?
5
votes
3answers
272 views
Best practices for praying in public with talit and tefilin
I just learned that a flight out of New York was diverted because a flight attendant saw a passenger putting on tefilin and freaked out, thinking that he was strapping on bombs.
So, do you have any ...
5
votes
4answers
141 views
Why do we stand when we do toward the end of Tachanun?
In the Tachanun prayer, it's traditional to sit for most of the core of Tachanun, but then to stand three words into the last paragraph, between "Va-anachnu lo neida'" and "ma na'aseh" ("And we won't ...
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?
5
votes
3answers
103 views
The Tur's word counts for Shemoneh Esreh
I have often seen the Tur cited as giving exact word counts for each blessing of the Shemoneh Esreh. The arguments I have seen for being careful to adhere to the word counts include that this would ...
5
votes
2answers
224 views
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3answers
447 views
5
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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?
5
votes
4answers
171 views
Is B'rich Shmei said while the Torah sits in the Aron, or as it's held (by whom?)
Sing "vayhi binsoa" as the Aron is opened by -- let's call him Mr. Opener
Brich Shmei is said
Chazan is now holding Torah scroll and says Shema (or Gadlu).
I've seen different things happen for ...
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?
5
votes
1answer
47 views
Where is Is. 40:12 used in prayer?
The phrase
וְכָל בַּשָּׁלִשׁ עֲפַר הָאָרֶץ
from ישעיהו מ יב (used in the haftara of Vaeschanan) is very familiar to me from prayers, and I can't think where it's from. Moreover, Google is not ...
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
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 ...
