28 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?”