Q. Hello Rav,
There is an elderly man at shul that walks around the shul to collect tzaddaka during the repetition of the shmonei Esrai. If I don't give him anything, he will walk by quietly. If I do give him money, he will say "Yasher Koach" every time. Since it is assur to speak at this point in davening, should I stop giving tzedakah to him to avoid casing him to speak ( Lifnei Iver) (...stumbling block before the blind)?
Thanks so much.
A. Shulchan Aruch (O.H. 124: 4, 7) asserts that when the shaliach tzibur repeats the amida the congregants should be silent, listen to the recitation and answer omein. He adds that if one interrupts with gratuitous talk, he is a sinner, his sin is to great to carry and we scold him. The unusual severity and sternness of this remark is explained by Poskim (see Piskei Teshuvos ibid.) that it is due to causing that the tefilos of the many should not be accepted, since his interruption disturbs the intention and kavana of the congregation.
However, Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that the fellow collecting is not part of the tzibur and his mind is not set in listening or answering to the shaliach tzibur. It is also unlikely that his short yasher koach is disturbing. Nevertheless, it is best that if he is permitted to collect during the repetition of the amida, he should be asked to do so quietly.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as advised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a.
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