questions about Jewish prayer
1
vote
3answers
144 views
Is there a source for the custom of a Baal Teshuva not to sit in shul but rather to stand?
I have observed a number of people who have completely changed their lifestyle from irreligious to observant (whom we now call “baalei teshuvah”) standing for all the davenning and even for the ...
7
votes
1answer
57 views
Does an unnecessary brocho pesucha on Hallel necessitate a brocho siyuma?
We had an interesting question arise in our Shul this past Yom Yerushalayim. Our shul has a minhag of saying Hallel without a brocho in Shacharis. At one of the minyanim, the chazzan said a brocho at ...
2
votes
0answers
53 views
Facing east when standing in prayers
I was praying with my kid in a synagogue wherein the aron was against the eastern wall, and most of the seats were facing north or south. My kid wondered why the people around us turned to face east ...
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 ...
12
votes
2answers
206 views
Is a gabai allowed speak during chazaras hashatz, kaddish or kriyas hatorah for the sake of the tzibbur?
Is a gabai allowed to speak during chazaras hashatz, kaddish or kriyas hatorah for the sake of the tzibbur? For instance, can a gabbai ask someone if they are a kohen or levi during these times?
3
votes
1answer
47 views
Is the bracha of Retzei (avodah) a Bakasha?
In a standard shmoneh esrei, we have a middle section of bakashot. Because we do not make bakashot on Shabbat (as evidenced in this question), the middle 13 brachot are omitted. However, the final ...
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 ...
2
votes
2answers
287 views
End of Davening - Al Tira MiPachad Pisom
It seems like (other than Chabad) most people do not say Al Tira at the end of davening - they finish with the end of Aleinu/V'Al Kein. Is this an error or is this intentional? If it is intentional ...
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 ...
1
vote
0answers
73 views
Why are Ashre and Alenu considered communal prayers?
Shulchan Aruch (OC 65) says to say "Sh'ma" with the congregation when they say it, and Mishna B'rura 9 there says the same is true of other things recited as a congregation such as "Ashre" and ...
5
votes
3answers
81 views
How a couple lines in Alenu fit the pattern
It has been pointed out to me that the two halves of the "Alenu" prayer follow a pretty strict pattern. Each contains eight parallel couplets, followed by a Biblical quote. I broke it all down myself, ...
-1
votes
1answer
89 views
What are the most recited verses during Jewish prayer?
What are the top three most recited/used verses/supplications (from or not from Torah) in Jewish prayers? Not asking about the single most used one only.
I think, if a passage or a sentence is ...
0
votes
1answer
39 views
How can we have better Kavanah in Tefilla? Specifically Tachnuneem?
How does one have better Kavanah in his Tachnuneem tefilla? Does he punch his chest harder? Maybe start bawling?
9
votes
7answers
269 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 ...
0
votes
0answers
22 views
What should one do if he forgets the changes in the tefilla during the Aseret Yemei Teshuva?
What should one do if he forgets all the changes in the Tefilla during the Aseret Yemei Teshuva? When should he go back, when may he continue?
2
votes
2answers
68 views
Does a minyan use fast-day liturgy for the fast of the firstborn if some will override the fast?
This answer refers to the practice of over-riding the fast of the first-born, which is my experience too. My question is: should the shaliach tzibbur ever do the fast-day liturgy? If the community ...
1
vote
0answers
33 views
When do we add Ye'aleh V'yaboh?
According to Shulchan Aruch, (please cite Saeef and Siman so I can read further):
What are all the days we add Ye'aleh V'yaboh?
What happens if we forget to say it?
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.
...
1
vote
1answer
68 views
What parts of the service do you say when late to Shacharit?
According to the Shulchan Aruch (please cite Saeef and Siman so I can read further):
What should one do when he's late to Shachrit? What should he skip and what must he say?
0
votes
0answers
39 views
How to act when somebody walks into a minyan?
According to Shulchan Aruch, (please cite Saeef and Siman so I can read further):
How must one conduct himself when he is in a minyan that hasn't yet begun, or a Minyan that has already begun, and ...
2
votes
2answers
167 views
Coming Late to Mincha
While we always try our best to come on time, there are certain inevitable cirumstances which lead us to come late to davening. What should one do if he arrives to mincha:
During Kaddish before ...
11
votes
3answers
1k views
Putting on tefillin late
For whatever reason, I was unable to put on tefillin while davening shacharit this morning. However, I have access to tefillin now, and the sun has not yet set. After I put on the tefillin, what ...
1
vote
1answer
34 views
When do we add Al Hanisim?
According to Shulchan Aruch, (please cite Saeef and Siman so I can read further):
What are all the days we add Al Hanisim? (Just Purim and Hanukkah?)
What happens if we forget to say it?
0
votes
0answers
22 views
When do we add Avinu Malchenu?
According to Shulchan Aruch, (please cite Saeef and Siman so I can read further):
What are all the days we add Avinu Malchenu?
What should one do if he forgets to say it?
3
votes
2answers
52 views
What is the proper way to hold one's hands while praying?
Similar to Not interlacing fingers in prayer
What is the proper way that one should hold his hands while praying, if there is such a way? What is the level of obligation to hold one's hands in that ...
3
votes
1answer
57 views
Is there a halachik problem with wearing shorts while davening?
I have often heard that one should not wear shorts while davening. This makes intuitive sense to me that we should do this out of respect. But is there any halachic reasoning behind this? Is it ...
12
votes
5answers
262 views
How do you motivate a teen who has no interest in Davening?
Recently I met a 13-year-old who simply has no interest in Davening (praying). What would be a way of motivating such a kid to Daven?
7
votes
2answers
72 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 ...
6
votes
1answer
79 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 ...
-3
votes
0answers
55 views
Prayer and tefillin for Jews who were not raised in religious Judaism? [closed]
I was born in a family who has abided by the Torah for more than five generations. Last weekend, I was approached by an Orthodox Jew to pray. As he began to place the tefillin, he asked me whether I ...
2
votes
1answer
118 views
Is it permitted for a minyan to daven outdoors?
The weather in New York is beautiful recently. It crossed my mind to daven outside in the glory of HaShem's beautiful Creation.
Is it permissible to daven outdoors?
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, ...
4
votes
0answers
73 views
What should I do if my synagogue faces away from Jerusalem?
Due to an major oversight in its design the synagogue in my home town (London) is built with the Aron facing north west instead of east. A while ago I asked someone about this and they said that it ...
0
votes
1answer
59 views
Is the expression “we do not rely on 'bar elahin'” a reference to Christianity?
The prayer Brich Shmeh from the Zohar Vayakhel 206a, which is recited during the Torah service, contains the statement ולא על בר אלהין סמיכנא. All the translations I've seen render "bar elahin" as ...
1
vote
0answers
25 views
Meditation before Mitzvah activities
Who invented the meditation that is often printed before such things as counting the 'Omer, inviting the Ushpizin, and other Mitzvoth or Mitzvah-related activities, and what is the basis for it?
4
votes
2answers
72 views
Men davening in the women's section while they catch up
A seemingly knowledgeable guy who davens with me early each morning is sometimes found in the women's section (which is usually empty during that service). He says that he learned that from a ...
1
vote
0answers
32 views
If a Jew visits a mosque and offers a prayer to “Allah”, which commandments are being violated? [duplicate]
If a Jew visits a mosque and offers a prayer to "Allah" as a good-will gesture, which commandments are being violated? What are the views of the Jewish Sages on this type of interfaith ...
3
votes
0answers
37 views
Catching Up When Saying Tachanun M/Th
On Mondays and Thursdays I often fall very behind during tachanun. I see two options — I can start with the congregation after having listened with proper intent during chazarat hashatz, or I can ...
0
votes
1answer
38 views
other names of Hashem (instead of Ado..) in davenning and brachos?
IS there halachic basis for using other names of Hashem (instead of Ado..) in davenning and brachos, if one chooses?
0
votes
1answer
37 views
Interpreting events during prayer as signs
Suppose a person is praying for parnasah as they drop a coin into a tzedakah box. At that very moment, there is a loud rumble of thunder, even though the weather conditions wouldn't seem to warrant ...
1
vote
0answers
21 views
What exactly constitutes the 13 attributes for the purpose of not saying them without a minyan?
The answers to this question mention that the 13 attirubtes of God are not said in selichos when davening without a minyan. If one is saying selichot without a minyan, exactly what parts constitute ...
2
votes
0answers
57 views
Agnostic Jew serving as the tenth for a minyan
I remember reading a responsum on the issue of agnostic Jew's serving as the tenth for a minyan, but do not remember the outcome. Does anyone know the rule?
Also, do we count, as the tenth man, a ...
5
votes
2answers
81 views
Fixing incorrectly-said word in davening
When one has incorrectly uttered a word or syllable of davening and immediately realizes it, how far back does one go in order to correct it?
Does one need to return to the beginning of the pasuk or ...
8
votes
3answers
78 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)?
3
votes
1answer
146 views
why did avraham pray for sodom
Sodom was one of the most morally corrupted societies that ever existed.
wouldn't their disappearance be good for everyone (including themselves).
keeping those who are thoroughly wicked alive is ...
4
votes
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 ...
2
votes
1answer
55 views
Mishebeirach for someone who doesn't want their mother's name used
Suppose someone really dislikes his mother and does not want to be known as (for example) "יוסף בן רחל". He's sick, and people wish to pray for him in a Mishebeirach.
Do his wishes have to be ...
3
votes
1answer
70 views
How can you keep Shabbos till Tuesday?
I have heard that there are people who keep Shabbos till Tuesday. I would like to understand how that works practically. A few examples of puzzling situations:
What shmoneh esrei does such a person ...
2
votes
1answer
62 views
How is the prayer of אל ארך אפים on Mondays and Thursdays different from tachanun?
Ashkenazim say a short paragraph starting אל ארך אפים on most Mondays and Thursdays before reading from the Torah.
It is a request to Hashem not to rebuke us in His anger and to give us ...
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?
