Reciting Magen Avot in a house minyan

Hi,

The blessing of Magen Avot, recited after the amidah on Friday night, was created for recitation only in an established minyan. An ad hoc minyan in a home does not recite Magen Avot.

Deciding to daven in that home every Friday night may confer "established" status on the minyan, but some contend that the minyan must also have a Torah scroll present in order to recite Magen Avot.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:190)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

After the maariv amidah

Hi,

After the amidah at the evening maariv service, one should wait until the chazan reaches Titkabel in kaddish before taking three steps forward. However, if this would involve a long wait then one may step forward after waiting the time it takes to walk four amot (about seven feet).

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:176)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The odd status of "Baruch HaShem l'Olam" at maariv

Hi,

As part of the weekday maariv service in many communities outside of Israel, a special blessing which begins "Baruch HaShem l'Olam" precedes the amidah. The blessing is composed of a series of biblical verses, followed by a paragraph which is a blessing. Are the opening verses considered part of the blessing, or are they independent? One practical distinction is in a situation in which one is reciting the verses and then one hears someone recite a blessing; if they are independent verses, then one may answer 'Amen' between the verses. If they are part of the blessing, one may not answer 'Amen'.

Per Rivivot Ephraim 1:175:2, the verses are viewed only as verses, and therefore one may answer 'Amen' between the verses.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Missed a kaddish at maariv

Hi,

In the maariv evening service, the chazan is supposed to recite a half-kaddish before beginning the amidah. However, this half-kaddish is not a firm requirement. Therefore, if the chazan forgets the half-kaddish and begins the amidah, there is no corrective; the service proceeds from there.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:175:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Mixing up Shabbat and weekday texts for Hashkiveinu

Hi,

One of the pre-amidahs blessing of the evening maariv service, Hashkiveinu, has different endings for Shabbat/holidays and weekdays. However, both endings fit the format of the blessing. Therefore, one who uses the wrong ending for that particular day has fulfilled the obligation and need not repeat the blessing.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:174)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Maariv in the car

Hi,

A passenger in a car, who expects to arrive at his destination before the middle of the night, should not daven maariv in the car. He should wait to arrive at his destination.

Even though we normally say that one should not sleep before davening maariv [lest he not wake up to daven], one who is in this position may nap in the car.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:37:11)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Davening maariv before the stars emerge

Hi,

It is better to daven Maariv with a minyan right after sunset, rather than wait until after the stars emerge and daven privately.

However, if the minyan davens maariv at the same time as minchah, then it would be better to daven maariv after the stars emerge, in private. [I believe Rav Moshe means to include cases in which the community davens both minchah and maariv before plag, and where they daven both minchah and maariv after plag and before sunset.]

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:60)

Have a great day,
Mordechai