Errors in Amida Additions

Richard B. Aiken

Introduction: Amida: Errors: Amida Additions

If you forgot to say, or incorrectly said, a phrase in the amida, you must correct your errors in:

  • Mashiv ha'ruach
  • Ha'el ha'kadosh
  • Tein bracha/Tein tal u'matar l'vracha
  • Ya'ale v'yavo (except Rosh Chodesh night).

Do not correct errors in other additions/changes if you have already said the blessing for that paragraph, such as:

  • Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, and Ten Days of Repentance changes (except ha'melech ha'kadosh)
  • Al ha'nisim
  • Aneinu
  • Ya'ale v'yavo (if Rosh Chodesh night).

Note: You may correct any prayer error within 2.5 seconds of making it.

Note: If you omitted part of the amida that would normally require you to repeat the amida, you do not need to repeat the amida if you intend (have kavana/concentrate from the beginning of the reader's repetition until the end of the repetition) to have your amida covered by the reader's repetition.

Introduction to Amida Errors: Mashiv HaRuach

Saying the seasonal addition to the amida of mashiv ha'ruach… begins at musaf of Shmini Atzeret. The last time it is said is on the first day of Passover in musaf.

Amida Errors: Mashiv HaRuach

What: Mashiv HaRuach Where: Amida 2nd paragraph Error:   Omitted or said in wrong season

Situation: Did Not Finish Paragraph What to Do: You must return to beginning of paragraph (Ata gibor…).

Situation: Already Finished that Paragraph What to Do: You must stop saying the amida and repeat the amida from the beginning.

Exception: If you erroneously said Mashiv HaRuach in a country that needs rain after Passover, don't repeat the blessing and don't return to the beginning of the amida.

Amida Errors: HaEl HaKadosh

What: Ha'el ha'kadosh Where: Amida 3rd paragraph Error:   Said ha'el ha'kadosh instead of ha'melech ha'kadosh on days between/including Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur

Situation: Already Finished Paragraph What to Do: You must stop saying the amida and start the amida from the beginning.

Amida Errors: Chonein HaDaat/Yismach Moshe/Tikanta Shabbat/Ata Echad/Rashei Chodashim/Ata Vichartanu

What: Chonein HaDaat/Yismach Moshe/Tikanta Shabbat/Ata Echad/Rashei Chodashim/Ata Vichartanu

Where: Amida 4th paragraph

Error #1: You Said the Wrong Paragraph on Shabbat or Jewish Festival

Examples:

  • You said the weekday version on Shabbat or Jewish festival--or the reverse.
  • You began to say the version for a different Shabbat service (say, it is Shabbat mincha and you said the version for Shabbat shacharit).

What to Do:

1) If you erroneously began the fourth paragraph for weekday on Shabbat or Jewish festival ma'ariv, shacharit, or mincha: Finish the erroneous blessing and then begin the correct version.

2) If you erroneously began the fourth paragraph for weekday at musaf: Stop wherever you are and say correct fourth paragraph.

3) If you began to say the fourth paragraph from the wrong Shabbat service: It is OK, b'di'avad.

Error #2  You Said the Wrong Paragraph on a Weekday or at any Musaf

Example:

You said the weekday fourth paragraph at musaf for Rosh Chodesh.

What to Do:

Stop wherever you are and say correct fourth paragraph.

Amida Errors: Tein Bracha/Tein Tal U'Matar L'Vracha

Outside of Eretz Yisrael, begin saying Tein tal u'matar l'vracha at ma'ariv of Dec. 4. In a secular leap year, begin saying it at ma'ariv of Dec. 5 (but there might be rare exceptions!).

Where: Amida 9th paragraph Error:  Said tein bracha or tein tal u'matar l'vracha in the incorrect season

Situation: Did Not Finish Paragraph What to Do: You must return to beginning of paragraph (bareich aleinu).

Situation: Already Finished that Paragraph What to Do:

  • If you said tein bracha in the wrong season, you may add tein tal u'matar l'vracha  in shema koleinu, just before ki ata shomei'a...
  • If you said tein tal u'matar l'vracha in the wrong season, you must return to the top of the paragraph.

Situation: Already Finished Shema Koleinu What to Do: If you did not correct your mistake in shema koleinu, you must return to the beginning of bareich aleinu.

Situation: Already Finished Amida (such as you are ready to take 3 steps backward when you realize your error.) What to Do: You must repeat the entire amida.

Note: If you said tein tal u'matar l'vracha in the wrong season but you are in a place that needs rain, you do not need to correct yourself or repeat that blessing.

Amida Errors: Ya'aleh V'Yavo

Situation: You forgot to say ya'aleh v'yavo in the 15th amida paragraph (retzei) when required on Rosh Chodesh day or chol ha'moed.

Status: Not Yet Ready To Take 3 Steps Back What to Do:As soon as you realize that you forgot, return to the beginning of retzei and continue.

Status: Ready To Take 3 Steps Back What to Do: You must repeat the entire amida from the beginning.

Note: If you forgot to add ya'aleh v'yavo on Rosh Chodesh night, even if you just finished retzei when you realized that you had omitted ya'aleh v'yavo, do not repeat the amida.

Amida Errors: Sim Shalom

Situation: It is mincha for a fast day and you said shalom rav instead of sim shalom. What to Do: If you realize that you erred before you finish saying that blessing, go back and say sim shalom. If you have already finished the final blessing, don't repeat.

Ambiguities

Tein Bracha if in Eretz Yisrael Cheshvan 7/Dec. 4

If you are in Eretz Yisrael between Cheshvan 7 (when people in Eretz Yisrael begin saying tein tal u'matar l'vracha) and December 4 (when people outside Eretz Yisrael begin saying the phrase):

  • Follow your home custom (say tein bracha in the 9th amida paragraph, bareich aleinu).
  • Then, add tein tal u'matar l'vracha in the 16th amida paragraph (shema koleinu) between al teshiveinu and ki ata shomei'a.

Reason: To cover both situations.

Copyright 2015 Richard B. Aiken. Halacha L’Maaseh appears courtesy of www.practicalhalacha.com Visit their web site for more information.