Questions tagged [tefilla]
Questions about Jewish prayer (the fixed order of typically-thrice-daily prayers, or prayer generally).
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Praying for too much
The following Talmud passage (Taanit 8b) indicates we must not pray for too many things:
In the days of Rabbi Shmuel bar Nahmani there was a famine and a deadly plague.
People asked: “What shall ...
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Why do we recite Oseh Shalom at end of Amiday [duplicate]
Elokai Ntsor is a private meditation yet it ends with Oseh Shalom-V'imru Amen. Imru Amen is plural and the meditation is private implying some kind of mixed message. Could it be that since everyone is ...
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2answers
84 views
Are non-Jews allowed to recite a whole Jewish Prayer?
In Judaism, Gentiles are generally forbidden to study Torah devotedly. But are they allowed to recite a whole Jewish prayer, like the morning or the evening prayer?
I was juggling some ideas but ...
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0answers
39 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 / ...
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2answers
759 views
Are there any dress codes for righteous gentiles during prayers?
In Judaism, while not obligated to, the Jews wear Tallit and Teffilin during some prayers.
What about the Gentiles - are there special clothes or items for righteous Gentiles to wear during prayers?
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Why don't we say “hamelech hagadol”?
During the 10 days of T'shuva, we change certain wording from "el" to "melech" in the Shmoneh Esrei (and Magen Avot). But in the beginning of the Amida, we say "ha-el hagadol hagibor v'hanora". Why ...
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44 views
What is the order of tefillot for Yom Ha’atzma’ut?
For those communities that mark Yom Ha’atzma’ut (in any way) what changes (if any) are made to the order of all three tefillot of the day?
I am aware of various changes made in various communities (e....
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51 views
Saying Amein in a Tefilla
In certain prayers, the congregation interjects the word Amein after certain words/phrases. In The Ya'aleh V'yavo, I hear it in the last section, amidst these three statements
זָכְרֵנוּ ה' ...
6
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1answer
69 views
When is it too late to daven with a minyan when davening with sheliach tzibur
When one is in need of davening with the chazon, when is the latest you can join him in his repetition of the amidah?
Sources if possible.
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1answer
48 views
Should one pray for something to happen or for the strength to do it oneself?
I was wondering if it is better to pray for a solution to a problem or pray for the strength to do it oneself. I would also be happy for a link to a passing prayer or discussion. Thank you!
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2answers
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Mistake first night of Pesach vs Dec 4 on Friday night
The Kitzur Shulchan Aruch writes in Siman 19 Halacha 9, that if one began his Shemoneh Esrei on the first night of Pesach and he accidentally began saying a weekday amidah and he came to the Bracha of ...
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1answer
30 views
Why is the Biblical Second Temple Pesach not mentioned in Seder Korban Pesach?
Some have the custom to recite Seder Korban Pesach (a description of the Korban Pesach service in the Temple) on the afternoon of Erev Pesach. Some include before this recitation a selection of ...
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Why is Malachi 3:4 added only after the amidah?
The paragraph
יְהִי רָצון מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה' אֱלהֵינוּ וֵאלהֵי אֲבותֵינוּ. שֶׁיִּבָּנֶה בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ בִּמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵינוּ. וְתֵן חֶלְקֵנוּ בְּתורָתֶךָ: וְשָׁם נַעֲבָדְךָ בְּיִרְאָה כִּימֵי ...
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2answers
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Prayer regarding the dangerous premature birth of gentile friend’s baby
My dear gentile friend gave birth very, very prematurely (at @ 5 months) to her due date. The female baby survived but is
still dependent on a breathing tube and is still very weak and underweight. ...
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0answers
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Korbanos and Ketores: Only Biblical passages for the former
When we recite psukim in the morning that pertain to the korbanos and then, afterwards, to the burning of ketores, why do we limit ourselves to passages from the Torah when it comes to the former, but ...
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61 views
Fasting to increase chances of getting prayer answered
It used to be that rabbis made the community fast to increase their chances of getting their prayers answered. This was done particularly if rain was late in coming. (The first thing God promises if ...
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39 views
Kaddish: Men Before Women
Someone recently told me the Chida writes someone saying kaddish for a father has precedence before someone saying kaddish for a mother. Where is this Chida and what is the reasoning?
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1answer
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In Shemoneh Esrei- why “God of Avraham, God of Yitzchak, & God of Yaakov” instead of “God of Avraham, Yitzchak, & Yaakov?”
In the first bracha of Shemoneh Esrei, why do we say:
אֱלקֵּי אַבְרָהָם. אֱלקֵּי יִצְחָק. וֵאלקֵּי יַעֲקב
God of Avraham, God of Yitzchak, and God of Yaakov;
instead of just saying:
...
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1answer
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If a person forgot whether they have already recited krias shema al hamita are they permited to say hamapil and should they do so?
based on the idea of sufek derabanan lekula (a doubt in regards to a rabbinical ruling results in a leniency) and sufek d'orysa lechumra (a doubt on a Torah ruling results in a stringency) being that ...
3
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1answer
76 views
Why don’t women say שלא עשני גויה and שפחה, according to Ashkenazim?
I see in Nusach Edos HaMizrach, women say שלא עשני גויה and שלא עשני שפחה, “Who did not make me a non-Jewess” and “Who did not make me a maidservant,” paralleling the men’s שלא עשני גוי and שלא עשני ...
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Source for Higher Infant Mortality Rates in the Winter of a Leap Year?
At the shiva for my infant son, someone said that the reason we say kaparat pesha in mussaf rosh chodesh, is that to atone for the sins that cause higher rates of stillbirth, miscarriages, and infant ...
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35 views
Ashkenazi shat”z in a mixed shul?
According to this question and the answer
Ashkenazi shat”z?
Someone who pronounces an ע and an א the same can be shat”z, as long as everyone in the shul does so too. What if a couple of people ...
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1answer
50 views
Ashkenazi shat”z?
In meseches Megillah (daf 24b):
אמר רב אסי חיפני (ובשיני) לא ישא את כפיו תניא נמי הכי אין מורידין לפני התיבה לא אנשי בית שאן ולא אנשי בית חיפה ולא אנשי טבעונין מפני שקורין לאלפין עיינין ולעיינין ...
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2answers
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Is a Minyan allowed to count a man that does not keep Shabbos?
If someone has never kept shabbos, works on shabbos or owns a business that is open on shabbos, can he be counted towards a minyan?
Is there any leniency if the minyan is short by one, and they get ...
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0answers
21 views
Why are agricultural requests based on holiday timing?
There are a few changes to the amida which reflect the changes in the seasons -- we add (or change to) mashiv haru'ach umorid hagashem (or geshem) at Shmini Atzeret (and back at Pesach) and switch TO ...
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1answer
84 views
Most favourable time to daven?
According to Sephardim, what is the most favourable time to daven: Shaharit, Mincha and Arvit?
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1answer
383 views
Can a gentile pronounce a blessing for a Jew? Are there songs I can sing that will bring peace?
As a chaplain I sing Christian hymns for those who are dying and for the family after death, while still present with the one who died. There is also a final blessing. It brings a deep peace for the ...
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2answers
234 views
How can I pray for Jewish people as they approach death? I am a hospice chaplain
I am a chaplain in a hospice, serving those who are terminally ill. As a chaplain, I do not promote my faith, rather, I help those walk in their faith as death approaches. One of the sad issues I ...
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Why Sho'atah and not She'atah
A number of times in davening, we find the word שאתה, which I would assume would be vowelized as שֶׁאַתׇּה, "she'atah", that you. Instead, we find it vowelized as שָׁאַתָּה, "sha'atah".
For ...
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44 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.
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1answer
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Why is the principle of faith about Moshiach constructed as a rhetorical argument?
Why is the 12th principle of faith in the Ani Maamin poem about Moshiach constructed rhetorically - on a circumstantial situation "even if / in spite of that!"? In other words, the author says "I ...
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“The Torah shall be my profession” or “my faith”?
Following Modeh Ani in the Siddur, some recite a number of sentences (some of which are verses from the Torah):
תּורָה צִוָּה לָנוּ משֶׁה מורָשָׁה קְהִלַּת יַעֲקב. שְׁמַע בְּנִי מוּסַר אָבִיךָ ...
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1answer
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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 ...
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5answers
150 views
Reconciling “פותח את ידך” and knowing people are starving?
Tehillim 145:16 (Sefaria's translation):
פּוֹתֵחַ אֶת־יָדֶךָ וּמַשְׂבִּיעַ לְכָל־חַי רָצוֹן׃
You give it (the food mentioned in the previous pasuk) openhandedly, feeding every creature to its ...
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59 views
Skipping Paragraphs in long Tachanun
Although it pains me to ask the question, after davening in many orthodox shuls throughout New York, New Jersey, and Maryland, it seems chazanim often skip parts of והוא רחום (longer Monday/Thursday ...
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Why don't we say “please” (that often)?
The week day Shmoneh Esrei prayer has a series of requests during which we ask Hashem for many of our needs. In my siddur (Tefilla Hashalem) there is a subtle change made in the texts of 1 of the ...
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1answer
60 views
Why is chabad not worried about putting their head down when saying “l'david” when the Zohar says its dangerous?
Why is it Chabad's minhag to put their head down when saying "L'david" when the Zohar says its dangerous to "fall on ones face" when reciting it?
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0answers
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Questions about Mi Sheberach L'olim
It is fairly common minhag to recite a blessing for the person receiving an aliyah for the Torah reading. The blessing requests that G-d protect the person from misfortune and troubles and make him ...
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1answer
90 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 ...
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2answers
154 views
Koren Siddur on Kal Atzmotai Tomarna
(Note: likely not relevant to those who Daven/read Hebrew with an Ashkenazi pronunciation.)
This Shabbos I was asked to lead Pesukei Dezimrah at a shul I was visiting, and I was given a Koren Siddur ...
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2answers
201 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 ...
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Shir Shel Yom - Wednesday [duplicate]
The Shir Shel Yom of Wednesday is unique that it includes besides the whole chapter of Tehilim 94, the first 3 verses of Tehilim 95. All the other days it includes just a complete chapter.
Does ...
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3answers
182 views
Why does Hashem answer and not answer prayers?
Why does Hashem answer some prayers and not others?
I understand that there might be varieties of how Hashem answers or doesn't answer prayers.
I'm not asking for personal opinions, I want to learn ...
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votes
2answers
75 views
Is it permitted to daven five times a day every day?
Inspired by this comment.
One is allowed to daven more than three times a day, at least during the week (see OC 107). Is one allowed to daven specifically five times a day, with the intention that ...
4
votes
1answer
165 views
Chant or read the prayers when praying alone?
I am Reform and have never davened privately but am considering davening more often. One thing I am confused about is what to do with tunes (nusach). Are they only for public worship, or is it ...
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vote
2answers
46 views
Personal Supplications in Native Language [duplicate]
We're allowed to add personal supplications within the Amidah during either Shema Koleinu or after Elokai Netzor. My question surrounding this: is one allowed to make these supplications in their ...
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2answers
129 views
Correct kavanah in certain words in the first bracha of shemoneh esrei
When one desires to concentrate on every word of the first bracha of Shemoneh Esrei, as required, in order to fulfil the obligation of daily prayer, when he gets to the words "magen Avraham," should ...
5
votes
1answer
246 views
At Shacharit at exactly which point does one have to put Teffilin on and off?
If someone cannot put on Teffilin at home prior going to Synagogue and wants to put them on when inside the Synagogue, when is the exact moment of putting them on?
Right at the Start of Shacharit? Or ...
1
vote
1answer
136 views
Is one allowed to pray if he is in a profound state of sadness? [closed]
Two types of prayer, siddur prayers and Hitbodedut (personal talk with Hashem in his own language). Are there restrictions?
I have seen people saying that praying during sadness is prohibited and we ...
4
votes
1answer
38 views
Why does Moshe have to apply lots of prayer רבוי תפלה for the removal of the עָרֹב in Shmos 8 (26) and the locusts in Shmos 10 (18)?
Shmos 8 (24, 25, 26). Paroh asks for Moshe to pray; Moshe says he will and then Moshe does pray for the removal of the עָרֹב . The verb used for prayer here is וְהַעְתַּרְתִּי - translated into ...
