A Bizarre AND Awkward Tefilla Situation

The Yeshiva World News reported (24 July) the following headline: 
IDF Rabbinate Forbids Recitation of Avinu Malkeinu

If I didn't believe it myself than I wouldn't have cut and pasted the article here:

After Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita called for including Avinu Malkeinu in tefilos due to the gezeira hanging over Klal Yisrael, referring to efforts to compel tens of thousands of avreichim to leave beis medrash, it appears some IDF soldiers began reciting the tefilla as well, inside shuls on IDF basis. 

According to a Ynet report, after learning of this, the IDF Chief Rabbinate issued a directive prohibiting the inclusion of the tefilla on IDF bases. 

Some reports indicate that chareidi soldiers serving in the Kirya (Defense Ministry) in Tel Aviv began including the tefilla in their daily davening as they adhere to the instructions of gedolei yisrael. 

According to the Ynet report, this is now prohibited on IDF installations.

Yep - pretty unusual- as the comments at the bottom of the page seem to indicate.  If I was forced to create a list of inappropriately awkward tefilla moments, I feel that I must mention the 2003 YU tehillim gathering 'against' the appointment of the current president.  Are there any other nominations for this dubious list?

Rav Schachter's Advice for Teaching Tefilla

I have been meaning to share the following interview With Rav Schachter about leading tefillah in day schools (I found this and other resources on tefilla at YU's High Sschool Chinuch Community website).

Whether you know who Rav Hershel Schachter is or not, I think that this video offers a candid glimpse into Orthodox Judaim's educational approach and qualms about tefilla.   Rarely in life do you see an interview of someone tops in their fields talking about the basic A, B's and C's of their subject field and pedagogical approaches for high schools students.

I am amazed at this interviewer's (Rabbi Kenny Schiowitz) approach to the challenging scenarios for contemporary educators and what questions were posed and not posed to this scholar.  Further, it is important to note how Rav Schachter is very open that he doesn't have much practical experience with implementing such approaches in the classrooms "with younger children".  The following are my gleanings from the Rav Schachter's answers:

• Tefilla should be considered optional in schools were students would want to opt out.
• Teaching the siddur is more important than teaching gmera (Talmud)
• Even Rav Schachter abbreviates his tefilla to accommodate what the community does - but it is important for teachers to be with their students, even if you have to interrupt your own tefilla.  
• The repetition of the leader (hazerat ha'shatz) could be dropped from school tefilla as was the practice of Morrocan Jews following the legal ruling of the Rambam (which reflected a low level of interest in the practice).
• Orthodox kids are not connecting to davening and this needs to be addressed seriously and with educational flexibility. 

As an educator, I think this session opens a lot of questions regarding how tefilla is working in schools today.  Are there Orthodox schools that are implementing any of Rav Schachter's approaches?

Best to end with his final words, "oy, we all have to improve in our davening!"