Chazzan Interrupting Others

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 Auerbach (Tefilla 9:1) writes that a chazzan should not take three steps back in front of someone who is davening. Instead, he should wait and only step back only after chazaras hashatz.

Nonetheless, the Aruch Hashulchan (OC 102:13) states that in a shul where the chazzan is waiting for the Rav to finish, the Rav may take three steps back regardless, so as not to cause tircha detzibbura, an unnecessary burden on the community. R’ Eliezer Waldenberg (Tzitz Eliezer 7:23:6) applies this reasoning to a chazzan waiting to conclude his silent amida in order to begin chazaras hashatz. He adds that if the chazzan refrains from stepping back, it may cause confusion.

Similarly, R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe OC 4:70:8) emphasises that taking three steps back is an integral part of the amida, akin to bowing when reciting modim. Likewise, R’ Moshe Sternbuch (Teshuvos Vehanhagos 4:33) cites the Chazon Ish, who holds that the chazzan should ideally take three steps to the side rather than backward, thereby following the Shulchan Aruch’s lenient view (see Ishei Yisrael 29:16).

In conclusion, a chazzan may take three steps back after his silent amida if someone is davening within four amos behind him. However, if possible, he should step to the side instead, to avoid walking directly in front of them.