[Avodah] R Yaakov Kamenetzky on davening in public

[Yitzchok Levine]

This was sent to me by Rabbi Dr. Daniel Z. Kramer. I think that it is 
well worth disseminating.  YL

"B'Mechitzas Rabbeinu" -Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzky's hanhagos. See pages 58-59

Here's a loose translation by a friend:

"One student - whose livelihood required him to always be on the road 
- asked R' Yaakov what to do about davening Mincha when he was out on 
the road. R' Yaakov advised him to pull into a highway rest stop or 
parking lot, park his car, and daven the entire mincha while sitting 
inside his car. R' Yaakov emphasized that there was absolutely no 
reason in such a case to stand up and daven in public - or to do 
anything else that would arouse anyone's curiosity. After all, being 
the subject of everyone else's curious looks would surely detract 
from him ability to concentrate on his prayers.

He also emphasized that it was against halacha to stand outside and 
daven out in the open under the 'Kippas HaShamayim'. Lastly, he told 
him that although many try and solve this problem by going into an 
empty telephone booth to daven, this is pure gezeilah from the phone 
companies. After all, while one is in there davening mincha, he's 
preventing others from entering and paying to make their phone calls."

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