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Moving From Fixed Place in Shul

The place where I daven in shul has no ventilation and I feel very stifled and hot during the davening. There are some fans on the opposite side of the shul. If I go sit by the fans do I have to go back to my makom kavuah for Shmoneh Esrei?

Answer:

According to several Rishonim, the idea of not changing places applies to particular places in shul. This is ruled by the Tur (Orach Chaim 90) and by the Shulchan Aruch (90:19) [This is unlike the interpretation of Rabbeinu Yonah, who writes that the ruling refers to a fixed place to daven at home.]

The Tur writes that one should only change one’s place for a “great need,” as the Aruch Hashulchan (90:23) also writes.

However, it is okay to have one “fixed place” for davening shacharis, another for mincha, and another for maariv (see Halichos Shlomo 5, note 2). In a similar sense, it would be okay to have a fixed place for weekday prayers, and a different place for Shabbos prayers.

This might be the best option in the case of the question: to keep the fixed place for Shabbos etc, and to use the place next to the fans as a makom kavua for weekdays or for shacharis. If some arrangement like this is not made (perhaps one place for the winter, and another for the summer, or to move places altogether), it is preferable to daven in one’s fixed place, although if one would not be able to concentrate in davening, this would be considered a “great need” and would permit moving from the fixed place.

 

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