Chazarat HaShatz

From Halachipedia

Chazal instituted that after a minyan prays Shemona Esreh the Shaliach Tzibbur should repeat Shemona Esreh aloud.[1] Although the reason Chazal instituted this practice was in order to fulfill the obligation of those who didn't know how to say Shemona Esreh on their own, this practice is still an obligation for a minyan of people who are all capable of saying Shemona Esreh themselves.[2] During the Chazarat HaShatz, the Cohanim perform the mitzvah of Birkat Cohanim which is discussed on its own page.

Proper behavior during Chazarat HaShatz

  1. When the Shaliach Tzibbur is saying Chazarat HaShatz, the congregation should listen and answer Amen. If there's not a minyan of people answering Amen it is like the Brachot that the Shaliach Tzibbur is saying are Brachot Levatala.[3]
  2. Some say that the congregation should stand during the Chazarat HaShatz. Some have the practice to sit.[4]
  3. According to the Sepharadic custom, at the beginning of the Chazarat HaShatz, the Shaliach Tzibur should say the pasuk "Hashem Sefatay Tiftach ..." aloud. According to the Ashkenazic custom, at the beginning of the Chazarat HaShatz, the Shaliach Tzibur should say the pasuk "Hashem Sefatay Tiftach ..." softly. [5]
  4. According to Sephardim, when one hears Hashem's name in a Bracha one should answer "Baruch Hu UBaruch Shemo".[6]
  5. Those who wear Tefillin of Rashi and Rabbenu Tam should not take off their Tefillin of Rashi and put on the Tefillin of Rabbenu Tam during Chazarat HaShatz. [7]
  6. It is a grievous sin to talk during Chazarat HaShatz. [8]
  7. It is improper to learn Torah or say other parts of davening during Chazarat HaShatz.[9]

Practices of the Shaliach Tzibur

  1. The Shaliach Tzibur should not start the next bracha until the majority of the congregation finished answering amen. [10]

If the Shaliach Tzibur made a mistake

  1. If the Shaliach Tzibur made a mistake during his silent Amida which would entail repeating his Amida, such as, forgetting to say "Yaale VeYavo ..." on Rosh Chodesh, he should not go back and repeat his silent Amida. Rather, he should continue with the Chazarat HaShatz, and when he comes to the point where he made a mistake, he should have in mind to fulfill his obligation. [11]
  2. If the Shalich Tzibur mistakenly forgot to say Kedusha in the Chazarat HaShatz, as long as he remembered before finishing the Beracha of Ata Kadosh he may go back, recite Kedusha, and continue again with "Ata Kadosh." [12]
  3. If the Shaliach Tzibur mistakenly skipped the Beracha of Ata Kadosh and finished the Beracha of Ata Chonen, he may still go back, recite Ata Kadosh, and continue again with Ata Chonen. [13]

When to start Chazarat HaShatz

  1. Some say that if the Shaliach Tzibbur is ready to start the Chazarat HaShatz and there's someone praying behind him, it's permitted to take the three steps back before beginning Chazarat HaShatz. [14]However, some say that one should say Aseh HaShalom without taking the three steps back until after Chazarat HaShatz. [15]
  2. If there's minyan of ten people and one person is praying a lengthy silent Shemona Esheh, it's preferable to wait for him, however, if there are needs such as if the minyan will separate or if it's a bother to congregation to wait, they may begin Chazarat HaShatz even though one is still saying Shemona Esreh.[16]

Sources

  1. S"A 124:1
  2. S"A 124:3, Yalkut Yosef 124:1
  3. S"A 124:4, Kitzur S"A 20:2
  4. Rama 124:4 writes that some say one should stand during Chazarat HaShatz. Kitzur S"A 20:1 writes that for someone for whom it is easy to stand should stand just as if one was actually saying Shemona Esreh oneself. See Mishna Brurah 124:20 who writes that the earlier practice was to listen to Chazarat HaShatz standing so that it was like one is actually praying through Shomea KeOneh, however, because of our sins in our days people do whatever they like and some sit. The Biur HaGra 124:4 (according to the Birkat Eliyahu) explains that the reason to stand is that Chazarat HaShatz was originally instituted in order to fulfill the obligation of one who doesn't know how to say Shemonei Esrei. Just like someone who didn't know how to say Shemonei Esrei would have to stand in order to fulfill his obligation by listening to the Chazara, so too the congregatoin should stand. The Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, Volume 1, Page 110 states that during the Chazarat Hashatz one should stand; nevertheless, one who is old or sick is permitted to sit.
  5. Yalkut Yosef 124:1.
  6. S"A 124:5
  7. Kitzur S"A 20:1, Pri Megadim M"Z 34:2
  8. S"A 124:7, Mishna Brurah 124:27, Kaf HaChaim 124:37
  9. Magen Avraham 124:8, Mishna Brurah 124:17, Kaf HaChaim 124:16, Kitzur S"A of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano, Volume 1, Page 110. Shiur of Rabbi Shay Schachter on yutorah.org about learning during Chazarat HaShatz.
  10. Kitzur S"A 20:3
  11. Yalkut Yosef 124:8.
  12. Yalkut Yosef 124:10
  13. Yalkut Yosef 124:11
  14. Avnei Yishpeh 5:15
  15. Halichot Shlomo (Tefillah pg 289)
  16. Tzitz Eliezer 12:9