Commentary for Berakhot 4:5
הָיָה רוֹכֵב עַל הַחֲמוֹר, יֵרֵד. וְאִם אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לֵירֵד, יַחֲזִיר אֶת פָּנָיו, וְאִם אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לְהַחֲזִיר אֶת פָּנָיו, יְכַוֵּן אֶת לִבּוֹ כְּנֶגֶד בֵּית קֹדֶשׁ הַקָּדָשִׁים:
If he were riding on an ass, he dismounts (to pray). [The halachah is not in accordance with this anonymous Mishnah; but whether or not he had someone to hold his ass, he does not dismount, for his mind is not settled (enough for prayer) if he must dismount.] And if he cannot dismount, he turns his face [towards Jerusalem, it being written (I Kings 8:48): "And they shall pray to You towards their land."] And if he cannot turn his face, he directs his thoughts to the holy of holies [it being written (Chronicles 6:26): "And they will pray to this place."]
Bartenura on Mishnah Berakhot
היה רוכב על החמור ירד – The Halakha does not follow the [opinion of this] anonymous Mishnah but rather whether or not he has someone who can hold his donkey or not, he should not descend [from it] because his mind is not at ease when he descends [from it].
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English Explanation of Mishnah Berakhot
Introduction This mishnah deals with a person who is traveling on a donkey when it comes time to recite the Shmoneh Esrei. As an aside, it is in this mishnah that we learn that while praying one should face Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. This is connected to I Kings 8:44, “When Your people take the field against their enemy by whatever way You send them, and they pray to the Lord in the direction of the city which You have chosen and of the House which I have built to Your name.”
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Bartenura on Mishnah Berakhot
יחזיר את פניו – [He should turn his face] towards Jerusalem, as it says (I Kings 8:48), “and they pray to You in the direction of their land…”
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English Explanation of Mishnah Berakhot
If he is riding on a donkey, he gets down [and prays.] It is preferable, if possible, to pray while standing still. Therefore, he should get off the donkey before praying.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Berakhot
יכוין את בלו כנגד בית קדשי הקדשים – as it states (I Kings 8:35), “and then they pray towards this place…”
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English Explanation of Mishnah Berakhot
If he is unable to get down he should turn his face [towards Jerusalem], and if he cannot turn his face, he should direct his heart to the Holy of Holies. If he cannot, he should at least try to face Jerusalem. If he can’t even do this, he should at least direct his heart towards Jerusalem and to the Holy of Holies, the most important part of the Temple.
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