Thanking G-d for Goodness Part II

G-d’s benevolence is all around us. Every day we experience divine salvation whether we know it or not. But sometimes these events truly transcend the natural order for which we owe G-d an additional debt of gratitude.
What is the appropriate way to express thanks to G-d when experiencing deliverance from danger? Is it preferable to do so discreetly or is a public celebration in order? What is the basis for the common custom of inviting friends to participate in a Seudas Hoda’ah (feast of gratitude)?
Related: Thanking G-d for Goodness Parts I and II

Find out what is required of one who prays when it comes to focusing one’s mind on the Almighty. To what degree is kavanah really necessary? Are there any techniques that provide a shortcut to healthy kavanah?

Part IV in a Series

A digest of the philosophy behind communal prayer. What makes it so valuable? What purpose does it serve? Does the prayer of the individual not achieve the same as the prayers of a congregation? A look at the deeper meaning of tefilah b’tzibbur.
Table of Contents

If Birkat Kohanim is one of Judaism’s most cherished blessings, why outside of Israel today is it so rarely recited? Why in Jerusalem is it sung daily, but only seldom in the Diaspora? Why do we seem to disregard how Shulchan Aruch regulates Birkat Kohanim?

Joining the congregation in their recital of kedusha is important on many levels. But what should one do if he is still reciting the silent Amida? Or just about to begin? When a worshiper’s private Amida collides with the recital of Kedusha by the congregation, what is the appropriate response?

As an expression of honor and submission, bowing before an authority has always been common. In Jewish prayer, numerous segments are associated with bowing and prostration. What are some of the reasons for bowing during the recital of Modeh Ani, Barchu, the Amida, Aleinu and during the Yom Kippur service?