Q. Is it correct for someone who can daven mincha in a minyan where they repeat the complete chazoras hashatz, to instead daven at a choich shemone ezreh minyan, when he has the time to do so, and there is no hardship to daven in a normal complete mincha tefila?
A. Shulchan Aruch (O.H. 232: 1) and Mishna Berura (ibid.) permit when there is no day time left to repeat the amida to daven a mincha ketzara or shorten version by not repeating the amida completely. However, when not in need Poskim maintain that one should daven a complete mincha (Kaf Hachaim, Aruch Hashulchan, Eishel Avrohom, Be’er Moshe 8: 37, Piskei Teshuvos ibid. et. al.).
Oz Nidberu (12: 23) addresses the practice that some yeshivos have to daven a mincha ketzara or hoichen shemonezre regularly. He maintains that it should be avoided, unless it is done due to being unable to keep proper attention to the full repetition.
Horav Yaakov Hirschman Shlit’a quoted a psak he heard from Horav Yaakov Kamenetzky zt”l that permitted the mincha ketzara in yeshivos and kolelim. Horav Hirschman opines that it depends on what one does with the time saved. If one uses it for Torah learning he is entitled to daven a mincha ketzara; otherwise one should daven a complete mincha.
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a pointed out to a number of sources that support the shorter mincha, including the Ridvaz (4: 1079). He writes that in the lands of the Yishmaelim, people were very careful, not to interrupt or to expectorate during prayers. Once people have prayed the silent amida however, since they feel they have already complied with their obligation, they are not careful to maintain decorum during the repetition. So it is preferable to have all present pray together.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a
Important Numbers
