Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing Chapter 6

Chapter 6

א אָסוּר לוֹ לְאָדָם לַעֲבֹר אֲחוֹרֵי בֵּית הַכְּנֶסֶת בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהַצִּבּוּר מִתְפַּלְּלִין אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן הָיָה נוֹשֵׂא מַשּׂאוֹי, אוֹ שֶׁהָיָה לְבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת שְׁנֵי פְּתָחִים בִּשְׁנֵי רוּחוֹת, שֶׁהָרוֹאֶה אוֹמֵר שֶׁמָּא יֵלֵךְ וְיִכָּנֵס מִפֶּתַח הָאַחֵר. וְכֵן אִם הָיָה בָּעִיר שְׁנֵי בָּתֵּי כְּנֵסִיּוֹת יֹאמַר הָרוֹאֶה שֶׁמָּא יֵלֵךְ לְבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת הָרָגִיל בּוֹ. וְאִם יֵשׁ לוֹ תְּפִלִּין בְּרֹאשׁוֹ מֻתָּר לוֹ לַעֲבֹר וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין שָׁם אֶחָד מִכָּל אֵלּוּ שֶׁהַתְּפִלִּין מוֹכִיחִין עָלָיו שֶׁהוּא רוֹדֵף אַחַר מִצְוֹת וְאֵינוֹ מִמְּבַטְּלֵי תְּפִלָּה:

1 A person is forbidden to pass at the rear of a Synagogue while public worship is proceeding, unless he is carrying a burden, or the Synagogue has two entrances on two sides, when an observer could say, "Possibly, he will enter at the other door." So too, if there are two Synagogues in a city, an observer could say, "Possibly the passer-by is proceeding to the place of worship he usually attends." If he has phylacteries on his head, he is permitted to pass by, even in the absence of these circumstances; for the phylacteries indicate that he is eager to perform religious duties and does not belong to those who neglect the duty of prayer.

ב הַמִּתְפַּלֵּל עִם הַצִּבּוּר לֹא יַאֲרִיךְ אֶת תְּפִלָּתוֹ יוֹתֵר מִדַּאי אֲבָל בֵּינוֹ לְבֵין עַצְמוֹ הָרְשׁוּת בְּיָדוֹ. וְאִם בָּא לוֹמַר אַחַר תְּפִלָּתוֹ אֲפִלּוּ כְּסֵדֶר וִדּוּי יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים אוֹמֵר. וְכֵן אִם רָצָה לְהוֹסִיף בְּכָל בְּרָכָה וּבְרָכָה מִן הָאֶמְצָעִיּוֹת מֵעֵין הַבְּרָכָה מוֹסִיף:

2 One who recites his prayers with a congregation should not unduly protract its recital. But when one is alone, it is left to his discretion. If, after the Amidah prayer, he wishes to continue with supplications even to the length of the Confessional ritual for the day of Atonement, he may do so. Or if he desires to introduce in each of the intermediate blessings an addition appropriate to any of the blessings he may do so.

ג כֵּיצַד. הָיָה לוֹ חוֹלֶה מְבַקֵּשׁ עָלָיו רַחֲמִים בְּבִרְכַּת חוֹלִים כְּפִי צַחוּת לְשׁוֹנוֹ. הָיָה צָרִיךְ לְפַרְנָסָה מוֹסִיף תְּחִנָּה וּבַקָּשָׁה בְּבִרְכַּת הַשָּׁנִים. וְעַל דֶּרֶךְ זֶה בְּכָל אַחַת מֵהֶן. וְאִם רָצָה לִשְׁאֹל כָּל צְרָכָיו בְּשׁוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלָּה שׁוֹאֵל. אֲבָל לֹא יִשְׁאַל לֹא בְּשָׁלֹשׁ רִאשׁוֹנוֹת וְלֹא בְּשָׁלֹשׁ אַחֲרוֹנוֹת:

3 For instance: If there is a sick person about whom he is concerned, he interpolates in the blessing relating to the sick, in accordance with his ability, a petition for divine mercy to be vouchsafed to the patient. If he needs a livelihood, he interpolates a special supplication in the blessing praying for a prosperous year. In the same way, he may make additions in every one of the blessings. Or if he wishes to include petitions for all his needs in the blessing which ends with the phrase, "Who hearkeneth unto prayer", he may do so. But no petition may be inserted in the first three or in the last three blessings.

ד אָסוּר לוֹ לְאָדָם שֶׁיִּטְעֹם כְּלוּם אוֹ שֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂה מְלָאכָה מֵאַחַר שֶׁיַּעֲלֶה עַמּוּד הַשַּׁחַר עַד שֶׁיִּתְפַּלֵּל תְּפִלַּת שַׁחֲרִית. וְכֵן לֹא יַשְׁכִּים לְפֶתַח חֲבֵרוֹ לִשְׁאל בִּשְׁלוֹמוֹ קֹדֶם שֶׁיִּתְפַּלֵּל תְּפִלַּת שַׁחֲרִית. וְלֹא יֵצֵא בַּדֶּרֶךְ קֹדֶם שֶׁיִּתְפַּלֵּל. אֲבָל טוֹעֵם וְעוֹשֶׂה מְלָאכָה קֹדֶם שֶׁיִּתְפַּלֵּל מוּסָף וְקֹדֶם מִנְחָה. אֲבָל אֵינוֹ סוֹעֵד סָמוּךְ לַמִּנְחָה:

4 It is forbidden to take any refreshment or do any work after daybreak, till the morning service has been recited. Nor should a visit be paid, early in the morning, to a neighbour's home, to greet him, before the morning service has been recited. Nor should one set out on a journey before praying. But refreshment may be taken before reciting the additional service or the afternoon service. A meal however must not be taken, close to the hour for reading the afternoon service.

ה כֵּיוָן שֶׁהִגִּיעַ זְמַן מִנְחָה גְּדוֹלָה לֹא יִכָּנֵס לַמֶּרְחָץ אֲפִלּוּ לְהַזִּיעַ עַד שֶׁיִּתְפַּלֵּל שֶׁמָּא יִתְעַלֵּף וְיִבָּטֵל מִן הַתְּפִלָּה. וְלֹא לֶאֱכל אֲפִלּוּ אֲכִילַת עַרְאַי שֶׁמָּא יִמָּשֵׁךְ בַּאֲכִילָה. וְלֹא לָדוּן אֲפִלּוּ בִּגְמַר דִּין שֶׁמָּא יִסָּתֵר הַדִּין וְיִמָּשֵׁךְ וְיִבָּטֵל מִן הַתְּפִלָּה. וְכֵן לֹא יֵשֵׁב לִפְנֵי הַסַּפָּר לִסַפֵּר אֲפִלּוּ תִּסְפֹּרֶת הֶדְיוֹט עַד שֶׁיִּתְפַּלֵּל שֶׁמָּא יִשָּׁבֵר הַזּוּג. וְלֹא יִכָּנֵס לְבֻרְסְקִי סָמוּךְ לַמִּנְחָה עַד שֶׁיִּתְפַּלֵּל שֶׁמָּא יִרְאֶה הֶפְסֵד בִּמְלַאכְתּוֹ וְיִתְעַסֵּק בָּהּ וְיִתְעַכֵּב מִן הַתְּפִלָּה. וְאִם הִתְחִיל בְּאַחַת מֵאֵלּוּ לֹא יַפְסִיק אֶלָּא גּוֹמֵר וְאַחַר כָּךְ מִתְפַּלֵּל תְּפִלַּת מִנְחָה:

5 When the major afternoon has arrived (half an hour after midday), one must not repair to the bathing establishment—even only to perspire—till he has first read the [afternoon] service, lest he faint and omit the prayer. Nor may one sit down even to a casual meal, lest he linger over it. Nor proceed to the trial of a case, even towards its conclusion, lest the pleas may be upset and the proceedings be prolonged and so the service of prayer be omitted. Nor may one sit down in a barber's shop to have the hair cut till he has recited the service, lest the scissors become broken (and delay would ensue). Nor should one enter a tannery near the afternoon, till he has first prayed, lest, seeing his property spoiling, he may busy himself therewith and be prevented reciting the service. If however he has begun any of the foregoing, he does not stop but concludes what he is engaged in, and then recites the afternoon service.

ו מֵאֵימָתַי הַתְחָלַת תִּסְפֹּרֶת מִשֶּׁיַּנִּיחַ מַעֲפֹרֶת שֶׁל סַפָּרִין עַל בִּרְכָּיו. וּמֵאֵימָתַי הַתְחָלַת מֶרְחָץ מִשֶּׁיִּפְשֹׁט הַבֶּגֶד הַסָּמוּךְ לִבְשָׂרוֹ. וּמֵאֵימָתַי הַתְחָלַת הַבֻּרְסְקִי מִשֶּׁיִּקְשֹׁר בֶּגֶד בֵּין כְּתֵפָיו כְּמוֹ שֶׁהָאֻמָּנִין עוֹשִׂין. וּמֵאֵימָתַי הַתְחָלַת אֲכִילָה, לִבְנֵי אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִשֶּׁיִּטּל יָדָיו וְלִבְנֵי בָּבֶל מִשֶּׁיַּתִּיר חֲגוֹרוֹ. וּמֵאֵימָתַי הַתְחָלַת הַדִּין מִשֶּׁיִּתְעַטְּפוּ הַדַּיָּנִים וְיֵשְׁבוּ. וְאִם הָיוּ יוֹשְׁבִין מִשֶּׁיַּתְחִילוּ בַּעֲלֵי דִּינִין לִטְעֹן:

6 When is the cutting of the hair regarded as having begun? When the barber lays the barber's sheet upon the customer's knees. When is bathing regarded as having begun? When the bather removes the garment next to his skin. When is one regarded as having begun to tan? When he fastens over his shoulders the apron as the workmen do. When is a meal considered to have begun? In Palestine, when the hands have been washed; in Babylon, when the girdle has been loosened. When is a trial regarded as having begun? When the judges are robed, each of them in a Talith (Praying shawl) and have taken their seats. If they are already seated, when the litigants have opened their pleading.

ז אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁתְּפִלַּת עַרְבִית רְשׁוּת לֹא יָבוֹא אָדָם מִמְּלַאכְתּוֹ וְיֹאמַר אֹכַל מְעַט וְאִישַׁן קִמְעָא וְאַחַר כָּךְ אֶתְפַּלֵּל, שֶׁמָּא תֶּאֱנֹס אוֹתוֹ שֵׁנָה וְנִמְצָא יָשֵׁן כָּל הַלַּיְלָה, אֶלָּא מִתְפַּלֵּל עַרְבִית וְאַחַר כָּךְ אוֹכֵל וְשׁוֹתֶה אוֹ יָשֵׁן. וּמֻתָּר לְהִסְתַּפֵּר וְלִכָּנֵס לַמֶּרְחָץ סָמוּךְ לְשַׁחֲרִית מִפְּנֵי שֶׁלֹּא גָּזְרוּ אֶלָּא סָמוּךְ לַמִּנְחָה שֶׁהוּא דָּבָר הַמָּצוּי שֶׁרֹב הָעָם נִכְנָסִין שָׁם בַּיּוֹם. אֲבָל בַּשַּׁחַר דָּבָר שֶׁאֵינוֹ מָצוּי לֹא גָּזְרוּ בּוֹ:

7 Although the evening service is optional, a man, coming home from his work, should not say, "I will eat a little and sleep a little and then recite the prayers", lest he be overcome by sleep and continue to sleep throughout the night. He should first read the evening service and then eat and drink or sleep. It is permitted to have one's hair cut or go into a bathing establishment near the time for the morning service, as the prohibition only applies to the afternoon when it is a usual procedure for most people to enter bathing establishments or have their hair cut during the day. But in the early morning this is unusual and was not prohibited.

ח מִי שֶׁהָיָה עוֹסֵק בְּתַלְמוּד תּוֹרָה וְהִגִּיעַ זְמַן הַתְּפִלָּה פּוֹסֵק וּמִתְפַּלֵּל. וְאִם הָיְתָה תּוֹרָתוֹ אֻמָּנוּתוֹ וְאֵינוֹ עוֹשֶׂה מְלָאכָה כְּלָל וְהָיָה עוֹסֵק בַּתּוֹרָה בִּשְׁעַת תְּפִלָּתוֹ אֵינוֹ פּוֹסֵק, שֶׁמִּצְוַת תַּלְמוּד תּוֹרָה גְּדוֹלָה מִמִּצְוַת תְּפִלָּה. וְכָל הָעוֹסֵק בְּצָרְכֵי רַבִּים כְּעוֹסֵק בְּדִבְרֵי תּוֹרָה:

8 If one was occupied with the study of the Torah, he intermits his studies when the time for prayer arrives and recites the service. If study was his profession and he does no other work, he does not stop learning if he is engaged in it at the time of prayer; for the duty of studying Torah is more important than that of reciting prayer. One who occupies himself with the needs of the community is in the same class with one who is occupied with the study of the Torah.

ט אֵין הַמִּתְפַּלֵּל מַפְסִיק תְּפִלָּתוֹ אֶלָּא מִפְּנֵי סַכָּנַת נְפָשׁוֹת בִּלְבַד. וַאֲפִלּוּ מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל שׁוֹאֵל בִּשְׁלוֹמוֹ לֹא יְשִׁיבֶנּוּ. אֲבָל פּוֹסֵק הוּא לְמֶלֶךְ עוֹבֵד כּוֹכָבִים שֶׁמָּא יַהַרְגֶּנּוּ. הָיָה עוֹמֵד בַּתְּפִלָּה וְרָאָה מֶלֶךְ עוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים אוֹ אַנָּס בָּא כְּנֶגְדּוֹ יְקַצֵּר וְאִם אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל יַפְסִיק. וְכֵן אִם רָאָה נְחָשִׁים וְעַקְרַבִּים בָּאִים כְּנֶגְדּוֹ אִם הִגִּיעוּ אֵלָיו וְהָיָה דַּרְכָּן בְּאוֹתָן הַמְּקוֹמוֹת שֶׁהֵן מְמִיתִין פּוֹסֵק וּבוֹרֵחַ. וְאִם לֹא הָיָה דַּרְכָּן לְהָמִית אֵינוֹ פּוֹסֵק:

9 A person who is praying must not break off his prayer, except only if he is in mortal danger. Even when a king who is an Israelite greets him, he must not return the greeting. But if the king is an idolater, he stops, lest the king puts him to death. If, while standing and praying, he sees a king who is an idolater or a man of violence coming towards him, he should shorten the prayer. If unable to do so, he should stop praying. So too, if he sees snakes and scorpions, whose sting in that locality is deadly, moving in his direction, he stops his prayers as soon as they get near him and escapes. But if their sting is not deadly, he does not intermit his prayers.

י נָשִׁים וַעֲבָדִים וּקְטַנִּים חַיָּבִים בִּתְפִלָּה. וְכָל אִישׁ שֶׁפָּטוּר מִקְּרִיאַת שְׁמַע פָּטוּר מִן הַתְּפִלָּה. וְכָל הַמְלַוִּין אֶת הַמֵּת אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין לַמִּטָּה צֹרֶךְ בָּהֶן פְּטוּרִין מִן הַתְּפִלָּה:

10 Women, slaves and children are under an obligation to recite the prayers. Every person exempt from reading the Shema is exempt from reciting the prayers. All those who follow a funeral, although they are not needed to carry the bier, are, for the time being, exempt from reading the prayers.

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