Prayer and Blessings
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Hurried Blessings
Please excuse me if this question seems like criticism; it is not. I’m simply asking about something I observe. At several synagogues I have attended, each person called to the Torah zooms through the Blessings at a mile a minute.…
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Hallel
What is Hallel? Why do we say Hallel? When do we say Hallel? Hallel is a group of Psalms, written by King David about 2500 years ago. The primary theme is that G-d controls the ups and downs of life.…
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Blessing for New Blossoms
Can the blessing on blossom (said on sight of the first blossom of a fruit tree in Nissan) be said on sight of blossom on a branch which has been removed recently from the tree, or does the blossom need…
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Kaddish, a Brief History
When was the Kaddish written, and what was the circumstances that led to its being written? Kaddish was written by the Anshei K’nesses HaGedola, the Men of the Great Assembly, which was the first Sanhedrin (Supreme Torah Court) established by…
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Meditation
How exactly do I meditate? What do I meditate about and why?There are different kinds of meditation and each one has a different purpose, so your latter questions are impossible to answer “in a nutshell”. I would start with the…
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Prioritizing Prayer
As I seek to become more observant of Judaism, I am trying to prioritize. In this way I’m trying to move step by step, in a gradual and achievable manner, towards better observance. In terms of prayers I should be…
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Singing the Psalms
What Psalms do Jews sing? A friend tells me that Jews only sing the Hallel Psalms. Is this true? Psalms was composed by King David and others to be a vehicle of expression, praise, song and prayer to God. It…
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Praying for a Match
What type of Prayer should I pray to G-d in finding a man that I can marry who is healthy, educated, financially stable, supportive, loving and understanding? Here are a few traditional ones. You can find more at www.shidduchim.info May…
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Concentrating During Prayer
I just do not seem to be able to get many things out of my mind while I pray! I fully sympathize with your challenge. One reason Halacha (Jewish Law) says that we should repeat the same prayers every day,…