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1) Before beginning Shemona Esrei, one should take three steps forward as a gesture of "approaching" the King [of Kings]. (The reason for three steps is because it says "VaYigash -and he approached" three times in Tanach; once by Avraham, once by Yehuda and once by Eliyahu Hanavi. See Darchei Moshe Siman 95)
The prevalent Minhag is to take 3 steps backwards before taking the three steps forward.
The Steipler Zatzal's Minhag was not to take the three steps backward, and simply to move up three steps from wherever he was standing and begin Shemona Esrei (Orchos Rabbeinu Vol. 1 Siman 193)
2) The Poskim say that it is correct to take these three steps (both backwards and forwards) beginning with the stronger foot, unlike after finishing Shemona Esrei when the weak foot goes first. (See Mishna Berura Siman 123:13. The reason for the weak foot first after Shemona Esrei, doesn't apply for before Shemona Esrei)
Thus, righties take these steps, backwards and forward, beginning with their right foot, and lefties use their left foot.
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers. Taken from the Q & A pages on the Halacha For Today website.
Although the answers I give to questions are taken directly from the Sifrei HaPoskim, and aren't my own, they are still for study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha.
Questions can be emailed to HalachaForToday@Yahoo.com
Reader's Question:
With regard to the bowing [by Shemona Esrei]: if I realized as soon as I finished either of the bowing brachas, that I forgot to bow, should I repeat it and bow? What should I do to fix it?
Answer:
Bowing is one of the 8 important parts of Tefilah (See Rambam Hilchos Tefilah Perek 5 Halacha 1) and one should be careful to be scrupulous in carrying it out.
However, bowing is not one of the 5 things that invalidate the Tefilah (See Rambam Hilchos Tefilah Perk 4 Halacha 1), thus if one davened and didn't bow, the Tefilah need not be repeated.
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CHIZUK CORNER
As a Zechus for the Refuah Shelaima of one of the Gedolei HaDor, the Telzer Rosh Yeshiva , HaRav Chaim Stein Shlita, R' Chaim Yaakov ben Chasya Miriam, B'soch Sha'ar Cholei Yisroel, we will B'Ezras Hashem post here each day a short Chizuk thought to help us all improve our lives and grow in our service of our Father in heaven, HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
קוה אל ד', חזק ויאמץ לבך, וקוה אל ד'
Chizuk For Today:
Rav Shimshon Dovid Pincus Zatzal
The beauty of the Sefer Yetzira, is attributed directly to our Patriarch, Avraham Avinu. Although there is debate whether Avraham Avinu wrote it himself (Rav Tzadok Hakohen argues that the Sefer was written by Rebbi Akiva, based on the teachings of Avraham Avinu), everyone agrees that the secrets of the Torah contained therein are attributed to Avraham Avinu.
One of the chapters in this beautiful Sefer, deals with outlining 10 expressions/manifestations of Hashems' 'Hanhagos' Kaviyachol. This is called the (chapter of) 'Eser Sefiros'.
In this section, there is a pasuk that states 'Tzipiyason K'mareh Habazak' (dealing with the Angels of Hashem), which literally means that their vision, encompasses and shares the quality of flashes of "lightning bolts". Although the actual meaning and depth of this pasuk is relegated to the secrets of the Torah ('Sirei Torah), we can perhaps interpret it and apply it to ourselves on the following level:
The quality of a lighting bolt is that it is a 'flash of light' - it comes and goes in an instant. However, when it peaks, it serves to illuminate the darkness even for that moment in time.
From here we can learn a valuable lesson. Sometimes we are so consumed with the ideal and importance of achieving greatness in our spiritual growth, that we tend to overlook or unjustly minimize the beauty and greatness we can achieve by snatching the smaller 'flashes of light' (spirituality) within our grasp.
Moreover, we are sometimes overwhelmed by the seemingly insurmountable task of achieving greatness, that we don't realize how much spiritual greatness can be achieved by simply capitalizing on any and all opportunities for spiritual growth, as small as they might seem to us.
If we cannot yet overcome our desire to speak Loshon Harah all of the time, let us at least try to hold back from saying that nasty word..just once..twice... This too is greatness.
This is akin to the bolt of lighting, the 'flash of lighting' which can illuminate the darkness, but for a second.
Like the Angels, our 'Tzipiyah' - our Vision, must be 'K'mareh Habazak' - it must include the intellectual capacity and understanding of the importance of capitalizing on any and every opportunity for spiritual accomplishment.
Nothing is too trifle for our Hashem Yisborach!
Submitted by L.H.; Taken from the teachings of Rav Shimshon Dovid Pincus Zatzal published at www.ohrshimshon.com
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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. (Talmud Niddah 73a)
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