Prayer and Blessings
When praying for someone, should one mention the mother’s name or the father’s name?
Question
Hello, honored rabbi,
I understand that when praying for someone who is ill, one mentions the mother’s name: so-and-so son of so-and-so. Is this also true for other prayers, such as for livelihood, repentance, shalom bayit, and the like?
Thank you very much
Answer
Shalom,
In all the prayers you mentioned, one should state the mother’s name (see Responsa Yabiya Omer, volume 2, part Orach Chaim, siman 11). The custom of the Yemenites is to mention the father’s name (Shulchan Aruch HaMekutzar, volume 5, siman 175, note 10).
With blessings,
Hillel Meirs
