Mishnah 1
1)
(a)What does the Mishnah learn from the Pasuk in Tehilim "Ivdu es Hash-m be'Yir'ah"?
(b)Where is Tefilah mentioned there?
(c)Why did the early Chasidim used to wait one hour before Davening?
1)
(a)The Mishnah learns from the Pasuk in Tehilim "Ivdu es Hash-m be'Yir'ah" - that one 'gets up to Daven the Amidah with deep humility and fear of Hash-m.
(b)The connection between this Pasuk and Tefilah - lies in the word "Ivdu" which refers to Tefilah (since Tefilah is described as 'Avodah she'ba'Lev' [see Tosfos Yom Tov, Mishnah 2, DH 'bi'Techi'as ha'Meisim']).
(c)The early Chasidim used to wait one hour before Davening - in order to develop the right Kavanah (see Tosfos Yom Tov).
2)
(a)What does the Tana say a person should not do if during the Amidah ...
1. ... he is greeted by a king?
2. ... he finds a snake close on his heels?
(b)What if it is a scorpion?
(c)Why the difference?
(d)To which sort of snakes does the ruling not refer, either?
(e)What sort of king is the Tana referring to?
2)
(a)The Tana requires a person who, during the Amidah ...
1. ... is greeted by a king or who ...
2. ... finds a snake close on his heels - not to interrupt (see Tosfos Yom Tov and Tos. Anshei-Shem).
(b)If it is a scorpion - he may interrupt ...
(c)... because unlike many species of snakes, which generally do not bite unless provoked, scorpions always bite.
(d)This ruling does not refer to snakes - that usually bite either.
(e)The Tana is referring to a Jewish king.
Mishnah 2
3)
(a)Why do we ask for rain in the Berachah of 'Birchas ha'Shanim'?
(b)Then why do we mention it already in the Berachah of 'Techiyas ha'Meisim'?
(c)What is the source for the Tana's description of rain as 'Gevuras Geshamim'?
3)
(a)We ask for rain in the Berachah of 'Birchas ha'Shanim' (the Berachah for Parnasah) - because rain is synonymous with Parnasah.
(b)We mention it already in the Berachah of 'Techi'as ha'Meisim' - because rain demonstrates one of the powers of Hash-m, and it is befitting to mention it in the Berachah which speaks about Hashem's might ('Atah Gibor' [see also Tosfos Yom Tov]).
(c)The source for the Tana's description of rain as 'Gevuras Geshamim' is - the Pasuk in Iyov "Oseh Gedolos ad Ein Cheiker, ha'Nosen Matar al-P'nei ha'Aretz" (see Tosfos Yom Tov).
4)
(a)According to the Tana Kama, we mention 'Havdalah' in the Berachah of Chonein ha'Da'as, the first of the weekday Berachos. What reason does the Yerushalmi give for inserting it there?
(b)According to R. Akiva, we say it as a fourth, independent Berachah (see Tosfos Yom Tov). What does R. Eliezer say?
(c)Like whom is the Halachah?
4)
(a)According to the Tana Kama, we mention 'Havdalah' in the Berachah of Chonein ha'Da'as, the first of the weekday Berachos. According to the Yerushalmi, we insert it there - because 'without Da'as, there is no distinction'.
(b)According to R. Akiva, we say it as a fourth, independent Berachah (see Tosfos Yom Tov). R. Eliezer says - that we insert it in 'Modim' (see Tosfos Yom Tov).
(c)The Halachah - is like the Tana Kama.
Mishnah 3
5)
(a)The Tana rules that if a person says 'Al Kan Tzipor Yagi'u Rachamecha', 'Al Tov Yizacher Shemecha' or 'Modim Modim', he should be silenced. What does 'Al Kan Tzipor Yagi'u Rachamecha' (in this context) mean?
(b)Why does one silence the person who says ...
1. ... it?
2. ... 'Al Tov Yizacher Shemecha'?
(c)What is wrong with saying 'Modim Modim'?
(d)How does the Yerushalmi qualify these rulings? When is it in order to say them?
5)
(a)The Tana rules that if a person says 'Al Kan Tzipor Yagi'u Rachamecha', 'Al Tov Yizacher Shemecha' or 'Modim Modim' (see Tosfos Yom Tov DH 'ha'Omer ... ' & 'al Kan Tzipor'), he should be silenced. 'Al Kan Tzipor Yagi'u Rachamecha' (in this context) means - "Just as Your mercy extends to a bird's nest (in the form of the Mitzvah of Shilu'ach ha'Kein), so too, should it extend to us'.
(b)One silences the person who says ...
1. ... it - because Hashem's Mitzvos are meant as decrees, and do not stem from His mercy (which is certainly abundant).
2. ... 'Al Tov Yizacher Shemecha' - because it suggests that one need thank Hash-m only for the good things, and not for the things that are not so good.
(c)Saying 'Modim Modim' is wrong - inasmuch as it suggests that there are two gods (Chas ve'Shalom).
(d)The Yerushalmi qualifies these rulings - by confining them to what one says in public, but that in private, they are simply expressions of prayer.
6)
(a)What does the Mishnah say one should do in the event that the Sheli'ach Tzibur errs (and is unable to continue)?
(b)What does he mean when he adds that one should not refuse at that moment?
(c)Why should one not refuse in this case?
(d)From where does the second Sheli'ach Tzibur begin?
6)
(a)The Mishnah rules that, in the event that the Sheli'ach Tzibur errs (and is unable to continue) - somebody else should take his place.
(b)When he adds that one should not refuse at that moment - he is referring to the Halachah that requires a person to decline twice when asked to act as Sheli'ach Tzibur from the beginning, before condescending to Daven the third time.
(c)One should not refuse in this case - because it is degrading for the community to have to wait so long in the middle of the repetition of the Amidah.
(d)The second Sheli'ach Tzibur begins - from the beginning of the Berachah where the first one erred.
Mishnah 4
7)
(a)What does the Mishnah forbid the Sheli'ach Tzibur to do whilst the Kohanim are Duchening?
(b)What if he himself is ...
1. ... a Kohen?
2. ... the only Kohen?
(c)What is the reason for these rulings?
(d)On what condition is he permitted to Duchen?
7)
(a)Whilst the Kohanim are Duchening - the Mishnah forbids the Sheli'ach Tzibur to answer 'Amen' to the three Berachos of Birchas Kohanim.
(b)If he himself is ...
1. ... a Kohen - he is not permitted to Duchen, even if he is ...
2. ... the only Kohen.
(c)The reason for these rulings is - because we are afraid that the Sheli'ach Tzibur will get mixed up and be unable to continue, without delay, with the next word of Duchening, or with 'Sim Shalom'.
(d)He may Duchen however provided he is certain that he will not get mixed up (see Tosfos Yom Tov).
Mishnah 5
8)
(a)If someone errs during the Amidah, says the Tana, it is a bad sign for him. What if he is the Sheli'ach Tzibur?
(b)Why is that?
8)
(a)If someone errs during the Amidah, says the Tana, it is a bad sign for him. And if he is the Sheli'ach Tzibur - it is a bad sign for the community ...
(b)... because 'the Sheli'ach of a person is like oneself' (see Tosfos Yom Tov).
9)
(a)What was said about R. Chanina ben Dosa, when he prayed for sick people?
(b)How did he know that?
(c)'she'Hu Metoraf' might mean that the sick person was 'torn up' (i.e. would die). What else might it mean?
9)
(a)It was said about R. Chanina ben Dosa that, when he prayed for sick people - he would know immediately whether the person he was praying for would live or die.
(b)He knew that - by whether his Tefilah emerged fluent or not.
(c)'she'Hu Metoraf' might mean that the sick person was 'torn up' (i.e. would die), or it might mean that - his Tefilah was 'torn up' (i.e. was not accepted).
HADRAN ALACH 'EIN OMDIN'
