Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Leaving Shul In The Middle Of Chazaras Ha-shatz

Is one allowed to rush out of shul and miss chazaras ha-shatz if he has to get to work??

In general, the poskim take chazaras hashatz very seriously. That is why one may not talk then or even learn Torah [except according to the Rama Mi-pano in simman 102 and the Magen Gibborim 124]. The understanding of many [such as the Chazon Ish O"C 19/7 and many others] is that listening to the repetition of shmoneh esrei is an obligation upon the entire tzibbur. If so, one should not leave.

However, the Rema [55/2] rules that if ten people remain then one may exit the shul. In addition, we see in various places that a loss of money is considered אונס. So, on a rare occasion [Rav Asher Weiss and Rav Azriel Aurbach] one may leave shul early.

עי' שמעתתא עמיקתא אמור תשע"ג רבבות אפרים ח"א סי' מ"ג