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| ==When one may pray Shemonah Esreh== | | ==When one may pray Shemonah Esreh== |
| # [[Shemona Esreh]] is part of [[Shacharit]], [[Mincha]], and [[Arvit]] and each may be said at different times. For the guidelines of when is the earliest and latest time for each [[prayer]], see the [[When is the earliest and latest time to pray%3F]] page. | | # [[Shemona Esreh]] is part of [[Shacharit]], [[Mincha]], and [[Arvit]] and each may be said at different times. For the guidelines of when is the earliest and latest time for each [[prayer]], see the [[When is the earliest and latest time to pray%3F]] page. |
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| ==Which Direction to Face==
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| # If one is outside [[Israel]] one should face [[Israel]] and also have intent to face Yerushalyim, the Bet HaMikdash, and Kodesh Kodashim, meaning that one should picture oneself in the Bet HaMikdash in Yerushalyim in the place of Kodesh HaKodeshim. <Ref>
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| * The Gemara [[Brachot]] 30a quotes a Briattta which learns from a pasek in Melachim (Aleph 8:48) that a person outside [[Israel]] should pray towards [[Israel]]. The Rif 20a, Rosh ([[Brachot]] 4:19), and Rambam ([[Tefillah]] 5:3) rule like this Briatta in the Gemara.
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| * Tosfot ([[Brachot]] 30a s.v. LeTalpiyot) writes that even though there are opinions in Bava Batra 25b which say that the Shechina rests in the east or west specifically, nonetheless, we hold like this Gemara [[Brachot]] which says that one should always pray towards [[Israel]]. This is quoted by the Rosh ([[Brachot]] 4:19) and Tur 94:1-3.
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| * Rabbenu Yonah ([[Brachot]] 20b s.v. Haya) explains that one who prays from outside [[Israel]] should not only face [[Israel]] but more also have intent to face Yerushalayim, the Bet HaMikdash, and the Kodesh Kodashim. S”A 94:1 rules like the explanation of the Rabbenu Yonah. Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 18:6 concurs. The Mishna Brurah 94:3 explains the S”A to mean that one should face [[Israel]] and also picture oneself in the Bet HaMikdash in Yerushalyim in the place of the Kodesh Kodashim. </ref>
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| # If one is in [[Israel]] one should face Yerushalyim and also have intent to face the Bet HaMikdash and Kodesh Kodashim, meaning that one should picture oneself in the Bet HaMikdash in the place of the Kodesh Kodashim. <Ref>Gemara [[Brachot]] 30a, Tur and S”A 94:1 (see above footnote)</ref>
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| # If one is in Yerushalyim one should face the (place of the) Bet HaMikdash and also have intent to also face the Kodesh Kodashim, meaning one should picture oneself in the place of Kodesh Kodashim. <Ref>Gemara [[Brachot]] 30a, Tur and S”A 94:1 (see above footnote)</ref>
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| # If one doesn’t know which way to pray one should have intent to pray to Hashem. Similarly, a blind person who doesn’t know which way to pray should have intent to pray to Hashem. <ref>The Gemara [[Brachot]] 30a quotes a Briatta which says that a seeing person who is unable to determine the direction to pray or a blind person should pray to Hashem. The Rif 20a, Rosh ([[Brachot]] 4:19), Rambam ([[Tefillah]] 5:3), and Tur 94:3 rule like this Briatta. Interestingly the S”A 94:3 summarizes this halacha that anyone who is unable to determine the proper direction to pray should have intent to pray to Hashem and leaves out the mention of a blind person. Halacha Brurah 94:1 and Aruch HaShulchan 94:1 quote both that generally anyone who doesn’t know which direction to pray and also a blind person who doesn’t know which direction to pray. Beiur Halacha 94:3 s.v. Mi SheAino writes that it’s preferable to pick one direction to turn one’s body and the face another direction in order that there’s a greater chance that one is facing [[Israel]]. </ref>
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| # If one is on a donkey one should still turn one’s face in the direction of [[Israel]]. <Ref>Magen Avraham 94:2 in explanation of S”A 94:2. Mishna Brurah 94:8 agrees. </ref>
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| # The Rabbis tell us that one who wants a blessing in wisdom should pray towards the south and one who wants a blessing in wealth should pray towards the north. If praying towards [[Israel]] is a different direction than one wants to pray in order to receive a blessing, then according to some one should turn one’s body towards the south or north and one’s face to [[Israel]], and according to others one should turn one’s face to towards the south or north and one’s body to [[Israel]]. <Ref>
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| * The Mahari Avuhav (commentary on the Tur, Siman 94) writes that it’s a wonderment why our minhag is to pray towards the north or south if we should pray to the east in order to face [[Israel]] (considering that the Mahari Avuhav lived in Europe). The Mahari Avuhav concludes that it’s sufficient to have one’s body face north or south and one’s face in the direction of [[Israel]].
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| * The Gemara Bava Batra 25b says that one who wants wisdom should pray to the south and one who wants wealth should pray to the north. The Gemara asks how one could face north or south if one has to face the Shechina (the divine providence, which we hold is in [[Israel]]). According to Rashi (D”H DeMetzaded) the Gemara answers that one should just turn one’s face to the north or south but leave one’s body facing the Shechina. The Bet Yosef 94:1-3 says that it seems that Rashi would hold that one should face [[Israel]] and have one’s body turned north or south.
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| * The Bet Yosef answers that once (in regards to praying north or south) we see that turning one’s face satisfies praying in that direction, so too, by praying to [[Israel]] turning one’s face is sufficient. The S”A 94:2 rules like the Mahari Avuhav that one who is praying to any direction other than [[Israel]] should turn one’s face to [[Israel]].
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| * However, the Taz 94:3 argues that it’s preferable to follow Rashi and have one’s body in the direction of [[Israel]] and just turn one’s face north or south so that one doesn’t appear to separate from the congregation. Mishna Brurah 94:12 holds like the Taz.
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| * Yet, the Perisha 94:4 adds support to the Mahari Avuhav saying that פסוק implies that everything depends on the way one’s eyes and heart faces. Halacha Brurah 94:4 rules like the Perisha.
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| * The Magen Avraham 94:2 explains that this dispute is relevant in the case of where the minhag a certain place is to pray in a certain direction.
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| * The Mishna Brurah 94:8, 12 explains that this dispute is also relevant in the case where one wants to pray to the south or north in order to receive blessing. The Rama 94:2 says that if one wants to pray south or north for blessing one just turn one’s face towards [[Israel]]. However, Mishna Brurah 94:12 writes that the minhag is to follow the Taz and turn one’s body north or south but not one’s face. </ref>
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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>
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| # 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>
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| ===Outside the Shul===
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| # 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>
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| # 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>
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| # 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>
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| ==Bowing in Shemonah Esrei== | | ==Bowing in Shemonah Esrei== |
