Respect for the Beis Medrash
21. A beis medrash is treated with respect. It is kept clean and the floor is swept of dust and dirt and washed with water (שו''ע סי' קנ''א ס''ט ). Similarly, one should see to it that pamphlets are not scattered around the beis medrash on all the tables. They should be arranged neatly in a single place.
22. Pamphlet holder. The distribution of papers is a lasting phenomenon that has become an inseparable part of our batei medrash. Thus, it would be commendable to install outside the beis medrash, e.g., in the lobby, a special holder made of wood or acrylic with different sections for the various papers, where the papers can be placed in an organized manner, just like shelves are installed to hold the sefarim in a beis medrash. This way, everyone can easily choose the paper he wants on his way in or out of the beis medrash, preventing a lot of the mess in a beis medrash caused by papers being scattered everywhere. Having each pamphlet in a separate section also avoids shailos of borer (see below, 36).
Respect for Tefillah
23. The pamphlet phenomenon comes with another common unfortunate occurrence. Due to the ease of picking up and perusing a publication, many people read them during davening and forget to daven. This causes great disregard for davening.
24. Points where it is assur. There are points in davening where the halacha is that one may not interrupt with something else, even divrei Torah, e.g., Chazaras HaShatz (מ''ב סי' קכ''ד סקי''ז ); Krias HaTorah (שו''ע סי' קמ''ו סוף ס''ב ); Hallel; and the like. Chazal state, “Happy is one whose toil is in Torah and who gives satisfaction to his Creator” (ברכות יז .). The question is, is there someone whose toil is in Torah who does not give satisfaction to his Creator? The answer is that it refers to people who learn during davening (כ ף החיים סי' קכ''ד סקט''ז ).
25. Pesukei d’Zimra. Even when one says the parts of Tehillim in Pesukei d’Zimra or Kabbolas Shabbos, it is not proper or respectful to read pamphlets. When one speaks to a human being and thanks him for the good he has done, it is rude to peruse a page unrelated to the discussion. All the more so, when we stand before the King of all kings and tell Him our requests or when we sing songs and praises to Him to praise, glorify, exalt, sanctify, and crown Him, it is disrespectful to Him to focus our attention on something else we are reading.
26. Thus, at the top of every Chukai Chaim page appears the request, “Please do not read during davening or Krias HaTorah,” so that we do not cause anything that is not Hashem’s will.
27. However, it is certainly better to read pamphlets at this time than to sit and idly chat, which is an aveira that is too great to bear.
28. Distribute after davening. Some batei medrash only allow papers to be distributed after davening on Friday night. The benefit of this is that people have kavana when they daven, and davening is not disregarded due to the reading of pamphlets.
29. Chizuk as we approach the Yamim Noraim. This area, disregard for tefillah, is likely the most negative aspect of distributing papers in a beis medrash. It is something that requires much improvement. Thus, let us take it upon ourselves as we approach the Yamim Noraim of the mighty month of Tishrei to strengthen our kavana during davening. We must know Who we are standing before and remove all distractions and extraneous things while we stand to beg for our lives and crown our King.
