Dose of Halacha

Question: May a chazzan take three steps back after completing his silent amida if someone is davening behind him? Answer: The Gemara (Berachos 27a) teaches that one must not walk in front of someone davening the amida . Rambam (Tefilla 5:6) codifies this halacha , stating that it is forbidden to pass within four amos in front of them. The Shulchan Aruch (OC 102:4) clarifies that this prohibition applies only to walking in front, whereas walking alongside is permitted. However, the Mishna Berura (102:17) cites the Zohar, which is stringent even regarding walking beside someone who is davening . The Magen Avraham (102:6) explains that walking in front of another person disrupts their kavana during davening . The Ginas Veradim (OC 1:39) and Chayei Adam ( 1:26:3 ) add that the area where one davens is imbued with the shechina , making it improper to create a separation between the one davening and the shechina’s presence (see Mishna Berura 102:15). R’ Shlomo Zalman A...

Question: I was davening shacharis in a shul where they skipped tachanun, though most people didn’t know why. When I asked the chazzan afterwards, he explained that it was a tzaddik’s yartzheit . Should I have recited tachanun ? Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 131:6) lists various days on which tachanun is omitted due to the simcha associated   with the day, such as Rosh Chodesh and Chanuka . The Mishmeres Shalom (12:4) and Minhag Yisrael Torah (OC 131:3) record a minhag to omit tachanun on the yahrzeit of a tzaddik. They cite Rashi (Yevamos 122a), who notes that it was common practise for talmidei chachamim to gather together to learn on the yahrzeit of the amaoraim, referring to such days as regalim, auspicious occasions. Nonetheless, R' Ovadia Yosef (Yabia Omer OC 3:11:9) strongly opposes this practice, asserting that tachanun should not be omitted unless there is a solid halachic basis. If one were to follow this minhag consistently, tachanun would never b...

Question: I often see the chazzan take three steps back and forward after finishing his chazaras hashatz . Is this necessary? Answer: The Gemara (Yoma 53b) teaches that one should take three steps back upon completing the amida . The Shulchan Aruch (OC 123:1) explains that this is done by turning first to the left, then to the right, and finally bowing forward while reciting ‘oseh shalom..’. This gesture is compared to a servant taking leave of their master. The Beis Yosef (OC 123:1) provides several explanations for this practice. Quoting the Shibolei Haleket (18), he notes that stepping backward symbolises leaving the sacred space of prayer and re-entering the mundane world. The Shulchan Aruch (OC 123:4) rules that the chazzan should only take three steps back after completing his silent amida , not after chazaras hashatz . However, the Rema adds that if the chazzan has not yet recited his own silent amida , he is required to take three steps back after chazaras hashatz ....