...Continued from previous week
1) A male who davens with a bare head, even b'shogeg, unintentionally, according to Harav Moshe Feinstein Zatzal (Igros Moshe Orach Chaim vol. 4 Siman 40:14) must daven again, as he hasn't satisfied his obligation, even b'dieved. He writes there that this Tefilah is deemed "Toeva", an abomination. Harav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal (Halichos Shlomo; Tefilah, Perek 2:16) rules more leniently, and maintains that if it was done unintentionally, b'dieved he has satisfied his obligation and does not need to daven over.
2) If one's yarmulke, Talis or other head covering falls off in the middle of davening Shemona Esrei, he should stop davening to retrieve it, even if he has to step out of his place to do so, before resuming Shemona Esrei. (See Halichos Shlomo; Tefilah, Perek 2, dvar halacha 27)
3) Nowadays, when it is acceptable to wear a yarmulke virtually everywhere, at all times, the Poskim prohibit a Jewish male from even walking less than 4 amos (approximately 8 feet) without a head covering, and even require a head covering when sitting at home and not walking anywhere, and preferably even while sleeping. (See Mishna Berura Siman 2 S”K 11 quoting the Taz that it is "asur gamur" to be without a head covering. Regarding the minimum size of the required head covering see Igros Mosher Orach Chaim vol. 1 Siman 1. See also Shu”t Rivevos Ephraim vol. 5 Siman 40 quoting Rav Moshe feinstein Zatzal regarding what one should do if he cannot find a job unless he will sit in his office with a bare head. As with everything, a Rav must be consulted for proper halachic guidance in all situations.). However, while sitting and not saying any devorim shebikedusha, holy utterances, covering your head with your own hand will suffice for it to be considered covered. (Mishna Berura ibid.)
4) Boys should be taught to wear a yarmulke from a very young age, as this fosters fear of heaven. (Mogen Avraham, based on Talmud Shabbos 156b, quoted in Mishna Berura ibid.)
The accepted age for boys to begin wearing yarmulkes is three years old, though some people begin earlier, as soon as the child will keep it on his head and not throw it off. (See Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Siman 3:6 and commentary of She'arim Metzuyanim B'halacha there in Kuntres Acharon)
5) When davening Shemona Esrei, it is proper for Jewish males to wear a hat (or Talis by Shacharis) on top of their yarmulke. (See Shulchan Aruch Siman 91:6 and Mishna Berura S”K 12. If one never wears a hat at any time (even when visiting Gedolim, on shabbos, at weddings etc.) he should consult a Rav regarding the proper way to daven Shemona Esrei)
6) ideally, a married man's head should be covered with his Talis [during Shacharis] for the entire length of davening, not just for Shemona Esrei, as this covering lends itself to subordination before Hashem and an increase in Yiras Shomayim, the fear of heaven. (See Mishna Berura Siman 8 S”K 4)
Single males who have the minhag to wear a Talis (as is the prevalent minhag in Sephardic, German and other communities) should nevertheless not cover their heads with their Talis, and should wear a hat instead. (See Mishna Berura ibid. And kaf hachaim Siman 8:12)
7) It is important to prepare the body, and make sure that there is no need to use the restroom, before beginning to daven. (See Mishna Berura Siman 2 S”K 13)
8) it is important to wake up in the morning early enough before davening to ensure adequate time to determine that the body is clean. (See Mishna Berura Siman 1 S”K 9 where he writes that one should arise a minimum of half an hour before the time davening begins to accomplish this. Before mincha and maariv, less time is needed than in the morning upon waking to determine that the body is clean before starting to daven.)
9) One who davens [Shemona Esrei] without a clean body (i.e. While needing the restroom urgently and being unable to withhold it for 72 minutes, the halachic time period known as "halichas parsah"), the Tefilah has a status of a "Toeva, an abomination", and must be repeated after the body is cleaned.(Shulchan Aruch Siman 92:1)
10) if one has even a slight urge to use the restroom, even if he/she is sure he/she can withstand the urge for 72 minutes, he/she should still, L’chatchilah, not begin to daven in that state. (See Aruch Hashulchan Siman 92:3 that every person has to know their own body and its limits, to determine if indeed they can go beyond 72 minutes in this state or not.)
11) When determining how urgently one needs to use the restroom, the 72 minutes have to be calculated if one can "walk" for 72 minutes without using the restroom, and not simply if able "sit" in one place for that amount of time (see Biur Halacha Siman 92 dibur hamaschil shiur parsa)
12) as we mentioned, L’chatchilah, one should not daven Shemona Esrei if there is any urge at all to use the restroom, even if he knows that he can withhold using the restroom for longer than 72 minutes. This is the case even if by doing so he will miss tefilah b'tzibur. (Mishna Berura Siman 92 S”K 5). If, however, by using the restroom now, he will totally miss the z'man tefilah, Shemona Esrei may be recited before using the restroom, as long as he knows he can indeed withhold using it for 72 minutes. (Mishna Berura ibid.)
...To be continued next week B’Ezras Hashem
