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

Question No.	2103
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	26 Jan 2014
The Question	Dear Rabbi Leff, I learnt that when davening shemonah esrei one can add one's own personal requests to the different brachot. By "adding" I mean that one can verbally talk to Hashem and ask Him for help in relation to the different things one needs, etc. Recently however I was told that this is not so and that one should refrain from saying anything at all during the different brachot of shemonah esrei. One can add personal requests at the end (after Elokai) but not during the amidah. One may think about such requests but one should not verbalise them. What is your opinion on this? Many thanks —Anonymous, London
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	2094
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	9 Jan 2014
The Question	What is the order of daily tefila? In school we davened all the brochos and at home I only said modeh ani and asher yotzar after using the bathroom. Now I have learned that we say netilas yodayim after negel vasser. Do we then repeat it when davening the brochos, as well as asher yotzar? May one talk before washing negel vasser? My husband says we shouldn't. May I use the bathroom before washing negel vasser? Can I use the sink near my room or do I have to wash right next to my bed and not put my feet on the floor until after I have washed? (that's what my husband does) —C.K., Lakewood NJ
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	2090
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	2 Jan 2014
The Question	According to the ministry of Interior, over 80% of the Russian immigrants were/are NOT Jewish. Since there appears to be a Chazaka, can an Israeli Russian complete a minyan? —Rabbi Ilan Guez, Ashdod
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	2052
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	25 Jul 2013
The Question	Kavod haRav, (1) I do not have time to finish Shmoneh Esrei before chazarat haShatz. I rarely finish before Retzeh, and often am still saying Shmoneh Esrei during Birkat Kohanim, and sometimes even into Tachanun. As a Kohen, how should I behave? Sometimes, I finish right before ratzeh so I will step out since I do not have time to wash and get up to duchen. What should I do if I finish between Ratzeh and Birkat Kohanim? And what should I be doing during Birkat Kohanim in this case? Does it matter if I happen to be in Shma Koleinu where I could add a personal tefilla or if I have already said the first Yehu leRatzon before Elokai Neshama? (2) If Birkat Kohanim is connected to simcha and an aveil kohen does not go up for a year outside of Israel, then why does he go up in Israel? Is a kohen who is clinically depressed allowed to duchen? (3) Is a kohen who holds grudges or does not speak to someone in the shul or has some other type of anger issue allowed to go up to duchen? (4) I have been a guest in places (outside of Israel) where I was asked to step down from the bima because I do not wear a jacket (I don't even own a jacket). Never mind the embarrassment as this was done in front of the whole shul, but is it permissible to remove a kohen in the middle of chazarat hashatz for this reason if Birkat Kohanim is d'oraita? Is it really d'oraita if we are not even sure who is truly a kohen? Thank you! Anonymous, Israel
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1963
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	13 Feb 2012
The Question	Hello, I wanted to know If I can Daven and Say Tehillim in english. I understand some of the words but not enough to know what I am saying. Is It the same to Daven in English (Artscroll) then it is to Daven in Hebrew? Thank You! —Anonymous, new jersey
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1943
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	8 Nov 2011
The Question	i was told two conflicting things by two different Talmeidei Chochomim (neither is a Posek, but both are expert in Halachah) 1. during Modim we do not bend the knees 2. during Modim we do bend the knees, but only slightly so that it is not recognizable. can you clear this up? thank you —feivel, chicago
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1907
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	22 Aug 2011
The Question	B'Kavod Ha'Rav, I found myself davening with a minyan with the majority of the minyan being uneducated regarding how to daven. Most of the men were reading without moving their lips and were not quietly saying the words to themselves. Did I daven b'tzibbur in that situation? Would I be able to be Shaliach Tzibbur in that situation? Thank you. —Anonymous, United States
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1906
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	22 Aug 2011
The Question	L'chvod Harav, Are the meditative methods described in "Jewish Meditation" by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan okay to be used by regular people? For example, Reb Nachman's "Ribono shel olam" repetition, or staring at the four letter name, or other of the simpler methods of meditation. Also, is there any source for the practice to bounce on the toes after taking three steps forward at the end of the Amidah? I couldn't find it anywhere in the Shulchan Aruch or the Mishna Berura. Thank you. —Anonymous, USA
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1884
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	3 Jul 2011
The Question	My mother died 29th December when do I stop saying kaddish [she was buried 31st dec.] —Michael, Howard
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1868
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	21 Jun 2011
The Question	Rabbi Leff; My mother is sick with cancer. She and my father want me to pray for her recovery. To me, it seems hypocritical. I am not religious. I do believe there is a God, I suppose, but it doesn't mean much to me. If my mother is sick, and God is the one who made her that way, why would he change his mind and heal her? What difference does it make if we ask (beg?) him to heal her. Did he make a mistake and we need to ask him to change his mind? And if he does listen to people who pray to him who are religious, why would he listen to me if I'm not? And what - he wants us to beg him, otherwise he'll just let my mother die? And if I were to pray, what would I ask him? I need some clarity here please. Thank you. —Anonymous
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1853
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	4 Mar 2011
The Question	An avreich drew my attention to a passage in the Kol Bo where he writes that the Korbonos we say should be said the same time that Korbonos are offered up i.e., after dawn, to be counted as if we are offering up Korbonos. Giving this ruling, how can people who pray at dawn (netz) say Korbonos before dawn? —Shimon Frais, Beit Shemesh
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1852
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	2 Mar 2011
The Question	A woman converts with her infant and toddler. The childrens' conversion is completed a few minutes before the mother's. When dovening for the children (e.g. refuah shleimma), would you use thier mother's Hebrew name or "Sara Imeinu"? Would it make any difference if the mother was converted a few minutes before the children? Thank you. —David
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1807
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	21 Nov 2010
The Question	What is the Halacha regarding giving the Amud (as Baal Tefilla)during the week (not Shabbos) to a known Mechallel Shabbos B'Farhesia? Is there a difference whether he has a Yahrzeit? What should be the Shul's policy? —Anonymous, Boynton Beach, FL
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

Question No.	1797
Category	Tefillah (Prayer Laws/Customs)
Date Posted	6 Nov 2010
The Question	I've been studying tefillah in depth, including the Rav's Shemoneh Esrai, with notes, to improve my davening. Today I saw the Nefesh Hachaim that suggests that since we can not fathom the secrets and kedusha of the words of the Anshei Knesses Hagedolah, we should only pay attention to the words with purity, and they will be effective. What happened to iyun tefilah? —Anonymous, Teaneck, NJ
The Answer	Click here to listen to Rabbi Leff's answer.

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.

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