Davening in a Bet Knesset | Rabbi Yossi Goldin | June 10th 2025

And um getting back to our regular scheduled u learning in terms of the topics that we're going to be doing. Of course, um a reminder that our learning should be audi also is for all of those who have been affected by the war, those who are injured and of course should give our leaders the guidance to make the right decisions. Um So what I wanted to do this week and um and next week as well is discuss um the idea of davening in a bait kesset. We we did spend a lot of time we've been doing introductory topics in general. We we broke to to to talk about different inma things that were happening in the Jewish calendar. Um and we even started with modani which we'll get back to the order of and we have done in the past talking about davening with a minion and the importance of dvening. I wanted to focus today on davening and ashul because as we're going to see there is certainly a connection between davening and ashul and dominating and ding with a minion. They are two separate ideas and therefore uh they warrant their own their own conversation. There's there are as we're going to see also there are gumaras that talk about the value of dominating in a shul and sometimes it's not 100% clear whether the value is the shul itself or the minion. So sometimes it could be a little bit unclear but there are definitely many gimmar that talk specifically about the power of ashul uh the importance of ding in a shul and and and and that's what I wanted to to focus today. So we're going to start by just really seeing a number of important gumaras foundational gumaras that discuss the value of betakness the value of ashul and the value of dvening and start with source number one source number one is migil um the says this is a p um that is referring to the times of gulos that when god is going to send us out in gulos says the says the puk I will establish lish for them a mikdash, a small mikdash, a small sanctuary. Um, which seems to be referring to a smaller version of the beta mikdash, a smaller version of the mishkan saysk. What is that referring to? What is this mikdash midash? It's referring to the shs and the study halls in in Bav. Now, we're going to we're not going to really talk about the relation between the Bessa and the B midrash. um they tend to be two different places although obviously there's there's also a value in having them both be the same we're going to focus more on the shul um today and and says so the the mikdash is the shul and the base major so we already see this idea that the shul and the bas midish are meant to replicate in some way the status of the beta mikdash and where's the first quotation from um forgive me I don't remember 100% I could look it up I don't I don't I don't remember exactly where it is Uh, I was looking at the gamar this morning, but I and I saw where it was and I and I and I and I forgot. Um, but I can try to I can try to let you know. We can look it up afterwards. Okay. Um, and and and although it specifically says BL here, um, I think the implication is is that whenever referring to gullis and also obviously even when we're while we're in Israel now, there is a certain status to the and by the way, this also might have ramifications. We're not going to discuss this now, but there might there's there are certain that are connected to what you can do in a shul, what you can do with a location that's designated as a shul because it has a certain status of holiness, a certain status of kadusha because it is replicated after the uh the beta mikdash. Where is it? Where is it? Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Amar Zabel Rabar says no it's not referring to the it's referring to uh I think it's the house of Rav I think is what he's referencing there it's referring to a specific house in in Bavl which is another opinion which is this isn't referring to shash it's referring to a specific place in that acted as a as a mikdash says ra what does it mean when it says hashem you were in a abode for us means like a place in a boat a place of living. So again there's a sense that the B medish and the and and the bessid is is almost acts as the abode of the place where resides similar to modeled after the mikdash and then later on in the gimrainote the shs and the mash in are going to eventually they're going to be transplanted into Israel. Again, here I'm understanding and I think it's also, you know, appropriate that B here just means all all of Gullis. Anywhere where there is a B midash and a and a Besset, they're going to be, you know, replanted back here. They're going to be established reestablished here in Erit, Israel. I don't know again, we don't know if this means physically that God is going to uproot that big that that that really big shel in, I don't know, England, New Jersey, which is where I'm from, or Eddie Shaw, wherever you've been to, but certainly in England, New Jersey, they have a big shul any shu in America. and they're going to bring them here and like you know plant them right next to Nitanim. I don't know if that's what's going to be or if there's some symbolism here in terms of the the impact of those sh are going to somehow be replicated here in init says they will come like in the mountains and Carmel Mount Carmel in the Yamim. This is a mavlavore and harl are mountains shal according to the medus that referencing was that mount haravavore and har carmel were were supplanted and brought and were present at harsai again this is all imagery that we don't fully understand exactly what the imagery is meant to show us but just like they were planted temporarily um in order to learn to now they're now they find themselves in Israel in in the base where they are bringing so much learning and so much Torah learning and so and so much Torah study and as well. Okay. So certainly any place which has this is going to eventually be re be supplanted from where it is and brought to and brought to Israel. So what we see in this gimmar is again the imagery is is is actually fascinating and we're going to see hopefully um some of it today and some of it next week. The imagery is meaningful. There's specific meaning to each of the imagery that the gumar is that the gumar is giving here. But we see that the gumar is referred to refers to the shul as a mikdash or the tanak refers to as a mikdash mat and that they're also called the ma it's the ma of hashem the abode of hashem. And then the gammorra also tells us that these shs because of what they accomplish are going to be eventually brought into it. They almost have like a den as it were of Israel. There's a certain spirit of it is that exists in these shs and in these midash even in even init. Okay. Continuing next to the next Gimar Tanya says of a of a person is is is only going to be heard or another way of saying that is is ideally going to be heard in the in the most complete way in the says to listen to the song and to the by putting the two of them together. In the place where there is reina, where there is song, where there is is a certain amount of delight and happiness, that is where you should be dining. Okay? And as and the gar is identifying the shul as a place of reina, which we're going to see what that what that means. But there's there's this association with a with rea and fil. Sorry. when I think from okay that he says at the time right is and that there should that there should exactly so again we do exactly we use it in this we use it in this so there's clear association. It's a beautiful with and the gar here is showing us that because the is a place of that is where ideally your should be should be as well. And we're going to see exactly again exactly what this means. How do we know that God is found in the betar elim that God stands amongst the the adah amongst the group of of Hashem. Now this last one we could have understood that to mean that it's referring to a minion not necessarily to a specific place but if you look at source number three these which is a which is a perush on some of the agra says specifically what does it mean? What does it mean in the among the congregation of God? Be moed shill. He says this is referring to the place where God where God meets people. The place modeled after the moed the place where God sets himself up. So this is a reference at least according to not to a minion but to the specific sh that God is found in his home in his pl in his meeting place. And now he explains what does it mean that God stands? This is actually very very interesting. Why does it say that God stands? Why doesn't God sit? Obviously God is not physical. But why do they use the imagery of standing? He stands there next to the why is he standing says because within four of what a person is saying you're not allowed to sit and because God is coming and finding himself amongst us who areing therefore God stands. It's an interesting an interesting explanation. But the point is is that God is that according to this understanding, this is a reference to the shul that there's a special status to the shul that God is found within within the shul. Okay, we have two more gumaras to do before we start to really dig into this and understand it better. The Gumar in source number four raven raven the son of says in the name of anyone who normally goes to shul and one day doesn't come ask after you it's almost as if like you know if you have a group of people I'm just thinking as I deal but I was just thinking about you know a show where you want to go to the place where everyone knows your name right anyone knows anyone who gets that reference then uh okay right you want to go to a place where if you don't come one day they're going to ask about you they're going to they're going to so it's almost as if a person come often comes to shulm and you don't and one day you don't come hashem asks about you it's almost as if again the imagery is hashem is here hashem is found finds himself with it here within the and if one day you don't come you're missing you're missing to the group you're missing to quote unquote again skipping down now to the next to the next part of When Hashem comes to he doesn't find a minion, he comes to and there's not a minion here. He gets upset. It says in why did I come and there's no one and no one there's no one here. I called and no one is answering. So here what the Garra is highlighting and this is an important we're going to see this soon in a little bit more detail is that the shul is specifically not just meant to be a place where we come but it's meant to be a place of a minion. Okay, that fundamentally and this is going to be when we talk about what's the value of a shul the first and simple and most practical answer is why is a shul important because if you because we we've already learned about the value of davin with a minion and what's the best place that you're going to able be able to come to davin with a minion in shul we're going to see there's other values to ashul besides that but simp but one at its core the simple value of ashul is the shul is where you can come and dive in with the minion and therefore elevate your because as we've already spent a lot of I'm do talking about there is a tremendous value in davening in having your together with a minion and that's why it's called by the way a bet the bet means a house of gathering because this is the place where people congregate to d into a kadoshu and therefore from a practical perspective if hashem comes to the shul and he walks into the shul and he only sees you know five men that's what the gmorra is saying he gets upset because he's saying this is meant to be a place of a minion and where is that minion quote unquote Okay. So that's that's the next kimarra. Now we're going to uh look look at source number source number five. Source number five is another. This is that we actually have done already when we when we did when we did the the suga of ding with a minion but we're going to see that it actually now connects to as well says this was a story my time says why didn't you come to we missed you in shul the other day. Where were you? He said, I couldn't come. So then why don't you gather 10 band in you know somewhere else if you couldn't get obviously you should try to come to if you couldn't come to at least get a minion it's too hard was too hard for me. At the very least, what you should have done was found out when the minion is domining and at least time your domining to when the minion is dominant. That's why we saw when we did the the topic of domining with a minion that there's a value to if you can't do if you have to dominate at home at least try to time it so that it's when your sh is local shul is domining because there's a certain coach a certain power to that says. So he answered him uh my kouli. Do I really have to go that far and and and time it to the to the minion to the time of the minion? Yes. Says in the name of my what does it mean when it says ate and and me might feel to you Hashem is a time of when is it an ate at the time when the Tor is dvening. Okay. So therefore we see that the time when the T-board is dominating that's a time of eight raton that's a time of special power and best if you can't doin if you have to do at home for whatever reason to do in at the same time that everyone else is dominating. Okay so at first glance this gamarra doesn't seem to have much to do with our topic. This gumar is talking about divining with a with a tabboard. But we're going to see that some reonim some of the commentaries have a different gear a different text on this gra and actually insert besset into this gar as well which we'll which we'll see soon continues the garra. Yes. as much of shore as possible. That's interesting that you're saying what she's saying is that she heard that in the time of the Quran the rabbi gave a she about what if that if you're having the outdoor manim you should have them as close to the shul as possible. Yeah. I mean with with appropriate distance but you're saying as opposed to just doing it in a random place to try to locate it near the shul. Um so that I don't know. Um I mean as we're going to see soon part of the idea of dominating the shul is the metaphysical reality and the metaphysical holiness of that jewel. So it could be it's connected to that. Um it could also just be that the rabbi wanted to get people continued used to walking to near the shul meaning it could just simply be a practical piece which is you want people getting used to having a minion right outside their door because when they and this happened this happened in Corona people got used to having a minion right outside their door or in their house and then they had to come. So it could just be a practically the rabbi wanted people to still get used to coming. If you can't do it in the shul at least it in the shell parking lot. So you're still associating I I I don't know. I don't I I don't know. That's my only suggestion. Meaning I don't know if there's a thing. I've never heard that before. I've never heard the idea that if you can't do it in the shul, at least do it in the parking lot of the shul. Um, but it could be that those are those those are some explanations for it, but I'm not I'm not 100% sure. Okay. Continues the garam. The Gar source number five. Anyone who has a shul in his city and he doesn't enter their he is called a bad neighbor. Okay. A bad neighborh. Okay. So says Hashem and all of the all of the bad neighbors who are who are found in the place where I have put Ami Israel that there's some kind of association with not associating with the call and being called a says the when you do that you cause gullus you cause your you and your children to become exiled. Why? It says I guess later later on in that same peric I will I will expel them or kick them out from upon their landh and the house of Yehuda I will take out from amongst them. So a certain association again with not going to or not being a part of the community that ends up leading to to galut continues the story they said took there are some elderly people who are living in says says he said wait a second how could that be the says it only talks about living a long life in Israel It doesn't say anything about having a long life in how could there be elderly people living in answers. What what what merit did these people have to be living in in in Bavl uh and still having living a long life? Well, they used to get up early to go to shul and they would stay late stay late in shul because they were those people who would who would come early to doning um and and stay late in the shul that was their biouy says tells his children you should get up early and stay late in so that you you'll live a long life. So we also now have this idea that if a person is gets up and goes to shul early and stays late is one of the last ones to leave the minion at night that that is associated with living with living a long life. Okay. So we have lots of different imagery here that the Gmorrah is giving us for the value of doning of doning of ding with dominion. One more that I want to just bring for you and then and then we're going to really try to analyze this a little bit more. Source number six. This is about a person should in a place that is specially designated for davening. What's the reason the says any place where I will mention my name? It doesn't say where you will mention my name. If it said wherever you mention my name that would mean wherever you are you can mention my name and it'll be great but the says wherever I mention my name which means that there are certain places that God has designated to be the place where his name is going to be mentioned and that's where we should be dabing okay now you might have thought that this was referring to a specific makum kav but but this yushami goes on to say that even within a you should have your own makum which we've discussed as well so clearly this is not just talking about makum kav but it's talking about davining within a structure that is designated for fort fela. Okay. So we've seen a number of different gimaras. Each of these gimmaras are highlighting different aspects of why it's important to u to davin the value of davening of davining with a minion. We're going to skip source number seven. But in source number eight the riff the riff is one of the rishonim an sorry you're right ding the shul. Forgive me I I made the mistake. We're specifically talking about ding ding the shaw. The riff in source number eight is one of the rishonim and the riff when he quotes we mentioned the gamarra earlier the gamarra that was we the garra we saw source number five that tells the story of of one friend who said to the other why didn't you come to show and he said I didn't come because I couldn't and he said well you should have at least davened at the same time as as everybody else because the puk says and the gar ends up saying when is it raton when the shavvens the riff in source number eight has a different gear has different text in that. And look how he quotes the gum. We underlined it for you. A person's is only going to be heard in that we already saw that was that was number two. But says the where does it come from? Because the says because the puk says when is an eight whenever the dins okay so here we have someone who takes that which seems to only be talking about ding with a connects it to do and shu so all the all the say where did this guy where did where did the rift and it's not just the riff the riff and the rush where did they get this gera and if you look at the text the text seems to be talking about the value of dining with a minion so why is it mentioning ashul so the gumar So many of the reishonim or the mafim explain that obviously there is a clear connection between ding and shul and ding with a minion. What's the connection? Where are you most likely to find dominion in shul. And therefore when the gammoru is talking about the value of ding with a minion it also adds on but you should d into the shul because by talking about ding with the shul it's that's the place where you are most likely to dive in to dive in with a minion which is what which which is now we're going to get into why we're going to get into what what is the value of dvening in a shul. Why is diving in the shul such an important thing that we have so many gamaras that talk about the value. So answer number one is going to be as we mentioned a very practical reason. We know that it's important to do diving with a minion. We know that there's a value to do with a minion. And where is the place where you're most likely to find that minion in the shul. Okay. Even if we're not talking about a where you can go at all hours of the day and find your you know the 10 men at all hours for any shul is meant to be the place where everyone comes together. And there that's value number one. That's answer. That's explanation number one for why it is important for us to come to. However, that can't be the only reason. Yes. As opposed to whatever you were saying. I don't know 100%. Meaning I can't tell you the the straightup definition as I understand that any place. I'm just I'm thinking of I'm I'm thinking myself how how you how you would I I don't know 100% because for example you know my street has a minion admire on every every excuse me every mo shabist does that mean our street is a shul no I think a shul is a I think it's a building that has been designated and designated to be used for the purpose of dining now um again there are there limitations to what you can do and can't do in a sh there are discussions about this and very often nowadays we say that most shs that are built are built on condition that they might be used for other things as well because that gives us the ability to sometimes use a building. For example, there are many shooles or many shooles where at night where they'll dive in and then like you know not here I don't think they do this here but let's say certainly in SH that are smaller and then the next thing you know they're taking down they're taking they're taking out kdish tables and they're sitting down eating kish in the shaw. Why is that appropriate to sit there and eat kdish in the shul? The answer is is that usually most shs that are built nowadays it's kind of either they do it explicitly or it's understood that they're being built on condition that they might be used for other things aside from that. But I think a shul is defined as a place that has been built slash designated for for Davin. That's you know again my my lay man's under um definition used to be there were certain times when bamote were allowed. Correct. Yes. Yes. other we're not we're not allowed anymore. Correct. You're so you're saying that the is similar to a if I understand what you're saying correctly. Oh that it becomes a place to gather as opposed to the bamut if I understand what you're saying correctly. Yeah. what you're what you're suggesting which I think which I think is a very nice idea is that is that the shul has become what we what we call the mikdash right the first kumar we saw references the idea that a shul is a mikdash so what you're pointing out and I and I I I like the idea I hadn't thought of it this way which which is that what was the reason what's the reason why a in once betash was built they couldn't have bamote what if somebody wanted to what is about just to just to give a quick background what we're referring to is the idea I asked I asked what's the value of ashul? So what she's suggesting sorry remind me your name. Okay. Okay fine. Um is what she's suggesting is that is that is that in the times of the beta mikd bot were personal misbot were personal altars that people would build um in order to be able to bring to bring korban and to serve hashem and there were certain points in Jewish history when that was allowed to be done once the beta mikdash was was built. So then that was meant to be the place where everyone had to come. you weren't allowed to build your your your specific why because there's a power to having one place that that's where everyone is serving. So the same thing is what you're suggesting is if you live move to a city rather than every every Joe Tom Dick and Harry you know in their backyard setting up a place and this I'm going to dive in there's something valuable of having of having a a unified or central location where the whole community comes to comes to comes to davin. Now again that gets into an interesting question which is what about building more than one shul? Can you can you can you have breakaway minyanim? Does that mean that there's no limit? You know, does that mean you should only have one shul in town with which has you know five minyanim or can you have 10 minyanim? So, you know, so it raises the question the comparison I think is valuable but then I want to even take it a step further. Why was that so important? Meaning what is the value aside from the bdash which we know obviously was the house of what was so unique about the the bait mikdash that we wanted everyone to come there and that's what I want to highlight. Meaning what is correct? Correct. So that's so so so but but I think but I but I think there's even more to it. I think there's even more to that. And I want that's what I want to try to understand is what is so important about let's say it this way. The first suggestion we mentioned was that's the place where you can get a minion. It's the place where you can dive in together with everybody else. But we're going to see very soon right now that that can't be the only reason because if you look at source number 10, source number 10, Rabenua, another one of the uh rishim and his commentary on the riff, he says that ding in the shul is so important that even let's say you missed, you can't get a minion. There's no minion around anywhere because you're, you know, you're diving at 11:30 and there's no kabad in your in your in in in your community or there's no there's no youth minion in your community and you want to dive in. Where should you go to David? Look at source number 11. Oh, sorry, source number 10. Source number 10, forgive me. Underlined part. Let's say you're in a place where you can't get a minion. you should still come to because this is a place which is established and designated for communal prayer. Now this you have to understand this is a very fascinating thing that he's saying here because he's saying since this is established for communal prayer even when you're not going to dive in communal prayer because you're going to dive in by yourself you should still come here that there's a that the the the something about this place itself has something that even when you because of the fact that it's established now by the way he's not saying I want to clarify he's not saying it's better to come here and d by yourself than to dive with a minion elsewhere with the post say it's better to d with a minion. Wherever you're going to be, it's better it's best to be in a shul with a minion. If there's a if the only minion you have is not in shul and it's outside or somewhere else, you should d with a minion. But if you're not going to d with a minion for whatever reason, you should come here because the fact that this is or that itself has a certain k and has something special and that's what I want to try to unpack. Yes. What do you think about an open space which is has no walls or roof but is recognized but it's designated. Okay, that's an interesting question. Let's say let's say there's a I mean um one of the buildings here not not right here but a little not not not so many blocks away. They've had a minion uh they've had a minion in the park. The park right outside the building has a minion every single day. Maybe maybe too I I definitely know for shockers. Okay. So I guess what you're asking is that is that a shul meaning there is also a whole conversation there is also a lucky conversation about whether you should be dominant in an open space or if it's better to do in an enclosed space. I think on the one hand we generally assume that an enclosed space is better for your kavana. For some people maybe the open spaces some for some for some people the the that being out in the open makes it makes it more conducive. Again conducive can be is a personal thing. Some people get distracted by the opening you know I I can't imagine that sitting there and domining in front of a slide is necessarily going to be better than sitting in front of front of the beam. Although I agree that being outside. So you know there are there are different I think there's different there's different hak questions about it. Whether or not if you have an area that's just an outdoor lot that has a minion three times a day, is that considered a shul? That's a good hucka question. I don't know. I I'd be hardressed to think that that would be considered a shul. Um but I but I but again, where do you draw the line? What if it's a tent? What if there's a tent that's been set up so it's like open on all sides? That's probably more of a structure that that I think is more designated an open area. I'd have again I'm not I'm not a politic, but I'd have trouble I think considering that to be designated as a sh across the street there. with with the big uh you know 20 20 buildings and behind it there's a park every day outside people are dominating ma in right okay I I've seen it so again for some people it might be a remnant of COVID for some people it might be convenience and we're not going to get into whether that's right or wrong I I think everyone would agree it's better to come to shu whether or not they shouldn't do what they're doing I don't want to get into that but the question the other question you're asking is is that considered a shul I'd be hardressed to call that a shul hardressed to call that a shul might it still have the co of what we're going to talk about again when you start getting into what's the value of a shul part of the value of a shul is a metaphysical idea that there's file there were dav in there so maybe there you know but there's something more to it so let's let's let's get into this so that right and so this idea that even without a minion you should come to shul the rambask like this as well look at source number 11 source number 11 the underlying section a person should always come and get up early and least Stay late in a person's will not always be heard unless you're in anyone who has a shul in his city. He doesn't dab in there with a tabore. So again, the raom combines the tabore and the shul that they're together says that Mishna the perish on the raam. What does it mean that your your do your isn't isn't is not is not um listened to or heard in the underlying part in source 12 even if there is no minion there still there's a power to because it is specially designated for so something about the is is unique now what is special about about the shul so as we so one idea we mentioned was it's a place where you can have a minion Let's take it more like one step further. I don't have a minion but I still come into why am I why is it better for me to dive in here than anywhere else say for Torah good okay what else practically pra from a practical perspective what what what chances are and this is what some of the say your ability to concentrate your kavana will probably be better if you're standing here than if I'm standing in my bedroom or in my living room or I'm standing at some random park okay so from even from just a practical perspective look at look at source number we're going to skip now to to source number 15 says the is also one of the re in in this commentary on he says why should a person d in anytime a person can d in he should because that is where a person can have proper kavana that is where and again the way I the way I would say it and I think this is the best way to say this is that we all have associations with locations right just Like many of us, I'm, you know, I'm, you know, I'm 42 years old. My parents no longer have their home. But for for even when I was, you know, when I when I was younger, when I was married to a few kids, I walk into my parents house, I I automatically became a kid again. I sat down on the couch. Okay, I didn't this time I didn't turn on the TV. But but you know, there's a certain association we all have with different places. Okay, you walk into a place where you went to where you went to yeshiva or you walk into a place where you were for a year or you go, you know, visit certain we have associations. What is our association with shula concentration and therefore very very simply a person should come to shul because that is the place where you will be able to have the best kavana. Look at source number 16 is a is a commentary on the the raam and he says something very similar in the underlying section on source 16. This is a place that has been established for because of that association. People are more easily able to get into the mode when they're in excuse me. And you also are more able to concentrate and guide your your heart towards Hashem. because this is the special place where you dain that is your association. Now you have to make sure to keep that your association right make sure that you don't do other things in the shul because then then your association with becomes something different but but if we're doing it right is where we associate davening and becoming close to and therefore that is where we should d source number 17 the has a very very interesting explanation for why he thinks that shs are able to help us with kavana now it's it's actually funny because the the one person who who often raises this issue is not here this morning. One of the you you'll understand what I mean in a second but says the why should you come to shul and why is that better for your for your kavana because when done right a shul has a good pace and that pace enables you to dive in slowly and appropriately. Okay, look at source number 17. Okay, source number 17. We're in the we're in the second line, the middle of the line, right after the word the letters says in his commentary. What does mean? Slowly, deliberately, deliberately with patience. Even will dive in slowly. They're not looking. What's means to grab, right? You're going, you don't he says in he says means I'm just I want to get it over with. Okay? You're not just looking to grab it. And through that, when you d it will increase your and your and it'll make it easier for people to dive in. If you're domining at a slow pace, you're diving at a deliberate pace, then your will be better and then through that your will be heard and hopefully accepted. But if people do it in their in their homes and like you know a guy he's referencing like you know a breakaway minion or a regional they end up being disgracing and rushing only by do they go slowly. Okay he's being he's you know he's thinking very highly of us. Um question is whether we're living up to this or not. Okay. If all you're doing is going fast for and going slowly for the later, you're not going to have enough time to gather your and to and to properly concentrate and then won't be answered. So what it causes your to be answered according to the ink, it's it's going slowly. It's giving yourself time to to to concentrate to be able to then dav appropriately. Now I will leave it to you whether your local Orthodox synagogue davins in this way. But what it does tell us is this is what it should be. This is what a a shul should be a place or I I would even say and this is usually true of more yeshivot. Very often the yeshivot okay if you dive in a yeshiva the yeshiva goes in a more and a more and a more a nicer pace a slower pace and and they see the as an opportunity to be able to go. Now many of our schuls I you know I would argue don't do this. Um and therefore that's a separate question. What do you do if a sh doesn't do this? But the point is what he's trying at least the message is clear. The message is the more that we're able to concentrate and dive in at a normal pace the more that we'll be able to then our field will be will most likely be heard and be and be answered. What happens if you live in a shul that that that doits quickly. So as I mentioned before in my opinion it's very easy to to always to always criticize everybody else. If you do in a minion where they go very quickly, nothing stopping you from coming 15 minutes earlier to dominate. Come 50 minutes early to do put on your talis filling for those who have been put on the talis filling and starting earlier. Meaning in the end of the day and I and I'm talking to myself as much as I'm talking to anybody else very often whatever complaints we have there's things we could do. Either you find another minion, find a minion that's going slower. This and there's no lack of find a minion that goes slower or adjust appropriately in the way that you can where the which puts the onus on us more than it does on on on on everybody else. That's just uh um something that I would that that I would recommend. Yes. So if you have a choice between dling in a sure but not but they're discussing the stock market as opposed to ding outside but interesting interesting question. So he's saying what happens if your reality is the opposite of what's described here where in SH they're diving quickly and they're talking and they're not and and outside is where the minion is is is is is a better minion. It's a very good question. I even distinctly remember people re referencing the fact that during COVID they found although there was the challenge that you couldn't dive in with a minion they actually found that they were able to dive in at a better pace and slower and I don't know how many of us were actually able to do that or how many of us actually dive in quicker because you know no one was watching us it really can go in both directions okay but so it's a very good question um I don't know I don't know I think it's a personal question meaning I think what I would what I would ask is whether or not there's another show that you could go to that you could have both or whether there's a that you could again come earlier and and be able to stay in the mini that goes a little bit faster but you know challenge yourself a little bit more and be able to do both. That's that's what that that's the first place I would go. If you're really dealing with it with a choice of you know it's one or the other. It's either in shul or a minion that goes a little bit slower. My nitia my inclination would be to go to the minion that goes a little bit slower but I'm not. But I think you got to try to find first challenge yourself to try to find a way to make both work. What do you think about skipping some of the prayers like skipping a a psalm if you want to go slower? Oh, skipping a psalm to go skipping a psalm to go to go slower is an interesting question. I I have heard I have heard the name of of Rshakar from Yu that he would suggest that if let's say person either has to say it really like especially Demra that you could skip some if you means going slower but again I think the onus would be on us to try to get there earlier not have to skip meaning I think if you get there and you're in that situation maybe you could but if but in terms of ideal we should be striving for the ideal okay I happen to know there's actually I live in Chelim right near me is is is the community of Modí I know recently of a community the community in Modí that they about a year ago I I don't remember what the name of the minion is, but they establish a minion that's is announced. It goes slower for those people. And we're not talking about like, you know, it takes two hours. They're not singing everything. They just have a pace. They have a pace and people know that when you come to that shul, they're going to be able to have more time to davin. Uh and and and there's there's there's a real value to that because especially when we talk about davining as an avoda, doing is something you need to work on. is something you need to for us to, you know, and I'm talking to myself, run in there, get your talisman filling on and and jump in there and whatever they're up to and then expect to be inspired when we're not putting in the effort. We're not putting in I think there's there's, you know, there's something there that we that we really need to uh to think about. Okay. So, that's Yes, there's a sign that says that it says that you should right. So there's a sign that that where it says that you shouldn't you shouldn't do in sukism except out of a certain pace and not domining not dominating too quickly. Yeah. Again that's there's no question that's what we we should be striving we should be striving for. What are some other values to coming to us to aside from we just talked about the practical element of ding with kavana. So there's a beautiful medish. The medish in source number 18 compares compares the idea the act of coming to shul to the act of a person going to the mikvah. Source number source number 18. I apologize. It seems that the numbers are all messed up here and there's another 14 and 15 later on, but I think we're up to 18. It's a medishima. What does it mean that the mikvah of Israel is says the medishvah is just like what does a mikvah do? A mikvah purifies a person. So too, Hashem, God purifies Israeli. Then says the medish, if you want to become purified, who has to go to who? Let's say you want God to purify you and you want to go through a process of purification to get to a higher level. So who needs to go to who? Does the mikvah come to the to the to the to the t person or does the t person have to go to the mikvah answers the g the mish very clearly no who has to put in the effort who has to show that I'm coming to you the person who is impure has to go to the mikvah the isn't going to come to him the same way will purify Where should you ideally be ding? You should be ding in your city. And then he goes on to say if you can't come to your then do somewhere else. But clearly what's the ideal? The ideal is to then now what's the value of coming to by showing we're showing I'm putting in the effort. I'm not waking up and expecting everything to come to me. I'm not coming and saying I want to be inspired. I want to be purified. I want to be but you know but yeah but God but come to me. Come to my bedroom. I'll stand right here. I'll I'll even sit up for you God. Right. Right. We're not. But rather what do we say? I'm willing to get up. I'm willing to walk the 5 minutes, the 10 minutes, the 15 minutes. I recognize that when I put in that effort and come to Hashem as it were that's showing my desire to become purified in the same way that a person looks looks to be purif looks to be purified through the mikvah. The imagery of shul being a purification process, a process which one enters in order to become purified, I think is very very inspiring that this is what we do. We come to Hashem. Why do we come to shul when we come to we're showing that we care about him and that that this relationship is important to us. When you have a relationship that's important to you, you put in the effort. You don't expect that. You don't expect it to come expect it to come to you. Okay. A couple of other just ideas because before before we end what are some other ideas for the value of domin we we've mentioned briefly already as aside from the practical element it gives you a minion aside from showing Hashem that you're coming to him and aside from we talked about how it also helps increase your kavana there's clearly a metaphysical element to this that on a in a spiritual sense the shul is the place where hashem is found more than any other place look at the look at source number 14 I'm rahua bin levy rahua bin levy says a person should get up and be the one of the first ones to come to in order to be one of the first 10 people to make the minion. Even if after that 100 people come, the first 10 people are the ones who get all of the reward. Ask the what do you mean? You mean the guy who came number 11, number 12, he he doesn't get any doesn't get any reward. No, what it means is they also get reward. But who gets a reward that is that is equal to all the to everybody else? The first 10 people. Why? Because the first 10 people create dominion in shul says Rabinona that in his commentary on this section in the riff. Why is it why does he do that? So it says it says verse number 15 the underlined section the second underlined section when you have the double part of a shul and a minion and you create that minion within the shul the now dwells upon you dwells amongst you is found here this is hashem's home this is hashem's abode as we saw earlier and therefore where should you be doing even if you're domining without a minion we saw that you should be doing without a minion you should do here Because from a metaphysical perspective, this is where Baraku is is found. And this has other ramifications as well. By the way, just to see it briefly because we're we're going to conclude now. Source number 19, the Yakov notes that if a person needs to dive in in a in a different language other than Hebrew, if he davins in the base, then then it's more acceptable to do so. Why? Because Hashem is here. Hashem is found here. Hashem is closer here. And therefore even certain things that you shouldn't do elsewhere you can do you can do in the in the shul. And finally in source number 20 the we're going to say it outside we we saw that gamarra the garam earlier established that all of the sh of bavl or all the sh of golus are eventually going to be transplanted back to where to so says in yakov what that means that every shul in gullis has a den of it. It's as if it has the kadusha of it. Hashem is there. That's what it means when we say is there. Therefore, if you need to find a place that you should be domining, you should be coming, you should be coming to shul because it has that den of Israel and as we see it is eventually going to make its way to Israel in a symbolic in a symbolic way. Okay. So, what we saw today was we discussed the value of dinget. We discussed we saw that the the first the main primary source is the Gimmorra on the value of Davin in Ashul. Uh the imagery of that is is very very meaningful and next week hopefully we'll we'll even expand upon some of the imagery um that was talked about in terms of the the importance of ding with a minion. And we discuss a number of different reasons for what what the value is. Number one it's because it gives you the opportunity to ding with a minion. But we also saw that even if you even if you don't have a minion you should still come to shul. Practically it helps enhance your kavana. Metaphysically it helps. It creates an aura and an avira. You're in a place where hashem is closer than other places. And we also saw the idea of it. It creates this idea of coming to Hashem as opposed to expecting Hashem to to come to you. Okay. Wishing everybody a wonderful wonderful day.