questions about Jewish prayer
4
votes
5answers
157 views
Will money fall from the sky if you pray for it?
If you daven for a parnasah and then just sit back will money come to you?
4
votes
5answers
169 views
Why isn't Half Hallel called “85 percent hallel”?
When we say hallel on days like Rosh chodesh, we don't say parts of two prakim of tehillim. This is often called "chatzi" hallel, or half hallel. In fact, according to ...
4
votes
2answers
176 views
Which Yochanan Kohen Godol is in Al Hanissim?
In Al Hanissim we mention a Yochanan Kohen Gadol. Since there were several kohanim gedolim named Yochanan which one is this, historically?
4
votes
4answers
154 views
How do we know what the Chazzan should say aloud?
In many siddurim, the text indicates a position, toward the end of each normal paragraph of prayer, where the Chazzan is supposed to start reading aloud, so that everyone knows when it's time to go on ...
4
votes
3answers
134 views
History of Birkas haMinim
What is the history behind the bracha of v'lamalshim?
Was there a specific ideology or
group that the baracha was targeting?
Why would someone davening to Hashem
and saying the rest of the barachos
...
4
votes
2answers
290 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
2answers
969 views
Where can I find the current water level of the Kineret to see the effect of mentioning Morid Hageshem?
Throughout the winter we pray Mashiv HaRuach UMorid HaGeshem. My understanding is that it is said for Eretz Yisroel dwellers (unlike V'sain Tal Umatar LBracha which is said for your locale). As we ...
4
votes
1answer
53 views
Asking God for miracles
During Chanukah and Purim, if one forgets to say Al HaNissim during Amidah or Birchas HaMazon in its usual place, the paragraph of Bemei Mordechai or Bemei Mattisyahu is said later on. In this case, ...
4
votes
2answers
183 views
Shachris in the Dark
When do people who live in places where it is dark for days Daven Shachris and put on Tefillin?
Please provide a source (Mareh Makom).
4
votes
3answers
222 views
Is Kel Malei Rachamim (memorial prayer) said under the chuppah at a wedding?
I'd seen a book on wedding practices and customs that said if desired in appropriate cases, a memorial prayer ("El/Kel Malei Rachamim") could be said under the chuppah, e.g. a bride/groom who lost a ...
4
votes
3answers
781 views
Saying Ulichaporas Pasha in Musaf of Rosh Chodesh
During Musaf of Rosh Chodesh the words Ulichaporas Pasha is added on during a leap year. Why is this done? And what is the significance of it?
4
votes
2answers
344 views
Starting Shabbat early during the summer
Is there an earliest time one may begin Shabbat during the summer months?
We were traveling south and stopped at a Jewish community for Shabbat. The Shul there davened Mincha friday at 6:10, then ...
4
votes
2answers
104 views
Are you supposed to do the responsive parts of Hallel at the Seder?
At a Pesach Seder, when you get to the parts of Hallel that are done responsively in a congregation, are you supposed to do them responsively? Does the answer depend on how many people are at the ...
4
votes
4answers
113 views
No More Zechuth Avoth?
The Gemara (Bab. Shab. 55a) discusses when Zechuth Avoth ceased. I am aware of several opinions in Tosafoth that it ended for wicked people, or it ended for everyone but the very righteous or it ended ...
4
votes
1answer
77 views
why do we start mincha shmoneh esrai differently?
Before reciting the amidah for mincha many nuschot add the sentence
כִּי שֵׁם ה' אֶקְרָא, הָבוּ גדֶל לֵאלהֵינוּ
before אֲדנָי שפָתַי תִּפְתָּח וּפִי יַגִּיד תְּהִלָּתֶךָ.
Why is that sentenced added ...
4
votes
3answers
148 views
Who is the object in Lecha Dodi?
The chorus and multiple verses of Lecha Dodi address a female second person - "Beloved." Who is it?
In the final verse, the object is presumably the Shabbat Queen, since we end with "Come O Bride! ...
4
votes
4answers
160 views
Why do we call praying, Davening?
Why do we call praying Davening? What is the source of this word? Where did this originate?
4
votes
2answers
165 views
Reaching kedusha during silent shemone esre
When the chazzan starts kedusha in chazarat hashatz while you're davening, are you supposed to answer the chant, or continue in your tefilla, or just not say anything?
4
votes
2answers
238 views
Praying after the time to say Shema
If you sleep past Sof Zemin Kerias Shema (the latest time to say Shema in the morning) and you are davening by yourself, do you need to make any change to your prayers?
4
votes
2answers
94 views
Tal UMatar - for whom?
According to the build-up in this question the point of Tal UMatar is to pray for good rains in one's local area. The same seems to be assumed in other questions and especially a couple of different ...
4
votes
2answers
78 views
“Poems” in Selichos. Names and structures of Pizmon and Shalmonis. Please explain
What is (1) the meaning of the names and (2) the structure of the “poems” found in Selichos particularly the Pizmon and the Shalmonis.
(3) I note that the number of phrases in the first verse of the ...
4
votes
1answer
92 views
Father the mercy
Lubavitch prayer books include the words אָב הָרַחֲמִים where other prayer books have אַב הָרַחֲמִים (specifically, in the amida of musaf and mincha of Shabas Shuva, and in a prayer said after ...
4
votes
1answer
52 views
Acher Kain Versus Acher Kach
It seems there are two Versions of Al Hanissim one says Kain one says Kach which one is right and what is the underlying logic for each?
4
votes
2answers
398 views
Posuk for name at end of Shemona Esrei
Many people say a Posuk at the end of Shemona Esrei that begins and ends with the same letters as their name. What does someone do if he can not find a Posuk that begins and ends with his name?
4
votes
1answer
146 views
What exactly do you do and say when you fall Korim?
What exactly do you do and say when you fall Korim on Yom Kipur?
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?
4
votes
1answer
47 views
Can we say the “Adir bamarom” prayer after the prayer which we say instead of “Birkat Kohanim”?
Extracted from here:
The prevailing custom in the Diaspora to relegate the Birkat Kohanim to the major holidays.
After Birkat Kohanim, the congregation silently recites the short Adir bamarom prayer.
...
4
votes
2answers
282 views
Is there an Artscroll edition of Tikkun Chatzot?
I'd like to start saying Tikkun Chatzot, but I don't think it exists in any of the siddurim I have (Tefilas Shlomo, Schottenstein Ed. Interlinear, Complete Artscroll Siddur). Does Artscroll offer a ...
4
votes
2answers
134 views
Is it “mechayei meisim UHTTuh” or “mechayeh meisim atTUH” (rav lehoshia) in shmoneh esrei?
I've seen both pronunciations (at the beginning of the second bracha in shmoneh esrei):
Aleph-patach, tav-kuhmuhtz, heh (implied stress on second syllable)
Aleph-kuhmuhtz-meseg, tav-kuhmuhtz, heh ...
4
votes
1answer
105 views
Not interlacing fingers in prayer
I have heard from an unauthoritative source that one should not interlace his fingers while praying, because, l'havdil, Christians do. Is there any authoritative source for the claim that it's ...
4
votes
2answers
195 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? ...
4
votes
3answers
110 views
The dagesh in “elo-ha” means what?
I'm not so clear on the use of the dagesh as a point of definition -- I understand some fo the pronunciation issues but not all of them either so I would appreciate any help here.
I recall learning ...
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?
...
4
votes
1answer
59 views
Tefillat Nedava on Yom Tov
In general, one can pray an extra shmoneh esrei beyond the regular shacharit-mincha-maariv if one wants to do so. This is called a tefillat nedava -- a voluntary prayer.
I know that one cannot do ...
4
votes
2answers
68 views
In Nishmas, what is “and sustained us in plenty” doing amongst times of trouble?
In Nishmas said on Shabbos and Yom Tov mornings we say, “you redeemed us from Egypt and delivered us from the house of bondage; you fed us in famine” (all describing times of trouble) “and sustained ...
4
votes
1answer
223 views
Mashiv HaRuach - V'Sain (veten) Tal Umatar
Why do we start saying Mashiv HaRuach on Shemini Atzeres yet we do not say V'Sain Tal Umatar until Dec 4 / Dec 5 (In Chutz L'Aretz)? Why should they not be on the same day when they are similar ...
4
votes
1answer
53 views
Why do we say “Shmini Atzeres Hachag Hazeh”?
On all Yomim Tovim we say "Chag Hassukos Hazeh" or "Chag Hamatzos Hazeh" but on Shmini Atzeres/Simchas Torah we say "Shmini Atzeres Hachag Hazeh" going in a different order. Why do we change the order ...
4
votes
1answer
73 views
Who wrote the piyutim of Rosh Hashana/Yom Kippur?
I don't know if they are technically called "piyutim", but there is a nusach we say on Rosh Hashana/Yom Kippur between "Ata Kadosh" to "Hamelech Hakadosh". Was that decreed by the Anshei Knesses ...
4
votes
1answer
177 views
Alos Hashachar on a flight from Israel to Toronto
What time will a person cross alos hashachar (first light of the sun) if he is flying from Israel to Toronto on the night of the fast of the 17th of Tammuz? The flight leaves Israel at one in the ...
4
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3answers
132 views
4
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1answer
77 views
Can you join a minyan in another room?
I recently davened (prayed) at a hassidic Rebbe's minyan. I found something peculiar, namely that the Rebbe didn't actually daven in the same room as everyone else. Instead, he davened in a different ...
4
votes
1answer
54 views
What is the purpose of the doubled lines at the end of hallel?
I recall the Gemara discussing which ones to double, but I'm wondering what the purpose of this is. (Sources please)
4
votes
1answer
164 views
Repeating shmoneh esreh after forgetting an insertion
Why are you supposed to repeat shmoneh esreh on certain days if you forgot to say the special insertion pertaining to that day? If, for example, you realize at the end of shmoneh esre during aseret ...
4
votes
1answer
73 views
Order of punishments/responsibilities in viduy
In the viduy (confession) of Yom Kipur, we confess, and beg for forgiveness for, sins for which we're liable for
a sacrificial offering:
ola,
chatas,
ole v'yored, and
asham;
lashes prescribed by ...
4
votes
1answer
113 views
When does a chosson free the congregation from saying tachanun?
A chosson frees the congregation with whom he davens from saying tachanun.
What sources are there for this in the following tefillos:
1) Shacharis on the day of the wedding
2) Mincha before the ...
4
votes
2answers
120 views
Tachanun for Shacharis in the afternoon, on a day where there is no Tachanun at Mincha
If you start Shacharis Shmonei Esrei just before Chatzos, on a day where there is no Tachanun said at Mincha, and finished after Chatzos, do you say Tachanun?
4
votes
1answer
94 views
Kadish / Tachanun errors - How should you proceed?
Suppose the Chazan starts saying Kaddish in error instead of saying Tachanun - should the Chazan just stop saying Kaddish? Is there a break off point that up to there you stop saying Kaddish and ...
4
votes
1answer
39 views
Saying slichos at any time but “ashmores haboker”, should we take out references to the early morning time so we are not “lying”?
Many of the Slichos refer to the early morning time: "Ashmores Haboker", which is clearly not applicable to those who say late slichos (say at 8 AM) or who say it early at night (say at 10 PM, let's ...
4
votes
1answer
59 views
Why do they replace one טל for another in shmoneh esre in Israel?
Why, in Israel, do they get rid of ותן טל ומתר in barech aleinu but then add מוריד הטל in ata gibor? If it's the end of the season for טל (which, maybe i'm wrong, but I don't think there an end to ...
4
votes
1answer
69 views
Why do we say “Ve'Atah Kadosh”?
Why do we say "Ve'atah Kadosh" on
Motzei Shabbos (after Shabbos).
After reading the Megilla.
After reading Eicha?
What is so special about these days?
EDIT
And what connection does this have to ...
