Q:
Is there anything wrong with davening without a minyan as long as you say kriyas shema at the right time?
A:
Let me explain to you what I said before. When you daven with a minyan, you’re identifying with the Klal Yisroel.
You know, our tefillos are all plural. We don’t say, רפאני ה׳ – heal me, Hashem. We say, רפאנו ה׳ – heal us. And we say, ברוך אתה ה’ רופא חולי עמו ישראל. That’s such an important element, it must be emphasized. It’s a form of identifying – we are together, we’re all one.
Even when you put on your hat in the morning and you make a bracha, עוטר ישראל בתפארה – you crown Yisroel with glory. Yisroel! You put on a belt, אוזר ישראל בגבורה – you crown Yisroel with power; a belt gives you power.
So you see that we’re all together.
And therefore, when it comes to tefillah, not only the words should be together but physically you should be together. The least you can do is go to a minyan. The minyan represents the Klal Yisroel and to a certain extent, the Shechina is there too. But when you daven in your home, that’s a demonstration you’re not interested in identifying.
Now in case you’re not able to, in case you have to go to work at a certain time, there are extenuating circumstances; but there’s no question that davening with a minyan ought to be a regular part of a loyal Jew’s routine because that’s the form of showing he belongs to Hakadosh Baruch Hu through his people that are serving Hashem.
Tape # 720 January 1989
