Is Going to Shul Really that Important? Rabbi Uri Pilichowski

TEEN TALK

WITH RABBI URI PILICHOWSKI

Southern NCSY, Director of Israel Advocacy

Is Going to Shul Really that Important?

Coronavirus had caused almost all shuls to shut down in an effort to stop the virus from spreading. Shuls in Israel have reopened, but under restrictions like wearing masks, spacing, and limiting the number of attendees. These restrictions might cause us to think that praying in a shul and with a minyan isn’t that important. The Shul is a key focal point of traditional Judaism. Wherever ten Jews live, they are obligated to build a Shul (Mishneh Torah Hilchot Tefilah 11:1). Rav Yosef Karo wrote in The Shulchan Aruch, “It is a mitzvah to run when one travels to synagogue…even on Shabbat, when it is otherwise forbidden to take big steps! But when one leaves the synagogue, it is forbidden to run,” (Orach Chaim 90:12) and “A person should try to pray in the synagogue with a congregation.” (Orach Chaim 90::9)

It isn’t only the Synagogue that plays a crucial role in prayer, “Communal prayer is always heard. Even when there are transgressors among the congregation God does not reject the prayers of the many. Therefore, a person should include himself in the community and should not pray alone whenever he is able to pray with the community,” wrote the Rambam about the importance of praying with a minyan (Mishneh Torah Hilchot Tefilah 8:1).. It is understandable why people have such a difficult time praying outside of the Synagogue and privately without a minyan.

Praying in a shul and with a minyan is very important. One shouldn’t think that just because we had stopped for a few weeks that it’s not that important. When we break Shabbat for a medical emergency we don’t draw the conclusion that Shabbat is less important (Orach Chaim 329:1). So too, although we stopped praying in a shul and minyan for Coronavirus we should not think it is not that important.

We anxiously look forward to returning to the optimal setting of Tefilla Betzibur. We will then be able to fully reconnect with our friends and community and lovingly stand in the presence of Shechina which is always present when we join a minyan.

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