Shmoneh Esrei: Difference between revisions

# It’s forbidden to walk in front of someone praying within 4 Amot. <Ref> Gemara Brachot 27a writes that Rav didn’t move after praying Shemonah Esrei because Rabbi Yirmeyah was praying behind him. Then Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Levi concludes that it’s forbidden to walk in front of someone praying Shemonah Esrei. Nonetheless, the Gemara says that Rav Ami and Rav Asi did walk in front of those beyond four amot. This is brought as halacha by the Rif 18b, Rosh 4:4, Rambam Tefillah 5:6, Tur and S”A 102:4. MB 102:15 quotes two reasons for this. The first one is based on the maamar mordechai that you will distract the person who you walk in front of, and the second one is based on the chayei adam who says that you are creating a barrier between him and the schechina. </ref> however, on the sides and in back of them it’s permissible. <Ref>Rabbenu Yonah (Brachot 18b D”H Asur) comments on the gemara which says not to pass in front of someone praying that one would be allowed to walk to the side of someone praying. This is also the implication of the Kesef Mishna in the Rambam 5:6. This is codified in Tur and S”A 102:4. Nonetheless, the Mishna Brurah 102:17 quotes the Zohar which is strict even walking on the side of someone praying within 4 amot. Biur Halacha 102 quotes the Eliya Rabba and the Shla that the same would apply with walking in front of somebody saying keriat shema. </ref> Some explain the reason is that walking in front of him prevents his Kavana <ref>Magan Avraham 102:6 </ref> Some explain that the area where a person davens has the shechina and it’s improper to interrupt the one Davening from the Shechina. <Ref> Sh”t Ginat Veradim 1:39 </ref>

# If one finished one’s Shemonah Esrei and the one behind him isn’t finished, it’s forbidden to take three steps back, even if the one behind started Shemonah Esrei after him. <Ref> S”A 102:5, Mishna Brurah 102:21 adds that even if the one behind him started after him and is now extending his prayers, it’s forbidden to take three steps back.  Shulchan Aruch HaMukutzer Einei Yitzchak (pg 130) writes that some are of the minhag to be lenient not to look back after one finished davening to see if one is Davening behind him. He adds that even though this goes against S”A still the minhag has what to rely on. [It seems this isn’t a source to rely on as it contradicts S”A, however one can judge others favorable who aren’t careful about this halacha.] </ref> In cases of great need, for a mitzvah, or if the one who’s waiting is greatly pained by waiting a long time it’s permissible to take three steps back in a diagonal (not to walk directly in front of the one Davening behind him). <Ref> Mishna Brurah 102:18 writes that according to Eliyah Rabba who permits walking in the front sides of someone Davening, one may take three steps back into that area. Accordingly, Arba Amot Shel Tefillah (pg 50) rules that in cases of great need or a mitzvah one may take three steps in a diagonal. Similarly, Sh”t Teshuvot VeHanhagot is lenient if the one waiting is greatly paining by waiting. </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) </ref>

# Chazal learn from Chanah who was praying in the Bet HaMikdash and the pasuk says that there was no one sitting where she stood. <ref> Gemara Brachot 32a from Shmuel 1 chapter 1</ref>. Some explain that the reason for the prohibition is that it's not proper that it should appear that someone is davening and accepting Hashem's kingship and the one sitting refuses to do so. <ref> Tur 102, Trumat HaDeshen 3 </ref> Some explain that the prohibition is because the Shechina dwells in that area where a person davens and it's inappropriate to sit. <ref> S"A HaRav 102:1, Sefer Arba Amot Shel Tefillah pg 1 suggests that this is based on Shibolei HaLeket (Brachot 25) in name of Rav Hai Goan. </ref>

# It's forbidden to sit within 4 [[amot]] of someone davening <ref> Brachot 31b, S"A 102:1 </ref> including behind the one davening. <ref> Rama 102:1 and Mishna Brurah 102:4 rule that even behind the one davening is forbidden to sit. </ref> 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>  

# If one is going to pray two Shemonah Esrei’s one after the other one should wait between them the time it takes to settle one’s mind in order to pray again which is the time it takes to walk 4 Amot. <Ref>

* Tosfot 30b quotes the Yerushalmi which says that this time is the same as it takes to walk 4 Amot. This is quoted by the Rabbenu Yonah (Brachot 20b-21a D”H Kama). Tur and S”A 105:1 rule like this Yerushalmi. </ref>