Questions tagged [tzibur-community]

about the community and the individual in the community

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Keeping up with fast davening

My local shul in Johannesburg, South Africa is traditional with very few Yeshivah-background or even Shabbat-keeping members. They daven so fast I simply cannot keep up. Even if I skip most of Pesukei ...
Michael Sandler's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
557 views

Group coordination for a siyum

My understanding is that a siyum should be made on the last bit of the text being studied. Thus, if the entire Mishna (all six "orders") is studied for someone's yahrzeit, the last mishna (individual ...
msh210's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
549 views

Following minhagim when praying in a different community?

Say you go to a minyan of a different community than your own, how should you behave? When being hazan do you use their pronunciation or yours? Do you pray your nusach or theirs? Do you put on talit ...
Ani Yodea's user avatar
  • 13.1k
16 votes
4 answers
776 views

When you're trapped by someone Davening behind you

There's a(n) Halachah (Berachos 27a, Shulchan Aruch 102:4) that you are not supposed to pass in front of someone in prayer. As a result, many people are strict and won't take their three steps back ...
Seth J's user avatar
  • 41.6k
11 votes
1 answer
419 views

Why are Ashre and Alenu considered communal prayers?

Shulchan Aruch (OC 65) says to say "Sh'ma" with the congregation when they say it, and Mishna B'rura 9 there says the same is true of other things recited as a congregation such as "Ashre" and "Alenu"....
msh210's user avatar
  • 73.7k
8 votes
3 answers
1k views

Being Shaliach Tzibbur in a Congregation with a different Nusach

In Yalkut Yosef OC 101:10 rules that a Sephardi who is davening in an Ashkenazi minyan should not daven Nusach Ashkenaz as shaliach tzibbur. He can only be shaliach tzibbur if the minyan agrees to let ...
Chanoch's user avatar
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15 votes
1 answer
370 views

And let who say Amen?

In light of this answer, why do we say V'imru amen and V'nomar amen at various points in bentching and davening when saying that passage alone? (eg. bentching by yourself, or oseh shalom at the end of ...
Double AA's user avatar
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12 votes
3 answers
400 views

When there are four aveilim (mourners), Is it better to have one minyan of 40 people or 4 minyonim of ten each?

Today I was in a shul where there were four parallel mincha services because four mourners wanted to lead the services. I thought there was a principle of ברב עם הדרת מלך? What sources are there that ...
Avrohom Yitzchok's user avatar
9 votes
3 answers
531 views

Falling behind during davening

If you daven more slowly than the chazzan, should you skip what someone who came late to davening would skip so that you can reach barchu with the tzibbur?
2345678876543's user avatar
9 votes
2 answers
464 views

Games (on Shabas) that involve writing: whose writing?

I don't have good sources handy, but apparently some forbid the Shabas playing of games in which one usually writes, even if playing without writing: Scrabble, in which one writes scores, is sometimes ...
msh210's user avatar
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8 votes
1 answer
869 views

Organized prayer in the synagogue with less than 10 people - community or not?

Inspired by this question. There are parts of prayer that are not said when praying alone. Some examples (please add any I missed): Friday Night: Birchat Me-in Sheva Shabbos Day before Mussaf: ...
Menachem's user avatar
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7 votes
5 answers
513 views

Answering Baruch Hu UVaruch Shemo and Amen while learning

If someone is giving Shiur in the same room as people Davening, do the people learning answer Baruch Hu Uvaruch Shemo and Amen to the Hazarat HaShatz?
Hacham Gabriel's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
2k views

Can a convert become a synagogue president? Why or why not?

I understand that the National Council of Young Israel has a rule that women and converts may not be elected president of a Young Israel synagogue. I think I saw a gemara -- or a comment to a gemara -...
Bruce James's user avatar
7 votes
3 answers
478 views

Reaching kedusha during silent shemone esre

When the chazzan starts kedusha in chazarat hashatz while you're davening, are you supposed to answer the chant, continue in your tefilla, or just not say anything?
user avatar
31 votes
8 answers
2k views

How can we get people to stop talking (much, loudly) during minyan?

I know that lots of minyanim have the talking problem; has anybody solved it? I daven with a weekday shacharit minyan that has a noise problem. A couple of people are the main sources of the problem ...
Monica Cellio's user avatar
12 votes
1 answer
1k views

What are the parameters of Tircha D'Tzibbur

I often hear people throw around the term tircha d'tzibbur, that something being done is incorrect because it is a burden to the public or congregation. Usually I hear it being used for whatever ...
Y     e     z's user avatar
11 votes
1 answer
492 views

Why have I never seen anyone “slicing the Shema”?

“Slicing the Shema” A good summary is to be found here, on the Israel Koschitzky Virtual Beit Midrash website. In short, “…. ten men who prayed alone can subsequently fulfill their obligations of ...
Avrohom Yitzchok's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
302 views

When the entire Minyan is saying Kaddish

In most Synagogues all those that are required to say Kaddish say it together. If the entire Minyan has to say Kaddish and there is no one who can say Amein what should be done? Should some not say ...
Gershon Gold's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
861 views

Missing Barchu at Maariv

If one misses Barchu at the beginning of Maariv, should one say it at the end of Maariv (as is commonly done)? If so when should it be done and who should do it?
yydl's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
159 views

How to start שחרית at the עמוד if one's already said ישתבח

Seemingly, if one is ahead of the congregation and reaches "Yishtabach", he should recite it. Now, suppose he does so, and then the fellow in charge of getting people to lead the services comes over ...
msh210's user avatar
  • 73.7k
4 votes
3 answers
655 views

Kissing the hand to catch a cold?

There is a popular custom in Israel to shake a person's hand and then kiss your own. In every single Sephardic and Mizrachi synagogue I've ever been to in the country this is the standard way of ...
Aryeh's user avatar
  • 11.6k
2 votes
2 answers
389 views

Nusach for silent Amida when chazzan in an other-nusach congregation

My understanding (based, if I recall correctly, on R' Moshe Feinstein) is that when I pray in a congregation that uses a different version of the prayers (nusach) from the one I usually use, I should ...
Isaac Moses's user avatar
  • 48k
16 votes
1 answer
635 views

Do not separate yourself from the community: what exactly is the community?

Hillel teaches in Pirke Avot (2:4): do not separate yourself from the community. I'm not a historian, but I have the impression that at the time he was writing, towns tended to have one (Jewish) ...
Monica Cellio's user avatar
13 votes
2 answers
372 views

In a city with many shuls, how much loyalty do I owe to the shul of which I am a member?

In a city with many shuls, in what way should we think about the individual shuls? a) They are “service” (no pun intended) providers and I will take the services as they suit me best. Even if I take ...
Avrohom Yitzchok's user avatar
11 votes
2 answers
436 views

Does Kabbalas Shabbos require a minyan?

Inspired by an answer here: Does the recitation of Kabbalas Shabbos require a minyan? I was always under the impression that we do it together by convention rather than necessity, but one could ...
chortkov2's user avatar
  • 9,370
6 votes
1 answer
374 views

Davening Mincha with their Mariv

If one needs to daven mincha and the only minyan that is close by is davening an early maariv can one daven their mincha shmoneh esri with their maariv shmoneh esri and then daven maariv with a ...
sam's user avatar
  • 41.7k
6 votes
1 answer
796 views

Can one be counted in a minyan if one has already davened?

Can one be counted in a minyan if one is present for Minchah/Ma’ariv but has already davened Minchah? Related question: Should I alter my schedule to daven Minchah with a minyan?
Jon Mitchell's user avatar
  • 1,507
6 votes
2 answers
370 views

Saying korbonos

Do you have to say korbonos? If so, why is it not said with the shaliach tzibbur?
Yankel's user avatar
  • 211
3 votes
2 answers
172 views

Should the Chazzan say the pesukim of Kedusho loud?

In the repetition of the Amida, it seems (see Teshuvos Igros Moshe 3 (9), OC 104 (7), OC 125 Biur Halocho d.h. "elo shoskin ..") that the Chazzan should say the pesukim of Kedusho loud enough so that ...
Avrohom Yitzchok's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
170 views

Parameters for brov am?

What are they parameters of brov am hadras melech? is it a requirement or a hiddur? does it apply equally to men, women and children? why does it not seem to apply to zimun (preferable to split into ...
sheimot's user avatar
  • 359
1 vote
0 answers
121 views

Can I say the Amidah out loud if it helps my kavanah? [duplicate]

If I am davening at home and it would not be disruptive to others, is there any reason I might be permitted to say the Amidah out loud--for example, if it helped me with my concentration or ...
SAH's user avatar
  • 19.7k
19 votes
2 answers
426 views

School closing - At what point must the parents be told?

Yeshiva A or Bais Yaakov A has serious financial problems. They are doing all they can to stay viable, however unless a big donor steps forward they will be forced to close. If the school tells the ...
Gershon Gold's user avatar
17 votes
4 answers
308 views

Who is "us" in sh'mone esre?

Most of the amida requests are said in the plural: "forgive us… heal us…". Who's "us"? I'd think it's Jews generally — but in the final benediction we ask for beneficence for "us and ...
msh210's user avatar
  • 73.7k
17 votes
2 answers
1k views

Why are challenges to respected rabbis not treated seriously?

Say someone disagrees with the Chazon Ish or has a problem with the Aruch HaShulchan in a particular halachic area. Sure, they're no gadol, and they might have not even learned an extensive volume of ...
rosenjcb's user avatar
  • 1,574
16 votes
3 answers
229 views

Falling behind during selichos

Related to, but not duplicating Falling behind during davening, how should you attempt to keep up with overly-quick recitation of selichos? I would assume that you interrupt the piyut you’re reciting ...
J. C. Salomon's user avatar
15 votes
4 answers
390 views

Can I omit ברוך השם לעולם אמן ואמן to catch up in Maariv?

If the Shaliach Tzibbur for maariv (outside of Israel) goes too quickly for me to start the Amidah with him, is there a source which would allow me to omit the section ברוך השם לעולם אמן ואמן? This ...
Avrohom Yitzchok's user avatar
14 votes
1 answer
3k views

Can I do the Hoashanas service if praying alone?

If one is not able to make it to a minyan one day during sukkos, can he still say or do any of the day's Hoshanas services? Would it be different on Hoshanah Rabbah because of the additions?
RCW's user avatar
  • 6,748
14 votes
4 answers
6k views

Does a Jewish grandmother (mother's side) really get one accepted as a Jew? [duplicate]

My grandmother (mother's side) is 100% Jewish and even living in Israel. As far as I know, that makes, me a Jew, too. But it feels a little bit strange to say that I am Jewish just because my ...
Zaiga's user avatar
  • 143
13 votes
4 answers
624 views

"Is the market-based distribution of income fair or unfair?"

This post, by a leading economist, lists the main differences on economic policy between the right and left-leaning economists. On many economic issues, Judaism does not necessarily take a clear ...
Ariel K's user avatar
  • 11k
11 votes
2 answers
381 views

How important is it for everyone to revolve the bima 7 times on Simchas Torah?

I recall hearing from Rabbi Hershel Shachter that for Hoshanos, you're really supposed to go around the bima (and seven times on Hoshana Rabba); he said if you were davening at home, you should in ...
Shalom's user avatar
  • 133k
10 votes
1 answer
371 views

On what authority do Lubavitchers not skip when late to shacharis?

The Rav's Shulchan Aruch, OC 52, clearly states that, because saying amida (sh'mone esre) with a congregation is so important, one who arrives late to a congregational shacharis service should skip ...
msh210's user avatar
  • 73.7k
8 votes
1 answer
2k views

When praying alone, can one say Ma'ariv/Arvit before shkia (sunset)?

I have heard in the past that one praying alone may not say Ma'ariv/Arvit until shkia/sunset but that one praying with a minyan can start Ma'ariv as early as Plag HaMincha. Could someone provide me a ...
Naftuli Kay's user avatar
  • 3,914
7 votes
2 answers
146 views

Do you add in the "for all the Jews in this town" clause to Eruv Tavshilin?

In the Eruv Tavshilin we say when there's holiday followed by Sabbath, the proclamation is: This eruv ("merging") shall allow us to cook, bake, insulate, and kindle on the holiday in preparation ...
Shalom's user avatar
  • 133k
7 votes
1 answer
192 views

Can the chazzan use the vernacular quietly?

When saying a private portion of the service, such as pesukei de-zimra, may the shaliach tzibur (aka chazzan, or the person leading services) use English, and switch to Hebrew for the portions said ...
yitznewton's user avatar
  • 3,393
7 votes
1 answer
318 views

who says "baruch hu uvaruch sh'mo" before birkas hamazon

Ashk'nazi prayer books generally include the line ברוך הוא וברוך שמו after the zimun (invitation to say birkas hamazon and before the actual birkas hamazon. It generally (in my experience) is ...
msh210's user avatar
  • 73.7k
5 votes
1 answer
253 views

Davening Chazaras Hashatz after minyan

I have seen people daven chazaras hashatz after a minyan has just ended out loud,and they expect everyone to answer their kedusha and then they continue the rest of their shmoneh esri quietly. Is ...
sam's user avatar
  • 41.7k
5 votes
3 answers
252 views

When should one change one's Minhag with one's Makom (and when should one not)?

I know there are conflicting views on certain issues relating to following a local custom vs. one's family custom. However, what are the general concepts that are applied in determining the Halachah? ...
Seth J's user avatar
  • 41.6k
5 votes
2 answers
212 views

Saying Yekum Purkan after the Minyan is already up to Av HaRachamim or Ashrei

The Halacha is that a individual not Davening with a Minyan does not say Yekum Purkan. Suppose you are in Shul and for some reason the Chazan finished Yekum Purkan and is already up to Av HaRachamim ...
Gershon Gold's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
157 views

Shnayim Mikre during Krias HaTorah

May one read "Shnayim Mikre V'Echad Targum" during the leining of Krias HaTorah on Shabbos morning?
Yehoshua's user avatar
  • 16k
5 votes
3 answers
699 views

Can women participate in learning for a group siyum?

When somebody is organizing learning for a coordinated siyum (e.g. for a yahrzeit), I'm never sure whether as a woman I can sign up to help (assuming I can meet the expected level of learning). Are ...
Monica Cellio's user avatar