Question:
- Is there a chiyuv to daven with an outdoor minyan in these circumstances?
- If my porch is 10 tefachim higher than the ground on which my neighbors are gathered in a few houses down are davening, do I need to go off my porch and stand in my yard to be mitzaref to them? Do I need to be standing outside at all, or is it the same tziruf to daven inside when I know they are davening out there but can not see them if I am standing inside? (Inside I am also up higher than 10 tefachim than the minyan)
Answer:
- If you can daven with a minyan and keep to all the safety rules then you should daven with a minyan, but not if davening with them presents a danger. I can’t give you a specific answer because i don’t know your specific situation.
- If there is a minyan of ten people that are davening together, it is preferred to be in the same reshus as the minyan. If it is hard, and you can see them at least then that is also acceptable. If however you are in a different reshus and you can not see them then according to most poskim you are not yotza tefillah b’tzibbur, but it is considered davening at the time of the tzibbur. This is specifically for tefillah b’tzibbur, however for answering kaddish etc. it is fine to answer from wherever you can here them.
Best wishes
Sources:
Shulchan Aruch 55-14, M:B 55-52, 55 Shulchan Shlomo (Tefilla) 5-12 ftnt. 18, Eishie Yisroel 15-22. Orchos Rabeinu 3 (old version) pg. 308 in the name of Chazon Ish says that it is consider tefillah b’tzibbur if there is a minyan in the other room.
