Home › Forums › Decaffeinated Coffee › ‘No Hat, No Jacket, No Davening?’: A Shul’s Sign Challenges Unity › Reply To: ‘No Hat, No Jacket, No Davening?’: A Shul’s Sign Challenges Unity
This would depend on where the shul is located and what is the nature of the shul. If it is an area that has other shuls , is not a minyan factory and was made for people who very much value a certain decorum during tefilah then it is their shul and they have the right to want a certain atmosphere during tefila. They are correct to say that if that is too difficult for someone then this is not the right shul for them. Begrudging them of that right is also not loving and accepting other Jews.
Without responding to everything the OP said, unlike the opinion of his wife, the Beis Hamikdash and even the Har HaBayis also had a dress code that they were VERY strict about. So if anything it would prove the opposite.
That said, I’m happy to see any Jew enter my shul. I even miss the days of when completely and obviously secular Jews would come to shul for Yizkor or to say Kaddish. Unless there is a policy against it please come to shul no matter how you are capable of dressing. I’ve davened in the frummest and most kanoish of places and seen people come in all forms of dress. No one ever says anything. Unless you are dressed offensive it’s safe to assume no one will.