[Avodah] davening in public

[Eli Turkel]

"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."
>>

I am not sure about davening in the open under the heavens.
Of course at the Kotel it is usually done (except for those inside the tunnels)
Also in EY it is common to see cars pulled over late in the day and
people davening mincha
outside their cars where such activities are not unusual

Furthermore during the summer I frequently see groups on a tiyul (both
RZ and charedi)
davening mincha outside

shabbat shaom




-- 
Eli Turkel