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Jan 4·edited Jan 4Liked by Rabbi Shnayor Burton

I'm pretty sure I saw something similar (in part) to this in a sefer a few years ago - in hindsight it might have been Oros Yaakov! Would that be possible?

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Yes! The first essay in Oros Yaakov is all about this topic.

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Jan 5Liked by Rabbi Shnayor Burton

The dates line up, I think (I saw it in 2017). Was there another essay about Yericho?

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Hmmm... Need a UK option, or a time travel machine...

I found the Yericho essay very compelling and still remember much of it. It was appropriately Parshas Ekev when I read it. I'd just been to the Dead Sea and seen the agriculture at the end of the river at Yericho, so it's stuck in my head.

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Dec 26, 2023Liked by Rabbi Shnayor Burton

How do you recommend going about tefila for someone who is still learning Hebrew and struggles with the amount of text (at least for shachris)? Should I maintain a fixed practice regardless of comprehension and try to go through as much of the prayers or should I choose a few prayers to focus on each day as I progress in ability/endurance? I find the more I am focused on the text, the more enthralled I can become by a single word or phrase, thereby making it harder to keep up with others/end up feeling rushed

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Being enthralled by the beauty of the words of tefillah is a wonderful problem to face!

As far as what's ideal for you practically, I think it would be best for you to consult with someone who is more familiar with your situation. Nonetheless, stated generally, the prayers of Sh'ma and the Eighteen Blessings are the most important parts of tefillah.

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