General Prayers
How many times per day are Jewish men meant to daven?
3
How many brachot are there in ברכת השחר?
15
How many Jewish men over the age of Bar Mitzvah are required to say קדיש and ברכו?
10 - a minyan
How many brachot are in the amidah?
19
What is this week's parshah?
Acharei Mot
Why are Jewish men supposed to daven 3 times per day?
Either because of the Avot - Avraham did shachrit, Yitzchak did mincha and Yaakov did Maariv.
Or because of the korbanot brought in the temple.
What does the bracha of שעשה לי כל צרכי mean?
Blessed are you G-d who has given me all I need.
True or false, קריאת שמע is a prayer.
False, it is actually an affirmation of belief, composed of 3 paragraphs taken from the Torah.
What does 'amidah' mean? What other names are used to refer to the amidah?
Amidah means standing, because this is the prayer you say standing up. The prayer is also referred to as 'shmonah esrei' (used to have 18 blessings in the amidah), and 'tefilah'.
What happens in parsha acharei mot?
Acharei Mot talks about the laws of when one can offer sacrefices, and how the Kohen Gadol only enters the Holy of Holies once a year on Yom Kippur.
What does the hebrew word להתפלל (to pray) mean?
To judge/examine oneself
What is Pesukei Dezimra, and what is its purpose?
Pesukeu Dezimra means 'verses of song', it is everything from ברוך שאמר until ישתבח, and it is there to prepare for the amidah, through praising G-d.
What is the most important verse from קריאת שמע? Why?
שמע ישראל, ה׳ אלקינו, ה׳ אחד
- this is the verse where we accept the mitzvot -
Which bracha in the amida speaks of destroying heritics and the evil.
ולמלשינים אל תהי תקוה...
Yom Kippur
Originally prayer was spontaneous, only done during moments of inspiration. When and why was it fixed into a structure?
After the destruction of the second temple, the korbanot ceased, fixed prayer was put there in its place.
True or false, from ברוך שאמר until ישתבח, it is actually forbidden to speak about non-prayer related things.
True
What is the second paragraph of the shema about?
Essentially, if you behave properly, and do the correct thing, G-d will bring blessing and success to your life. If however you do not, he will bring curse.
What is the structure of the amidah?
3 brachot of praise to G-d.
13 brachot of requests from G-d.
3 brahcot of thanks to G-d.
What does 'אחרי מות' mean, and what is it a response to?
It means 'after the death of' - it's a response to Aharon's 2 sons Nadav and Avihu who offered a forbidden sacrifice, and thus were killed.
What does אמן (amen) stand for/mean?
אל מלך נאמן - G-d our faithful king
It's a statement of affirmation and belief
What is the main theme of Pesukei Dezimra?
G-d's greatness and G-d's involvement in creation.
What mitzvah is mentioned in the 3rd paragraph of the Shema?
Tzitzit - ציצית
Why do we take 3 steps backwards and forwards before beginning the amidah?
To show humility and respect in the face of G-d.
How many verses long is parsha Acharei Mot?
80