What kavanah should one have by Shemoneh Esrei? It is essential for a person to have kavanah, focused intention and awareness, when praying Shemoneh Esrei, as this prayer is the heart of the daily tefillah and represents one’s personal audience with Hashem. Ideally, one should concentrate deeply on the meaning of every word throughout the entire Shemoneh Esrei. However, if someone finds it difficult to maintain such sustained kavanah, halacha places special emphasis on the fi

When does one bow during Shemonah Esrei? How does one bow?

May one pray Shemoneh Esrei  if one needs to use the restroom? Before beginning Shemoneh Esrei, one should make sure that they do not need to use the bathroom. Even if a person feels they can hold it in for as long as 72 minutes, it is still prohibited to initially begin Shemoneh Esrei while needing to relieve oneself.

What exactly is a Makom Kavuah? One should establish a makom kavua—a fixed place—for tefillah, and make an effort to consistently pray in the same seat and the same shul. This halacha specifically applies to the Shemoneh Esrei, which should ideally be recited from a designated spot each day. If one is unable to attend shul and must pray at home, it is still proper to designate a specific place in the house for tefillah.

May one walk during Shema? It is forbidden to walk while reciting the first pasuk of Shema ("Shema Yisrael Hashem Elokeinu Hashem Echad") and Baruch Shem Kevod Malchuto LeOlam Va’ed, as these are the most central declarations of Hashem’s unity and kingship, and they require complete stillness and focused attention.

What Kavana should one have during Shema? In addition to having the general kavanah (intention) to fulfill the positive mitzvah of reciting Shema, since we hold that mitzvot require conscious intent to be fulfilled(Shulchan Aruch 60:4), one must specifically have focused kavanah during the first pasuk, "Shema Yisrael Hashem Elokeinu Hashem Echad." [1] This is because this pasuk contains the central themes of Kabalat Ol Malchut Shamayim (acceptance of the yoke of Heaven) and Y

Why do we cover our eyes during Shema? The common practice is to cover one's eyes during the recitation of the first pasuk of Kriyat Shema in order to enhance concentration and prevent distraction while declaring Hashem's Oneness. By shutting out external visual stimuli, a person is better able to focus on the meaning and significance of the words.

What is the importance of tehillim? In times of danger, the Jewish heart knows where to turn. Right now, as Eretz Yisrael faces serious threats with the attacks from Iran weighing heavily on Klal Yisrael we are reminded once again that our greatest strength is not only in the hands of soldiers or in the halls of diplomacy, but in the tefillah that rises from the lips and hearts of Am Yisrael.

Are women obligated to pray every day? The Mishnah in Berachot (20a/b) teaches that women are obligated to pray daily. This might seem surprising at first, since women are generally exempt from time-bound positive commandments (mitzvot aseh she’hazman grama). However, the Gemara explains that prayer is fundamentally a plea for mercy and connection with Hashem, and is therefore not categorized as a time-bound commandment. As a result, women are included in this obligation.

May one make a minyan on a plane? It is inappropriate to daven with a minyan on an airplane. While praying with a minyan is a cherished mitzvah, it must never come at the expense of chillul Hashem, a public desecration of God's Name. Sadly, the disruption and discomfort caused to fellow passengers when a group gathers in the aisle or galley to form a minyan often results in exactly that: people feeling disturbed, annoyed, or even unsafe.

What's the most ideal time to pray Mincha? If one encounters a situation where a minyan is praying during bein hashemashot—the period of twilight that begins after shekiyah (around 13.5 minutes)—the proper course of action depends on one's custom. Click Here To Learn More :)

May one miss a minyan to pray at a more optimal time? When it comes to Shacharit: If someone consistently prays Vatikin at sunrise, he is permitted to daven alone rather than join a later minyan, as long as this is his regular practice. Among Sephardim, however, the preference is generally to daven with a minyan unless one experiences significantly greater kavana when praying vatikin.

Can one join a minyan from an adjacent room? If there is a minyan of 10 men in one room, and someone is davening in an adjacent room, he may still answer Kaddish, Kedusha, and Barchu, and according to many poskim, his tefillah is considered Tefillah B’tzibbur — as long as he can hear the congregation. This applies even though he could not be counted among the initial ten required to form the minyan.

What Parts of Davening Require There to Be a Minyan? Certain parts of davening, known as devarim shebikdusha, sacred communal prayers, may only be recited in the presence of a minyan, which consists of ten adult Jewish men. These include Kaddish, Kedusha (during the repetition of the Amidah), Barechu, the Chazarat HaShatz (repetition of the Amidah), public Torah reading with blessings, Birkat Kohanim, and the Haftarah with its blessings. If there is no minyan, these parts are

Who is counted in a minyan? Can a deaf person be counted in a minyan? Read to find Out :)

Is one obligated to pray in a minyan? A person should make every possible effort to pray with a minyan a quorum of ten Jewish men, not merely as a matter of tradition or routine, but because of the immense spiritual power and holiness that is present when Jews unite in communal prayer. Chazal emphasize that when one prays with a minyan, his tefillot, his personal pleas, praises, and requests are much more likely to be accepted by Hashem.

Is it true that one makes a blessing upon seeing an elephant? Read To Find Out :)

Is one allowed to answer Amen to a Beracha over the phone/videocall? Read To Find Out :)

What are the different Berachot on foods? Read To Find Out :)

Why do we recite blessings? What's the proper way to recite a blessing? Read To Find Out :)