Halacha on the Go

Prayer תפילה

1Fundamentals of the Laws of Prayerיסודות הלכות תפילה
  1. 1.1 Prayer
  2. 2.2 The Prayers of Our Ancestors and Prophets
  3. 3.3 The Effect of Prayer
  4. 4.4 Is Prayer a Biblical Obligation?
  5. 5.5 The Institution of Prayer by Anshei Knesset HaGedolah
  6. 6.6 The Standardized Wording (Nusach)
  7. 7.7 Establishing Three Prayers
  8. 8.8 Kavanah and Those Who Find It Difficult to Concentrate
  9. 9.9 Hearing the Words One Utters and the Law of Hirhur
  10. 10.10 The Language of Prayer
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2The Minyanהמניין
  1. 1.1 The Virtue of a Minyan
  2. 2.2 The Virtue of Prayer in a Minyan
  3. 3.3 What Is Prayer in a Minyan?
  4. 4.4 The Extent of Ones Obligation to Pray in a Minyan
  5. 5.5 Priorities Pertaining to Prayer in a Minyan
  6. 6.6 Who Can Be Counted in a Minyan?
  7. 7.7 Is a Person Praying the Amidah Counted as Part of the Minyan?
  8. 8.8 Counting a Non Religious Jew as Part of the Minyan
  9. 9.9 How Is a Person Counted in a Minyan?
  10. 10.10 A Diminished Minyan
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3The Place of Prayerמקום התפילה
  1. 1.1 The Mitzvah to Pray in a Synagogue
  2. 2.2 Establishing a Regular Place to Pray
  3. 3.Intellect and Emotion
  4. 4.4 One May Not Pray in a High Place
  5. 5.5 One Should Enter Two Doorways
  6. 6.6 Nothing Should Separate a Person from the Wall While Praying
  7. 7.7 One May Not Pray Near His Primary Rabbi
  8. 8.8 A Proper Place to Pray
  9. 9.9 Areas Free from Excrement and Foul Odors
  10. 10.10 Additional Laws
  11. 11.11 The Prohibition of Reciting Matters of Sanctity in Front of Ervah
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4The Chazan and the Mourner's Kaddishהחזן וקדיש של אבלים
  1. 1.1 An Appropriate Prayer Leader
  2. 2.2 Chazanut for the Sake of Heaven
  3. 3.3 Appointing a Chazan
  4. 4.4 Indecent Attire and the Importance of a Beard
  5. 5.5 The Mourners Prayer
  6. 6.6 The Duration of the Kaddish Recital and the Yahrtzeit Day
  7. 7.7 Order of Precedence
  8. 8.8 Saying Kaddish for a Person Who Does Not Have an Adult Son
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5Preparations for Prayerהכנות לתפילה
  1. 1.1 Emotional Preparation
  2. 2.2 Washing Ones Hands
  3. 3.3 Kippah and Belt
  4. 4.4 The Appropriate Dress for Prayer
  5. 5.5 Detailed Laws of Ones Dress for Prayer
  6. 6.6 One May Not Bring to Synagogue Children Who Are Likely to Disrupt
  7. 7.7 Preventing Possible Disruptions in Prayer
  8. 8.8 One Who Must Relieve Himself While Praying
  9. 9.9 One Who Needs to Relieve Himself Before Reciting Other Matters of Sanctity
  10. 10.10 One Who Needs to Relieve Himself in the Middle of Praying
  11. 11.11 One Who Is Tipsy or Drunk
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6Nusach: Wording of Prayerהנוסחים ומנהגי העדות
  1. 1.1 The Differences in Nusach
  2. 2.2 No Nusach Should Be Considered More Preferable than Another
  3. 3.3 In What Cases Is One Permitted to Change His Nusach?
  4. 4.4 Immigrants and Communities that Migrated
  5. 5.5 Praying in a Minyan Conducted in a Different Nusach
  6. 6.6 Preserving Minhagim versus Strengthening the Community
  7. 7.7 Those Accustomed to a Different Nusach
  8. 8.8 Ashkenazim Who Pray with a Sephardic Pronunciation
  9. 9.9 Members of Different Ethnic Groups Praying Together
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7Waking Up in the Morningהשכמת הבוקר
  1. 1.1 Wake Up Like a Lion
  2. 2.2 Dressing Modestly
  3. 3.3 The Extra Pious Custom with Regard to Putting on Ones Clothes and Shoes
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8Washing One's Hands in the Morningנטילת ידיים שחרית
  1. 1.1 Morning Washing
  2. 2.2 Ruach Raah (Evil Spirit)
  3. 3.3 Ruach Raah Today
  4. 4.4 The Time to Recite Al Netilat Yadayim
  5. 5.5 Hand Washing Concerning One Who Did Not Sleep All Night
  6. 6.6 Waking in the Middle of the Night to Tend to a Baby or for Any Other Reason
  7. 7.7 Food Touched by Unwashed Hands
  8. 8.8 Minors
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9Birkot HaShachar : The Morning Blessingsברכות השחר
  1. 1.1 Blessings of Thanks
  2. 2.2 The Order of the Morning Blessings
  3. 3.3 Birkot HaShachar for One Who Does Not Derive Pleasure
  4. 4.4 Until When May One Recite Birkot HaShachar?
  5. 5.5 The Time to Recite Birkot HaShachar for One Who Wakes Up in the Middle of the Night
  6. 6.6 One Who Was Awake All Night
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10Birkot HaTorah : The Blessings on the Torahברכת התורה
  1. 1.1 The Value of Birkot HaTorah
  2. 2.2 The Content of the Torah Blessings and the Ruling Regarding Ahavat Olam
  3. 3.3 Is the Recital of Birkot HaTorah a Biblical Commandment?
  4. 4.4 Before What Type of Learning Must the Berachot Be Recited?
  5. 5.5 Birkot HaTorah for the Whole Day
  6. 6.6 Is Sleep Considered an Interruption Regarding Birkot HaTorah?
  7. 7.7 One Who Was Awake All Night
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11The Times of Keriat Shema and Shacharitזמן ק"ש ותפילת שחרית
  1. 1.1 The Morning
  2. 2.2 Calculation of the Morning Times
  3. 3.3 The Time of Keriat Shema
  4. 4.4 The Time of the Amidah
  5. 5.5 Vatikin at Netz HaChamah
  6. 6.6 The Precise Times of Vatikin and Netz
  7. 7.7 How Early May One Begin to Pray?
  8. 8.8 How Early Is One Permitted to Pray in Extenuating Circumstances?
  9. 9.9 Praying Vatikin Individually versus Praying in a Minyan
  10. 10.10 The Proportional Hours and Their Corresponding Laws
  11. 11.11 The Practical Halachah Regarding the Final Time to Recite Shema and Pray the Amidah
  12. 12.12 Praying in a Minyan vs. Abiding by the Times
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12Before the Shacharit Prayerלקראת תפילת שחרית
  1. 1.1 Greetings Before Prayer
  2. 2.2 One May Not Deal with Personal Business Before Prayer
  3. 3.3 Permitted Activities Before Praying
  4. 4.4 Ritual Immersion (Tevilah), Bathing, and Shaving
  5. 5.5 One Who Is Traveling
  6. 6.6 Eating and Drinking Before Prayer
  7. 7.7 Coffee, Tea, and Cake Before Prayer
  8. 8.8 Eating and Drinking Before Amud HaShachar
  9. 9.9 Tefillin and Tzitzit During Keriat Shema and Shacharit
  10. 10.10 Laws Pertaining to Tzitzit and Tefillin for Shacharit
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13Korbanot : The Passages of the Sacrificial Offeringsסדר קרבנות
  1. 1.1 Is It an Obligation to Recite the Korbanot Passages?
  2. 2.2 The Reason for the Recital of the Korbanot and the Different Stages of Prayer
  3. 3.3 The Source for the Recital of the Korbanot
  4. 4.4 The Korbanot Passages
  5. 5.5 The Reason for the Tamid Offering
  6. 6.6 The Reason for the Ketoret
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14Pesukei d'Zimrahפסוקי דזמרה
  1. 1.1 The Reason for Its Recital
  2. 2.2 What Are Pesukei dZimrah?
  3. 3.3 Customs and Kavanah Regarding Their Recital
  4. 4.4 The Laws Concerning Interruptions in Pesukei dZimrah
  5. 5.5 What Parts May Be Omitted to Enable Praying in a Minyan?
  6. 6.6 The Order of Preference Regarding Omissions
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15Keriat Shemaקריאת שמע
  1. 1.1 The Mitzvah of Keriat Shema (The Recital of Shema)
  2. 2.2 Remembering the Exodus
  3. 3.3 The Content of the Shema Paragraph
  4. 4.4 The Second and Third Paragraphs
  5. 5.5 The Significance of the Exodus
  6. 6.6 Kavanah While Reciting the First Verse
  7. 7.7 The Second Verse and Its Kavanah
  8. 8.8 Mitzvot Require Kavanah
  9. 9.9 The Laws of Reciting Shema
  10. 10.10 The Manner in which to Recite Shema
  11. 11.11 Tefillin and Tzitzit while Reciting Shema
  12. 12.12 248 Words
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16Birkot Keriat Shemaברכות קריאת שמע
  1. 1.1 The Significance of the Berachot
  2. 2.2 The Link between Pesukei dZimrah and Birkot Keriat Shema
  3. 3.3 Barchu
  4. 4.4 Kedushat Yotzer and Responding Amen to the Berachot
  5. 5.5 Responding to Matters of Sanctity in Birkot Keriat Shema
  6. 6.6 Interruption for a Respected Person
  7. 7.7 Adjoining Redemption to Prayer
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17The Amidahתפילת עמידה
  1. 1.1 The Amidah Is the Essence of Prayer
  2. 2.2 Three Steps Forward Before the Amidah
  3. 3.3 Facing Jerusalem
  4. 4.4 Standing and Putting Ones Feet Together
  5. 5.5 Body and Hand Positions
  6. 6.6 Bowing Down During the Amidah
  7. 7.7 Praying Silently
  8. 8.8 In Any Language
  9. 9.9 Kavanah
  10. 10.10 The Order of the Berachot
  11. 11.11 Personal Requests in the Amidah
  12. 12.12 The Conclusion of the Amidah
  13. 13.13 Three Steps Back
  14. 14.14 How Long Must One Stand at a Distance
  15. 15.15 When Is It Permissible to Interrupt the Amidah?
  16. 16.16 One Who Is Traveling When the Time to Pray Arrives
  17. 17.17 One May Not Sit Within Four Amot of a Person Reciting the Amidah
  18. 18.18 It Is Forbidden to Pass in Front of People Reciting the Amidah
  19. 19.19 The Practical Halachah
  20. 20.20 One Who Finishes Reciting the Amidah
  21. 21.21 Additional Details of Certain Laws
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18Errors, Additions, and Omissions in the Amidahטעויות הזכרות ושכחה
  1. 1.1 Error, Omission, and Interruption in the Amidah
  2. 2.2 Additions Pertaining to Particular Days
  3. 3.3 The Voluntary Prayer (Tefillat Nedavah) and Laws in Situations of Uncertainty
  4. 4.4 Mentioning and Asking for Rain
  5. 5.The Law Regarding Errors in the Mention and Request for Rain
  6. 6.6 Advice Against Mistakes
  7. 7.7 The Law Outside of Israel
  8. 8.8 Making Up a Forgotten Prayer
  9. 9.9 In What Situations Are Supplementary Prayers Not Recited?
  10. 10.10 Additional Laws and Cases of Uncertainty
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19The Chazan's Repetition of the Amidahחזרת הש"ץ
  1. 1.1 The Enactment of the Amidah Repetition (Chazarat HaShatz)
  2. 2.2 Who May Fulfill His Obligation by Hearing the Amidah Repetition?
  3. 3.3 The Listeners Conduct
  4. 4.4 Must Nine Men Respond to Chazarat HaShatz?
  5. 5.5 When Is the Amidah Repetition Not Recited?
  6. 6.6 Kedushah
  7. 7.7 When Does the Chazan Recite the Verses of Kedushah?
  8. 8.8 Modim DRabbanan and Additional Laws
  9. 9.9 Is It Possible to Make Up the Amidah Repetition?
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20Birkat Kohanim : The Priestly Blessingברכת כהנים
  1. 1.1 The Mitzvah of Birkat Kohanim
  2. 2.2 Yisraels Kavanah
  3. 3.3 The Place Where the Congregation Stands
  4. 4.4 Four Biblical Halachot
  5. 5.5 The Connection of Birkat Kohanim to the Amidah and the Korbanot
  6. 6.6 Washing Hands Before the Blessing
  7. 7.7 Yisraels Participation in Birkat Kohanim
  8. 8.8 The Kohens Obligation to Remove His Shoes Before the Blessing
  9. 9.9 The Role of the Kohanim
  10. 10.10 An Evil Kohen
  11. 11.11 A Kohen Who Has Killed Is Ineligible to Ascend the Duchan
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21Nefillat Apayim and the Prayers of Supplicationנפילת אפיים ותחנונים
  1. 1.1 The Uniqueness of the Nefillat Apayim Prayer
  2. 2.2 The Custom of Its Recital
  3. 3.3 What Is Nefillat Apayim?
  4. 4.4 How to Perform Nefillat Apayim
  5. 5.5 The Thirteen Attributes of Mercy
  6. 6.6 The Passages of Supplication and Nefillat Apayim
  7. 7.7 Days on Which Tachanun Is Not Recited
  8. 8.8 Chatan, Baalei Brit, and Other Baalei Simchah
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22Several Laws of Torah Readingמדיני קריאת התורה
  1. 1.1 The Establishment of Torah Reading
  2. 2.2 The Torah Scroll
  3. 3.3 Taking Out the Torah and Returning It to the Ark
  4. 4.4 The Lifting of the Torah Scroll (Hagbahah) and Its Return to the Ark
  5. 5.5 The Torah Reader
  6. 6.6 The One Who Is Called Up and the Torah Blessings
  7. 7.7 The Order of the People Called Up
  8. 8.8 The Congregations Conduct During Torah Reading
  9. 9.9 An Individual and a Congregation Who Did Not Hear the Torah Reading
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23The Conclusion of Shacharit and the Laws of Kaddishסיום שחרית ודיני קדיש
  1. 1.1 Ashrei and Lamenatzeach
  2. 2.2 Kedushah DSidra Uva LTzion
  3. 3.3 A Person Who Is in a Hurry When to Exit and What to Skip
  4. 4.4 Shir Shel Yom Psalm of the Day
  5. 5.5 Pitum HaKetoret and Aleinu LShabeach
  6. 6.6 The Kaddish and Its Virtue
  7. 7.7 The Various Kinds of Kaddish
  8. 8.8 The Order of the Kaddishim Recited at the End of the Prayer Service
  9. 9.9 Barchu
  10. 10.10 Is Another Kaddish Recited After Aleinu LShabeach?
  11. 11.11 The Laws of Kaddish
  12. 12.12 Kaddish After Learning
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24The Minchah Prayerתפילת מנחה
  1. 1.1 Its Objective
  2. 2.2 The Order of the Prayer
  3. 3.3 Minchah Time Corresponds to the Time of the Tamid Offering
  4. 4.4 The Final Time to Recite Minchah
  5. 5.5 Forbidden Activities Before Minchah
  6. 6.6 A Meal Before Minchah
  7. 7.7 Rabbi Yehudahs Opinion
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25The Ma'ariv Prayerתפילת מעריב
  1. 1.1 Keriat Shema and Its Berachot
  2. 2.2 The Maariv Amidah
  3. 3.3 The Order of the Maariv Prayer
  4. 4.4 Adjoining Redemption to Prayer
  5. 5.5 The Time to Recite Keriat Shema Begins at Tzeit HaKochavim
  6. 6.6 The Time of the Amidah According to the Chachamim and Rabbi Yehudah
  7. 7.7 The Bdieved Custom Linking Minchah to Maariv Before Its Proper Time
  8. 8.8 The Final Time to Recite Keriat Shema and the Amidah of Maariv
  9. 9.9 Forbidden Activities Prior to Praying Maariv
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