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Kiffel on Tefillah Posts

Insights on Halacha and the proper mindset potent prayer.
Mizmor L'Sodah
Sept. 18, 2024

Mizmor L'Sodah

The verse "הוּא עָשָֽׂנוּ וְלוֹ (וְלֹא) אֲנַֽחְנוּ" contained in this chapter of Tehillim can be read in two ways: "וְלוֹ" (He created us, and we are His) or "וְלֹא" (He created us, and we did not create ourselves). The Sfas Emes, quoting his grandfather, the Chidushe…
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The Prayer Baruch She'amar
Aug. 20, 2024

The Prayer Baruch She'amar

בָּרוּךְ שֶׁאָמַר וְהָיָה הָעוֹלָם. בָּרוּךְ הוּא. בָּרוּךְ עוֹשֶׂה בְרֵאשִׁית. בָּרוּךְ אוֹמֵר וְעוֹשֶׂה. בָּרוּךְ גּוֹזֵר וּמְקַיֵּם. בָּרוּךְ מְרַחֵם עַל־הָאָֽרֶץ. בָּרוּךְ מְרַחֵם עַל־הַבְּ֒רִיּוֹת. בָּרוּךְ מְשַׁלֵּם שָׂכָר טוֹב לִירֵאָיו. בָּרוּךְ חַי לָעַד וְקַיָּם לָנֶֽצַח. בָּרוּךְ פּוֹדֶה וּמַצִּיל. בָּרוּךְ שְׁמוֹ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם הָאֵל הָאָב הָרַחֲמָן הַמְ֒הֻלָּ…
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Omitting Parts of Pesukei D’zimra to Pray with a Minyan
July 28, 2024

Omitting Parts of Pesukei D’zimra to Pray with a Minyan

Omitting parts of Pesukei D’zimra to pray with a minyan: As mentioned last week, one should recite Pesukei D’zimra slowly, as if counting money. Therefore, one should make an effort to arrive at the shul early enough to pray at an appro…
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The obligation of saying Pesukei D'Zimra every day. (17)
July 15, 2024

The obligation of saying Pesukei D'Zimra every day. (17)

Pesukei Dezimra, or "Verses of praise," are a group of prayers recited during Shacharis. They consist of various blessings, psalms, and sequences of other Torah verses. Two sources mention the obligation of saying Pesukei D'Zimra every day.&nbs…
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Reciting Karbonos (16)
July 8, 2024

Reciting Karbonos (16)

After Birchas Hashachar, we recite Karbonos. The Gemara in Megillah relates that Avraham asked Hashem how Klal Yisrael would achieve forgiveness once the Beis Hamikdash is destroyed if we can no longer bring Karbonos. Hashem replied, when Klal Yisra…
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The Laws of Birchos Hashachar (15)
June 17, 2024

The Laws of Birchos Hashachar (15)

In the times of Chazal, each morning blessings were recited when the particular benefit for which it was written occurred. Nowadays, it is customary to recite all these blessings at one time only after one has washed his hands. (SA 46.2) Men, wom…
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Morning Blessings (Birchas Hashachar) 15
May 13, 2024

Morning Blessings (Birchas Hashachar) 15

All the brachos that we say in Birchos Hashachar thanks Hashem for the different abilities that He renews for us daily, such as seeing, having clothes, giving us strength, and providing for all our needs. However, the three brachos of "גוי," "…
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Blessed are You, Hashem, Who gives the rooster understanding to distinguish between day and night. (14)
April 18, 2024

Blessed are You, Hashem, Who gives the rooster understanding to distinguish between day and night. (14)

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר נָתַן לַשֶּֽׂכְוִי בִינָה לְהַבְחִין בֵּין יוֹם וּבֵין לָֽיְלָה:  Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the Universe, Who gives the rooster understanding to distinguish between day and night.  The significance of a rooster'…
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Hashem makes you,
April 8, 2024

Hashem makes you, "not a goy, it's your job to make yourself a Yid! (13)

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם שֶׁלֹּא עָשַֽׂנִי גּוֹי: Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the Universe, Who did not make me a gentile. Why do we make a bracha in the negative "that he didn't make us a goy" as opposed to the positive "״שאני יהודי (…
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Gemilas Chassidim (12)
April 1, 2024

Gemilas Chassidim (12)

אֵֽלּוּ דְבָרִים שֶׁאֵין לָהֶם שִׁעוּר הַפֵּאָה וְהַבִּכּוּרִים וְהָרְ֒אָיוֹן וּגְמִילוּת חֲסָדִים וְתַלְמוּד תּוֹרָה: אֵֽלּוּ דְבָרִים שֶׁאָדָם אוֹכֵל פֵּרוֹתֵיהֶם בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וְהַקֶּֽרֶן קַיֶּֽמֶת לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, וְאֵֽלּוּ הֵן כִּבּוּד אָב וָאֵם וּגְמִילוּת חֲסָדִים וְהַשְׁכָּמַת בֵּית הַמִּדְרָשׁ שַׁחֲרִית וְעַרְבִית וְהַכְנָסַת אוֹרְ֒חִים וּבִקּוּר חוֹלִים וְהַכְנָסַת כַּלָּה וּלְוָיַת הַמֵּת וְעִיּוּן…
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Birchas Hatorah (12)
March 26, 2024

Birchas Hatorah (12)

It is essential to recite Birchas HaTorah with joy and gratitude for the privilege of engaging in Torah Study (Mishnah Berurah 47.4). If one forgets to say Birchas HaTorah and remembers during Pesukei DeZimrah, they should recite them between the p…
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Birchas HaTorah(11)
March 18, 2024

Birchas HaTorah(11)

Blessed are You, Hashem, our God, King of the Universe, Who chose us from among all the peoples and gave us His Torah. Blessed are You, Hashem, Giver of the Torah. In chronological order, it would seem more appropriate to initially express gratitud…
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The blessing of studying Torah (10)
March 12, 2024

The blessing of studying Torah (10)

 וְהַעֲרֶב נָא יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ אֶת־דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָתְךָ בְּפִֽינוּ וּבְפִי עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל. וְנִהְיֶה אֲנַֽחְנוּ וְצֶאֱצָאֵֽינוּ וְצֶאֱצָאֵי עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל כֻּלָּֽנוּ יוֹדְעֵי שְׁמֶֽךָ וְלוֹמְדֵי תוֹרָתֶֽךָ. לִשְׁמָהּ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה הַמְלַמֵּד תּוֹרָה לְעַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל And please, Lord, our God, make the words of Your Torah pleasant in …
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Birchas Hatorah (8)
Feb. 26, 2024

Birchas Hatorah (8)

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּ֒שָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לַעֲסֹק בְּדִבְרֵי תוֹרָה:  וְהַעֲרֶב נָא יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ אֶת־דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָתְךָ בְּפִֽינוּ וּבְפִי עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל. Blessed are You, Hashem, our God, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us with His commandments and comm…
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Hilchos Asher Yatzar (7)
Feb. 19, 2024

Hilchos Asher Yatzar (7)

Hilchos Asher Yatzar: Any time one goes to the restroom (urinating or moving one's bowels), one is obligated to say the bracha of Asher Yatzar, even if it is a minute amount. (SA 7.1/4) If someone is ill or experiences the urge to use the bathroom…
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6. Asher Yatzar Insight
Feb. 11, 2024

6. Asher Yatzar Insight

 Asher Yatzar insight גָּלוּי וְיָדֽוּעַ לִפְנֵי כִסֵּא כְבוֹדֶֽךָ  "It is obvious and known in the presence of Your glorious throne." Everything in the world is "obvious and known" before Hashem, so what is the significance of mentioning this specificall…
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5. After Netilas Yadayim in the morning
Feb. 6, 2024

5. After Netilas Yadayim in the morning

After Netilas Yadayim in the morning, one says Asher Yatzar as part of Birchas Hashachar. Avudram writes that one should say it even if he didn’t use the bathroom.  The Beis Yosef asks, since the bracha was instituted to be said after re…
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4. Correct Procedure for Netillas Yadayim in the morning:
Feb. 6, 2024

4. Correct Procedure for Netillas Yadayim in the morning:

Correct Procedure for Netillas Yadayim in the morning: • One should wash with a cup. This is due to Rashba's opinion that weare washing just as the kohen washed his hands with a utensil everymorning. (SA 4.7, Pri megadim MSZ 1.) • You sh…
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3. Netilas Yadayim
Feb. 6, 2024

3. Netilas Yadayim

Netilas Yadayim After saying Modeh Ani, one must wash Netilas Yadayim. (Although many siddurim print Reishis Chochma right after Modeh Ani, there is a machlokes as to whether or not you are allowed to say pesukim like this before Birchos HaTorah. …
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2. The phrase
Feb. 6, 2024

2. The phrase "מודה אני"

The phrase "מודה אני" is structured differently from the literal translation of "I thank Hashem" (אני מודה). Why do we seem to say it backward? One perspective, as shared by Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman, suggests that by placing "אני" (I) after "מוד…
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