Test on Mishneh Berurah #10
Siman 89-104
Note: M.B. = Mishneh Berurah
A.H. = Aruch Hashulchan
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Question
If a person davens shacharis more than 72 minutes before sunrise, do they have to repeat shemoneh esrei?
When karbonos used to be offered, when was the korbon tamid slaughtered? At dawn or at sunrise?
Reuven needs to be at work at 7am on Tuesday, and so he is planning to daven at a minyan that starts a few
minutes after dawn (and will finish before sunrise). Is this situation called lechatchila or b'dieved?
Must one finish shemoneh esrei before sof zeman tefillah (SZT), or is it enough just to begin shemoneh esrei
before SZT, even though he will not finish before SZT.
Shacharis can only be said until halachic noon (chatzos). If one erred and it was just 3 minutes after chatzos
when he said shacharis, does he have to repeat shacharis (as a tashlum) according to the M.B.?
If someone greets you with Shalom Aleichem or Shabbat Shalom in the morning on the way to shul, may
you say back to them Aleichem Shalom or Shabbat Shalom?
Can Reuven go to the store to buy milk for his son's breakfast cereal, even though Reuven hasn't davened yet?
Can Reuven bring his son to school before davening in the morning?
What is the opinion of the M.B. regarding adding milk or sugar to coffee or tea that one has before davening in
the morning?
What is the opinion of the A.H..regarding adding milk or sugar to coffee or tea that one has before davening in
the morning?
Reuven is famished, and can't wait until after the minyon to eat. According to the M.B., should Reuven eat and
then daven properly with a minyon at shul, or should he daven at home, eat, and then go to shul to answer
Amen?
Reuven wants to have a drink of coffee before going to shul on Shabbos morning. Why is he permitted to have
his drink without saying Kiddush first?
Reuven's doctor instructed him to take two pills each morning upon awakening, but not on an empty stomach
(otherwise it would harm his body). Can Reuven be machmir and take the pills on an empty stomach so that he
can follow the halacha and eat after davening?
Reuven woke up before dawn in order to travel and feels a bit hungry. A chocolate pudding would hit the
spot! he thought. Until when can Reuven begin eating the pudding? 30 minutes before dawn or until dawn
itself? At what point must Reuven stop eating the pudding?
On Shavuos many people stay up throughout the night learning Torah - and noshing food provided by the shul.
Until when can everyone nosh: Dawn or until the beginning of Shacharis (which is usually after dawn).
Reuven's schedule this morning was very tight. He planned to leave the home at 6:31am, pick up breakfast at the
bagel store at 6:37, daven at 6:45 and then leave quickly to catch the 7:37 train to the city at which time he
planned to eat the delicious bagel. Is Reuven permitted to include the stop at the bagel stop in his early morning
schedule?
Reuven's schedule on Friday morning was very tight. He planned to leave the home at 6:01, pick up Shabbos
food and cake at SuperGlatt at 6:06, drop off the groceries at 6:39 daven at 6:45 and then leave quickly to catch
the 7:37 train to the city. Is Reuven permitted to include the stop at SuperGlatt in his early morning schedule?
Reuven's shul was packed for the Lipshitz Bar Mitzvah. In fact, Mr. Lipshitz' brother Maurie couldn't find a
place to stand except for the stairs leading up to the Aron Hakodesh. Can Maurie stand on the steps and daven
shemoneh esrei there?
Why is it important to daven in a room that has windows?
Reuven noticed Lenny (the louse) on the far side of the shul. Yes that Lenny: The one that committed
(almost) every sin possible. Reuven wondered if he should stay in this particular minyon and daven with
Lenny, or if he should go outside the shul and daven there by himself?
Warden Johnson was feeling a bit of sympathy for his only Jewish prisoner Shimon, and decided to offer him a
get out of jail free card: A one-time pass to pray in a minyon of his choice on a day of his choice, valid for
only one year. Which day should Shimon pick? Yom Kippur? Rosh Hashanah? Purim? Today?
Siman
The only minyon in Reuven's town is at 8am, but Reuven has to be at his job on the other side of town at
8:30am. Can Reuven daven at 7am at his home by himself, or is he obligated to daven with the minyon (and
come to work late)?
The only minyon in Reuven's town is at 8am, but Reuven has to be at an important business meeting (in which
he has the potential to close on a deal that would net him a very handsome profit) on the other side of town at
8:30am. Can Reuven daven at 7am at his home by himself, or is he obligated to daven with the minyon (and
come to the meeting late)?
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Test on Mishneh Berurah #10
Siman 89-104
Note: M.B. = Mishneh Berurah
A.H. = Aruch Hashulchan
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Question
Reuven noticed his teenage son Shimmy arrive at shul on Shabbos just as everyone was about to step into
shemoneh esrei of musaf! If Shimmy says shemoneh esrei of Shacharis as the rest of the shul says shemoneh
esrei of musaf, is this considered tefillah b'tzibur? (Unbeknownst to Reuven, his other son Hoodi also arrived
with Shimmy, but he was too embarrassed to enter the shul at such a late hour. If he davens shemoneh esrei of
Shacharis in a corner of the lobby at the same time that everyone else is davening musaf, would that also be
called tefillah b'tzibur?)
Rabbi Cohen was exhausted from the Lipshitz/Goldberg wedding last night, and woke up after the start of his
shul's only shacharis minyon. What should Rabbi Cohen do now?
1. Daven in shul, since one that that doesn't daven with a minyon should try to daven in a shul (but he might
arrive when people from the shacharis minyon are still there, and that might cause people to wonder why
the Rabbi is not davening with a minyon)
2. Daven at home (but then he would miss fulfilling the halacha of davening in a shul).
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Reuven was exhausted from the Lipshitz/Goldberg wedding last night, and woke up after the start of his shul's
only shacharis minyon. What should Reuven do now?
1. Daven in shul, since one that that doesn't daven with a minyon should try to daven in a shul (but
everyone might stare at Reuven, and Reuven might daven faster and with less concentration in order to
quickly get out of this situation).
2. Daven at home (where he would have more concentration, but then he would miss fulfilling the
halacha of davening in a shul).
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Reuven went to the 7:00 shacharis minyon, but by 7:20 no one had approached the amud to begin yishtabach.
Reuven needs to catch a train to get to work, and needs to begin davening immediately in order to be on time.
Can Reuven stay in his place in shul and begin davening on his own, or should he go outside the shul and daven
there?
Reuven's 7:00am minyon began on time, but it is running very late, and Reuven will not be able to make it to his
8:00am Daf Yomi Shiur if he remains in the minyon. Is Reuven permitted to leave the minyon and daven on is
own so that he can make it to the shiur on time, or must he remain with the minyon and miss his shiur?
Reuven arrived at a shteibel 20 minutes before sunset to daven mincha, but was told that they would not be
starting mincha for at least another 30 minutes. Is Reuven permitted to daven in the shul before everyone else,
or must he leave the shul and daven outside?
The Gabbai of Shaarei Shamayim noticed Beryl enter the shul and start maariv just before the chazan began the
Kaddish shalem at the end of shemoneh esrei. At the end of the minyon the Gabbai would like to lock up, but
Beryl is still in shemoneh esrei. Must the Gabbai wait for Beryl so that Beryl won't remain in shul by himself?
(don't worry - if the Gabbai locks the door Beryl can still get out.)
Reuven wonders if he should daven today with the small minyon at the local Beis Medrash where he does not
learn, or at the large minyon at the main shul? What does the M.B. recommend?
Reuven wonders if he should daven today with the small minyon at the local Beis Medrash where he does not
learn, or at the large minyon at the main shul? What does the A.H. recommend?
Reuven arrived in shul 1 minute late, and found Beryl already sitting in his seat - his makom kavua (it even has
Reuven's name on it). Why did he take my seat?! He could have taken Goldberg's seat which is right next to it!
Everyone knows that Goldberg is in Boca until Pesach. If Reuven wants to pray in his halachic makom kavua,
does he need to ask Beryl to move to Mr. Goldberg's seat?
Reuven's wife was praying in shul when she noticed that she could see herself in the glass partition that
separated the women's section from the men's section. When she davens shemoneh esrei, can she avoid the
halachic prohibition of davening in front of a mirror by closing her eyes?
If one has the ability to select any seat in the shul, which seat should he select?
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Front row facing the wall.
Next to the Bima, where one has the ability to kiss the Torah as it goes in and out.
Next to the door, so one can exit the shul without passing in front of others while they are davening.
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Test on Mishneh Berurah #10
Siman 89-104
Note: M.B. = Mishneh Berurah
A.H. = Aruch Hashulchan
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Question
Reuven was in the middle of shemoneh esrei when he smelled a strange odor. As he looked around he noticed
excrement on the floor directly in front of him (probably from the Silverman's toddler, whose father just took
him out a moment ago). As Reuven is about to go out to finish his shemoneh esrei, he looks next to him to see
Mr. Goldberg (back from Boca) is having such intense concentration that he doesn't even notice the smell (or
the nudges from Reuven's elbows). Can Reuven speak to Mr. Goldberg to inform him that he must leave the
shul and continue his davening outside?
Lenny (the louse) is intentionally going to violate yet another Torah prohibition. Can Reuven violate a
Rabbinical prohibition in order to prevent Lenny - his fellow Jew - from doing this aveira?
Why must one dress in a more dignified manner when saying shemoneh esrei compared to saying any other
prayer or blessing?
Shimmy had a great day at the beach, and as the sun was about to set he headed home. Outside the changing
room he saw a group of men about to daven mincha and realized that he didn't daven either, so he quickly joined
them - wearing only his swimming trunks, a kipah and nothing else. Has Shimmy fulfilled the mitzvah of
davening in this outfit?
What is the reason that some people wear a gartel? Is it to separate the heart from the ervah, or is part of a
dress-code to make the wearer look more distinguished?
Should one be careful to wear a belt or gartel for davening, if one normally wears a belt on his pants all day?
Bring a clear proof from the Shulchan Aruch that a knitted yarmulke that may have holes in it is considered a
kosher head-covering.
May one say shemoneh esrei or duchan (for a Kohen) with bare feet (without socks), in location that has a hot
climate where the minhag is to walk around barefoot.
Why does the A.H. say that one should not interlock the fingers of both hands, neither during the day nor during
a time of prayer?
What is the proper way to position one's hands during shemoneh esrei?
As Reuven entered the lobby of Shaarei Shomayim, he realized he had to use the men's room to defecate (#2).
Unfortunately, the bathrooms were out of order! So with no easy way to relieve himself and make the minyon,
Reuven decided to go into the main sanctuary and daven with the minyon, and when he was finished he relieved
himself in the toilet in his home. Did Reuven fulfill the mitzvah of davening with a minyon? If not, what must
he do?
Shimmy was chillin in the park when 9 other men asked him to join them for mincha. As they were gathering
together Shimmy realized that he had to urinate - and real bad! But even though Shimmy was a chillin boy, he
felt it would be seriously embarrassing to make these 9 men wait while he went to the bathroom. So he held it in
and prayed with the men. According to the A.H., did Shimmy fulfill davening mincha, or must he daven again?
As Reuven entered the lobby of Congregation Shaarei Shomayim, he realized he had to use the men's room to
defecate (#2). But the minyon was about to start, and if he used the facilities now, Reuven would miss the
minyon. Reuven judged that he could hold it in for at least 72 minutes, as the urge was not so great. Should
Reuven daven with the minyon and use the facilities afterwards, or should he use the facilities now and daven
privately afterwards?
Shimmy got on the 7:15 am bus in Lakewood, and planned to daven shacharis on the bus before his arrival at
Torah Vodaath in Brooklyn at 10am. But then Shimmy had an urge to use the bathroom, and he realized that if
he waits until his arrival in Brooklyn at 10am, it will be after sof zeman tefillah. Should Shimmy daven on the
bus, or should he wait until he gets off the bus and daven after sof zeman tefillah?
Rabbi Rosen was in the middle of giving his weekly shiur to the entire beis medrash when he realized that he
needed to use the facilities for #2. Must he stop his shiur to use the facilities so as not to be over the aveira
baal tishaksu, or is he permitted to hold it in until the end of the shiur?
Shimmy felt fine at the beginning of shacharis, but only a few moments after stepping into shemoneh esrei he
realized he needed to use the facilities (#2). Should Shimmy stop shemoneh esrei, use the facilities, and then
finish shemoneh esrei; or should he complete shemoneh esrei and only then use the facilities?
As Reuven entered the lobby of Congregation Shaarei Shomayim, he realized he had to use the men's room to
defecate (#2). But after a few minutes of trying, nothing was coming out. He doesn't feel the urgency and thinks
it could wait for 72 minutes. Is Reuven permitted lechatchila to daven with the minyon and then try again
after davening?
Reuven washed his hands upon arising in the morning, and then took care of some errands (like picking up milk
at the store and bringing the kids to school). When he finally begins davening in shul at the 8:00 minyon, should
he wash his hands again?
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Test on Mishneh Berurah #10
Siman 89-104
Note: M.B. = Mishneh Berurah
A.H. = Aruch Hashulchan
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Question
Shimmy was in the middle of davening and had a massive itch on his head - which he took care of with a few
scratches with his finger nails. Can Shimmy continue davening, or must he wash his hands first?
Shimmy picked his nose during davening - does he need to wash his hands to continue davening? What do the
A.H. and the M.B. say on this?
According to the M.B. which is the preferred way to say shemonei esrei?
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2.
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With fear of G-d and humility, knowing that Hashem is our King and judges us.
With simcha, knowing that Hashem loves us and wants to take care of us.
Bentzi was about to go to daven Shacharis when he got an emergency Hatzala call from Mrs. Goldberg who had
just fallen down. By the time he finished treating her and bringing her to the hospital, it was now time to daven
mincha! Should Bentzi say mincha twice - once for mincha and once as a tashlum for the shacharis that he
missed?
The designers of the Beis Knesses Ohr Haganuz were unable to put the Aron Hakodesh on the Eastern wall
(towards Jerusalem) due to the several factors, so they put it on the Northern wall and put the chairs facing the
Aron. According to the M.B. and A.H. when the congregation steps into shemoneh esrei, should they face the
Aron Hakodesh (North) or towards Jerusalem (East)?
The designers of the Beis Knesses Ohr Haganuz were unable to put the Aron Hakodesh on the Eastern wall
(towards Jerusalem) due to the several factors, so they put it on the Northern wall and put the chairs facing the
Aron - and that is what everyone faces when they daven. Reuven wants to daven towards Jerusalem as that is
the correct direction to face. Should Reuven face the Aron with the rest of the congregation, or can he face
Jerusalem?
The designers of the Beis Knesses Ohr Haganuz were unable to put the Aron Hakodesh on the Eastern wall
(towards Jerusalem) due to the several factors, so they put it on the Northern wall and put the chairs facing the
Aron - and that is what everyone faces when they daven. Reuven arrived late for davening after the last person
left and now wants to daven beyechidus. Should Reuven face the Aron, just as everyone normally does in the
shul, or should he turn towards Jerusalem because that is the proper direction to face?
Reuven was heading home, watching the sun slowly set ahead of him in the west. Eventually, he realized that he
could not make it home in time for mincha, so he stopped on the side of the highway and began to daven towards the sun! He realized this after the first brocho and wants to know if he should do a 180 jump so that
he faces the correct direction or if he should continue daven towards the West?
As Reuven waited in the fancy conference room of Johnson & Fitzgerald Industries, he realized that the
upcoming meeting would run past sunset and he didn't daven mincha yet. As Reuven scoped out the room, he
saw a print of Picasso's Frau mit Turban 1955 on the mizrach wall, with an original Nu Couch au coussin Bleu
by Amadeo Modigliani next to it (Reuven wasn't impressed - couldn't the artist spend a few more pennies and
paint some clothing on his subjects? he wondered). The other walls had ornate moldings on the edges, and
were painted to give an effect of marble. Given the choice of these four walls, Reuven wondered if he should
face Jerusalem (and just close his eyes), or if he should face one of the other three walls?
Reuven's flight boarded about 25 minutes before sunrise, so he decided it would be an excellent time to daven in
his seat. Must Reuven keep his feet together, just as he must keep them together if he was standing? How should
Reuven position his back in the seat?
While Reuven was in the middle of shemoneh esrei, his son Hudi ran by, knocking a sefer onto the floor. Should
Reuven stop his davening to pick up the sefer (Hudi is long gone and won't be picking it up)?
Shimmy was at Moishe's Bar Mitzvah party saying shemoneh esrei by heart when he realized that he forgot
what the next word was. Is Shimmy permitted to interrupt his shemoneh esrei by walking to a bookcase, picking
up a siddur, walking back, and continuing shemoneh esrei from where he left off - even though the halacha is
that one is not permitted to walk during one's private shemoneh esrei?
Reuven's tallis fell onto the floor during his private shemoneh esrei. Should Reuven stop his shemoneh esrei to
pick up the tallis and put it back on?
Please list the three reasons the M.B. brings to explain why a father should not bring his young child (below the
age of chinuch) to shul.
Why does the Shulchan Aruch hold that it is forbidden to kiss one's children in a shul.
Maurey and Clive both had a shot of whiskey before shacharis. According to the Rema, can they both join the
minyon immediately, or must they walk off their drink first?
According to the Rema, can a drunk person say Brochos? Shema? Shemoneh Esrei?
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Test on Mishneh Berurah #10
Siman 89-104
Note: M.B. = Mishneh Berurah
A.H. = Aruch Hashulchan
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Question
Reuven was thinking about kings when he realized that he was reading the word Melech near the end of the
first brocho of shemoneh esrei. Unfortunately, he cannot recall saying any of the other words of this very
important first brocho. What does the M.B. recommend for Reuven to do in such a case?
Reuven finished the first brocho of shemoneh esrei, but now realizes that he didn't have any kavana at all. What
does the Be'er Halacha recommend for Reuven to do in this case?
Reuven tried the recommendation of the Be'er Halacha (see question 611), but did not like it. What is another
suggestion for Reuven if in the future he does not have proper kavana for the first brocho of shemoneh esrei.
According to the Shulchan Aruch, should it be heard to his own ears, or should it be said - with his lips moving
and a voice coming out - so quietly that he cannot hear it?
According to the Zohar and the Arizal, should it be heard to his own ears, or should it be said - with his lips
moving and a voice coming out - so quietly that he cannot hear it?
According to the M.B. when one is saying pesukei dezimra, should it be said with a loud voice or a low voice?
Shimmy felt that he could not have kavana in shul, and that if he davened at home he would have much more
kavana. Where should he daven?
Shimmy couldn't make it to shul, and was davening privately in his home. When Shimmy asks Hashem that he
ace (do excellent on) today's mishnayos test, should he make his request in English (his mother tongue) or in
Loshen Hakodesh? Why?
Shimmy was davening privately at home and trying to ask Hashem to help him ace (do well on) his mishnayos
test. But Shimmy just couldn't figure out what to say in Loshen Hakodesh. Can Shimmy make his request in
English?
Reuven was not feeling well enough to go to shul on Shabbos. After davening Shacharis, he got to the prayer
Yekum Purkam. According to the M.B., what should Reuven do?
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Say the first Yekum Purkam.
Say the second Yekum Purkam.
Do not say either Yekum Purkam.
The executive director of Congregation Shaarei Shamayim received an odd request from Mrs. Weber: She
wanted to print and distribute an English-only prayer book containing the complete Shacharis service for
Shabbos, for use during her son's Bar Mitzvah. Can she do this according to the M.B. and A.H.?
Reuven was in the main sanctuary of Congregation Shaarei Shamayim and had finished his davening. He
wanted to take his three steps back, but Moe Shapiro was in the row directly behind him and still in shemoneh
esrei. Reuven wondered that since the shul furniture (imported directly from Kibbutz Lavi - and was at least 10
tefachim high) separated Reuven from Moe, perhaps Reuven could take his 3 steps back since this furniture was
considered a kosher mechitza. What would the A.H. and M.B. tell Reuven to do?
Reuven was in the main sanctuary of Congregation Shaarei Shamayim and had finished his davening. He
wanted to take his three steps back, but Moe Shapiro was in the row directly behind him with a printed list of
personal tefillos that he was adding at the end of his own shemoneh esrei. Reuven wondered if he could take his
3 steps back. What would the A.H. and M.B. tell Reuven to do?
Reuven went to visit Mr. Goldberg in Boca, and found that Goldberg's shacharis minyon was so fast that when
the minyon got up to step into shemoneh esrei, Reuven was still saying Shema. Should Reuven stay seated until
he is ready to step into shemoneh esrei, or should he get up now - in the middle of shema?
Mr. Goldberg was back in Congregation Shaarei Shamayim, and had finished his shemoneh esrei, but Moe
Shapiro was still in shemoneh esrei (Moe sits directly behind Reuven, who is one seat over from Mr. Goldberg).
According to the M.B. can Mr. Goldberg take his 3 steps back, even though Moe is at an angle behind Mr.
Goldberg?
Reuven was davening shemoneh esrei at home and his son Hudi was making a great deal of noise. Can Reuven
put his finger to his lips to indicate to Hudi to be quiet so that he can daven peacefully? What do the M.B. and
the A.H.say on this?
Reuven was davening shemoneh esrei at home and his son Hudi was making a great deal of noise. Can Reuven
walk in the midst of shemoneh esrei to another room so that he concentrate? Can Reuven talk and tell Hudi
Please be quiet so that Tati can daven with kavana?
Rabbi Cohen was in the midst of shemoneh esrei and realized that Cantor Solomon and the entire congregation
were waiting for him to finish. Can Rabbi Cohen motion with his hand for the chazan to start the repetition of
the shemoneh esrei without him? What do the A.H. and the M.B. say on this?
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Test on Mishneh Berurah #10
Siman 89-104
Note: M.B. = Mishneh Berurah
A.H. = Aruch Hashulchan
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Question
Shimmy was close to the end of his shemoneh esrei when he heard someone else say yaaleh v'yavo - and
Shimmy realized that he forgot to say it! Shimmy doesn't know what to do, and his pocket siddur doesn't offer
any advice. Can Shimmy go up to Rabbi Cohen and ask him what he should do now?
Reuven was in the midst davening a private shemoneh esrei when suddenly he saw a dog approaching him. Is
Reuven permitted to stop his shemoneh esrei, move to a new location away from this dog, and resume there; or
should Reuven continue davening, and just have trust that Hashem will protect him, since a dog is not so
dangerous?
Shimmy finished his shemoneh esrei when he heard someone else say yaaleh v'yavo - and Shimmy realized
that he forgot to say it! Shimmy now knows that he must repeat shemoneh esrei (hat tip: Rabbi Cohen), but
doesn't know if he can begin immediately, or if he should pause before the second shemoneh esrei.
Moe Shapiro finally reached the concluding section of shemoneh esrei, and immediately after he said yihihu
leratzon imrei phi... he heard the gabbai call him for an aliyah. Must Moe take three steps backwards, or can he
go straight up to get his aliyah?
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Siman
104
104
105
104
