Tefillah Tips

Vehaya Im Shamoa Tishmeuh The second paragraph of Shema originates from Devarim (Deuteronomy) 11:13 and is referred to as Kabbalat Ol Mitzvoth (acceptance of the yoke of mitzvoth). The passage begins,...

Megillah Tip As the children prepare to don their festive costumes this week and the final touches are being made to the Mishloach Manot packages, all of us are waiting with...

Vayomer The third section of the Shema is Parshat Tzitzit, which originates in Bamidbar 5:37. It begins “Vayomer Hashem el Moshe Laymor Daber el Bnei Yisrael Veamarta Alayhem Veasu Lahem Tzitzit”...

Vayomer II Ureitem Oto Uzechartem et kol Mitzvot Hashem Vaasitem Otam – And you shall see the Tzitzith and remember all the Mitzvoth and fulfill them. This verse provides the biblical...

Emet Veyatziv Venachon After the Shema we recite a third blessing called Emet Veyatziv which surrounds Shema and serves as a prelude to the Amida-Silent Meditative Prayer. The Talmud Berachot 11B...

Al Harishonim The middle (2nd) passage between Shema and the silent Amida is Al Harishonim Vea’l Haachronim – The Truth of G-d and His Torah are accepted and affirmed by both...

Yom Haatzmaut Tip When G-d miraculously took the Israelites out of Egypt 3323 years ago, it was with one destination in mind: Eretz Yisrael, The Land of Israel. The divine promise/covenant...

Ezrat Avoteinu The Final Tefillah before engaging in the Shacharit Amidah / Silent Meditative Prayer is Ezrat Avoteinu Atoh Hu Meolam – Hashem, You have been the support and salvation for our...

Tzur Yisroel I am writing this Tefillah Tip from the holy city of Jerusalem, the city of prayer and the historic and eventual location of the Beit Hamikdash, The Holy Temple....

Shavuot The Hebrew word Zachor – Remember is so often associated with our remembering the atrocities of the Holocaust and the murder of six million Jews. Yet for over two thousand...