4 Iyyar 5781 / 19th day of the omer, which equals two weeks and five days of the omer count
by Rabbi Ephraim Sprecher first published here
“My
Shabbatot you shall observe, and My Sanctuary you shall revere.”
(Vayikra 19:30). Rashi comments that giving the proper respect to the
sanctuary (Beit Hamikdash) is expressed by not entering with one's
walking stick, or while wearing shoes or a money belt or with dust on
one's feet. Today we have no Beit Hamikdash, but the Gemara in Megillah
29 teaches that our shuls are מקדשי מעט which means mini sanctuaries and
must be treated with great respect and reverence.
Tractate
Derech Eretz Raba chapter 3, one of the 14 so called “minor tractates,”
records an incident at the end of the life of R. Eleazar ben Azariah
when he was seriously ill, his students came to him and asked him “How
can we be worthy of life in the World to Come?” He answered them “Go out
and be careful with the honor due to your friends, and when you are
standing in prayer, know before Whom you are standing. This will earn
you life in the World to Come.”
Chavos
Yair wonders why R. Eleazar ben Azariah prefaces his advice with the
words “Go out”. It seems out of place and irrelevant to the advice he
offers.
He
explains that R. Eleazar ben Azariah’s comment for addressing the great
difficulty some people have avoiding talking during davening. This
occurs mainly on Shabbat when friends see each other and have time to
catch up on news of family, community or business. This is especially
true now that many of us are back in shul, after a year, and some of us
feel that we have to catch up with our friends, so we must be conscious
of this.
Unfortunately
this talking often takes place during davening or Kriat HaTorah, and
leads to a desecration of Hashem’s sanctuary. At times a person feels
that it is impolite not to respond to a question or comment from one's
shul friend and feels compelled to talk, even if it is in the middle of
davening in shul.
In
this light, we can understand the message of R. Eleazar ben Azariah. If
you want to be careful in the honor due your friends, then GO OUT of
Shul and talk there. When you are davening in shul, be aware before Whom
you are praying. This will earn you life in the World to Come!
If
only people would take to heart the words of the Chavos Yair and
thereby bring about a marked improvement in the decorum in our shuls,
they would then merit the great benefits that come from sincere prayer.
***
(...and maybe Mashiah will feel welcome in our batei knessiot, be"H he should come any moment now? Shabbat shalom umevorach! - HDG)
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