[Avodah] Whether You Come to Talk to God, to Your Friends or to Both, Shul is a Place For You: A Measured Call Regarding Talking in Shu

[Akiva Miller]

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R' Yitzchok Levine posted:

> Please see the article at https://goo.gl/fsMEir
> IMO one of the reasons why people talk in shul is because
> davening on Shabbos morning often takes a long time. If there
> are speeches, Me Shebeirachs, announcements, etc, then people
> get restless.

If there were people who can keep quiet during the weekday minyanim,
and only talk on Shabbos, then I would consider it to be a reasonable
explanation. But in my experience, the same people talk regardless. If
someone talks during a weekday maariv, then shaving twenty minutes off
of the Shabbos morning won't prevent his restlessness.

The authors of the linked article suggested:

> Not talking until the conclusion of Chazaras HaShatz, including
> the time between when we finish our silent Amidah and we are
> waiting for the chazzan, is doable, it is realistic, it is a
> fair expectation of those attending and it is the minimum to be
> respectful of our friends and neighbors.

Sadly, IMO that's not doable, and not realistic. I'd like to think
that I'd be satisfied if they'd be quiet merely from when we finish
our silent Amidah until the chazan begins. THAT is a minimum for being
respectful of our friends and neighbors.

They don't even have to be silent for a noticeable improvement.
Halevai they would hold it down to a whisper. (And it doesn't count as
a whisper if they can be heard 20 feet away.)

Akiva Miller