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Last answer posted on: 2 Sep 2010

Questions answered to date: 1675

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Showing Questions in 'Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)'

Question No.	1748
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	21 Jun 2010
The Question	In Sefer Rav Chaim Soloveichik Al HaRambam, Rav Chaim Zt"l explain the Rambam in Hilchos Tefillah, that there are two required elements to tefillah: a) That one must have kavanah and understanding of the words one is saying. b) That one must have absolute kavanah in his heart that he is standing before the Ribono Shel Olam- Rav Chaim Zt"l explains this according to the Rambam, that without the complete kavanah of "standing before G-d", it's not even called tefillah. The question for the Rav is: how can one aquire the ability to fully feel in his heart that he is standing before the shecinah? What eitzos can the Rav give for one to grow in this "second" essential element of tefillah? —Anonymous, U.S.A.
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1690
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	22 Sep 2009
The Question	Dear Rabbi Leff; As I was davening on Rosh Hashana, and the need to use the bathroom arose, I was wondering whether or not I could interrupt my Shmona Esrei by going to the bathroom, and return to my Shmona Esrei? I didn't want to have to rush through my tefilla, but the need was great. Also, sometimes, especially on Yom Kippur, my back, and sometimes legs really start to hurt when I stand for a long time. May I sit down during the Shmmona Esrei if my back starts to hurt me? Thank you. —Anonymous, Eretz Yisrael
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1672
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	2 Jul 2009
The Question	Is one allowed to daven or learn Torah if there is a pet or other animal in the room? —Elliot, UK
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1633
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	14 Mar 2009
The Question	Is there any problem with giving a sefer Torah to a boy under bar mitzvah for him to hold, such as during the reading of the haftarah on Shabbos morning? —Anonymous, Far Rockaway, NY
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1626
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	5 Mar 2009
The Question	Dear Rabbi Leff I believe I heard in one of your Shiurim online that you shouldn't say amen twice for the same Bracha. What is the reason for this law? Thank you for taking time out to answer this question. —Anonymous, London
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1586
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	29 Dec 2008
The Question	Am I allowed to daven in my bedroom? —Anonymous, NY
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1564
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	2 Dec 2008
The Question	Why do women recite the bracha of "she'asani kirtzono" while men recite "shelo asani isha"? It would seem that either both should say "shasani kirtzono" or "shelo asani isha" should be said by men and "shelo asani ish" by women. —Anonymous, Canada
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1541
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	12 Nov 2008
The Question	I have heard that you are not allowed to say Tehillim at night. Is that true? —Anonymous, NY
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1533
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	1 Nov 2008
The Question	I like to extend my Shmoneh Esrei during davening, however I always miss the opportunity to answer to Kedusha. I was wondering if there was any way that I would be able to answer, while I am still holding in the middle of Shmoneh Esrei, but before Elokai Nitzor. I know that once you're up to Elokai Nitzor you can answer, but I was hoping that there would be a ruling which would allow me to answer throughout the Shmonei Esrei. Thank you. —Anonymous, West Coast
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1519
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	26 Aug 2008
The Question	Shalom Rav! If chinuch and sholom bais (and zivug) is so important, why in the shmone esre there isn't a special brocho with this ask? Or there is a brcho, and we don't know that we ask this in the brocho (and it's beremez)? Toda raba! —Meir, Brasil
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1514
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	24 Aug 2008
The Question	In kidusha, are you allowed to saparate your feet right after the chazzan repeats 'yimloch' or do you have to wait until he finishes the bracha with 'hukale hakadosh'? —Yoni, Teaneck, NJ
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1513
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	23 Aug 2008
The Question	can one start saying vayehi binsoa haaron before the person who is doing pesicha gets to opening it if he on his way? If yes, can one continue on to brich shmay? —Anonymous, new york, ny
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1501
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	30 Jun 2008
The Question	Shalom. As a gabbai in an Ashekenazi shul, is there an inyan to favor as shaliach tzibbur those who daven in ha'avara ashkenaz over those who daven in ha'avara sefaradit, or does it not matter, and everyone (assuming they are able to lead the davening) should be asked without regard to the way they pronounce the words of the tefilla? Thank you very much. —Anonymous, Israel
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1476
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	14 May 2008
The Question	Is it muttar to excersize before davening or is that putting your "chafetzcha" before Hakadosh Boruch Hu? —Yosef Chaim, Washington Heights, NY
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1473
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	11 May 2008
The Question	Why do Sephardim say the prayers aloud and did the Ashkenazim at one time also pray out loud and then stopped doing so? If so, when did the change take place? —Nate Pancer
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1472
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	11 May 2008
The Question	What is the difference between the word BARUCH and the word ASHREI as in 'BARUCH Hagever Asher Yivtach B'Hashem' and 'ASHREI Adam Boteach Bach" (in Havdalah) or 'ASHREI Hagever Asher Tiyasrenu Kah'? —J. Kaufman, New York
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1471
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	10 May 2008
The Question	What is the reason and source for a father to cover his sons' heads with his tallis during Birkat Kohanim? Until what age (of his sons) should one do this? If his sons are not with him, should he dafka cover his own head with his tallis? —Anonymous, Beit Shemesh
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1463
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	29 Apr 2008
The Question	I'm curious as to why the Rav of a shul sits facing the kehilla rather than facing forward as do the rest of the kehilla? Thanks. —Anonymous, Israel
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1462
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	28 Apr 2008
The Question	Lichvod HaRav. When bentching we add "Tehilat Hashem y'daber pi" and many guests have told us that this is not said if you live in Israel and especially in Jerusalem. Can you please clarify? Thank you in advance. —Anonymous, Ramat Bet Shemesh
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1448
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	10 Apr 2008
The Question	I have heard that one of the poskim (I believe it was Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach) said to kiss a sefer torah by touching the torah and then kissing their hand is not proper. One does not accomplish anything by kissing one's hand. Does the Rav know of any sources in defense of this common practice? Thank you! —Anonymous, Far Rockaway, NY
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

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