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Difference between revisions of "Repetition of the Shemonah Esrei"


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Here is a map of the bowing in Jewish prayer according to modern Rabbinic Tradition.  It is no longer our custom to ''Lifros et HaShema'', with the exception of saying ''Barchu'' after the sunset prayer to invite and additional prostration.  It is the custom of those (even today) to say Barchu to recite only the first three blessings of the ''Shemoneh Esrei''.  One could speculate that this would be a single prostration, corresponding to a 3rd raka`at, a custom that Islam continues to observe.
 
Here is a map of the bowing in Jewish prayer according to modern Rabbinic Tradition.  It is no longer our custom to ''Lifros et HaShema'', with the exception of saying ''Barchu'' after the sunset prayer to invite and additional prostration.  It is the custom of those (even today) to say Barchu to recite only the first three blessings of the ''Shemoneh Esrei''.  One could speculate that this would be a single prostration, corresponding to a 3rd raka`at, a custom that Islam continues to observe.
 +
 +
<center>Prostrations according to modern Rabbinic Tradition without ''Lifros et HaShema''.<p>
 +
 +
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
 +
<tr>
 +
<td valign="top"> dawn prayer </td>
 +
<td valign="top"> &nbsp; </td>
 +
<td valign="top"> blessings, shema </td>
 +
</tr>
 +
<tr>
 +
<td valign="top"> morning prayer </td>
 +
<td valign="top"> 4 raka'at </td>
 +
<td valign="top"> 1) barkhu (RUKU), full shema, patriarchs begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)<br>
 +
2)thanksgiving begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA) chazarat hashatz<br>
 +
3)patriarchs begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)<br>
 +
4)thanksgiving begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA) </td>
 +
</tr>
 +
<tr>
 +
<td valign="top"> afternoon prayer </td>
 +
<td valign="top"> 4 raka'at </td>
 +
<td valign="top"> 1) patriarchs begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)<br>
 +
2) thanksgiving begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)<br>
 +
<i>chazarat hashatz</i><br>
 +
3) patriarchs begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)<br>
 +
4) thanksgiving begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA) </td>
 +
</tr>
 +
<tr style="">
 +
<td valign="top"> sunset prayer </td>
 +
<td valign="top"> 3 raka'at </td>
 +
<td valign="top"> 1) barkhu (RUKU), full shema, patriarchs begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)<br>
 +
2) thanksgiving begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)<br>
 +
3) barkhu (RUKU) </td>
 +
</tr>
 +
<tr style="">
 +
<td valign="top"> night prayer </td>
 +
<td valign="top"> &nbsp; </td>
 +
<td valign="top"> Shema </td>
 +
</tr>
 +
</table>
 +
</center>
 +
 +
<center>Prostrations according to ''Lifros et HaShema''.<p>
 +
 +
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
 +
<tr style="">
 +
<td valign="top"> dawn prayer </td>
 +
<td valign="top"> &nbsp; </td>
 +
<td valign="top"> blessings,
 +
full shema </td>
 +
</tr>
 +
<tr style="">
 +
<td valign="top"> morning prayer </td>
 +
<td valign="top"> 4 raka'at </td>
 +
<td valign="top"> 1) barkhu (RUKU), shema, patriarchs begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)<br>
 +
2) barkhu (RUKU), shema, thanksgiving begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)<br
 +
<i>chazarat hashatz</i><br>
 +
3) barkhu (RUKU), shema, patriarchs begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)<br>
 +
4) barkhu (RUKU), shema, thanksgiving begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)</td>
 +
</tr>
 +
<tr>
 +
<td valign="top"> afternoon prayer </td>
 +
<td valign="top"> 4 raka'at </td>
 +
<td valign="top"> 1) barkhu (RUKU), shema, patriarchs begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)<br>
 +
2) barkhu (RUKU), shema, thanksgiving begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)<br>
 +
<i>chazarat hashatz</i><br>
 +
3) barkhu (RUKU), shema, patriarchs begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)<br>
 +
4) barkhu (RUKU), shema, thanksgiving begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)</td>
 +
</tr>
 +
<tr style="">
 +
<td valign="top"> sunset prayer </td>
 +
<td valign="top"> 3 raka'at </td>
 +
<td valign="top"> 1) barkhu (RUKU), shema, patriarchs begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)<br>
 +
2) barkhu (RUKU), shema, thanksgiving begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)<br>
 +
3) barkhu (RUKU), shema, patriarchs begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA) </td>
 +
</tr>
 +
<tr style="">
 +
<td valign="top"> night prayer </td>
 +
<td valign="top"> &nbsp; </td>
 +
<td valign="top"> full shema </td>
 +
</tr>
 +
</tbody>
 +
</table>
 +
</center>
 +
 +
It is interesting to note the place of the Shema corresponds to the place where ''Fatiha'' the first surah of the Qur'an is recited.  This means that the Ruku blessing functions as a "Blessing of the Torah" before reading a section from the Scriptures!
 +
 +
Rabbinic Tradition appears to be aware of this custom, and continues to hold it as valid.  When in Spain the Sefardim tried to combine the repetition of the Shemoneh Esrei into a single recital, with the silent and public recitations being recited together – ostensively because everyone now knew the prayers and no longer needed prompting from the prayer leader – this custom was vigorously condemned, and the number of prostration remained fixed.
 +
 +
There seems to be some confusion as to whether the Rabbinic Modim prayer is a Ruku (bend at waist) or a Sajda (knees, hands and head on floor).  According to the Mishnah the four prostrations in the Shemoneh Esrei are to be the same.  Only if following the custom of ''Lifros et HaShema'' would a barkhu (ruku) be inserted.  However almost all modern authorities say that ''Modim'' involves only bending at the waist and that there is a fifth “Sajda” prostration at ''Oseh Shalom''.  While disagreeing with the Gemara, this formation of prayer positions would allow a Jew to pray together with a group of Islamic worshipers, without drawing attention to himself.  There are times in Jewish history, during persecutions, where such anonymity might be desirable. 
 +
  
 
==References==
 
==References==

Revision as of 08:28, 25 May 2010

It is the custom in the synagogue to almost always say the Shemonah Esrei twice: First silently for those who which to pray their own prayers, and then again led by a prayer leader. This repetition was so that those who were unfamiliar with the prayers may say them together with the prayer leader. In this way we have today a unit of prayer in both the Synagogue and Mosque which includes four prostrations, two at the beginning and two at the end, repeated for a minimum of two times.

The Islamic unit of prayer is a ra’akat. The raka'ah can be described as follows:

  1. Standing
  2. Saying Fatiha the first surah of the Qur'an
  3. Bowing down with hands resting on knees (ruku)
  4. Standing up from bowing
  5. Going in prostration (sajdah) once
  6. Lifting the face up from prostration but sitting on the ground
  7. Doing a second prostration (sajdah) and then standing up

Points 1-7 define one raka'ah. The shortest Muslim prayer must have two raka'ats, so like the repetition of the Shemoneh Esrei it has total of four prostrations.

But the correspondence goes further than that. The Jews of Arabia held like Rabbi Joshua ben Levi who taught: “The Tefilloth were arranged to be said in between the two times we recite Kriyas Shema each day.” (Talmud Brakhoth 4b). It is reasonable to assume that this was Sadducean custom as well, because it reflects a literalist tendency, i.e. that Scripture declares that the Shema prayer should be said when rising up and lying down to sleep. This means that main fulfillment of the commandment to recite the Shema and its accompanying blessings were said in the morning and evening, raising the number of prayers from three to five. These people did not “combine Geulah with Tefillah”, but recited five mandatory prayers, instead of three.

This of course means that according to this custom the Shemonei Esrei prayer did not have any preparatory prayers. There is a teaching that Prayer should be preceded by Torah learning. So those who fulfilled the commandment of reciting the Shema upon rising and going to sleep, would recite the Shema before the three regular prayers as preparatory material and in fulfillment of the commandment to precede Torah learning by prayer. In recognition of this custom, the Sages instituted that the Barchu prayer should be recited before reading the Shema in the same way the Barchu prayer is said before each reading of the Torah.

In order that each prayer should be preceded by Torah learning, Barchu and one paragraph of the Shema and its prayers was said before each repetition of the Shemoneh Esrei, and it is reasonable to assume before each prostration. This is called Lifros et HaShema, to recite the Shema as Torah learning in pieces before each prostration (Talmud Megila 4a).

Here is a map of the bowing in Jewish prayer according to modern Rabbinic Tradition. It is no longer our custom to Lifros et HaShema, with the exception of saying Barchu after the sunset prayer to invite and additional prostration. It is the custom of those (even today) to say Barchu to recite only the first three blessings of the Shemoneh Esrei. One could speculate that this would be a single prostration, corresponding to a 3rd raka`at, a custom that Islam continues to observe.

Prostrations according to modern Rabbinic Tradition without Lifros et HaShema.

dawn prayer   blessings, shema
morning prayer 4 raka'at 1) barkhu (RUKU), full shema, patriarchs begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)

2)thanksgiving begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA) chazarat hashatz
3)patriarchs begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)

4)thanksgiving begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)
afternoon prayer 4 raka'at 1) patriarchs begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)

2) thanksgiving begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)
chazarat hashatz
3) patriarchs begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)

4) thanksgiving begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)
sunset prayer 3 raka'at 1) barkhu (RUKU), full shema, patriarchs begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)

2) thanksgiving begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)

3) barkhu (RUKU)
night prayer   Shema

</center>

<center>Prostrations according to Lifros et HaShema.<p>

</tbody>
dawn prayer   blessings, full shema
morning prayer 4 raka'at 1) barkhu (RUKU), shema, patriarchs begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)

2) barkhu (RUKU), shema, thanksgiving begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)<br chazarat hashatz
3) barkhu (RUKU), shema, patriarchs begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)

4) barkhu (RUKU), shema, thanksgiving begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)
afternoon prayer 4 raka'at 1) barkhu (RUKU), shema, patriarchs begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)

2) barkhu (RUKU), shema, thanksgiving begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)
chazarat hashatz
3) barkhu (RUKU), shema, patriarchs begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)

4) barkhu (RUKU), shema, thanksgiving begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)
sunset prayer 3 raka'at 1) barkhu (RUKU), shema, patriarchs begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)

2) barkhu (RUKU), shema, thanksgiving begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)

3) barkhu (RUKU), shema, patriarchs begin (SAJDA), end (SAJDA)
night prayer   full shema

</center>

It is interesting to note the place of the Shema corresponds to the place where Fatiha the first surah of the Qur'an is recited. This means that the Ruku blessing functions as a "Blessing of the Torah" before reading a section from the Scriptures!

Rabbinic Tradition appears to be aware of this custom, and continues to hold it as valid. When in Spain the Sefardim tried to combine the repetition of the Shemoneh Esrei into a single recital, with the silent and public recitations being recited together – ostensively because everyone now knew the prayers and no longer needed prompting from the prayer leader – this custom was vigorously condemned, and the number of prostration remained fixed.

There seems to be some confusion as to whether the Rabbinic Modim prayer is a Ruku (bend at waist) or a Sajda (knees, hands and head on floor). According to the Mishnah the four prostrations in the Shemoneh Esrei are to be the same. Only if following the custom of Lifros et HaShema would a barkhu (ruku) be inserted. However almost all modern authorities say that Modim involves only bending at the waist and that there is a fifth “Sajda” prostration at Oseh Shalom. While disagreeing with the Gemara, this formation of prayer positions would allow a Jew to pray together with a group of Islamic worshipers, without drawing attention to himself. There are times in Jewish history, during persecutions, where such anonymity might be desirable.


References