THE 5 W'S FOR PRAYER AT HOME
WHY?
- To communicate with G-d
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WHERE?
- Face east toward Israel
- A quiet room with a window or door open so you can see the sky
- A clean room with no offensive smells like dirty diapers or open garbage
- All visible bathroom doors should be shut
- You won't be interrupted
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WHEN?
- After you have washed your hands & said the bracha (Al netilas yadayim)
- You are dressed
- As early in the day as possible & before starting housework or cooking
- Before you eat with the exceptions of drinking water, Coffee without milk or sugar
or tea without sugar - You don't have the urge to use the bathroom
- You have checked that no small children have diapers that require changing
- You won't be interrupted or rushed
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WITH
A siddur that fits your needs
- Available in large print, synagogue & compact sizes
- A good table of contents
- Clear directions on what to say when
- Separate English prayer guide
- Inspiring commentary
- Easy to understand English translation
- Hebrew on the right-hand page & English on the left-hand page
KOREN SACKS SIDDUR
- Available in large print, synagogue & compact sizes
- Edited by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom
- A good table of contents
- Clear directions on what to say when
- Inspiring Commentary
- Easy to understand English translation
- Printed in England so English on the right-hand page & Hebrew on the left-hand page
- Includes prayers for:
Israel's Memorial Day (Yom HaZekaron)
Israel's Independence Day (Yom HaAtzmaut)
The day when Jerusalem became Israel's capital again (Yom Yerushalayim)
METSUDA LINEAR SIDDUR
- Easy to understand English translation
- Translation is beneath each Hebrew word
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WHAT?
Rabbinic authorities differ about prayer obligations for women.
THE MAJORITY OF RABBIS SAY:
- Women are obligated to pray on weekdays, Shabbas & Yom Tov & to minimally say:
- Morning (Shacharis) Silent Amidah (Shemoneh Esrei)
- Afternoon (Mincha) Silent Amidah (Shemoneh Esrei)
MANY RESPECTED RABBIS SAY
If you can't fit in the 2 Silent Amidas (Shemoneh Esreis)
because you are totally involved in child care,
you should at least fit in a short prayer each day.
Some short prayers are:
Morning Brochos (Birchos HaShachar)
including the 2 paragraphs that begin with
' May it be Your will ' (Vayihi Ratzon)
The Blessing over Torah learning
(Birchos HaTorah)
Shema
OTHER RABBIS SAY
The Morning Brochos (birchos HaShacar)
& the Blessing over Torah learning(Birchos HaTorah)
are required
SOME RESPECTED RABBIS SAY
That as long as a woman is involved in child care,
she is exempt from the obligation to pray.
There is no fixed order to the prayers you decide to say,
however most Rabbis agree that your prayers should have 3 parts
- Praise to G-d ( Shevach)
- Asking G-d to grant your individual requests (Bakasha)
- Thanks & praise to G-d for everything he has given you (Hodaya)
If A WOMAN HAS MORE TIME
THE FOLLOWING PRAYERS ARE LISTED IN ORDER OF PRIORITY
- Shemoneh Esrei
- Shema Yisroel - At least the first 2 lines
- Emes V'Yatziv starting at the close of the 3rd paragraph of the whole Shema Yisroel
& ending at "Goel Yisrael" right before the morning Shemoneh Esrei - The 3 main prayer in Pseukei D'Zimrah: Baruch She-awmar, Ashrei & Yishtabach
- Morning Brachas ( Birchos HaShachar)
- Blessing of the Torah (Birchos HaTorah) - The first three paragraphs
- The 2 paragraphs that preceed the Shema
- The entire Shema
- The entire Pesukei Dzimrah
IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS:
- Ask your husband, father & grandfather about your family's prayer customs (minhagim)
- Ask your Rabbi
- Read: A Woman's Guide to Jewish Observance Volume 1 - Halichos Bas Yisrael
by Rabbi Yitzchak Yaakov Fuchs - Art Scroll Siddur & Interlinear Siddur each have a section in the back entitled
'General Laws of Prayer (Halacha). Section 8 is 'Women’s Obligation To Pray.'
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