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Respecting the Sanctity of the Shul: Difference between revisions
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Regarding building, selling, dismantling a Shul building see [[Halachot_of_the_Building_of_the_Shul]] | Regarding building, selling, dismantling a Shul building see [[Halachot_of_the_Building_of_the_Shul]] | ||
==Appropriate Mind-frame for Shul== | ==Appropriate Mind-frame for Shul== | ||
# One should not be involved in light-headedness, frivolity, idle chatter, eating, or drinking in a Shul.< | # One should not be involved in light-headedness, frivolity, idle chatter, eating, or drinking in a Shul.<ref name=":0">Shulchan Aruch O.C. 151:1</ref> | ||
# One should not lounge around or adorn oneself in the Shul. < | # One should not lounge around or adorn oneself in the Shul. <ref name=":0" /> | ||
==Speaking in Shul or Bet Midrash== | ==Speaking in Shul or Bet Midrash== | ||
# It’s utterly forbidden to act frivolously in a Shul or Bet Midrash in any way such as laughter, vane speech, or humor.< | # It’s utterly forbidden to act frivolously in a Shul or Bet Midrash in any way such as laughter, vane speech, or humor.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
# It’s forbidden to speak about non-holy matters in a shul or Bet Midrash including speech about business or an occupation.<Ref> Mishna Brurah 151:2 </ref> | # It’s forbidden to speak about non-holy matters in a shul or Bet Midrash including speech about business or an occupation.<Ref> Mishna Brurah 151:2 </ref> | ||
# Similarly, it’s forbidden to read or write secular subjects in a Shul or Bet Midrash.<Ref> Rav Nevinsal in BeYitzchak Yikra on Mishna Brurah 151:2 </ref> | # Similarly, it’s forbidden to read or write secular subjects in a Shul or Bet Midrash.<Ref> Rav Nevinsal in BeYitzchak Yikra on Mishna Brurah 151:2 </ref> | ||
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==Sleeping in Shul or Bet Midrash== | ==Sleeping in Shul or Bet Midrash== | ||
# One may not sleep (even a temporary sleep) in a shul, but in a bais medrash it is permitted to take a temporary sleep. A talmid chacham may sleep in a shul or a beit midrash.<Ref>Mishna Brurah 151:15-6 </ref> | # One may not sleep (even a temporary sleep) in a shul, but in a bais medrash it is permitted to take a temporary sleep. A talmid chacham may sleep in a shul or a beit midrash.<Ref>Mishna Brurah 151:15-6 </ref> | ||
# One may not sleep in a Shul, however it is permitted to sleep temporarily in a Bet HaMidrash.< | # One may not sleep in a Shul, however it is permitted to sleep temporarily in a Bet HaMidrash.<ref>Shulchan Aruch O.C. 151:3</ref> | ||
==Eating in Shul== | ==Eating in Shul== | ||
# Although it is generally forbidden to eat in a shul, seuda shlishit may be eaten in a shul especially when words of Torah are spoken at the meal. <ref> Yechave Daat 3:10. Shulchan Aruch 151:4 permits eating a seudat mitzvah in a shul. Even the Mishna Brurah 151:20 agrees but cites the Magen Avraham who forbids a large meal with wine in a shul even for a mitzvah. </ref> | # Although it is generally forbidden to eat in a shul, seuda shlishit may be eaten in a shul especially when words of Torah are spoken at the meal. <ref> Yechave Daat 3:10. Shulchan Aruch 151:4 permits eating a seudat mitzvah in a shul. Even the Mishna Brurah 151:20 agrees but cites the Magen Avraham who forbids a large meal with wine in a shul even for a mitzvah. </ref> | ||
# Any seuda for a mitzvah is permissible as long as it doesn't lead to palaver.<ref> Yabia Omer 10:14. Hacham Ovadia Yosef zt"l cites brit milah, pidyon haben, and azkara as examples of mitzvot which grant permission to eat in synagogue </ref> However, liquor may not be served.<ref> Yabia Omer 10:14 </ref> | # Any seuda for a mitzvah is permissible as long as it doesn't lead to palaver.<ref> Yabia Omer 10:14. Hacham Ovadia Yosef zt"l cites brit milah, pidyon haben, and azkara as examples of mitzvot which grant permission to eat in synagogue </ref> However, liquor may not be served.<ref> Yabia Omer 10:14 </ref> | ||
# A Talmud Chacham may eat or drink in a Shul if it is necessary.< | # A Talmud Chacham may eat or drink in a Shul if it is necessary.<ref name=":0" /> Some say that a Talmid Chacham may eat or drink in a Bet Midrash. <Ref>Rama 151:1</ref> | ||
==Entering Shul for Your Benefit== | ==Entering Shul for Your Benefit== | ||
# If one needs to get someone who is in a Shul, one should walk inside, learn a little bit and then call that person. If one does not know how to learn one may wait inside the Shul a little bit (the time it takes to walk 8 [[Tefachim]]) and then call that person, since just sitting in a Shul is a mitzvah.< | # If one needs to get someone who is in a Shul, one should walk inside, learn a little bit and then call that person. If one does not know how to learn one may wait inside the Shul a little bit (the time it takes to walk 8 [[Tefachim]]) and then call that person, since just sitting in a Shul is a mitzvah.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
# One should not enter the Shul to protect oneself from the sun or rain.< | # One should not enter the Shul to protect oneself from the sun or rain.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
==Doing Mundane Activities in Shul== | ==Doing Mundane Activities in Shul== | ||
# One should not perform calculations, unless it is for a mitzvah in a Shul.< | # One should not perform calculations, unless it is for a mitzvah in a Shul.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
==Eulogies in a Shul== | ==Eulogies in a Shul== | ||
# Eulogies should not take place in a Shul unless it is a eulogy for one of the great people of the town and everyone is coming to the eulogy.< | # Eulogies should not take place in a Shul unless it is a eulogy for one of the great people of the town and everyone is coming to the eulogy.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
==Using it as a Shortcut== | ==Using it as a Shortcut== | ||
# One may not use a Shul for a shortcut. However, if the Shul was built in place of a path, it is permitted to continue using that path even after the Shul was built.< | # One may not use a Shul for a shortcut. However, if the Shul was built in place of a path, it is permitted to continue using that path even after the Shul was built.<ref>Shulchan Aruch O.C. 151:5</ref> | ||
==Owning a Seat in Shul== | ==Owning a Seat in Shul== | ||
# If a person sat in a particular seat in shul for three years straight even if he wasn't in on occasion or he changed his seat for avielut he can establish a right to that seat.<ref>Rashba (responsa 1:943), Rama CM 140:8. See also Meiri b"b 29a.</ref> | # If a person sat in a particular seat in shul for three years straight even if he wasn't in on occasion or he changed his seat for avielut he can establish a right to that seat.<ref>Rashba (responsa 1:943), Rama CM 140:8. See also Meiri b"b 29a.</ref> | ||
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# When one is on one's way to Shul or going to do any mitzvah, it is a mitzvah to run even on [[Shabbat]]. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 90:12</ref> | # When one is on one's way to Shul or going to do any mitzvah, it is a mitzvah to run even on [[Shabbat]]. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 90:12</ref> | ||
# When one arrives at Shul one shouldn't run inside, but rather one should walk with awe and trepidation like one is walking before a king.<ref>Magen Avraham 90:24, Mishna Brurah 90:41, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 12:11</ref> | # When one arrives at Shul one shouldn't run inside, but rather one should walk with awe and trepidation like one is walking before a king.<ref>Magen Avraham 90:24, Mishna Brurah 90:41, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 12:11</ref> | ||
# It is forbidden to run when one is leaving Shul.<ref>Shulchan Aruch 90:12</ref> | # It is forbidden to run when one is leaving Shul.<ref>Shulchan Aruch O.C. 90:12</ref> | ||
==Mechitza== | ==Mechitza== | ||
# During davening it is integral to have a mechitza to separate between men and women.<ref>Igrot Moshe 1:41, Yalkut Yosef (Kriyat Hatorah Vbet Hakenest Mdinei Hahanahaga Bkotel n. 2), Ishei Yisrael 28:9</ref> However, there is no need for a mechitza to separate between men and women for non-mitzvot activities such as a mundane meal.<ref>Rav Moshe Feinstein in Igrot Moshe 1:41 cites the Pesachim 86b that speaks about a bride eating a korban pesach together with the rest of the group which would consist of several families and up to 50 or 100 people. He concludes that isn’t necessary to have a mechitza for non-mitzvah activities, such as a meal but excluding davening or learning. However, he has a doubt about wedding meals if they need a mechitza to separate between the men and women.</ref> | # During davening it is integral to have a mechitza to separate between men and women.<ref>Igrot Moshe 1:41, Yalkut Yosef (Kriyat Hatorah Vbet Hakenest Mdinei Hahanahaga Bkotel n. 2), Ishei Yisrael 28:9</ref> However, there is no need for a mechitza to separate between men and women for non-mitzvot activities such as a mundane meal.<ref>Rav Moshe Feinstein in Igrot Moshe 1:41 cites the Pesachim 86b that speaks about a bride eating a korban pesach together with the rest of the group which would consist of several families and up to 50 or 100 people. He concludes that isn’t necessary to have a mechitza for non-mitzvah activities, such as a meal but excluding davening or learning. However, he has a doubt about wedding meals if they need a mechitza to separate between the men and women.</ref> | ||
