Halacha Project

The Intro: We pray to Hashem in prayer every day. What are the laws of prayer? What are the most important and less important? In Devarim 6:4 it says:

This is the Shema and one of the sources for prayer.

The Source: Another source is another paragraph of Shema Vehaya. It talks about Tefillin and the laws of the Jews. The Jews need to Pray everyday. Also a possible source would be the Karbanot of each day. The Davening was written a long time ago by the Anshei Kenneses Hagadolah.

Dinai Hamitzvah:

15:1

• After Yishtabach the Chazzan says half Kaddish

  • If there isn’t ten men…

  • NO Kiddusha, Kaddish, Barchu, and NO reading Torah

    • If they said Yishtabach and then got ten they don’t say Kaddish

    • They can wait only half an hour for ten and then they have to continue

      • If they wait and have to continue they say Yishtabach then wait and get more people, say tehillim, and then start half Kaddish.

15:2

• An adult is one who has passed his thirteenth year and has gone into his fourteenth

  • One who was born in Adar of a normal year and has his bar mitzvah in a leap year has his bar mitzvah in the second Adar

  • One was born in Adar one of a leap year he bar mitzvahs in Adar 1

    • If he was born in a leap year in any adarand is bar mitzvahed in a non leap year he is bar mitzvahed in the first adar

15:3

• You have to be careful about not taking a head count and when you do you say the bracha hoshia es amecha.

15:4

• All ten need to be in the same room including the Chazan

  • If one is in another room even if he is standing in a wide open doorway NO COUNT

    • One can always say amen even in another room

15:5

• One should be careful to here kaddish and answer Amen after each bracha.

15:6

• Some people say that you do not have to stand for kaddish.

15:7

• If there are not ten people listening to the chazzan the chazzan should not say kaddish at all.

15:8

• After the chazzan says half kaddish he should say out loud barchu es Hashem .

15:9

• The holiness of the bracha of Yotzer Ohr is so special so one should say it with a minyan but it isn’t necessary

15:10

• If there are exactly ten people, no one is allowed to leave at all.

15:11

• These are the special qualities a chazan needs to have

  • who is devoid of sin;

  • who has a pleasant reputation, meaning there was never attributed to him a bad name even in his youth;

  • who is humble;

  • who is acceptable to the community, so that they will agree to his prayers;

  • who has a pleasant and sweet voice that arouses emotion;

  • and frequently studies the Torah, prophets, and sacred writings, so that the verses in the prayers will be familiar to his lips.

15:12

• If a person is not liked by the congregation, they should not be asked to be the chazzan.

15:13

• A person who does not yet have a beard, a child, should not be the chazzan. But on a temporary basis one who is 13 can lead.

16:1

• There are three brachas

• Yotzer, ahava, and veyatziv

  • They are more important than Pesuki Dezimrah

    • There are separations

    • Yotzer hameoros and ahavah raba

    • habocher beamo yisrael and Shema

    • uvishaarecha and vehaya

    • al haaretz and vayomer

16:2

• One should say amen when he hears a blessing.

  • During Shema answer Kesusha, kaddish, and Barchu

  • No Barchu uvaruch Shemo

    • If you are behind and they are saying the first line of shema you say what you are saying along at loud with them.

16:3

• In the middle of a section of shema one does not say amen except when it is after the bracha of Hael Hakadosh or Shomea Tefillah

  • Also you should say Yehei shemei rabbah mevorach leolam lolamay olmaya during the middle of a section of Shema

  • When the chazan says Damiran d'alma v imru Amen you can respond amen during the middle of shema

  • During Kedusha stand quietly and then say with everyone Kadosh, kadosh, kadosh, then silent, the say w/everyone Baruch kvod hashem mimkomo and then silent.

  • If you hear Barchu you can respond

  • When they are saying Modim you say Modim anuchnu lach and then be silent

  • Hear thunder say bracha

16:4

• On the interpretations which we said one is allowed to stop in the midst of the section.

  • if you can finish the part then finish and the respond

    • if that isn’t possible or it is in Shema say it between verses

      • if that isn’t possible than say it in the middle and then start of the verse

16:5

• What is stated above doesn’t apply to the verse Shema & Baruch shem kvod maluchuso

  • With these you can’t interrupt for the king

    • between Emes and Ve Yatziv no interrupt

17:1

• The earliest time for Shema is also the earliest time for Tefillin

  • The latest time for Shema is a quarter into the day

    • We calculate on daybreak to when the stars come out

    • Great people wake up early to daven Shema at daybreak and say shemoneh esrei after

      • If you have passed the first quarter of the day you have until the third of the day

17:2

• One may say shema sitting/standing.

  • but you can do whatever you want

    • If you are sitting you shouldn’t stand in the middle

      • If you are lying down then you should lean on your side

        • If you are sick you still should try to lean a little

17:3

• You should know that you are fulfilling the mitzvah

  • When saying shema you should think about what you are saying

    • Another law is that important is that you should make the ches and dalet longer in ECHAD

    • If this is going to mess up the word don’t do it!!!!! :()

      • Cover your eyes when saying the first line to make you concentrate

        • After the long echad pause then say quietly Baruch shem k'vod malchuto leolam vaed

          • Also think about the meaning here

17:4

• You should pause for a second before saying V'ahavta

  • You should pause also before vehaya

    • You should also before Vayomer

      • With Vayomer you should think about Egypt and how hashem saved us

17:5

• The Shema needs to be exact in words and with the writing

  • Pause when you need to pause and accent when you need to accent

    • Same with Pesukei Dezimra

      • You have to enunciate correctly

17:6

• NO GESTURES, NO LIP MOVEMENT, AND NO EYE GESTURES in Shema

  • Except during second paragraph of SHEMA

17:7

• Before reading reading Shema, from vehaviyenu hold the tzitzit in your hands

  • Left hand

  • In between ring and little finger

  • Hold close to heart

    • Vayomer

    • Right hand and Left hand

      • When saying ureisem oso you should look at them then touch your eyes and then kiss them

        • At every tzitzit you kiss the tzitzit

          • They should be held until venechmadim la’ad where you kiss and release them

17:8

• After Ani Hashem Elokaichem say emes without interuption

  • The Chazan also

  • Says out loud Hashem Elokaichem Emes

    • Everyone listens because these complete the 248

      • After Shema there was Ve Yatziv

      • Don’t repeat word Emes

        • When reading privately say before Eil Melech Ne'eman

        • So there will be 248

17:9

• If you interrupted during Shema repeat Shema from the beginning

17:10

• If you already said Shema then you walk into Shul where they are saying Shema you should say it with them

  • If you walk into Shul while they are saying Shema and you haven’t said Shema you say it with them with knowing that it doesn’t count for the mitzvah because later you will say it with brachos

  • Do this with everything that is outloud so you are part of the congregation

18:1

• The best time for saying the morning Shemoneh Esrei is at sunrise

  • If you prayed at daybreak it is also okay

  • The time for prayer goes until the first third of the day

    • If you didn’t daven until after the third of the day then you have until noon

      • If you delayed past that and you did it on purpose it doesn’t count if you daven after that

18:2

• Before saying TEHILOS LEL ELYON BARUCH HU MEVORACH prepare yourself for shemoneh esrei

  • You should get rid of stuff that distracts you

    • Take THREE STEPS BACKWARD

    • continue

      • Then take three step FORWARD

        • No interuptions

          • Except Maariv where there isn’t a Ga'al Yisroel

            • Before Shemoneh Esrei say hashem sifasai tiftach

              • Ki shem before Mincha and Mussaf

18:3

• You should know Hashem is before YOU!

  • Concentrate on Hashem’s greatness

18:4

• Concentrate on the words you are saying

  • If you don’t know what they mean think about Hashem

    • If you have a bad thought then you must pause until you have the thought pass

18:5

• Your feet should be together, head bent, and eyes closed

  • If you are praying in a siddur then you should look only at the Siddur

    • PRAY WHOLEHEARTEDLY

      • Say every word with exactness

18:6

• You shouldn’t let the person next to you hear you

  • ONLY YOU HEARS YOU !!!!!!

18:7

• During Shemoneh Esrei you can’t lean on anything

  • If you are sick you can lean

    • If you can’t even say the words think about it in your heart

18:8

• You can’t hold anything during Shemoneh Esrei, shema, and Pesukei dezimra

  • Except a Siddur

    • There shouldn't be a space where people can walk

      • You shouldn’t daven in front of a mirror or picture

        • No praying in open spaces

          • Pray in a smaller space so that you will be in awe of Hashem

            • If you are traveling on the road it is okay to daven in a field

              • If you can, daven with the trees in the field

18:9

• Do not burp or yawn during Shemonah Esrei

  • If you can’t help yourself then cover your mouth

    • If you have saliva then don’t spit it out

      • If you need to spit it out use a napkin or handkerchief

        • If you can’t then spit behind you

          • If you have a bug on your shoulder you should take it off with your bare hand

            • If your tallis falls off partially you can pick it up

            • If it falls off completely then you have leave it

              • If a holy book falls you may pick it up between Brachos

                • All these laws start when you take three steps back

18:10

• We must stand facing Israel

  • You should also face Yerushalayim and the Beis Hamikdash

    • If you are facing the wrong way don’t shift face the right way

      • If you can’t, imagine the Holy of Holies

        • If there are pictures on the east wall then you can face anyway so you don’t see them

18:11

• You bend your knees at the first bracha and Modim at the beginning and end

  • Baruch bend Atah bend back and head Hashem stand straight

    • If you can’t, just bend your head

      • No bending for other Brachos

18:12

• After the Shemoneh Esrei say Elokai Netzor

  • Before saying Oseh Shalom step back three steps

  • Then bow left then bow right then bow forward

18:13

• When you are done with this remain standing

  • Do this until the chazan ends Kedusha

18:14

• When saying Shemoneh Esrei NO INTERRUPTIONS AT ALL

  • Except Elokai Netzor

18:15

• After Shalom you say yih'yu l'ratzon

  • Before this some say a verse that starts and ends like their name

18:16

• You can’t pray if you have to go to the bathroom

  • If you feel the need in the middle of Shemoneh Esrei you need to hold it in for as long as you can until the end of Shemoneh Esrei

18:17

• If you have to pee really bad and can’t hold it in then you walk away four amos pee and then wait for the odor to go away and then continue

18:18

• DO NOT sit in front of or near a person saying Shemoneh Esrei

  • If you are davening it is okay

    • You should always stand

18:19

• If he is weak don’t correct him

18:20

• If one came after to say Shemoneh Esrei in front of someone sitting then he doesn’t need to move

  • If he came behind the guy sitting then the sitting guy should move carefully

    • If he was in Shul the sitting guy must move all the time

18:21

• No walking in front of people davening Shemoneh Esrei

  • If you finished and he is in back of you don’t take three steps back

    • alongside or behind IT”S FINE!

18:22

• If you have drunk intoxicating drinks and you can’t say hello to an important person NO DAVEN

  • If you miss time then you have to make up davening

20:1

• When the Chazan is done with his Shemoneh Esrei he wait the time it takes a person the walk four amos then he walks forward three steps says hashem sivasai and then continues out loud

  • The people have to not talk and listen carefully

  • Say AMEN

  • No Torah Study during the repetition

  • You should stand still and pretend it is you praying

  • Some after Kedusha switch from Rashi to Rabbeinu Tam Tefillin

20:2

• There has to be ten people to say the repitition

  • If there are only ten people there everyone has to finish in order to start

20:3

• The chazan has to be careful to not start the next bracha before a majority has said Amen

  • If they haven’t then the vacating of Amen is on the Chazan

20:4

• You have to put your feet together when it is Kedusha

  • At Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, Baruch, and Yimloch go on toes

    • Raise eyes and close them

20:5

• Say Modim Derabanan during the Chazan Modim

  • If you are in your Shemoneh Esrei and it gets to the Chazan Modim you have to bow

  • If you are in the middle of a bracha bow

  • If at the beginning you can’t

  • If at the end you can’t

20:6

• Before Sim Shalom the Chazan says Elokainu and we respond Ken Yehi Ratzon

  • At Shacharis and Mussaf

    • No mourner or Tisha B'av

20:7

• The Chazan says Yiheu Laratzon

  • No steps because he gets that from Kaddish

20:8

• If there are ten people fasting then the Chazan adds Aneinu before Refaeinu

  • If he forgets then he says it during Shomea Tefillah like an individual

  • If he forgets it there he says it after Shemoneh Esrei

20:9

• Don’t start repeating until six people finish

  • If six aren’t davening now then you don’t repeat all

  • Only until Kedusha then quiet

20:10

• If a Chazan makes a mistake then he has to repeat Shemoneh Esrei

  • Except Shacharis of Rosh Chodesh and Chol Hamoed

  • If he forgot Yaaleh Veyavo until the end he doesn’t repeat

    • If he forgot and then remembered before he ended he goes back to yaaleh Veyavo

20:11

• You have to say Kedusha, Amen to Hael Hakadosh, and Amen to Shomea Tefillah

  • Same with Modim

  • You should be mindful that you have to say amen and you shouldn’t start Shemoneh Esrei if you might not be able to say amein

20:12

• If one is saying Shemoneh Esrei and say Michayei Hamaitim and then the cong. is saying Kedusha in Uva Letzion then do not say kadosh with them

  • If you are saying Shacharis and they are saying Mussaf reply to Kadosh or vice versa

The Reason of the Mitzvah: Avraham Aveinu, the Gemara says, davened Shacharis. Yitzchak davened Mincha. Yaakov davened Maariv. This could be the reason for davening. Another might be, as we mentioned before, the Korbanot. There was a Shacharit Korban every morning.

Story of the Mitzvah: There was once a Rabbi. He had a friend that was a lawyer. He was in a sticky situation. He asked the Rabbi what he should do. The Rabbi answered that he should daven. He answered that he can't. He explained. He was on a trip to Australia and his daughter got sick with cancer. After a few weeks she only had a few hours left and he went to daven in a shul. He said that he wouldn't ask for anything else ever if his daughter was healed. He went back to the hospital and she was doing much better and eventually healed! This shows us that davening really matters.

Think!: Why do you think that we daven? What do you think people should add to their davenings?

Review Questions:

1. Where did the lawyer go?
2. Can you hold something during Shemoneh Esrei?
3. Why did we say we daven?
4. When do you say amen (Normal; when you are caught up)?
5. Facing where do we daven Shemoneh Esrei?