Reply To: Decorum in shul

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#1151202
oomis
Participant

It is easy to tell someone not to daven somewhere. But it is also impractical. I cannot daven elsewhere, nor should I have to leave the shul in which I have davened for nearly 40 years, because some young punk with no derech eretz thinks it is his prerogative and entitlement to discuss the baseball scores, his business, loshon hara, or stupid jokes, within my hearing as I am attempting to daven with kavana. These inconsiderate louts talk in loud and raucous voices, directly outside the downstairs Ezras Nashim, in the vestibule right behind the area in which I sit.

I have gently made them aware that their voices carry inside, “I am sure that you are unaware, but we actually can hear your conversation inside the main Shul. Would you mind very much taking it into the main hall?” is what I usually say. What I want to say is, “You are a bunch of disrespectful laytzanim! Take your stupid and absolutely worthless conversation, and find another Shul where you can bother people who unlike you, actually came to daven. That is, if you can FIND another shul that will tolerate your boorish behavior!” But those of you who know me for many years on this forum, also know, it is not my style to talk to anyone like that. So I dont. Not even when their stupid, meaningless conversation interfered with me on Pesach as I was trying to say Yizkor properly, which clearly B”H none of THEM as yet have to do, and for which they should be thankful to Hashem.

I cannot daven elsewhere. My Rov is a wonderful person, and we are otherwise happy where we are. I cannot easily walk to another shul locally, and the one which is next door has a lot of stairs to get up to the women’s section. I need to daven where I am. And I also need to daven without feeling the anger that is aroused in me when these thoughtless fools carry on. OK, rant over, now. WHEW! I feel better…