Shmoneh Esrei: Difference between revisions

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==Concentration during Shemonah Esrei==
==Concentration during Shemonah Esrei==
# One should have kavana (proper concentration) when praying Shemonah Esrei. If one is unable to have kavana for all of Shemonah Esrei one should make an extra effort to have kavana for the first Bracha (Magen Avraham). If one didn’t have kavana even in the first Bracha according to the strict law one is obligated to return to the beginning of Shemonah Esrei. <ref>  
# One should have kavana (proper concentration) when praying Shemonah Esrei. If one is unable to have kavana for all of Shemonah Esrei one should make an extra effort to have kavana for the first Bracha (Magen Avraham). If one didn’t have kavana even in the first Bracha according to the strict law one is obligated to return to the beginning of Shemonah Esrei. <ref>  
* Gemara [[Brachot]] 34b quotes a Briatta which says that one must have kavana (proper intent) while praying Shemonah Esrei and if one is unable to do so one should at least have kavana in the first Bracha (Magen Avraham). However, on Gemara [[Brachot]] 30b Rabbi Elazar makes a general statement that one needs to have kavana while saying Shemonah Esrei and if one doesn’t then one repeats Shemonah Esrei. To resolve the difficulty, Tosfot ([[Brachot]] 33b s.v. Yechaven) explains that Rabbi Elazar was only speaking about the first Bracha of Shemonah Esrei. This is also the ruling of the Rosh ([[Brachot]] 5:24), Rambam ([[Tefillah]] 10:1), and Smag (Asin 19, pg 101b). Tur and S”A 101:1 codify this as halacha. </ref>
* Gemara [[Brachot]] 34b quotes a Briatta which says that one must have kavana (proper intent) while praying Shemonah Esrei and if one is unable to do so one should at least have kavana in the first Bracha (Magen Avraham). However, on Gemara [[Brachot]] 30b Rabbi Elazar makes a general statement that one needs to have kavana while saying Shemonah Esrei and if one doesn’t then one repeats Shemonah Esrei. To resolve the difficulty, Tosfot ([[Brachot]] 33b s.v. Yechaven) explains that Rabbi Elazar was only speaking about the first Bracha of Shemonah Esrei. This is also the ruling of the Rosh ([[Brachot]] 5:24), Rambam ([[Tefillah]] 10:1), and Smag (Asin 19, pg 101b). Tur and Shulchan Aruch 101:1 codify this as halacha. </ref> However, nowadays if one did not have kavana one should not return to the beginning of Shemonah Esrei. <ref>The Tur 101:1 writes that nowadays if one didn’t have kavana in the first Bracha of Shemonah Esrei one shouldn’t have to return to the beginning because once one didn’t have kavana the first time there’s no guarantee that one is going to be successful the next time. This is the ruling of the Rama 101:1. The Birkei Yosef 101:2 explains that the S”A 101:1 intentionally omitted this idea of the Tur because he disagrees with it. However, the Birkei Yosef concludes that the minhag is to follow the Rama. This is also the opinion of the Kaf HaChaim 101:4. </ref>
However, nowadays if one did not have kavana one should not return to the beginning of Shemonah Esrei. <ref>The Tur 101:1 writes that nowadays if one didn’t have kavana in the first Bracha of Shemonah Esrei one shouldn’t have to return to the beginning because once one didn’t have kavana the first time there’s no guarantee that one is going to be successful the next time. This is the ruling of the Rama 101:1. The Birkei Yosef 101:2 explains that the S”A 101:1 intentionally omitted this idea of the Tur because he disagrees with it. However, the Birkei Yosef concludes that the minhag is to follow the Rama. This is also the opinion of the Kaf HaChaim 101:4. </ref>
# Some say that if one can’t have kavana for the entire Shemonah Esrei one should at least have kavana for the first Bracha and Bracha of Modim. <Ref> The Smak (Siman 11 pg 9a) writes that if one is unable to have kavana for the entire Shemonah Esrei one should have kavana at least for the first Bracha and the Bracha of Modim. The Bet Yosef 101:1 wonders as to the source of idea of the Smak. Nonetheless, this idea is brought in the poskim such as the Kaf HaChaim 101:3. </ref>  
# Some say that if one can’t have kavana for the entire Shemonah Esrei one should at least have kavana for the first Bracha and Bracha of Modim. <Ref> The Smak (Siman 11 pg 9a) writes that if one is unable to have kavana for the entire Shemonah Esrei one should have kavana at least for the first Bracha and the Bracha of Modim. The Bet Yosef 101:1 wonders as to the source of idea of the Smak. Nonetheless, this idea is brought in the poskim such as the Kaf HaChaim 101:3. </ref>  
# Some say that if one can’t have kavana for the entire Shemonah Esrei one should at least have kavana for the conclusion (Bracha Atta Hashem…) of each Bracha. <ref> The Tur 101:1 quotes the Raah (Rabbi Eliezer MeMitz) who says that if one can’t have kavana for the entire Shemonah Esrei one should at least have kavana for the conclusion (Bracha Atta Hashem…) of each Bracha. This is brought by the Levush, Eliyah Rabba 101:2, S”A HaRav 101:1, and Kaf HaChaim 101:1. </ref>
# Some say that if one can’t have kavana for the entire Shemonah Esrei one should at least have kavana for the conclusion (Bracha Atta Hashem…) of each Bracha. <ref> The Tur 101:1 quotes the Raah (Rabbi Eliezer MeMitz) who says that if one can’t have kavana for the entire Shemonah Esrei one should at least have kavana for the conclusion (Bracha Atta Hashem…) of each Bracha. This is brought by the Levush, Eliyah Rabba 101:2, S”A HaRav 101:1, and Kaf HaChaim 101:1. </ref>