Prayer/Berachot

Dear Rabbi Simon, I have a question I’m sure you’ve been asked before: If I arrive late for Mincha, what is the best approach… Start Amidah on my own, but say it fast so I can finish in time to respond to Kedusha with everyone else? Wait until the shaliach tzibur (aka ba’al tefillah or chazan) starts the repetition and…

Dear Rabbi Simon Quick question. I noticed no-one put their head down yesterday during tachanun when we davened it the front room at Kesher and I wondered why? Is one considered as being in the presence of a Sefer Torah,  if he is on shul premises? Many thanks, Tanchum Dear Tanchum The Kiddush room at Kesher is not considered the…

Dear Rabbi Simon My dilemma of the day at Shacharit: Dan and Stan both had yahrzeit on Monday. With a kohen present, there was only one “Yisrael” Aliyah up for grabs between the two of them—each of whom was quite keen to have it. I was unsure how to manage the call ups, and how to balance halakhah vs minhag…

Note: The questioner lives in a city where sunrise is as late as 08:44am (in early January). Dear Rabbi Simon I have a question. During the winter I daven before the halahic time because I can’t pray after the kids get up, I can’t go to shul (like my husband – as women don’t go in the morning), I’m not…

Dear Rabbi Simon I have a question about Kiddush Levanah.  I’ve got too much time to think with the new Work from Home regime. (Of course I am still working.) Often the moon is visible in the sky well before nightfall. In circumstances where due to prevailing weather conditions you have not been able to recite Kiddush Levanah after dark…

Dear Rabbi Simon My friend is sick in hospital. B”H two days ago the feeding tube was taken from his nose. He is now drinking and eating small amounts frequently. Because it is demanding, I forget to instruct him to recite the blessing. Does he need to bless every time? Thanks Rafi Dear Raphi Thank you for your question. If…

Dear Rabbi Simon If I oversleep and start my davening after z’man Keriyat Shema (latest time for morning Shema), do I omit the blessings of the Shema (two before and one after) since the time for fulfilling the mitzvah has passed? Ie, would these be “blessings in vain” (berachot le-vatalah)? In that case, in the summer Shabbatot when I need…

Dear Rabbi Simon, When we daven Maariv before nightfall (as is very common in the summer months), are we supposed to say (repeat) the Shema at earliest opportunity possible after the stars are visible?  Is one supposed to not eat dinner before saying the Shema? I presume that if you’re davening a late Maariv ie 10:30pm, it’s permissible to eat…

Dear Rabbi Simon, If you eat a meal of pasta or cereal, do you say birkat ha-mazon (full grace after meals) afterwards? How do you know if it’s benching (that is, birkat ha-mazon) or beracha me-‘eyn shalosh (the shorter, one-paragraph “condensed” blessing; see Artscroll siddur p. 200)? Baruch Dear Baruch Pasta, ravioli, spaghetti, porridge, many cereals, etc are mezonot before…