When you're trapped by someone Davening behind you
There's a(n) Halachah (Berachos 27a, Shulchan Aruch 102:4) that you are not supposed to pass in front of someone in prayer. As a result, many people are strict and won't take their three steps back...
View ArticleWalking in Front of Someone Davening Shemona Esrei
I read somewhere that shtenders, chairs, tables and benches aren’t considered an interruption between the one davening and one passing before him unless the shtender is 10 טפחים tall by 4 טפחים wide....
View ArticleWhat is meant by using the term "B'nei Brit" in "U'Chtov Lechayim"?
During the Ten Days of Repentance, we add a phrase in the 2nd to last blessing of Amidah:וכתובלחייםטוביםכלבניבריתיך"May all the children of your covenant be inscribed for good life."Why is the term...
View ArticleIs וּלְכַפָּרַתפָּשַׁע a new request or a continuation?
When we say וּלְכַפָּרַתפָּשַׁע in musaf on a rosh chodesh that is a leap year, is that supposed to be read/understood as a continuation of the previous request or as a new request?(Relevant to how to...
View Articleblowing your nose during krias shema and shemoneh esrei
Can one blow his nose during the 1st parsha of krias shema or shemoneh esrei?
View ArticleHow does praise connect to asking for healing in Shemone Esreh
Per nusach ashkenaz one says the following as part of ברכתרפאנו during the...
View ArticleBaruch Chai Olamim after Modim
During the Chazara, after the chazan says וכלהחייםיודוךסלה in Modim, many Sephardim have the custom of saying out loud ברוךחיעולמים. Where does this come from?
View ArticleChazzan starting chazarah when the Rabbi takes three steps back at the end of...
When the Rabbi of the minyan is present, it is common practice for the Chazzan to only start the repetition of the amidah once the Rabbi has finished his amidah. I have noticed that many Chazzanim...
View ArticleA wheelchair user's taking "steps" before sh'mone esre
The Shulchan Aruch, OC 94:5, writes:Suppose someone is sitting on a boat or wagon [and saying sh'mone esre (amida)]. If he can stand up when he reaches the point of bowing, he should stand, so as to...
View ArticleWhy is Moshia before Magen?
We say in Shemonah Esrei: “מלךעוזרומושיעומגן.”The Sefer Iyun Tefilah famously explains this phrase as follows:עוזר = when we do our hishtadlus and Hashem helps.מושיע = when we do no hishtadlus and...
View ArticleWhat is the deeper concept behind the Hebrew term for "Awe" (נורא) in the...
I have been reflecting on the deeper meaning of the Hebrew term for Awe (נורא) in the context of it's description for G-d in the opening blessing of the Amidah prayer, and its association with our...
View ArticleHow to commence a taanis dibbur?
A taanis dibbur (fast of speech) is when one designates a period time within which to completely abstain from any non-Torah/Tefillah related speech.How can one accept a taanis dibbur on the self? How...
View ArticleShould Ashkenazim say 'מורידהטל' in Israel?
The Rema (114:3) brings the Tur who says that Ashkenazim do not say 'מורידהטל' in the amidah:"Us, the Ashkenazim, do not commemorate the 'טל' [i.e. say 'מורידהטל'], not in the summer days nor in the...
View ArticleWhy did chazal require repeating S"E when forget yaleh veyavo?
I understand the halacha that forgetting certain insertions in Shemoneh Esrei can require repeating the entire AmidahI’m not asking for the halachic ruling itself, but for the underlying rationale.Why...
View ArticleWhy does the Oruch HaShulchan tell the number of words in the blessings of...
The Oruch HaShulchan (eg here) mentions how many words there are in each of the blessings of the weekday Amidah and gives a reason why that number of words is used.For example for the blessing of T'ka...
View ArticleDo the dead need extra mercy or not?
“In שמונהעשרה we say:מכלכלחייםבחסדמחיהמתיםברחמיםרבים:The living is sustained with kindness, while the dead are revived with abundant mercy.As עיוןתפילה explains: since the dead can no longer do מצוות...
View ArticleIn places south of the Equator (South America, Africa) their winter is our...
Those of us living in the Northern Hemisphere begin to sat V'sayn Tal U'Matar l'vracha around Dec 4or Dec 5. Yet people living in the Southern Hemisphere continue to say V'sayn B'racha, only mentioning...
View ArticleWhy Do Some Siddurim Say ‘ועלכליושביתבל’?
In oseh shalom, certain communities (seemingly mostly reform and some conservative), includeועלכליושביתבלWhat is the reason behind this ? What sources are behind this ? And when did this custom start...
View ArticleSources for centrality of Shmoneh Esrei in our liturgy
There are numerous sources that look at the shemoneh esrei / the Amida, and provide information on its structure, the various kavannos, the associated halachos etc., but I am specifically chasing some...
View ArticleWhy does the congregation recite something different during the repetition of...
During the repetition of the amidah, during the hoda'ah (modim) the congregation recites a different text while the shaliach tzibbur recites the text we all did during the silent amidah. (1) Why do we...
View Article
