May one collect tzedakah in the middle of davening?

It is appropriate to allocate tzedakah or to do other acts of kindness before davening. This idea is based on the pasuk that says ani b’tzedek echezeh panecha (“I will appear before You with righteousness”). Some communities have the custom of giving tzedakah upon reaching the words veha’osher vehakovod in the middle of Vayevarech David. If a poor person is not in the vicinity at that time, the money should be set aside for tzedakah. It is not proper to collect tzedakah during Kriyas HaTorah, Chazoras Hashatz or Kriyas Shema. One who is in the middle of davening is exempt from giving tzedakah since he is involved in another mitzvah. He may choose to give if he wants to.

סימן צ"ב ס"י ס"ק ל"ו ביאורים ומוספים דרשו 38 40

What state of mind should one achieve before he davens?

It is appropriate to enter into tefilah in a state of fear and humbleness. Since it is difficult for the average person to reach this level before davening, one should try to connect instead to the happiness which comes from doing a mitzvah. He should clear away any vestiges of pain, anger, weariness, and levity. One way to reach this degree of happiness is by reading uplifting pesukim, such as those which discuss geulas Mitzrayim or the pesukim at the end of Ashrei. Other paths that can bring a person to this state include learning a clear halacha (one without dissent) and involvement in public service.

ס"ב-ס"ד ס"ק ד'-ו' ביאורים ומוספים דרשו 6

How much time must be spent in preparation for davening?

In earlier times, pious people would meditate an hour before, and an hour after, davening. Meditating before davening is beneficial for kavanah and meditating afterwards shows that tefilah is not a burden. According to the basic halacha, however, a person only needs to pause for the time it takes to walk eight tefachim before davening. One should try to leave shul after there is no longer a minyan of people there so that he will not be counted among those who caused the Shechinah to leave. In addition, it is a mitzvah to spend time in shul.

ס"א ס"ק א' ביאורים ומוספים דרשו 2

• There is an obligation to wash in preparation for davening Shacharis, Mincha and Ma’ariv. One who washed for Mincha and intends to daven Ma’ariv immediately afterwards does not need to wash again. B’dieved, if a person failed to wash, his tefilah is still valid.

• A person is also obligated to wash before davening even if he does not know that his hands are dirty. This concept is known as stam yadayim and refers to a situation where one was not paying attention to the cleanliness of his hands. The concern is that since a person’s hands are always moving, they may have inadvertently touched an unclean area.

• It is forbidden to touch an unclean part of the body or to scratch one’s head during davening or learning. Unclean areas include any part of the body which is normally covered as well as mucus/wax from the ears or nose.

• May one change the direction he is facing in the middle of Shemoneh Esrei?

• Which direction should one face when he davens for wisdom?

• Where should the Rov sit in shul?