...Continued from previous week
1) The ideal place [for men always, and for women when possible] to daven is in a Shul with a Minyan. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 90:9) A Tefilah davened in Shul with a Minyan is the most heard and accepted Tefilah by Hashem and is a bigger Mitzvah than Tefilah that isn't in Shul with a Minyan. (Shulchan Aruch ibid. See also Aruch HaShulchan Siman 90:13)
2) One who has a Shul in his city, and never goes there [to daven] is considered a "Shachen Ra - a bad neighbor", and brings Galus, exile, upon himself and his family (unless he davens in another Shul in that city or davens with a Minyan in his home, which although isn't as good as Shul, still doesn't earn him the title of "bad neighbor". (Shulchan Aruch Siman 90:11. See Mishna Berura Siman 90 S"K 37 through 39)
3) The Talmud (Brachos 6a and Ta'nis 8a) teaches that one who davens with a Minyan in a Shul has less of a chance of his Tefilah being scrutinized by Hashem for perfect Kavanah, and a better chance of his Tefilah being accepted. One who davens alone has every word scrutinized, and there is a good chance that his prayers will be rejected for lack of sincerity or other reasons (See Rashi Taanis 8a Divrei Hamaschil B'Tzibur)
4) Davening in a Shul is important, as the holiness of the Shul adds Kedusha to the davening. Even if one has an opportunity to daven with 10 people in his home, it is better for him to go to a Shul (Unless he has a permanent minyan in his home, then many Poskim say that it is just as good as a Shul, even though his Minyan is smaller). (See Mishna Berura Siman 9 S:K 27)
5) Davening in a Shul is so important that even if there is no longer a minyan in Shul, one should daven alone in the Shul rather than alone in his own home, due to the added holiness inherent in a Tefilah davened in a Shul. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 90:9 and Mishna Berura S"K 33). However, if in his home he will have a minyan and in Shul he won't then it is better to daven at home with a Minyan than in Shul alone. (Mishna Berura Siman 90 S"K 28)
6) If by davening alone in the Shul it will cause a Chilul Hashem (e.g. a Talmid Chacham seen davening late by himself can be a source of Chilul Hashem) or if one is afraid to be in a Shul alone and will thus not concentrate as well, then it is better to daven at home. (See Mishna Berura Siman 90 S"K 33 and Kaf Hachaim Siman 90:70)
7) It is a Mitzvah to daven in a Shul that has a large amount of people, as the Pasuk (Mishlei 14:28) says "Brov Am Hadras Melech - with a large assemblage the glory of the King [Hashem] is multiplied." (See Mishna Berura Siman 90 S"K 28)
8) There are various exceptions to this rule, and certain times it is deemed Halachically superior to daven in a smaller place and forego the "Brov Am Hadras Melech".
a) Davening in a Bais HaMidrash or Yeshiva
Where people learn Torah all [or a large part of the] day (even if you yourself do not learn there) is better than davening in a Shul (i.e. Bais Hakneses that is used only for Tefilah), even if there are more people in the Shul than in the Bais HaMidrash. (See Talmud Brachos 8a. See Chayei Adam Klal 17:1 and Mishna Berua Siman 90 S:K 55)
b) Being the Tenth Man in a Minyan
If one is on the way to a big Shul, and is stopped by someone and asked to be the tenth man [or any part of the 10] in their Minyan (either in a shiva house, or a smaller Shul whose members cannot go to the larger Shul due to their health or age, or any similar situation) he should stay with them and not refuse based on "Brov Am Hadras Melech" (Psak of Maran Harav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv Zatzal, quoted in Sefer Tefilah K'Hilchasa Perek 2 footnote 29, who maintains that doing a Chesed is just as big a Mitzvah, if not bigger, than fulfilling "Brov Am Hadras Melech")
c) Concentration in a Smaller Shul
If one can concentrate and daven better in a smaller Shul he should daven there, rather than in a bigger Shul where he may not daven as well. (Mishna Berura Siman 90 S"K 28)
The Aruch Hashulchan (Siman 90:15) rules that if in the larger Shul there are people who talk and converse during the Tefilah (which is a terrible sin, as we have discussed many times), it is better to daven in a small Shul where it is quiet and the proper respect for Tefilah is exhibited. (The Sefer Tefilah K'Hilchasa Perek 2 footnote 28 writes that Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal even went so far as to Pasken that if by leaving the Shul with the talking you will end up missing Krias HaTorah or having to leave davening early, one should still avoid the Shul with the talking!)
d) Davening at the Proper Time
Naturally, if by davening in the larger Shul one will miss the proper time for davening (Zman Tefilah), he may daven in an earlier Minyan or Shul even if it is significantly smaller. (See Mishna berura Siman 90 S"K 28)
...To be continued next week B’Ezras Hashem
Halacha For Today sends a FREE daily email received by thousands of Yidden around the world, which contains practical Halacha and Chizuk for everyday life. To subscribe, send a request to [email protected] or sign up via the website www.HalachaForToday.com.
The Halachos are based on my personal understanding of the Halachic texts quoted, and are for learning purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha. If you have questions or require further source information, please email [email protected] and I will try to respond as soon as I can. For a Halacha L’Ma’aseh Psak, please contact your local Orthodox Rav.
