1) Women are not
obligated to daven with a minyan.
However, many stories are found in Chazal
and the Poskim regarding the big heavenly rewards afforded to women who do in
fact frequent the Ezras Nashim (women’s section in Shul) to
take part in Tefilah B’Tzibur. (See Yalkut Shimoni Parshas
Eikev Siman 871. See Talmud Bava Metziah 107b).
However, women who do go to Shul must be careful not
to squander their rewards for doing so, by coming to Shul inappropriately
dressed or by spending their time in Shul with idle chatter (or even
worse: Lashon Hara and Rechilus, G-d forbid) and thus desecrating the
holiness of the Ezras Nashim [which has holiness just as the Shul
does](See Igeres HaGra that he wrote to his wife and
daughters)
2) Though the obligation
to daven with a Minyan begins at the age of Bar Mitzvah (13), it is incumbent on
parents to train their children (who have reached the age of
Chinuch) to daven with a minyan.
Obviously, children should only be trained to daven with a
minyan when it doesn’t interfere with their schedules in school.
Also, as we previously mentioned, children who cannot behave
properly in Shul, and will interfere with the sanctity of the Shul, should not
be brought to Shul.(Mishna Berura in the name of the Shela
HaKadosh)
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER:
(Reader Submitted
Questions of interest and my Answers taken from the Q & A page on the Halacha For Today website. For
study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha. Questions can be sent to Halacha For Today )
Reader's Question:
Can I catch up on parts of davening once I've finished Shemona Esrei? For
example, sometimes early in the morning I don't have time for a proper davening
so I'll skip most of pesukai dezimra but later I want to catch up. Is that
allowed and what are the guidelines?
My Answer:
Not only may one say the Pesukei
D'Zimrah that he /she missed after Shemona Esrei, one in fact MUST do so
according to the Shulchan Aruch. The whole Heter to skip those parts is in order
to daven Shemona Esrei with the Tzibbur (or at home at the same time
the Tzibbur is davening), but once Shemona Esrei is finished, you are
obligated to say what was skipped. For women, who don't always daven, there may
be a leniency. But if you daven daily, then you must indeed say it.
The best thing to do if you must skip some, is to say Baruch
SheAmar, Ashrei and Yishtabach. If you can add more, add Az Yashir.
Our holy sages, the Chazal tell us
תנא דבי
אליהו כל השונה הלכות בכל יום מובטח לו שהוא בן עולם הבא, שנאמר הליכות עולם
לו, אל תקרי הליכות אלא הלכות - one who
studies [at least two] Halachos daily is assured a portion in Olam Haba - the
world to come. (:מגילה כ"ח )
Important Numbers
