We've mentioned an old, sometimes repeated over the years, feature that belongs as a part of this column. We used to call it BASH, which stands for Break Anti-halachic Shul Habits. Here is a pair that we've expounded upon, but seems to need repeating, based on what keeps happening in shuls all the time.

• DON'T PASS IN FRONT OF SOMEONE SAYING THE AMIDA. True, he/she shouldn't be standing where they are, but you still cannot pass in front of them. After they finish, if the opportunity presents itself, tell them - pleasantly - that where they were standing blocks people (who know not to pass) and causes others to violate halacha (intentionally, unknowingly, inadvertently, or whatever).

• The partner of the previous plea is... DON'T STAND FOR YOUR AMIDA IN A PLACE THAT WILL BLOCK OTHERS FROM PASSING. Please please please.

On another note, GL of London asks for a clarification on the following issue...

In the first of the two Shacharit pre-Shma brachot, the angels are described thusly: "Then they all accept upon themselves the Yoke of Heavenly Sovereignty from one another, and grant permission to one another, to sanctify the One Who formed them, with tranquility, with clear articulation..." at this point, there are two different versions.

[1] The last phrase - B'SAFA V'RURA - has one more word, UV-NIMA, and with sweetness, and then the next phrase follows with "they all as one, respond and say K'DUSHA (noun)" - KODOSH KODOSH KADOSH... -or-
[2] B'SAFA V'RURA UVNIMA K'DOSHA (adjective), with clear articulation and with holy sweetness: KODOSH KODOSH KADOSH...
[1] K'DUSHA, noun, begins a phrase
[2] K'DOSHA, adjective, ends its phrase
According to R' SHolmo Tal z"l, editor of the Rinat Yisrael siddurim and machzorim, [1] is the more common phrasing for Nusach Ashkenaz, and [2] is more common for Nusach S'fard. In his siddurim, he left [1] in Nusach Ashkenaz, even though he believes [2] is the more correct form, based on the flow of the words.
Don't know if this clarifies the issue, but that's the story. Thanks, GL, for asking

[The Parshat Bo Homepage]
[The TORAH tidbits Homepage] [How to use TORAH tidbits]
[About The OU/NCSY Israel Center] [About TORAH tidbits]
[www.ou.org]