Recap for 29 Sh'vat 5773

This Shabbos we continued to discuss davening in a minyan.  We discussed how it is best to daven in a minyan at shul, rather than in our homes.  It is also best to daven in the same shul consistently rather than moving from shul to shul.  However, there are exceptions.  There may be good reasons for davening in a different shul.   For example, there may be a special learning at another shul in between the davening, or we may want to see a family member who davens at a different shul. 

We discussed how it is desirable to have one's own spot for davening within the shul.  This could be the same chair or corner.  Some shuls allow members to reserve seats, but even without officially reserved seating we should try to daven in the same spot.  We do not have to measure our spot exactly to the nearest inch.  As long as we are within 7 feet of where we usually daven, this would be considered good enough.  If someone is visiting the shul and happens to be in our spot, it is better to allow him to do so, as it is more important to welcome a visitor and make him feel comfortable than to daven in our regular spot.  Having said this, we should be careful when visiting a shul to respect the spaces of others.

We discussed how we should be in a hurry to go to shul, but never in a hurry to leave.  We should walk quickly to shul and enter the building.  When the services are done we should take our time, talk to others, and not be in a rush to get somewhere else.  This shows a lot of respect and honor to our shul and to Hashem.  Shul is not a place we have to go, it is a place we want to go.

We discussed how we may be reading 2 separate sections of the Torah, but we still bring out 2 Torahs to do so.  It would take less time to just take out 1 Torah, but taking out 2 Torah’s gives both sections the same formality and blessings that they would receive as if each one was read on separate days.

We discussed the halakah of giving a “half sheckel” coin on Purim.  The custom now-a-days is to give coins that are each equal to ½ of the host country’s currency.  So in the United States we give half dollars.  The custom is to give 3 half dollars for each household member.  The shul sells the half dollars to members, who can pay an amount that is more than the face value if they wish to make a larger donation.  During Purim it is customary to give Tzedukah, and this is one way in which this can be done.

We also discussed the Torah portion that we read on Purim about the battle between the Jews and Amalek.  The Israelites eventually prevail.  Hashem then instructs Moses to write about what happens in a book which we read on Purim.  

This is a summary of what we discussed this Shabbos.  No Halachic rulings are intended or should be inferred.