Comments | reb_hillel: Proper direction for praying, in a shul where the Holy Ark is placed on the wrong wall

reb_hillel

Proper direction for praying, in a shul where the Holy Ark is placed on the wrong wall

Sep 19, 2007 16:27

Since this came up when replying to hatam_soferet's blog, I thought I'd crosspost it here for my readers' benefit as well.
Often times, shuls (especially non-Orthodox ones. Orthodox ones are usually much more careful about this) are built with the Aron HaKodesh (Holy Ark) *not* on the wall that's in the direction of Jerusalem. Usually, nowadays, shuls like ( Read more... )

Comments 5

spin0za1 September 19 2007, 17:32:11 UTC

Thanks for this, it's good to see the sources. I think what my rabbi said when I asked him was that he cited the two authorities opinion and said that he thought as such that I should go ahead and follow the majority. Turning the head seems a good solution. What do you think? (I mean practically, in my case, either with regards to MI or my home shul.)

reb_hillel September 19 2007, 20:11:28 UTC

We follow what the Mishnah Berurah and Arukh Hashulchan say. So, stand towards whatever direction the rest are facing, but turn your face to the proper direction.

twostepsfwd September 19 2007, 17:36:46 UTC

Should ALL prayers always be said facing Jerusalem?

reb_hillel September 19 2007, 20:12:08 UTC

It's mandatory for the Amidah, but praiseworthy for other major religious actions as well, for instance Torah reading, and weddings.

kakodaimon October 23 2008, 22:19:53 UTC

Sorry for de-lurking on an old post (awesome journal), but what about when the Ark IS on the west wall? I know one synagogue where that is the case (it's Reform and was built at a time when Reform was trying to be extra-punk, I guess). When it says "in that case you shouldn't," does it mean shouldn't turn or shouldn't face with everybody else?