Friday, July 4, 2008

Halocho #115 - Shabbat davening is different

On weekdays the Amida (silent prayer) of each of the 3 daily prayers consists of the same 19 Brachot. On Shabbat the Amida only has 7 Brachot, in order to shorten the prayer service. The middle Bracha changes for each of the 4 prayers; Ma'ariv (at night), Shacharit and Mussaf (morning) and Mincha (afternoon). If one switched between the Ma'ariv, Shacharit and Mincha versions and didn't notice until after finishing the middle Shabbat Bracha, then one continues, since all 3 versions refer to Shabbat. If one noticed before finishing the middle Bracha then one restarts the middle Bracha. During Mussaf one stops - even in the middle of a sentence - and switches to the Mussaf prayer. If one already finished the entire Amida then one has to daven Mussaf again. If one started the weekday Brachot during Ma'ariv, Shacharit or Mincha:

  • If one hasn't yet started the last 3 Brachot (from Retzei onward) then one needs to complete the Bracha one started, and then continue with the Shabbat middle Bracha.
  • If one already started the last 3 Brachot, one stops even in the middle of a sentence and starts the Shabbat middle Bracha.
  • If one finished the entire weekday Amida, then one has to start the Shabbat Amida from the beginning.

There are other possible mistakes one can make, therefore it's recommended to pray from a Siddur on Shabbat, especially since it's considered a "Siman Ra" - a bad omen - to say the weekday prayers on Shabbat.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 76:16-22

Chodesh Tov and Shabbat Shalom,

- Danny

Please daven for a little girl - TAMAR bat NAAMA - תמר בת נעמה - who is undergoing chemotherapy

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