Questions tagged [prayer-book]
Questions about the various prayer books used by Jews, and the prayers contained therein.
293
questions
7
votes
1answer
187 views
Is Melech ever a verb?
In the Artscroll machzor (ashkenaz), in the Chazarat Hashatz for shacharit of Rosh Hashana, the piyut with the refrain "Hashem Melech, Hashem malach, Hashem yimloch le'olam va'ed" has a strange ...
3
votes
0answers
34 views
Why no vowels for the sounds of the shofar?
In three different machzorim (a Rinat Yisrael, an Artscroll and a Koren -- the ones I had access to over the holiday) the listings of the sounds of the shofar are printed without any vowels. Sefaria ...
2
votes
1answer
69 views
Why are vows to fast undertaken at mincha a stated exception in Hatarat Nedarim?
In the last part of Hatarat Nedarim, when talking about future vows, vows to fast undertaken at mincha are a specific exception. Why this exception and no other?
0
votes
1answer
77 views
What does the acronym or abbreviation in Hatrat Nedarim stand for?
What do the 4 letters (הויה) stand for or mean? This appears at the beginning of Hatrat Nedarim.
1
vote
0answers
40 views
Why isn't birchas hatorah printed before Selichos? [duplicate]
Why is birchas hatorah not printed before Ashrei in Selichos siddurim, given the requirement for this brocha before quoting verse (see
Selichot and blessing on Torah study)?
4
votes
0answers
26 views
Why say imru amein at end of silent amida? [duplicate]
"v'imru amein" appears at the end of the sentence "Oseh shalom bimromov..." at the end of the silent (individual) amida. That seems a bit odd for two reasons: We are saying amein to our own davening, ...
7
votes
1answer
43 views
Compare large print machzorim
My husband is recently visually impaired with a condition called NAION. He has been using the Artscroll large print siddur on Shabbat and a siddur app on his phone for weekdays. I want to get him ...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
Halachic differences in the Yom Kippur avodah between piyutim
There are various piyutim said by different communities to describe the avodah on Yom Kippur. Are there halachic differences between any of these piyutim? For example, do they pasken like different ...
2
votes
1answer
35 views
Recommendations for explanations of selichos
The selichos for ashkenazim are quite difficult to understand.
Are there any peirushim on selichos for ashkenazim? (I know there are different versions, I'm willing to take a peirush on any version. ...
2
votes
0answers
64 views
Does anyone know what siddur the Minchas Elazar, z"l, used?
I was wondering if anyone knows what specific siddur the Minchas Elazar, z"l, davened from? Also, where to find it today.
1
vote
0answers
23 views
Is there an English translation of Siddurei Geonei Rav Amram and / or Rav Sa'adiah?
I enjoy exploring the history of the Siddur. Rav Amram and Rav Sa'adia's siddurim are two of the oldest.
One of them, from what I recall has loads of "instructions" some of which explain halachot and ...
4
votes
0answers
57 views
How to make a personal siddur/birchon/bentsher as a wedding present
I'm looking for a convenient software that allows me to create and design a personal siddur/birchon/bentcher to give as a wedding present. In particular, I would like to have a convenient way to ...
2
votes
1answer
66 views
Who coined “הן גאלתי אתכם אחרית כראשית”?
While trying to answer "1-5th-of-the-jews-will-make-it-past-the-messiah" I remembered the verse we say every morning but realized I didn't know its source.
I googled but except for Kedushas Levi that ...
3
votes
1answer
61 views
Appropriate to slightly modify wording as one recites siddur prayers?
For instance, if the wording states "protect me," could one add "me and my family?" Or if the wording refers to "we" (plural) could it be modified to "I" (singular) or vice-versa?
2
votes
1answer
64 views
Where I can find an original Nusach Paras (Persian) Siddur?
Where can I find a siddur with the original Persian (Parsi) Nusach (if such a siddur exists)?
2
votes
1answer
74 views
Livorno siddurim
Since my old siddur is on the process of dying, I am in the market for a new siddur. I understand that some of the reprints of the Livorno siddurim in print today have incorporated some changes to the ...
5
votes
1answer
69 views
Ideas for discovering the history of benchers
I'm thinking of making a "bencher museum". I'd like to gather some ideas from our readership for this project.
I have a selection of old benchers from the 60's as well as a larger assortment of more ...
2
votes
0answers
43 views
What was the first “Siddur” prayer / section?
Outside of Shema and the Amidah, can someone explain the chronology of what sections of the Siddur service as we currently have them were added? E.g. was Psukei Dezimra added first? Blessings before / ...
2
votes
0answers
39 views
Printing a once-off siddur that would require genizah
I have been asked to compile a booklet containing the Shacharit service for a special occasion. The printed booklets (currently 60 pages long, double-sided 2-per-page, so 15 pieces of paper each) will ...
1
vote
1answer
72 views
The Siddur of R Yaakov Emden
Is there a version of R Yaakov Emdens siddur online?
Also how is the Siddur different from the Artscroll Ashkenazi Siddur which I am more familiar with?
1
vote
2answers
116 views
Is there a Siddur authored by the Gra?
Is there a Siddur authored by the Gra or his talmidim that goes according to him?
If so is there a copy online?
0
votes
0answers
36 views
Information about the Vilna Siddur
I am looking for information on the Vilna Siddur.
What is the vilna/vilnis Siddur?(for example how is it different than a regular Ashkenazi Siddur)
Who authored it?
And is there a copy online?
0
votes
0answers
49 views
The reverse name YHWH not for Adar?
As most of us know, each month has a combination of the holy name YHWH - that's 3 letters YHW times 4 places gives 12 combinations. It is intended to be kept in mind while saying the Brocho of Musaf ...
2
votes
2answers
98 views
Why is G-d mentioned in the feminine sometimes?
In one part of the Birkat Hamazon we say "veal hakol... anu modim lach umevarchim otach".
This is only one small example, and there are many others, but why is God being adressed in the feminine "...
0
votes
0answers
45 views
Writing HaShem's Hebrew Name
Can I write any of HaShem's Hebrew names in pencil, in my Siddur? Any of his "Hebrew" names that is, not English.
1
vote
1answer
40 views
At what point in the morning prayer should one answer kedusha?
If one finished saying Krias Shema in Shacharis at the same time as the congregation is starting their silent shmone esray, my understanding of Shulchan Aruch O"C 109:2 is that one has to delay and ...
3
votes
1answer
92 views
What is the source for attempting to avoid daily challenges?
What is the source for the oft-repeated idea of trying to avoid daily challenges/nisyonos?
As one example, in daily prayers, we say "...וְאַל תְּבִיאֵנוּ...וְלֹא לִידֵי נִסָּיוֹן" - "Do not bring us ...
1
vote
0answers
26 views
Why is fem. description used to refer to days of Mashiach?
Near the end of the Uva Letzion prayer, there is a phrase that refers to ימות המשיח. This sounds like a feminine ending. Shouldn't the phrase be ימי המשיח as the word יום is masculine?
3
votes
1answer
46 views
Why is the pasuk in Nechemia split in davening?
In pesukei d'zimra, my siddur splits up the pasuk from Nechemia 9:8
וּמָצָאתָ אֶת לְבָבוֹ נֶאֱמָן לְפָנֶיךָ וְכָרוֹת עִמּוֹ הַבְּרִית לָתֵת אֶת אֶרֶץ הַכְּנַעֲנִי הַחִתִּי הָאֱמֹרִי וְהַפְּרִזִּי ...
4
votes
0answers
86 views
Why was Adon Olam reduced from 16 to 10 verses?
Why did Ashkenazim cut down the original Adon Olam from 16 to 10 verses? (See original below, by Solomon ibn Gabirol, 11th century Muslim Spain.) Sephardic siddurim still have all 16 verses, ...
3
votes
2answers
207 views
Is it OK to recite prayers by heart?
I remember reading that you are supposed to pray by reading from a siddur -- that it is not OK to recite the prayers by heart. Is this true? If it is, what is the reason, given that in olden days ...
6
votes
2answers
344 views
Chabad beginner visiting a Modern Orthodox shul
I have been practicing my observance with a super-friendly Chabad congregation but my area, predominantly secular and Modern Orthodox, has a bunch of MO congregations that I'm very curious to visit, ...
1
vote
0answers
38 views
Why is the word “Halleluya” not translated in the siddur? [closed]
The word "halleluya" appears many times in the siddur. Typically the word is not translated in a Hebrew-English siddur. But the Hebrew word can be translated. Why is the word "halleluya" typically ...
4
votes
0answers
54 views
What was the first siddur to contain an aleph-bet chart?
Many siddurim (prayerbooks) published today contain a chart of the Hebrew alphabet towards the beginning (see e.g. page 11 of this pdf).
What was the first siddur published to contain an alphabet ...
4
votes
1answer
117 views
Why does chabad say “Yisbareich” instead of “yisbarach”?
Why according to the Nusach Ari (siddur "Tehilat Hashem") does it say "yisbareich" instead of "yisbarach" in Kaddish?
1
vote
2answers
133 views
Is there a siddur for the Jews of Aden?
Do Adenim (Jews from the Yemenite city of Aden) have a nusach and a siddur unique to them?
4
votes
2answers
65 views
Where are we commanded to read the hallel?
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעולָם. אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְותָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לִקְרא אֶת הַהַלֵּל
You are blessed, O God, our God of the world who hath commanded us his mitzvot to read ...
3
votes
2answers
122 views
Why is Yismach Moshe in the Shabbat Amidah?
On Shabbat morning, the fourth Amidah blessing includes Yismach Moshe:
"Moshe rejoiced in the gift of his portion: That You called him a faithful servant. A crown of splendor You placed on his head ...
1
vote
2answers
82 views
What was the order of “Shacharit” in the Bet Hamikdash?
I'm assuming that the majority of the format of the Siddur that we currently have and use did not exist during the time of the 1st Bet Hamikdash. Perhaps, by the 2nd Bet Hamikdash, some items were ...
1
vote
1answer
62 views
Is there an online siddur without vowels / niqqud? [duplicate]
I see that this was asked back in 2012, but perhaps the answer has changed since.
Reason: as a personal project of sorts, I am attempting to produce a siddur that uses the (Paleo) Ancient Hebrew ...
5
votes
0answers
52 views
Inconsistent (?) use of B'rachamav in Kaddish
This question deals with the origin of the inclusion of "b'rachamav" in the Kaddish Derabonon/Yatom, and this site gives more history on it.
I noticed that the inclusion of the word "b'rachamav" ...
3
votes
2answers
181 views
Sepharad vs Sephardic siddurs/nusachs
I understand from Chabad's website, as well as my own Rabbi (who is Yeshivish) now that there is a difference between "Sepharad" and "Sepharadi" traditions and siddurs.
How do these differ? Who uses ...
1
vote
0answers
70 views
Hebrew-Spanish-Transliterated Siddur, Nusach Ashkenaz
I'm looking for Siddurim for some friends. Nusach Ashkenaz, Hebrew-Spanish-Transliteration. There seem to be quite a few Nusach Sephardi ones available for purchase online (As well there should be!) ...
7
votes
0answers
74 views
poetical works authored by women?
Are there any examples of songs, poems, piyyutim or kinnot from the time of the first temple until the 1700's (c.e.) which were authored by women and were adopted by traditional/orthodox communities.
...
5
votes
5answers
153 views
What is the connection between “sword and … bow” (Genesis 48:22) with “prayer and … supplication” (as rendered by Onkelos)?
What is the connection between "sword and ... bow" (Genesis 48:22) with "prayer and ... supplication" (as rendered by Onkelos)?
Verse:
וַאֲנִי נָתַתִּי לְךָ שְׁכֶם אַחַד עַל אַחֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר ...
2
votes
0answers
33 views
Size of words in Siddur; from one blessing to the next in the Amidah [duplicate]
I have noticed that some siddurim use different font sizes for different berachot in the Amidah. I initially thought that the larger fonts are used for less frequent parts of the Amidah, to assist the ...
1
vote
1answer
59 views
Mogein Ovos and Veshomru - kahal then chazan
Are there any mekoros/reasons as to why many siddurim say that Veshomru (on Friday night after Hashkiveinu) and Mogein Ovos (in brocho mei'ein sheva) should be said by the congregation first and then ...
1
vote
2answers
60 views
Mah Tovu comparison within the verse
Bamidbar/Numbers 24:5 contains the famous verse which is also recited in the Mah Tovu prayer: How goodly are thy tents, O Ya'akov, thy dwellings, O Yisrael
- מַה-טֹּבוּ אֹהָלֶיךָ, יַעֲקֹב; ...
12
votes
1answer
161 views
Line break before למען ירבו ימיכם
In most of my prayer books there is a line break before למען ירבו ימיכם in the second chapter of the Shema (see also this one from Vilna or Zhytomyr):
וְהָיָ֗ה אִם־שָׁמֹ֤עַ תִּשְׁמְעוּ֙ אֶל־...
1
vote
1answer
92 views
Nikkud for Halleluyah
I was learning to chant Tehillim in Israel last year. The Syrians have a tradition for how to chant psalms and they base their tradition off the Aleppo Codex.
In their siddurim, Halleluyah is written ...
