In terms of Ga-ahl Yisroel, the Rav (RYDB) required us to say it with the Shaliach Tzibbur, but the question arises L'maaseh, if one for whatever reason doesn't and pauses before starting the Amidah. It is true that one should be going directly into the Amidah from Yisroel without stopping; but what if one doesn't? Theoretically the question should be irrelevant, but because we are not Malachay Hashareit, practically the problem does arise.<br>
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As far as coming to Doven late and saying the Amidah with the Shatz, the Rav required us to do so rather than rely on the Chazarat Hashatz. Our primary obligation is to fulfill the Mitzvah of Tefilah through our personal prayer. The Chazarat Hashatz is a communal obligation which I may "witness" if I am able to, but my personal obligation comes first; Rabbi Zeigler does say in his book, however, that the Rav felt that one should not stop dovening his own personal Amidah at the Kedushah of ther Shatz in order to answer silently, but rather keep dovening. That piece I did not hear directly from the Rav or notice it in practice, but did doven after Shiur with the Rav and in the Heichah Kedushah, after having said each word with the Shaliach Tzibbur, did answer to his Kedushah. Of course in that case since everyone was saying the Amidah with the Shatz there was to be no Chazarat Hashatz (Tefilat Hatzibur), and if we just continued dovening the Amidah, no one would have been answering to the Kedushah of the Shaliach Tzibbur.<br>
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Kol Tov, <br>
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