Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Hineni Muchan Umezuman


As we near the end of Sefirat Ha-Omer, consider the following:

** What is the purpose of stopping to say the "hineni muchan umezuman" passage before the counting of the Omer, or the "Hineni" before putting on Tallit and Tefillin? 

** What is something that you do quickly without thinking much, and what is something you carefully prepare for?
** Saying these extra "kavanot" slows down the service a bit.  Do you prefer tefillot that move at a quick pace or go slowly?  Why?
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20 comments:

  1. andrew abateMay 15, 2012 at 5:45 AM

    1. It shows that you are ready to count the Omer every day.
    2. they both show that you are ready to do something
    3. Quickly because i don't want to spend too much time on one prayer, i want to get all of them done

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    Replies
    1. Joshua WeinsteinMay 25, 2012 at 5:45 AM

      Good thought!

      Delete
    2. aliza bromberg gaberMay 25, 2012 at 8:19 AM

      I agree exept for three. It's inappropriate to rush prayers.

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    3. danny shoreMay 9, 2013 at 12:18 PM

      I agree with you except for number 3 because when you pray I think you should take your time.

      Delete
  2. jacob singerMay 15, 2012 at 7:54 AM

    The reason is that you are ready and not distracted when you are counting the omer.

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  3. Aliza 7th gradeMay 25, 2012 at 5:53 AM

    I think that its to get ready to say the omer. I think that you should say it slowly since it is a prayer not rush it. You are praying to G-D you should have respect.

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  4. MelanieMay 25, 2012 at 5:58 AM

    The purpose of the "hineni muchan umezuman" passage is to prepare us for the big mitzvah of counting the omer.

    This is connected to the Hasidim because they would prepare themselves for an hour before praying. The "hineni muchan umezuman" passage prepares us for the mitzvah like the way the Hasidim prepare themselves for prayer.

    I prefer prayers that go faster because they are happier than prayers that are slow. Slow songs and prayers are usually sad and they make me sad, too. I don't like them because I like to be happy when I pray.

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  5. alizaMay 29, 2012 at 9:12 AM

    We have talked about in both mishna and humash how when doing the amidah you shouldn't be interupted. In Mishna on Friday we talked about the short amida. My question in - When are the appropriate times to say it? When can you interrupt the amida? It says that you shouldn't inturupt it for anything but then again the number one law is to put your life first. So if it's a life or death situation is it ok to move? But then again what would count as a life or death situation? Also isn't it interupting when the leader starts to sing oseh shalom, It might make the person uncomfortable to be standing alone?

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    Replies
    1. M. LibenJune 20, 2012 at 8:03 PM

      Aliza - great questions! As Rashi points out, if the snake is poisonous/could kill you, then you must protect yourself and stop praying. Pikuach nefesh always takes precedence.
      I would not say it is an "interruption" when the leader begins Oseh Shalom, because it is at the point when everyone is finishing up, plus we encourage everyone to stay standing the whole time so no one feels uncomfortable standing alone. But I see where you're coming from; what do you think?

      Delete
  6. jacob roseMay 9, 2013 at 12:18 PM

    there is hineni muchan umezuman because rabbis want you to think about it a little. i like fast-pace prayers though

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  7. doggylover56May 9, 2013 at 12:20 PM

    to be prepared, focused, block out all of the distractions, and get the correct mindset. Finally,to be prepared.

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  8. AliMay 9, 2013 at 12:20 PM

    The purpose of the song is to show that you are prepared for tefillah.

    I think that it is good to do it because it gets us in the right mood but it is also bad because we have a limited amount of time.

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  9. ariellapotusMay 9, 2013 at 12:21 PM

    I think that it just makes us students really annoyed because by the time we start counting the omer, the bell has rung already and we need to get to class or else certain teachers will be mad.
    I like faster tefillot. I dont know why, but sllllllllloooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwww tefillot bug me and make me want to scream. They are extremely borrrrrring. I wish we did faster- paced tefillot but maybe counted the omer at the beginning instead-- by the time we are supposed to go to class, we are completely and utterly exhausted, and we just want to take a nap. THE END.

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  10. lizzie cohenMay 9, 2013 at 12:22 PM

    I prefer a shorter service because I think that you don't need an ultra long service to get the point across.

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    1. lizzie cohenJune 10, 2013 at 12:08 PM

      and thoe point of stopping first is to have koved rosh and get into the correct mindset.
      Something you would do carefully is surgery, and willynilly is breathing.

      Delete
  11. YahliMay 9, 2013 at 12:24 PM

    We are doing that beacause we need to think about what we are doing.
    I prefer for tefillot to go middle-paced :)

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  12. ChenMay 9, 2013 at 12:28 PM

    We stop to say it first because we want to have kavanah before saying the bracha. When the tefillah is too fast it's like you don't really have kavanah, so it's better to do it slowly.

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  13. Jacob SJune 10, 2013 at 12:03 PM

    The point of stopping to say it is to be focused , to thin about doing it and not just checking it off. You prepare carefully for Shabbat, but not for something like counting the omer or takinga humash test.

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  14. SophiaJune 10, 2013 at 12:05 PM

    So you could to the mitzvah right . You breathe without thinking, but you would prepare if you were taking a test.

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  15. JuliaJune 10, 2013 at 12:06 PM

    To be focused, block out distractions, get into the correct mindset like the first pious people.

    ReplyDelete

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