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If I have not yet finished praying but the congregations has - if the hazzan began reciting psalms for the safety in the state of israel, do you interrupt your prayers and join in with the congregation or do you finish your prayers and then say what you can with the congregation or by yourself?

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    Are Ketoret and Shir Shel Yom a prayer? What for?
    – Double AA ♦
    Nov 4, 2015 at 18:53
  • @DoubleAA, would you consider Aleynu a prayer? (Note that when I say prayer I am referring to the entire seder of tefilos, tehillim, etc. said during shachrit.)
    – Ani Yodea
    Nov 9, 2015 at 17:22
  • In your sense of the word 'prayer' then sure, though why you'd use that definition is unclear. All traditional prayer services end with Kaddish Shalem. Many are accustomed to say or do certain things in conjunction with prayer services, probably as a good time to remember to say/do them.
    – Double AA ♦
    Nov 9, 2015 at 17:34
  • @DoubleAA by your definition, Why is Pesukei Dezimra a prayer? Its just praising god! (Just like shir shel yom , most of it even has the same source and writer - David Hamelech!)
    – SE is Evil - Support Monica
    Mar 7, 2016 at 21:26
  • @SamuelManuel Traditional prayer begins with praise and moves to requests and thanks.
    – Double AA ♦
    Mar 7, 2016 at 21:29

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Ketoret and Shir Shel Yom do not seem to be requests. Additionally they do not need a minyan to say them.

The Gemoro Brochos 8a indicates that Hashem does not despise the prayers (requests) of the many.

רבי נתן אומר מנין שאין הקב"ה מואס בתפלתן של רבים שנאמר הן אל כביר ולא ימאס

Soncino translation of the Gemoro:

R. Nathan says: How do we know that the Holy One, blessed be He, does not despise the prayer of the congregation? For it is said: ‘Behold, God despiseth not the mighty’.

R Nathan understands “the mighty” to refer to the many who pray to Him.

It seems therefore that when we are requesting peace in Israel, we do need “the many”.

So it seems that it would be better to join in the Tehilim and requests for peace and finish off the other parts of davenning later.

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    I don't understand what the source has to do with the conclusion.
    – Scimonster
    Nov 4, 2015 at 22:32
  • @Scimonster Tried to explain by translating the Gemoro. Does that help?
    – Avrohom Yitzchok
    Nov 4, 2015 at 22:41
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    How does it follow that since "God doesn't despise the prayers of many" we need a minyan to daven for Israel?
    – Scimonster
    Nov 4, 2015 at 22:44

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