24 Oct TALKING DURING CHAZARAS HASHATZ

Looking around the
shul during chazaras
hashatz, we can see
people learning Torah
or simply not paying
attention. Sometimes
we have no idea where
the shaliach tzibbur
is up to. If we answer
amen, we may not even
be aware which brachah

we are answering.
Such a phenomenon does not take place in
any other religion. The yetzer hara talks us
into things that will take our minds off of
Chazaras Hashatz. Yet although it may be
difficult to stay quiet and focused during
Chazaras Hashatz, it is doable.
What Is Chazaras Hashatz?
The Anshei Knesses Hagedolah instituted
Chazaras Hashatz. Maybe people think
that they did so in order that individuals
who don’t know how to daven Shemoneh
Esrei can fulfill their obligation through the
shaliach tzibbur. Today, most people know
how to daven and do not need the shaliach
tzibbur to fulfill their obligation. Therefore,
many people assume that Chazaras Hashatz
is a waste of time. In order to turn this time

into useful time, they talk to their friends or
learn Torah during Chazaras Hashatz. This
misconception is very damaging. A person
can live his entire life without realizing the
importance of Chazaras Hashatz.
It is true that originally, Chazaras Hashatz
was instituted because the congregants didn’t
know how to daven properly and the shaliach
tzibbur would exempt the kehillah with his
own Shemoneh Esrei. However, the Rambam
says that once it was instituted, it became part
of davening even if everyone knows how to
daven. Other commentators agree that we say
Chazaras Hashatz today even though everyone
knows how to daven. There are other reasons
why Chazaras Hashatz is recited.
The Ben Ish Chai says that the reason
Chazaras Hashatz was originally instituted
is not the main reason why we say it today.
Chazaras Hashatz has the ability to reach
higher levels than the quiet Shemoneh Esrei,
and one should therefore make sure to treat it
properly. This is comparable to someone who
buys a car and spends his entire life driving
on one speed, since he didn’t know that it was
possible to go faster.
Some say the reason why chazaras hashatz
was instituted is so that Kedushah may be
recited with ten people. The Gemara says

that if one davened and his tefillah was not
answered, he should daven again. The Gra
says this is referring to Chazaras Hashatz. If
one answers amen to a brachah recited by the
shaliach tzibur, his tefillos will be answered.
The Beis Yosef says that when one is careful
to answer amen after each brachah of chazaras
hashatz, it is as if he davened twice and he
receives double reward.
Answering amen during Chazaras Hashatz is
a tremendous kiddush Hashem.
The Pri Megadim says that today, we don’t
concentrate properly during our silent
Shemoneh Esrei. Perhaps, then, we listen to
chazaras hashatz to fulfill our obligation.
Harav Yoseph Ber Soloveitchik says that
Chazaras Hashatz was instituted so the
tzibbur could offer a communal tefillah. This
is why there must be nine people listening to
the shaliach tzibbur and he must say every
word. The Eretz Hatzvi says that the tefillah
that takes place during Chazaras Hashatz is
the primary form of tefillah b’tzibbur.
The Kaf Hachaim says that Chazaras Hashatz
is more important than the silent Shemoneh
Esrei. The Shulchan Hatohar says that
Chazaras Hashatz is an obligation just like the
silent Shemoneh Esrei, and one must listen to
every word.
The Sin Is Too Great to Carry
One is absolutely forbidden to talk
during Chazaras Hashatz. Since time
immemorial, this has been an issue. In
fact, the Rambam says that to avoid
talking during Chazaras Hashatz, he
instituted that the shaliach tzibbur did
not recite the silent Shemoneh Esrei.
Instead, he would begin immediately with
Chazaras Hashatz and the rest of the shul
would recite Shemoneh Esrei along with
the shaliach tzibbur.
Many people are not careful with this
halachah, and they should be informed
that they are making a mistake. The sin for
talking during chazaras hashatz is so great
that the Shulchan Aruch writes, “The sin
is too great to carry.” This is the only time
the Shulchan Aruch uses this language,
and many sefarim try to explain why it is
so severe.
Rabbeinu Yonah says that one who
embarrasses his friend in public is likened
to a murderer and does not have a place in
Olam Haba. Embarrassing another person
is so severe because one who does so
doesn’t realize that he is doing anything
wrong and does not feel remorse for his
actions. Therefore, he is very far from
teshuvah. Based on this, we can explain
why speaking during Chazaras Hashatz
is so severe. When one speaks during
Chazaras Hashatz, he doesn’t realize
what he is doing and does not feel any
remorse. This sin is so prevalent and takes
place many times a day. Therefore it is a
very great sin.

The Pillar of Tefillah
The Mishnah says that the world stands on
three pillars: Torah, avodah, and gemilus
chassadim. In order to endure, the world
needs these three pillars. The pillar of avodah
is tefillah, as the Gemara says that tefillah is
an avodah of the heart. One who talks during
davening is putting the pillar of tefillah at
risk, which could cause the entire world to
collapse, chas v’shalom. This sin is too great
to carry.
***Once, a talmid of a certain gadol spoke
during Chazaras Hashatz. The rest of the
day, the gadol called this talmid “great.” The
students asked the gadol why he was doing
this.
“One who speaks during Chazaras Hashatz
has a sin that is too ‘great’ to carry,” he
replied. “Therefore, I am calling him ‘great.’”
***The Shomer Emunim adds that one
should not be embarrassed to say that he does
not speak during Chazaras Hashatz.
Like a Murderer
Some commentators say that when one speaks
during davening, he prevents the tefillos from
that beis medrash from being accepted by
Hashem. Therefore, this person is a murderer,
just like Kayin who killed Hevel, and Hashem
says that his sin is too great to carry.
Harav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach was asked
if halachah dictates that one should shout
at someone who is talking during Chazaras
Hashatz. He answered, “If someone would
see a person who is going to kill someone,
would you ask such questions?”