Individual Requests in Shemoneh Esrei
There is a certain tension between the importance of making tefilla responsive to the individual’s needs and circumstances...
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Responding to Adjacent Minyanim
We must analyze this question based on its halachic components and also deal with the issue as a...
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The Origin and Meaning of the Haftara
Moshe Rabbeinu instituted the public reading of the Torah, and Ezra expanded it. The reading of the haftara...
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One Who Is Unsure Where he Is in Davening
You deserve a lot of credit for your impressive perseverance and resolve to daven properly under difficult circumstances....
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Davening with a Minyan vs. Vatikin
It is difficult to choose between different priorities in tefilla. We will begin by providing some preliminary background....
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Singing Along With the Chazan
Public policy matters, especially concerning the way tefilla operates, are the domain of the congregational rabbi. In this...
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Changing Family Traditions of Pronunciation{&&}
The great majority of poskim agree that it is preferable to maintain the style of pronunciation that one...
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How Do Converts Refer to the Patriarchs?
The question of phraseology for a convert arises in the poskim regarding a convert in a regular minyan....
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Listening to Kedusha During One’s Silent Shemoneh Esrei
A person who is davening the silent Shemoneh Esrei while the congregation is saying Kedusha should remain silent...
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Dealing With a Missed Parasha When Traveling to Israel from Abroad
Assuming that you will indeed miss Parashat Naso, to what extent is that a problem? The basic institution...
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When an Israeli Traveler Abroad Begins Asking for Rain
The saying of “v’ten tal u’matar livracha” was instituted by the Rabbis based on the precipitation needs of...
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A New Beracha When the Oleh{&&} Was Shown the Wrong Place
Knowing the answer to this type of question is important because a quick decision is needed, and sometimes...
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Who Says the Kaddish Following Kri’at HaTorah?
Let us begin with some background: Each Kaddish has its own independent function, but there is also a...
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Steps to Ensure that Kri’at Shema is Recited at the Right Time
Many shuls do not reach Kri’at Shema before sof z’man Kri’at Shema, which corresponds to the midpoint between...
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Which Comes First – Kaddish or HaGomel?{&&}
The Kaddish that is recited after kri’at haTorah is connected to it. Therefore, there should not be a...
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Making Up Missed Portions of Kri’at HaTorah at Mincha of Shabbat
The Shulchan Aruch, in discussing the case of a ba’al koreh who missed a pasuk, makes the following...
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Talking Between Netilat Yadayim and Eating
There are three different stages to deal with in this context, and many people are not aware of...
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Making a New Beracha After Having Planned to Finish Eating
Intention regarding what one plans to eat affects the need for additional berachot in two different ways, and...
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Does the Beracha on Grape Juice Exempt Other Drinks?
The accepted practice, in agreement with the majority of poskim, is that grape juice is treated like wine...
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How Often Should One Make Berachot When Drinking Throughout a Hike?
We will first determine whether a beracha rishona can cover that which one subsequently drinks or eats at...
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The Unique Characteristics of the Third to Join a Zimun{&&}
You are correct that two people who ate together have a special status regarding a zimun. This is...
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Beracha on Solution Drunk for Diagnostic Purposes
The gemara says that one must make a beracha before eating because one may not benefit from the...
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Reciting Birkat HaGomel on Behalf of a Group
A story in the gemara forms the basis of the answer to your question. After Rav Yehuda recuperated...
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An Expectant Woman Staying Near the Hospital for Shabbat
An expectant mother certainly does not have to find a place close to the hospital for Shabbat. On...
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Making Early Shabbat
There is a machloket among Tanna’im whether the cutoff between the times of Mincha and Ma’ariv is nightfall...
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What One Must Eat After Kiddush
We will start with the background and the standard instructions for eating after making or hearing Kiddush and...
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Women Eating and Drinking Before Kiddush
First, we need to understand the halacha for men, and then we can apply it to the case...
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Paying for Work Performed by a Non-Jew on Shabbat
There are several rules regarding when and how one is allowed to ask non-Jews to do things that...
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Violating Shabbat to Save an Animal
To save a human life, it is permitted – even halachically obligatory – to violate Shabbat. In fact,...
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Using White Wine for Kiddush
The gemara says that wine for Kiddush must be fit for nesachim (libations). The ensuing discussion on applying...
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