When Extended Prayer Leads to Inconveniencing Others

In a scenario where one participates in a minyan metzumtzam (ten people) and some participants engage in lengthy prayer, causing the minyan to have to wait in order to repeat the Shemoneh Esrei (as the Halachah mandates nine people to answer the brochos[i]). Is this appropriate?

Response:

It is important to distinguish between one who is careful to pronounce each word clearly and one who extends his prayer beyond that.

The Talmud[ii] relates that Rabbi Akiva would pray quickly when davening betzibur (with a minyan) but when praying alone (beyichidus) “one would leave him in one corner and find him later in another corner.”

Rambam[iii] therefore states: One praying with a congregation should not lengthen his prayer excessively. [However,] he may do so when praying alone.

The Rema[iv] echoes this ruling, and the poskim are critical of those who extend their prayer and cause the minyan to wait for them, especially when there is only a minyan metzumtzam[v].

[In fact one who deems it necessary to extend his prayer but is concerned that others may be displeased with this, and as a result he may not be able to concentrate on his prayer, he may in fact move back three steps when the chazzan begins, and later return to his place and conclude his Shemoneh Esrei[vi].]

However, the poskim[vii] are equally clear that the minyan must wait for those participants who are careful to say each word clearly [whoever they may be, even if they are not the Rabbi[viii]], being that the others who have not pronounced each word clearly have not prayed appropriately.

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[i]) Shulchan Aruch Harav, 124:6.

[ii]) Brochos  31a

[iii]) Hilchos Tefillah, 6:2

[iv]) Shulchan Aruch, Hilchos Tefillah, 124:3

[v]) See sources cited in Piskey Teshuvah 124:3:6, and fn. 48 where he specifically addresses davening at length with a minyan metzumtzam.

[vi]) Magen Avraham, 124:7; Mishna Berura, 124:13; Kaf Hachayim, 124:13.

[vii]) Magen Avraham, ibid; Shulchan Aruch Harav, 124:5; Mishna Berura, ibid.

[viii]) Siddur Yaavetz, Hanhagas Chazaras Hatefillah, 1.