(Hakhel)
1. For women: Try to light Shabbos candles at least five minutes before the zman, if possible.
2. For men: Pay attention during Chazaras HaShatz. (Do not look into a sefer or space out. Do not check your email or phone. Do not text. Do not stare at other people. Just listen to the baal tefilla and follow along in your own siddur.) Other than saying Baruch Hu Uvaruch Shemo and Amein, do not talk at all during Chazaras HaShatz. Talking during davening (or during leining) is one of the worst aveiras a Yid can do!
3. Say “Baruch Hu Uvaruch Shemo.” Do not only say “Shmoy” or “Baruch shmoy” (like some people do). Say it correctly. And don’t start saying ‘Baruch Hu Uvaruch Shemo’ until the baal tefilla finishes pronouncing Hashem’s name completely. Also, do not say Amein until the baal tefilla finishes pronouncing the bracha completely.
4. Talk to Hashem throughout the day, not just three times a day.
5. Before davening, accept upon yourself the positive commandment of “You shall love your fellow as yourself.” [Arizal]
6. Before going to sleep at night, say (or at least think), “I am going to sleep so that I will have energy to serve Hashem tomorrow.”
7. Learn Torah out loud if possible (not merely reading the sefer with your eyes, but actually verbalizing the words).
8.Be careful with Al Hamichya. Sit down while saying it, preferably from a siddur/ bencher.
9. Finish my Shabbos preparations in time to start Shabbos by candle lighting time, with a clean kitchen (or at least, an orderly one).
10. Commit to following a derech – Seek out hadracha and try to let go of the need to have everything make sense to me on an intellectual level. It shouldn’t be all about whether I understand; I need to remember that sometimes the brain needs to follow and not lead. This is difficult for me, since I was always taught to think for myself, and it’s been a significant part of who I am. It’s going to take effort, but I want to commit to the ideal, and work on getting there…
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