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It has already been established that Ashkenazim generally stand for Kaddish, while Sephardim sit unless they were already standing. (That said, I have observed Sephardim who davka sit for Kaddish.)

What should an Ashkenazi do in a Sephardi shul? Should one davka stand? On the other extreme, is it even permissible to go against the minhag hamakom of sitting? Conversely, should a Sephardi stand or sit for Kaddish when praying at an Ashkenazi shul?

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  • There's probably room to do it either way.
    – Tatpurusha
    Commented Apr 7, 2014 at 18:46
  • @Tatpurusha so if my preference is to stand always, i should do that even when i find myself at a Sfardi shul? And if someone else likes to go with the minhag hamakom, that's also acceptable?
    – Scimonster
    Commented Apr 7, 2014 at 18:48
  • Let me put it to you this way: if you're in a synagogue that lays tefillin on chol ha-moed, and your custom is to not do so, or vice-versa, is it good to follow your own custom or the custom of the synagogue?
    – Tatpurusha
    Commented Apr 7, 2014 at 18:51
  • @Tatpurusha Hmm, i've never learned that halacha. :) Follow your own custom?
    – Scimonster
    Commented Apr 7, 2014 at 18:54
  • 2
    This is a very complicated issue. If you want my advice, ask the rav of the shul where you're going if he minds if you follow your own minhag. My instincts tell me that we are significantly less concerned today about minhag hamakom then we were even a hundred years ago, and so it should be fine to hold either way.
    – Tatpurusha
    Commented Apr 7, 2014 at 19:00

1 Answer 1

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Qitzur Shulhhan Arukh - Yalqut Yosef, Siman 56:11 writes (my translation):

מנהג האשכנזים כדעת הרמ''א, לעמוד בשעה שעונים קדיש וברכו, וספרדי שמתפלל עם אשכנזים, נכון שיעמוד גם הוא עמהם בעת אמירת קדיש וברכו, כדי שלא יהיה בכלל יושב בין העומדים.

The Ashkenazi custom, per the ReM"A, is to stand when responding to Qaddish and Barekhu. And, as for a Sepharadi praying with Ashkenazim, it is proper for him to also stand with them when responding to Qaddish and Barekhu, so as not to sit among those standing.

My $0.02: Perhaps Hakham 'Ovadiah is poseq this way since standing among those sitting or sitting amongst those standing could cause Mahhloqet. Again, that interpretation is mine and he does not write that explicitly. He simply writes "so as not to sit among those standing".

Rav Chaim (Howard) Jachter rules similarly (in "Sephardic and Ashkenazic Practice: Do You Sit or Stand for Kaddish?") for an Ashkenazi praying amidst Sepharadim (i.e. that one should follow Minhag HaMaqom):

In addition to conforming to Minhag HaMakom (which, in general, is the proper practice – see Mishnah Pesahim 4:1) it seems disrespectful to Hashem if one would exclude himself from a Kehillah which is standing in honor of Hashem. Conversely, it seems appropriate for an Ashkenazi praying at a Sephardic synagogue to follow the custom of the Kehillah to remain seated for Kaddish.

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  • Thanks for your answer. However, i only find this addresses half of my question. What would an Ashkenazi do in a Sfardi shul?
    – Scimonster
    Commented Apr 8, 2014 at 7:28
  • Added publication from Rav Chaim Jachter for Ashkenazi amidst Sepharadim
    – Lee
    Commented Apr 8, 2014 at 21:46
  • I can't seem to find any additional reference to the hyperlink included of Rav Jachter's publication. This worries me a bit and makes me questions its authenticity. Can anyone validate?
    – Lee
    Commented Apr 8, 2014 at 21:52
  • I've updated the Rav Jachter source to a more reliable one (the "Jewish Link of Bergen County" archive). It appears he did, in fact, rule in accordance with the bolded text in my answer.
    – Lee
    Commented Sep 14, 2014 at 8:01

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