Davening at the Same Time as the Community
Rulings are based on the Mishna Berura reflecting Ashkenazi practice.
- Throughout the year, including on Rosh Hashana, one who is unable to make it to shul to daven should endeavour to time their davening at home so they daven their Amidah at the same time as the community – when the shul is davening the Amidah it is an ‘eis ratzon’, an opportune time, and one’s tefillos will go up to Shamayim with those of the community.
- This must be the same Amidah –it does not help if one davens the Mussaf Amidah at home at the same time as the shul is davening the Shacharis Amidah. (SA 90:9, MB30, PT10 and fn147)
Davening or Hearing Shofar Before the Community
- There is a particular insistence that one should not daven a tefilla on Rosh Hashana or hear Shofar before the community, if it is within the first three halachic (proportional) hours of the day.
- This is when the judgement of Rosh Hashana is at its strongest and in our judgement we wish to be considered as part of the community and not merely as individuals as ‘Hashem won’t despise the prayer of the mighty’ (Iyov 36:5) but who can be confident of relying on their own merits alone?
- Regarding Shacharis, the community normally davens early so this is less of a concern; however, Mussaf is normally davened in the late morning at shul so if one is unable to daven at the same time as the community (as above), one should ensure to wait until the first three hours of the day have passed (SA591:8, MB14).
Shofar When Not Davening with a Minyan
- When possible, one who is davening at home should try and hear Shofar before they start davening Mussaf (but not within the first three hours of the day, as above); failing this they should ensure to hear Shofar later. One who is davening without a minyan does not blow the Shofar again during Mussaf – this was instituted specifically for communal tefilla; rather it is sufficient to hear 30 blasts, in order to fulfil one’s Torah obligation (SA 592:2, MB 6-7, Dirshu 6-7).
