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Shmoneh Esrei: Difference between revisions
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→Which Direction to Face
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# The congregation should set up the Aron or Heichal (in which the Sefer Torah is kept) in the direction of [[Israel]] (which in America is East). Even if the Heichal in another direction, nonetheless, the congregation should still pray in the direction of [[Israel]]. <Ref>Magen Avraham 94:3, Mishna Brurah 94:9, Halacha Brurah 94:2. The Netsiv in Meishiv Dvar 1:10 writes that the Magen Avraham is correct but nonetheless the minhag is to daven in the direction of the aron and one shouldn't protest. See [https://www.scribd.com/doc/308913318/Untitled# Rabbi Taubes's article] on the topic.</ref> | # The congregation should set up the Aron or Heichal (in which the Sefer Torah is kept) in the direction of [[Israel]] (which in America is East). Even if the Heichal in another direction, nonetheless, the congregation should still pray in the direction of [[Israel]]. <Ref>Magen Avraham 94:3, Mishna Brurah 94:9, Halacha Brurah 94:2. The Netsiv in Meishiv Dvar 1:10 writes that the Magen Avraham is correct but nonetheless the minhag is to daven in the direction of the aron and one shouldn't protest. See [https://www.scribd.com/doc/308913318/Untitled# Rabbi Taubes's article] on the topic.</ref> | ||
# If one is praying at the Kotel, he should face forward and not a little bit to the left, because the exact location of the Kodesh Kodashim isn't known. <ref> Limikdashech Tuv page 241. Sh"t Teshuvot Vihanhagot 3:39. </ref> | # If one is praying at the Kotel, he should face forward and not a little bit to the left, because the exact location of the Kodesh Kodashim isn't known. <ref> Limikdashech Tuv page 241. Sh"t Teshuvot Vihanhagot 3:39. </ref> | ||
===Outside the Shul=== | |||
# If the shul is facing east with the entrance in the west and he is on the outside on the west side he should daven facing east. If he davens west he is showing that he doesn't believe in the God which the congregation is praying to.<ref>According to Rashi this is the case where the gemara 6b stated that if a person davens away from the congregation he is called a wicked person.</ref> | |||
# If the shul has its entrance on the west and is facing east and he is standing to the east of the shul he may not daven towards the east since doing so indicates that one doesn't believe in the God that the congregation is praying towards. Rather he should daven towards the shul. Shulchan Aruch 90:7 holds like Rashi.<ref>This is the case that the gemara 6b is referring to according to Tosfot. Shulchan Aruch 90:7 holds like Tosfot.</ref> | |||
# Ideally one should always daven in the shul but if one needs to daven outside the shul and he is on the west side he can daven towards the east since he is davening together with the congregation.<ref>Mishna Brurah 90:18</ref> | |||
==Bowing in Shemonah Esrei== | ==Bowing in Shemonah Esrei== | ||
