As Rav Moshe Feinstein, ZT”L, got older he was no longer able to walk back and forth to his Yeshiva, Mesivta Tiferes Jerusalem, to daven on Friday night, so he davened in Rabbi Halpern’s minyan. This was a small Friday night minyan that took place in the building attached to his.
To do this, he had to walk down a flight of stairs and up another one. Rav Moshe would attend this Minyan for a few years until he was no longer able to walk up and down the stairs. At this point, he started davening alone in his home every Friday night.
People approached Rav Moshe and asked why he wished to daven alone when they could easily have a minyan gathered at his house. Rav Moshe responded that if he were to do so and even one member of Rabbi Halpern’s small minyan left, it could harm the honor of Rabbi Halpern.
So, Rav Moshe continued to daven alone on Friday night for years to come out of concern for another Jew's honor. Rav Moshe rules in Igros Moshe that davening with a minyan is a great obligation; yet, when faced with the choice, he ruled that protecting the feelings of a fellow Jew is a greater obligation.
Reprinted from the Parshas Lech Lecha 5784 email of Torah Sweets
