Questions tagged [tefilla]
Questions about Jewish prayer (the fixed order of typically-thrice-daily prayers, or prayer generally).
1,717
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Is a blind person required to cover their eyes during Shema?
During the Shema we cover our eyes. The act implies that one is shielding their sight during the prayer.
If an individual happens to be blind, are they still required to do this as a symbolic action ...
3
votes
1answer
58 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?
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Skipping brachot of the Shema
When davening shacharit, is one allowed to omit the brachot before and after the Shema, and just say the Shema and the Amidah?
3
votes
1answer
124 views
Is a man permitted to petition for permitted sexual relations during the Amidah?
Would a man be permitted to ask Hashem to bring about permitted sexual acts with his current or future wife as part of the requests he makes during the Amidah, given that we are generally highly ...
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1answer
35 views
If the only Minyan that is available will pray later in the morning, is it preferable to pray alone with Hanetz or later with the Minyan? [duplicate]
The Shulchan Aruch: Orach Chaim: Siman 89 says that the ideal time to pray Sh'moneh Esrei is at Hanetz hachamah.
If the only Minyan that is available will pray later in the morning, is it preferable ...
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0answers
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How should one inflicted with DID (Dissociative identity disorder) pray? [duplicate]
I know someone with DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder - a mental disorder characterized by at least two distinct and relatively enduring personality states) and want to try to get her to pray.
But,...
3
votes
1answer
73 views
An “Aveil” at Shabbat Mincha
An aveil (mourner) does not practice public aveilut (mourning) on Shabbat (Ketubot 4a), though he is still in aveilut and there is some impact on what he can and can't do.
Would the presence of an ...
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0answers
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What defines a “mourner's home” (bet aveil)?
I'm asking this as a follow-up to this question.
Certain prayers such as tachanun are omitted when praying in a mourner's home. OU says that this is true even if the mourners are not present.
...
3
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1answer
50 views
Is tachanun omitted if the mourner in Shiva isn't part of the minyan?
I was at a shiva minyan this morning but the mourner was not there (he was running late from the airport and some people could not wait). He showed up in the middle and went in to another room, then ...
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0answers
62 views
Kavanoth in prayer: personal or not?
I am not a student of kabbalah, however I have a fundamental question about prayer with kavanoth (and in fact prayer in general, assuming that the effect of kavanoth is there even when one does not ...
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Is there a tefilah/segulah requesting that bowel and intestine should work?
My brother-in-law is critically ill in ICU and some of his organs have stopped working.
My sister whatsapped me this morning:
"Intestines not working. Abdomen so Swollen. Cannot take in any feeds. ...
4
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1answer
337 views
Forgot chonantanu after already making havdalah over wine
If one made havdalah over wine before praying maariv, and then in maariv he forgot to say chonantanu and has already completed shemoneh esrei, would he have to repeat shemoneh esrei?
5
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1answer
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When beseeching God, why does the kohein gadol appeal to “the torah of Moshe” and not directly to “your torah”?
Yoma 6:2 reports what the kohein gadol says over the goat to be offered:
“Please, ‘Hashem’! They have done wrong, they have transgressed, they have sinned before You, Your people the House of ...
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vote
0answers
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Why ken yehi ratzon and not Amen? [duplicate]
Why is that in the Ashkenaz circles (non Sephardi) by the daily birchat kohanim, the congregation responds “Ken yehi ratzon” rather than the usual response of Amen, after a blessing is recited?
Why ...
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0answers
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Chabad, Prayer, and Corporeality of Hashem
Statement of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, regarding 'betten' (beseeching) the Rebbe [quoted here]:
“It is not possible to ask a question about a [Rebbe being a]
go-between, since this is G-d Himself, ...
3
votes
1answer
107 views
Why not fulfill the birchat hashachar with the leader?
In many Shuls, the Shaliach Tzibbur starts the morning service by saying the list of brachot of Birchot hashachar. After that the individuals repeat these brachot to themselves. Why do the ...
2
votes
1answer
68 views
Why bow differently for Borachu and Amida?
When bowing for three brachot in the Amida I've seen some people bend their knees. For Borachu I've seen those people do not bend the knees. What is the logic or source underlying this difference in ...
5
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1answer
139 views
Why do the “Shtei HaLechem” not play a prominent part in the davenning for Shavuos?
The “Shtei HaLechem” are brought on Shavuos accompanied by 1 bull, 2 ram, 9 sheep and a goat.
In the prayers for Shavuos (excluding piyyutim) the only mention of any of that is in the verse ...
2
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0answers
37 views
What is the source for some Ashkenazim not reciting Lamnatzeiach on Isru Chag?
Mishnah Berurah 131:35 lists the following days on which Ashkenazim do not recite Lamnatzeiach (Tehillim 20) during weekday Shacharit between Ashrei and Uva LeTzion:
Rosh Chodesh
Chanukah
Purim
Erev ...
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0answers
62 views
Can men daven at home to avoid the bad smell of people at shul? [closed]
Can men daven at home to avoid the bad smell of people at shul? It can be very irritating to someone. can somebody daven at home so that they can have proper kavannah during davening by avoiding those ...
3
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3answers
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Is it permissible to give someone money for davening?
Suppose if I had a brother that doesn't daven, and no matter how much you advice he won't daven, but he cares about money so if you give him money he will start davening, and if I kept giving him ...
6
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2answers
439 views
What did people say in Shemoneh Esrei and Kiddush of Shavuos when it didn't fall out on the 6th of Sivan?
During Shemoneh Esrei and Kiddush of Shavuos, we describe the Yom Tov as "this day of the holiday of Shavuos, the time of giving our Torah" (יום חג השבועות הזה זמן מתן תורתינו).
Before we had a fixed ...
2
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0answers
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Is it better to answer kaddish or use that time to catch up?
You've fallen behind because you can't keep up with congregation's prayer speed and the chazzan begins to say kaddish. Which option is preferable?
A. Pause your own prayer, answer kaddish completely, ...
3
votes
1answer
48 views
Why don’t we say “vetein tal lev’racha”?
According to those who say “morid hatal” in the second b’racha of Shemoneh Esrei between Pesach and Sukkos, why don’t they also say vetein tal lev’racha in the ninth b’racha (instead of vetein b’racha)...
8
votes
1answer
73 views
Why use a gendered MiShebeirach for sick people?
During leining, many synagogues have someone recite a prayer on behalf of sick people. The version I grew up with was for cholim (males) with the language including a reference to רמ"ח איבריו ושס"ה ...
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0answers
34 views
Why extra words in birchat ha hodesh in Israel?
Some siddurim (e.g., in the Koren but not in the Artscroll) have extra words in the last paragraph, to be said in Israel, asking for additional blessings, including rain. Why do we who are outside ...
2
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1answer
33 views
Why do we say Barchu during davening when we don’t do so during Zimun?
The Shulchan Aruch paskens (OC 192:1):
ואם הם ארבעה יכול לומר ברכו שאכלנו משלו אבל יותר טוב לומר נברך שלא להוציא עצמו מן הכלל
If they [who are eating together] are four, [the leader] may say, “...
2
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1answer
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Detergent smell during davening
When one realizes during davening that there is a smell of detergent on ones hands (chlorine), even though the hands were washed with water prior to davening, is the prayer void and does the person ...
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0answers
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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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0answers
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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 ...
0
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2answers
118 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
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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 / ...
3
votes
2answers
774 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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0answers
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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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0answers
54 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
votes
1answer
74 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.
4
votes
1answer
52 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!
3
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2answers
108 views
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
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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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0answers
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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. ...
3
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0answers
20 views
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 ...
4
votes
1answer
103 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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0answers
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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?
5
votes
1answer
62 views
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
71 views
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
votes
1answer
77 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 ...
3
votes
0answers
57 views
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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0answers
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 ...
