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Collecting During Davening

Rabbi, I saw you recently addressed that if someone asks for tsedaka while learning, one is not exempt from giving. \

But, i feel there is another issue here – how is he allowed to approach you and interrupt your Torah learning?! This really bothers me as Isometimes daven in a minyan factory and usually at least 15 – 20 people come over and stick their hands in my face (some religious, others not) – while davening, and some start screaming nu, nu, tsedakah! Others poke you and demand money as if we – the mispallellim – are encrouching on their territory and must pay a tax! they do not care where davening is holding either [except for when tzibbur is by silent shmoneh esrei – but if i daven longer they will come over -and demand – even while i am in the middle of shmoneh esrei. Several times I point to the siddur – as if to say i am davening – leave me alone! but they just look in to and say whats my problem?

I know of an collector who would go around the beis midrash in the middle of seder – except to a certain adam gadol who once told him it is assur to do what he’s doing! it didn’t stop him though – only didn’t bother that adam gadol – he said its assur – rest of beis midrash didnt tell him that!

My question is (sorry about going on and on…)- what is the heter for them to be mevatel someone during tefilla and limud?

Answer:

You are not the only one bothered by this phenomenon.

The problem is that if it would be one a day, or one coming round during pesukei de-zimra, this would not really be much of a disturbance.

The trouble begins when you have twenty of them. So for each one, it is hard to say that there is something forbidden here. As a group, however, it is certainly not desireable.

Some yeshivas/shuls have enactments concerning collectors going round.

Your minyan factory, as the way of minyan factories, does not seem to have this takanah, and I recommend davening in a more quiet place.

Good luck!

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