1)When davening, it is important to think in your heart the
Pirush Hamilos- literal translation of the words that you are saying.
It is also important to clear the mind of all other thoughts (e.g. business matters, financial matters, or any other mundane matters,
and especially of any unclean or impure thoughts that may be filling the
mind) and concentrate on the fact that you are standing before
our father, our king, the master of the world, the one and only Hashem.
Though it’s important to concentrate during the entire Tefilah(Shemona Esrei),
if one cannot do so, it is imperative to at least concentrate during the first
Bracha [of Avos] as well as the Bracha of Modim (Importance of Modim based on the Sma"k brought in the Bais
Yosef). If one cannot concentrate by both, then at least for the
first Bracha he/she should do so. (as there are opinions that if the first
Bracha was said without Kavanah, the Tefilah must be repeated)
2) If
one did not concentrate by the first Bracha [of Avos] he/she should make sure
to concentrate when saying the Bracha of Modim. If Shemona Esrei was finished
without Kavannah, it isn’t repeated, as we assume that the repetition will also
be said without Kavannah. (See below for an
exception to this Halacha. Also see Gemara Bava Basra 164b and Tosefos there
Dibur Hamaschil Iyun Tefilah, regarding Tefilah with Kavanah being one of three
things that all people fail to master properly.)
Halachos For
Shabbos Chol haMoed
1) The importance of learning the simple
Pirush Hamilos-meaning of the words of Tefilah cannot be stressed
enough.
If learning the meaning of the entire Tefilah is not possible,
at least the Shemona Esrei, and especially the vital parts of the Shemona
Esrei should be learned. (Perhaps at some time in
the future, I will start translating the Tefilah and emailing small tidbits
daily to those that are interested)
Today, many good Siddurim
with excellent and easy to understand translations in many languages exist on
the market, and if one doesn’t know the meaning of the Tefilah it is incumbent
on him/her to daven from these Siddurim.
If one knows that he/she cannot
learn the translations, they should still daven, as B’Dieved they can satisfy
their obligation of Tefilah even without knowing what they are saying.
[This is true for all Mitzvos as well. Even though we maintain that Mitzvos
Tzrichos Kavannah, they should still be performed if Kavannah isn’t
possible].(Based on Psak of Rav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita) 2)
Although we said in yesterday’s halacha that the Shemona Esrei need not be
repeated, if someone generally does concentrate during the recital of the first
Bracha of Shemona Esrei, and one day for some reason did not concentrate, he/she
must indeed repeat the Shemona Esrei.
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER:
(Reader Submitted
Questions of interest and my Answers taken from the Q & A page on the Halacha For Today website. For
study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha. Questions can be sent to Halacha For Today )
Reader’s Questions:
What are you allowed to do with regards
to writing on Chol Hamoed. what is the source. is painting/ drawing for a
homework considered writing also?
My
Answer:
The best thing is not to write anything that
isn’t absolutely necessary (e.g. will lose money if it isn’t written,
needed for Yom Tov,or writing Torah thoughts etc.), and even then, if
possible do it with a shinui-in a different manner than usual
(left hand, holding the pen differently etc.)
Regarding writing professionally, such as
calligraphy, Safrus, or painting it is much more stringent, and is best to be
avoided.
Based on Shulchan Aruch,Rama and Mishna Berura beginning of Siman
545.
Our holy sages, the Chazal tell us
תנא דבי
אליהו כל השונה הלכות בכל יום מובטח לו שהוא בן עולם הבא, שנאמר הליכות עולם
לו, אל תקרי הליכות אלא הלכות - one who
studies [at least two] Halachos daily is assured a portion in Olam Haba - the
world to come. (:מגילה כ"ח )
Important Numbers
