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Praying In The Same Location Every Day? |
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Written by Rabbi Eli Mansour
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Q: I have seen some people at my kenisa that are very adimant about praying in the same location everytime for Amida. What's up with that?
Rabbi Eli Mansour: The Gemara in Berachot, Daf 6, teaches that one who designates a set spot to pray the Amidah every day, has a better chance for his Tefilot to be answered, and shall have G-d at his aid. This is brought down in Shulchan Aruch as Halacha in siman 90:19. Maran there writes that a person should designate a set spot in one designated synagogue to pray everyday.
The Kaf HaChayim (Rav Yaakov Chaim Sofer 1870-1939) brings a down an interesting explanation on this Halacha. He compares Tefilot to Korbanot (sacrifices), for which there are specific designated spots where its altar can be erected. A sacrifice can not be brought in any arbitrary different spot each time. Likewise, Tefilah (Amidah) must be in one designated spot.
The Kaf Hachayim also brings down that Rabbi Chaim ben Isaac of Volozhin (1749-1821) as written in his sefer ‘Ruach Chayim’, states that anyone who remains in a designated spot shall remain in his place of residence and will not be exiled from the community.
Furthermore, the Kaf Hachayim explains that one must even designate a spot in the home for those few times where one must pray at home. One should have such a designated spot in the house in a place where he would not be interrupted.
The Kaf Hachayim writes that damaging spirits or beings that are created from a person’s sins can come and steal one’s prayer for their own sustenance, when one prays in different places each day. Praying in one designated spot consistently brings Shechina and wards off potential dangers.
The Kaf Hachayim also talks about elevated spots nearby the Hechal (Ark) in the synagogue. He writes that except for Chachamim, people should not sit at the front of the synagogue next to the Hechal. This place should be reserved for Talmide Chachamim and for the Rabbi.
He quotes from the Magen Avraham (Rav Avraham Avli ben Chaim HaLevi Gombiner 1633-1683), who says praying in the same spot means praying in a radius of 4 Amot (about a 6 ft.) So one does not need be concerned to pray everyday in the exact spot, so long as he is in within an approximate 6 ft realm which is constant.
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Hachamim 