Shmoneh Esrei: Difference between revisions

# Similarly, it’s forbidden to take the three steps before Shemona Esreh in front of someone Davening. <Ref> Halichot Shlomo 8:33 </ref>

# If the one davening behind oneself has finished but didn’t take his three steps back and is waiting for someone else behind him, it’s permitted to take the three steps back in order to go to do a mitzvah like saying tachanun. <Ref> Halichot Shlomo 8:34 </ref>

# Even if the one Davening has a talit over his face it’s still forbidden to pass in front of the one davening. <Ref> Biur Halacha 102:4 D”H Asur </ref>

# A Kohen who needs to pass someone Davening in order to Duchan, or someone who needs the bathroom is permitted to pass in front of someone who’s Davening. This is only true if the one Davening has his eyes closed, or has his eyes open and not in the siddur, however if his eyes are open but are focused on the siddur, it’s forbidden to pass before him in any regard. <Ref> Halichot Shlomo 8:33 </ref>

# Someone who is Davening in a public walkway of a shul and is blocking the congregation from walking, some say it’s permissible to walk in front of the davener and some forbid since the entire area of the shul is a place of Davening. <Ref>Maharsham in Daat Torah leaves this question as a tzarich iyun. Rav Shlomo Zalman in Halichot Shlomo (8:36) permits if there’s a need (so quotes the Piskei Teshuvot 102:3(5)). Similarly, Yalkut Yosef (Sherit Yosef vol 3 pg 24) permits in cases of great need. However, Dalet Amot Shel Tefillah (8:2, pg 68) quotes Rav Betzalel Stern and implies from Rav Moshe Shternbach that it’s forbidden. </ref> It’s also appropriate to politely rebuke the person who is Davening in the public walkway that he is making an obstacle for the congregation (physically and spiritually). <Ref> Sefer Dalet Amot Shel Tefillah (end of chapter 10) quotes stories of Rav Moshe Feinstein, the Steipler and others who would rebuke the person who davened in a public domain after they finished Davening. So writes Halichot 8:36, Piskei Teshuvot 102:3(5). </ref> However, if that public area is usually used as a place of Davening when there’s an overflow of daveners, it’s permissible to daven there. <Ref>Sh”t Betzel Chachma 30,31, quoted in Piskei Teshuvot 102:3(5) </ref>

# In some shuls, it’s so crowded that many minyanim take place in crevices of rooms or hallways and it’s nearly impossible for a finishing minyan to pass a minyan that’s still praying, this minhag has what to rely on, however, the davener should daven next to a wall, or at least close his eyes or look only into a sefer. Nonetheless, it’s preferable not to pray in such a shul. <Ref>Sh”t Me’at Mayim 1, quoted in Dalet Amot Shel Tefillah (8:5, pg 69) [I personally asked Rav Hershel Schachter about how to leave the kotel hamaarivi if there are minyanim Davening in the way and he answered that it’s permissible to pass-by since a person doesn’t forbid the area of someone else, however, from the perspective of the davener it’s forbidden to cause such an obstacle and one should find a wall. (Ike Sultan)] </ref>

==Sitting in front of someone Davening==

# Some say that one shouldn’t sit in front of someone up to as far as he can see (which is assumed to be up to 266 amot) <ref>S”A 102:1, Sefer Amot Shel Tefillah 2:2 pg 5 writes that the measure of as far as a person can see is 266 or 266 2/3 amot based on Shach Y”D 244:8 </ref>, however, this opinion isn’t totally accepted but the achronim hold that it’s proper to follow this opinion. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 102:9 </ref>