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Replying during Your Private Amida
If you have finished the amida's yihiyu l'ratzon(but have not yet finished the segment from Elohai netzur through u'chshanim kadmoniyot), you may reply to:
  • Bar'chu,
  • Kedusha,
  • Amen to ha'el ha'kadosh,
  • Amen to shomei'a tefila,
  • Modim anachnu lach (just those 3 words),
  • Birkat cohanim, and
  • Kaddish.
However, you may not say anything else (such as other amens) until you have completed the entire amida (including the last word, kadmoniot).
 
When To Say Morning Amida
Say the morning amida by the first third of the day (by the 4th hour), but you may still say it until halachic midday, b'di'avad, except if you delay intentionally.
Situation
You are running out of time to say the morning amida. You have said the shema without saying yishtabach or anything following yishtabach (except for the shema).

What To Do

Just say the amida.


Situation

You wake up too late to say the amida before halachic noon:
 
What To Do
  • Wait until a half-hour after halachic noon and then say mincha, and then
  • Repeat the mincha amida as tashlumin.
Note Men who intentionally delayed saying shacharit past the fourth halachic hour of the day may not say that amida at all and may not say the mincha amida as tashlumin.
See Minyan: Keeping Pace: Shacharit Minyan.
Birkat Cohanim: Pausing in Private Amida
When the priests/cohanim begin the Priestly Blessing (birkat cohanim), you must pause when saying your private amida and wait until they finish before continuing your praying.
 
Standing for Reader's Repetition of Amida
Ashkenazim commonly stand for the entire reader's repetition of the amida, but it is not the universal custom.
How Loud To Say the Amida
Whisper the individual amida so that you can just hear yourself but people standing near you cannot hear you, whether you are praying as an individual or as a prayer leader (during your private amida).
 
Earliest Time for Shema (and Amida)
Earliest time to say shema and amida is 72 minutes before sunrise, b'di'avad, since the guideline is halachic “day.”
Note L'chatchila, you should say shema anytime from 3 minutes before sunrise until the end of the third halachic hour of the day.
Talit Gadol: Prayer Leader during Amida Repetition
A prayer leader should be especially careful to cover his head when saying the reader's repetition of the amida.  A hatless prayer leader covers his head with the talit gadol during the private amida (also during the public amida and repetition). If wearing a hat, he does not cover his head with the talit.
Where To Add Personal Requests in Amida
You may add personal requests to the amida on weekdays (not Shabbat or Jewish festivals) in these prayers:
  • For livelihood:
    • In the amida's 9th paragraph (bareich aleinu), between mi'tuvecha and u'vareich shnateinu.
  • For a general request:
    • In the amida's 16th paragraph (shema koleinu), before ki ata shomei'a.
    • Even better, just before saying yihiyu l'ratzon.
 
Washing Hands before Prayer Service with Amida
You should wash your hands, even if they are not dirty, before saying any prayer service that contains the amida, but you do not need to go out of your way to wash them.
Talit Gadol: Blessing between Bar'chu and Amida
Situation You began shacharit on your way to synagogue and are between bar'chu and the amida when you arrive. You have not yet put on a talit.
What To Do
  • Put on a talit immediately.
  • Say the blessing on the talit after you finish the amida.
How To Pray: Actions: Stepping
See Amida Actions: Stepping Before Kedusha.
 
VaYanuchu Vah
Say va'yanuchu “vah” in the Shabbat amida for all three prayer services plus musaf. Some prayer books have “vah” (in her) at night, “voh” (in him) for Saturday morning, and “vam” (in them) for Saturday afternoon.
 
When To Bow toward Jerusalem
Normally, when saying the amida, or bowing at any other prayers such as kaddish, alenu, and bar'chu:
  • If you are in a room with an ark (aron kodesh), face the ark—even if the ark is NOT in the same direction as Jerusalem.
  • If you are not in a room with an ark, face Jerusalem during the amida. You do not need to face Jerusalem when bowing at any other times except during the amida.
 
Jewish Festivals: Musaf: Additions for Sacrifices: Sukkot
In the amida of musaf for Sukkot, there is a different line added about the sacrifices for each day.
When To Face Jerusalem
Face toward Jerusalem when saying the amida.
Note You may not stand with your back to an ark containing a Torah scroll, so you might need to modify the direction in which you are facing.