Make Shacharis With a Minyan Now!

by Rabbi Yair Hoffman (a joint VINNEWS and 5TJT.com project)

Many of us are painfully missing the fact that we should not be davening with a minyan anymore.  So here is, perhaps, an innovative way of doing it

Rav Aharon haKohen, the son-in-law of the Chofetz Chaim wrote a sefer called, “Avodas HaKorbanos.”  The Chofetz Chaim himself had requested him to write it.  In his preface to the sefer, the Chofetz Chaim cites the Gemorah in Menachos 110a and in Bava Metziah 114b that learning the halachos of the Korbanos is likened to having actually brought them.

In these difficult times of the Coronavirus Pandemic, our Gedolim have told us not to have minyanim.  Based upon the above – perhaps learning two halachos a day about each Tefillah and the halachos of Tefillah b’tzibbur should make it count as if we have davened b’minyan.  The goal is to have two halachos posted daily about the topic for each of the three daily Tefilos.  Please check back with us for each tefilah time.

1. Chazal enacted that after the Tzibbur completes the silent Shmoneh Esreh of Shacharis, the Shliach Tzibbur recites the Shmoneh Esreh again.  The Shulchan Aruch (OC 124:1) explains that this was in order to fulfill the obligation of those who are not proficient in properly praying the Shmoneh Esreh.   Another reason is that it is possible that even those who are proficient did not adequately pay attention during the blessing of Avos – the first one.  The Tur adds an additional reason for Chazaras HaShatz – and that is to ensure that the Kedusha and Birkas Kohanim be recited.  Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach once wrote (cited in Halichos Shlomo p. 120) that even someone who only finished his Shmoneh Esreh after the Shliach Tzibbur began his repetition must pay attention to the brachos of the Shliach Tzibbur.  This is because the repetition is an obligation of the Tzibbur and he is still part of that Tzibbur.
2. Rav Chaim Palaji in his Kaf HaChaim (15:52 as opposed to the more contemporary sefer called the Kaf HaChaim) writes that it is an utter sin to speak in between the silent Shmoneh Esreh and the repetition of the Shmoneh Esreh and certainly for the Shliach Tzibbur to do so.  On the other hand, the Aruch haShulchan (OC 111:4) writes, “even though we do not find an out and out prohibition for the Shliach Tzibbur to make a hefsek between the silent Shmoneh Esreh and its repetition, it is proper not to be mafsik.  The Mishna Brurah (111:10) rules that he may only be Mafsik for a Dvar Mitzvah such as answering Amain Yehei Shmei Rabbah (from another minyan apparently).

If anyone wishes to assist in this alternative minyan project please contact the author.

The author can be reached at [email protected]