Question
Psalm 27, the special prayer for month of Elul, is recited during Shacharit and Maariv. At what point in the prayer service is this psalm recited? Based on notes in the prayer book, I believe that this psalm is recited immediately before the Mourner's Kaddish. The order would be Aleinu, Psalm 27, Mourner's Kaddish. This year there is a different person leading our daily services. His order is Aleinu, Mourner's Kaddish, Psalm 27, Mourner's Kaddish. He repeats Mourner's Kaddish. Which order is correct? When should psalm 27 be recited?

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Dear Rabbi, I read that Judaism teaches that God can do anything. So, I pray to Him to help me succeed. The problem is, He doesn't seem to hear. Why is God not answering my prayers?

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Shalom aleichem Rabbi Lauffer. Thank you for answering my last question. That which we don't daven with hands outstretched as paskened by Rabbi Akiva Eiger in O.C. 89:1, does this only apply to the shemoneh esrei? For example, would one be permitted to raise one's hands during the tehillim that follow hamapil and the first paragraph of Shema that is said before retiring? Thanks a lot.

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Does prayer on an airplane require a minyan and standing, as is done in the Synagogue? A colleague at my workplace asked me this and I told him I’d check with a rabbi. Thanks.

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Shalom aleichem Rabbi Lauffer. Thank you for answering my last question. The Rema in O.C. 426:16, regarding the Kiddush Levanah, writes "He should say to his fellow three times 'Shalom alecha.' Responding to this is like greeting with it." Does this mean that if 3 different people wish him shalom aleichem and he responds aleichem shalom to all 3, he doesn't have to say shalom aleichem to 3 more people? Is it the current custom to say "shalom aleichem" to 3 more people even if one has already responded "aleichem shalom" to three different people? Thanks a lot.

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Someone close to me once told me they chose Reformed Judaism because deaf people were excluded from Orthodox Judaism Minyans and that person thought the Orthodox cruel (the opposite of loving kindness) for excluding them. SO, the question beckons: Why aren't deaf people accepted/admitted as participants in prayer groups of 10 (Orthodox Minyans)? What in the Torah states clearly that deaf men cannot participate and what is the main, most widely accepted rabbinical opinion for the reasoning? Why not?

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Dear Rabbi, I am a doctor. Is it appropriate for me to say any special prayers for the good health of my patients, besides of course treating them medically to the best of my ability? Thank you.

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What is the origin of the word “Amen”? Does it first appear in the Torah? Why do we say it after hearing a blessing? Thank you.

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On any given day, how do you calculate the earliest time one can daven mincha?

Question
After being unemployed for 5 months, I recently started a new job where I work until 3 in the morning. When I get home, I go to sleep around 4 AM. I don’t feel like getting up until at least noon, which is obviously too late to daven Shacharis. I very frequently wake up briefly around 7-8. At this time, I don’t have the energy to get out of bed and stand or sit up very long, but I feel capable of reading in bed and reciting morning prayers while lying in bed. Since I started this routine, I’ve been davening Shacharis without tefillin while lying in bed and then going back to sleep. I’ve even been reciting Amidah while lying down. I then put on tefillin later after I am fully awake and able to function out of bed. I don’t know what else to do. As a rabbi, would you say that for someone in this predicament, is it preferable to daven Shacharis while lying in bed or not to daven at all? Am I doing the right thing or should I stop? Changing my routine at this time is simply not an option at this time.