As precious as the gift of prayer is, it is surprising and tragic that so many people are ignorant or neligent about the observation of its laws. Lile any other mitzvah, prayer is regulated by numerous restructions, and a person cannot hope to expericenc fulfillment of his supplications unless he follows the rules, exactly as they have been formulated. In the words of Harav Chaim Kanievsky, shlita, "It is an absolute obligation to be proficient in the laws of prayer, since a person who approaches the King and does not know how to behave, will certainly be expellled by the King. All those who are careless about this will eventually be held accountable, and there is no doubt that the study of these laws takes precedence over all other studies, since they apply three times a day" (Orchos Yosher, page 100).
Our primary intent is to guide the reader throught the maze of laws and customs that abound in the area of prayer, hence the title Guidelines.">
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