View Categories

Siman 93 – Wait before Tefilla

  • Pause a moment to gather your thoughts before tefilla. (ShA 1 – MB 1)
  • It is good to stay after shul until no minyan is left. It is also a mitzva just to be sitting in a bais haknesses. (MB 1)
  • Lechatchila, the mood for tefilla should be of awe and subjugation. If you can’t muster those feelings, at least rid yourself of any jokes, levity, devarim b’taylim, and anger. (ShA 2 – MB 4)
  • Words of comfort from the Torah were instituted to say before tefilla in order to arouse feelings of simcha. i.e. redemption from Egypt for Maariv and Shacharis – “R’tzon y’rayov ya’aseh…Shomer Hashem es kol ohavav…” for Mincha and Musaf. Learning p’sak halacha before daavening also arouses simcha. (ShA 2,3 – Rama 3)
  • L’chatchila, you should not learn pilpul halacha just before daavening so your mind will not be distracted during tefilla. (ShA 3 – MB 5)