Community Magazine January 2017

and Rachel Bat Adele 7 IS IT ADVISABLE FOR ONE TO PRAY AT A WEDDING, OR WAIT UNTIL LATER AND PRAY IN A MINYAN AT SHUL? The Shulchan Aruch (98:2) states one should not pray in a place or at a time that will counteract one’s kavanah . The Mishnah Berurah (98:4, 5, 7) specifies such a place to be one that has a strong fragrance that might hinder one’s focus. So, too, it specifies an inappropriate time to be one where concentration is difficult due to pain, anger, or lethargy from traveling. Although most people today struggle to stay focused when praying and don’t maximize their kavanah , nonetheless one should do his best to foster the most ideal mindset and external conditions necessary to having kavanah . If one is not needed for a minyan at the wedding and can pray later in a shul minyan with better focus, then it is advisable for him to pray later. However, if the wedding guests are his only minyan option and he won’t have a feasible opportunity to pray later with kavanah , then he should pray at the wedding. 8 WHAT IS THE MINIMUM KAVANAH ONE NEEDS IN ORDER TO FULFILL HIS OBLIGATION OF THE KERIYAT SHEMA? The ShulchanAruch (O.C. 63:4) goeswith the lenient opinion (expressed in the Gemarah Berachot 13) that at aminimumone should have kavanah in the first pasuk of Shema Yisrael. If one did not have kavanah there, he must repeat it. The Mishnah Berurah (O.C. 63:12) proclaims that one must have kavanah when saying the pasuk of Baruch Shem Kevod ... otherwise he must repeat it. Tosafot in Berachot 13a says that during the first few pesukim of Shema one should have the following intentions: a) To emphasize the oneness of Hashem. EinOdMilvado : He is the source and only powerful force behind everything that happens in this world. b) To love Hashem with one’s whole heart, realizing that everything, whether it seems goodor bad, is done ultimately out of love fromHashem, with our best interests in mind. c) To fear Hashem and feel the proper reverence for Him. The Shulchan Aruch (63:6) states that during the whole first paragraph of Shema one should not wink, mouth words, or motion with his fingers, as the theme of the first paragraph is accepting the yoke of Hashem’s kingdom and exhibiting these inappropriate actions during Shema is clearly in contradiction to that. 9 IS IT PREFERABLE FOR ONE TO PRAY IN A MINYAN THAT HAS KAVANAH IF HE WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO PRAY PART OF THE PRAYERS WITH THEM? OR IS IT BETTER FOR HIM TO PRAY THE FULL LENGTH OF THE PRAYERS IN A DIFFERENT MINYAN WHERE KAVANAH IS NOT EMPHASIZED? Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Aurebach (Tefilah Kehilchatah Ch.2:28) says that it’s preferable to pray in a minyan with even if he will need to leave before the completion of the prayers. This holds true because Tefilah is “ Avodat Halev ” the service of the heart. Even if he will miss Keriyat Hatorah on Monday or Thursday, he should pray in the minyan that has more kavanah . Of course, best of all would be for him to pray the full prayers in a minyan that is conducive to having kavanah . 10 WHAT SHOULDONE DO IF INAPPROPRIATE THOUGHTS ENTER HISMIND DURING PRAYERS? The Shulchan Aruch (98:1) states that one should wait until the inappropriate thought passes. Then, one should think of things that humble his heart to his Father in Heaven. TEVET 5777 JANUARY 2017 47