DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Halacha is In Memory of
 Leiluy Nishmat Refael Hayim Ben Salha

Dedicated By
His children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
      
(File size: 970 KB)
Musaf on Shabbat – The Silent Amida and the Hazan’s Repetition

The Hesed La’alafim (Rav Eliezer Papo, 1786-1827) writes (listen to audio recording for precise citation) that the Musaf prayer should be treated no differently from other prayers, and the congregation should both recite the Amida silently and listen to the Hazan’s repetition. The author observes that some congregations seek to shorten the prayer service by skipping part of the Musaf prayer. He writes that this was especially common on Shabbatot when Semahot were celebrated, and the congregation sang many songs which took a great deal of time. They would then shorten the Musaf prayer because of the late hour. The Hesed La’alafim strongly condemns this practice, applying to such people the harsh words spoken by the prophet Yeshayahu (43:22), "Ve’lo Oti Karata Yaakob Ki Yagata Bi Yisrael" – that the people’s prayers are not even considered actual prayer to the Almighty. As such, the Hesed La’alafim writes that those who are in a position to object to this practice should do so.

We might also add that those who skip the repetition of the Amida at Musaf forfeit the opportunity to hear Birkat Kohanim, which is a blessing we receive from the Almighty Himself. This is the most significant blessing that anybody can receive. People are willing to travel across the ocean, some ten hours of air travel in each direction, in order to receive blessings from prominent Rabbis in Israel, yet they do not want to spend the four or five minutes to hear the repetition of the Amida, which includes a blessing from G-d Himself. People travel to the Orient – eighteen hours in each direction – for their livelihood, but do not have the patience for the repetition of the Amida when we are blessed, "Yebarechecha Hashem Ve’yishmerecha," which is a blessing for material prosperity. We need to keep our priorities straight, and recognize that listening to the repetition of the Amida – including the Amida of Musaf on Shabbat – is time well-spent, both because of the Halachic requirement to hear the repetition, and because of the inestimable value of Birkat Kohanim.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Customs Relevant to Rosh Hodesh
May One Eat Lunch Before Reciting Minha?
Is One Obligated to Pay for Repairs Before Retrieving the Item From the Repairman?
Does a Partial Payment Avoid the Prohibition Against Withholding Wages?
“Bal Talin” – The Prohibition Against Delaying the Payment of Wages
Outbidding A Deal, and Offering A Higher Salary To An Employee From Another Firm
The Obligation to Pay Employees on Time
Dressing Oneself Before Washing His Hands in the Morning; Washing One's Hands if One Awakens Before Hasot
Sleeping with Sisit; Having One’s Tallit Dry Cleaned
Does A Parent Have Rights To The Gifts Given To Thier Minor Children
May One Ride on a Freight Ship Steered by Jews on Shabbat?
Taking a Cruise That Embarks on Thursday or Friday
Must One Repeat Netilat Yadayim During a Meal if He Touches a Sefer Torah, Megilla or Tefillin?
May a Man Shake a Woman's Hand?
Important Dates in the Month of Heshvan
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found