Author Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein

How to pray on behalf of another:[1] One who is praying and arousing mercy on behalf of another, needs to mention his name in the prayer, if he is not making the request in front of the person. [Even one who is praying for his father is to mention his […]

Davening for Reshaim:[1] It is a Mitzvah to Daven for Reshaim that they should repent and not enter Gihennim. It is forbidden for one to Daven for a Rasha to die. [1] Zohar Parshas Vayeira; Midrash Hanelam p. 105; Kaf Hachaim 119/7 Bookmark

  May one Daven for a gentile or Mumar, such as for him to recover from an illness, or for him to have blessing in his Parnasa, or to find a spouse and have children?[1] It is permitted to Daven on behalf of a gentile or Mumar that does good […]

Davening for healthy children that follow the path of Torah:[1] It is proper for one to Daven daily on behalf of his livelihood and that the words of Torah do not cede from his mouth or the mouth of his children and that all of his descendants be true servants […]

May one pray for a person who has a terminal and painful illness, to pass away?[1] Although one is to pray for a person to be healed even if “a sword is resting on his neck”, and the situation seems hopeless[2], nevertheless, if a person is suffering much pain and […]

  Saying Shema prior to sunrise:[1] When Davening in a Vaasikin/Neitz Minyan:[2] The initial time for Davening Shemoneh Esrei is by sunrise. It is a Mitzvah Min Hamuvchar to read the Shema slightly prior to sunrise, intending to complete the Shema and its last blessing of Goal Yisrael with sunrise. […]

Joining a Minyan from a different area:[1] Answering Kaddish and Kedusha from a different area than the Minyan:[2] Once there is Minyan of ten Jews in one area that are saying Kaddish or Kedusha, anyone who hears their voices can[3] answer with them. This applies even if one is in […]

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Obligation to answer Amen: A. The greatness and the obligation:[1] See Yesod Veshoresh Havoda 5:6 [page 110 in file] It is an obligation to answer Amen towards the blessing said by a Jew.[2] This applies even if the person who hears the […]

Must one answer Amen, and answer to Kaddish and Kedusha of a Minyan that he is not participating in? Not in same room as Minyan: If one is not in the same room as the Minyan and hears Kaddish or Kedusha, some Poskim[1] rule that although he is allowed to […]

Speaking/Hefsek for the sake of Davening: The subject of speaking [i.e. Hefsek/interval] during Davening carries many laws and details, regarding the cases in which it is permitted to be done. It is beyond the scope of this article to summarize all these detailed laws, and its focus is solely on […]