I want to discuss the issue that some shuls have with people talking during the services. There are those who do it, and those who are effected by it. The shul is a holy place and we should keep it that way. This is one of the things that we should reflect on and improve for the comming year.

Shalom :)

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I know of one shul that will stop the chazzan or the one who is reading from the Torah if anyone is talking and wait for the person to stop.
There is an interesting Halacha in Mishna Brurah Volume 1 that says that one is not aloud to learn Torah during chazarat hashatz (chazzan's repetition) so kal vechomer talking in shul is prohibited.

Some shuls has a great sign up on their walls that translates in to "If you come here to talk, where do you pray".
I don't understand the question. Talking in shul is assur - it should be saved for a later time. This is different than instructing your child where the place is in davening. Children should be taught that shul is a quiet place.
I just saying that one of the things that some people should think about and work on, is not talking in shul.
It starts from the Rabbi not talking in Shul either!

sharona said:
I just saying that one of the things that some people should think about and work on, is not talking in shul.
Perhaps you need to find a different shul if yours is one where people engage in talking.
Sam, with the shul I grew up going to, it was mainly some of the congregants talking. But I understand that your experience probably is different.

Others have also experienced this in some way, like this one young lady who said on her blog that she prefers to daven at home because her shul has become a social place.

Rivka, actually I do go to a different shul now, where people pay more attention to davening. But I didn't switch for that reason. I switched because the environment and people are more my type than at the other shul I went to.
Anyway, the reason why I brought up this topic is because of a young lady who blogged about her shul. - After reading that, I was thinking that I should bring this up, so people think about it and improve. I know that not everyone talks, and many individuals concentrate on praying. But for those who do talk, it's something that they should think about.
Yes, I was talking about this with my friends last Shabbos during chazaras haShatz, and we all agreed it was a serious problem.

;)
ROFL
Rabbi Joshua Waxman said:
Yes, I was talking about this with my friends last Shabbos during chazaras haShatz, and we all agreed it was a serious problem.

;)
I hope all had an easy and meaningful fast. Talking in shul seems to pervade the nation. When i lived in a small town i davened in a small place. I had to have a chat with a good friend even about talking. Now in NYC I see it everywhere as well. I think many mean well but they find difficulty in keeping the connection and davening/listening/focusing for the whole of shacharis. I hate that it happens but does one force people out and risk a spiritual damaging and negative thoughts associated with going to shul? I used to think the problem occurred only in modern orthodox shuls but see it everywhere. Not every shul, but in more yeshivish as well. I would posit the question of "how do we inspire others to not talk, without turning the shul into a place dreaded as stiltifying?"
Great questions.
In my neighborhood, this is not really a problem (IMHO), in that we have a shul on almost every block. And people tend to gravitate towards the type of shul they are looking for. In some shuls, they are fairly strict about preventing talking, and the people who go there are looking for that type of experience. And in others, they are less strict about it. I think that both types of shul experiences can be positive for different individuals.
I develop this somewhat provocative idea in this blogpost from two years ago:
http://parsha.blogspot.com/2006/07/why-i-support-talking-in-shul_26...
Though of course don't act based on this, or really almost anything you read on the Internet. :)

In terms of how to inspire others, I think the blog "The Rebbetzin's husband" had an interesting take on it recently:
http://rechovot.blogspot.com/2008/08/stop-campaigning-against-noise...
Kol Tuv,
Josh
Well I subscribe to a small group (Machon Shilo) that thinks that the overlong davening with the accumalation of the centuries contributes to people loosing attention. Long MeShebarachs are also a dubious activity. Mentioning everyone who is sick is also tirchah dtzibur. I really don't like extra kiddushim and feel awkward in going along with the practice.
It has been suggested that the davening in the Golah is longer than in Israel (piyutim, etc.) because it was the center of their holiday and they wanted to stay in shul while in Israel the emphasize is in the home.
Now nobody talks in my shul except me. All weeklong I keep collecting my Chidushim and by Shabbat I can't contain myself (during my regular day I do not come in contact with many people who would be interested).

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