Lost The Place/Focus During Shemoneh Esrei

Halacha Moment
Jul 7
3 min read

The Daily Halacha Moment - Lost The Place/Focus During Shemoneh Esrei

״כל השונה הלכות בכל יום - מובטח לו שהוא בן

‎העולם הבא״ (נידה עג ע״א, מגילה כח:)

“Anyone who studies Halachot every day is guaranteed that he is destined for the world-to-come” (Megilla 28b, Niddah 73a)

Question:

I lost my place during Shemoneh Esrei what should i do?

Answer:

If someone begins to doze off during Shemoneh Esrei or loses their place for any reason, many poskim rule that they should go back to the last beracha they are unsure about and continue from there. [1] Some say that it is based on where in Shemoneh Esrei the person is:

- If the confusion occurs during the first three berachot, one should return to the beginning of Shemoneh Esrei.

- If it happens during the final three brachot, one should go back to Retzeh.

- If it's during the middle brachot, one should return to the last bracha they are certain they have not yet recited [2]. Our custom is like the first opinion that one should go back to the last beracha they are unsure about and continue from there.

Some poskim clarify that this only applies when the person stops and is unsure of their place. However, if one is actively reciting Shemoneh Esrei and begins to doubt whether a bracha was skipped, they should continue from their current place, since we assume they likely did not skip any part of the prayer [3].

Sources:

[1]. Yalkut Yosef (Tefillah vol. 1, p. 540, 107:3) rules that if someone dozes off or loses their place during Shemoneh Esrei, they should return to the bracha after the last one they are sure they recited. He bases this on the Yerushalmi (Berachot 2:4), which compares this to someone who forgets where they are in Kriyat Shema, who must return to the point of doubt. Yalkut Yosef explains that the principle of Safek Berachot Lehakel doesn’t apply here, since every bracha in Shemoneh Esrei is essential, and continuing without certainty may lead to berachot levatalah. He also cites the Gemara’s statement that “if only one could pray all day,” suggesting that repeating is not problematic. This view is supported by the Chesed LeAlafim, Ben Ish Chai (Mishpatim 20). [Note: the Chesed LeAlafim and Ben Ish Chai rule that if one is unsure where they are within the first three berachot, they should return to the beginning.] The Nezer HaTorah (Av 5770, p. 293) adds that some who disagreed had a mistaken girsa in the Mahara Fulda’s commentary on the Yerushalmi. A similar approach appears in Biur Halacha (188 s.v. Lechzor) regarding Birkat HaMazon.

[2]. Chaye Adam (24:21) writes that if one dosed off or for another reason lost one's place, then if one is in the first three brachot of Shemoneh Esrei, he should return to the beginning of Shemoneh Esrei, if he is in the last three brachot he should return to Retzeh, and if he is in the middle brachot, he should return to the bracha that he is sure that he didn't yet say. See Pitchei Teshuvot 119:5 who quotes a large number of achronim who disagree with the Chaye Adam and some who are concerned for his opinion and suggest some resolutions.

[3]. Sh"t Beit Oved 159 quoted by Pitchei Teshuvot (Siman 119:34). A support for this could be brought from the Yerushalmi (quoted by Yalkut Yosef Tefillah vol 1 p. 540).