[HANASHIR:2574] "Adonai s'fatai tiftakh..."

[Erik L. F. Contzius <contzius...>]

The quote used before begining of the T'fillah ("Adonai s'fatai
tiftakh...") is traditionally said in a hushed undertone by the individual,
and not by the congregation. You will notice the line is, unlike most of
the T'fillah, in first person singular (Open MY lips that MY mouth...).
This is a "kavanah" intended to focus the individual pray-er in the
individual recitation of the T'fillah. It is even written in smaller print
in siddurim to indicate that it is not to be read aloud and together. There
used to be other "kavanot" written into kabbalistic siddurim in order to
focus our thoughts on specific things during specific prayers.

As far as when it is recited aloud... it is chanted aloud by the hazzan in
the afternoon service of Yom Kippur in the prayer "Okhilah LaEil."

hope this helps.


erik l. f. contzius
contzius (at) home(dot)com
elkins park, pa
http://members.home.com/contzius/


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