Q. Dear Rabbi. If someone has two options; To daven Yamim Noraim in a Shul that is more Halacha minded and serious, as most of the people who daven there are Torah learners or former Yeshiva students, and the davening are said in a solemn and sober. Or to attend a minyan were the people are more emotional and sentimental and often you hear crying as the attendants pray for their children, health. parnassah etc. all things that are to be decided during the Days of Judgment.
Since our Sages teach us that during those special days one should concentrate the prayers mainly on the success of the presence of the Shechina and the rebuilding of the Beth Hamikdash. which shul should one choose?
A. Mishna Berura (294: 2) quotes Magen Avrohom that Havdala on Motzei Shabbos is recited in the first of the intermediate brochos of Shemone Essreh, namely Chonen Hadaas, since one should not pray for personal needs expressed in the Tefila during Shabbos.
Shulchan Aruch (O.H. 288: 9-10) rules that one should not pray for any personal needs on Shabbos besides food needs, a city that was surrounded by enemies, a ship in danger, and even a persecuted or ill person whose life is in danger.
Kovetz Halochos (8: 8: p. 97) maintains that it is also not proper to pray during Rosh Hashono for private needs, rather one should place emphasis on spiritual needs.
However, traditions and Tefilos vary and in many shuln and Minyanim people, especially women do daven for their and their childrens personal needs.
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that one should daven for the needs of others and then include also his own needs.
On this particular shaila, one should choose to daven in the shul where he will have most Kavana.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit'a.
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