Prayer in minyan
Hello Rabbi!
Can I rely on the Rambam, whose words simply state that there is really no halachic obligation to pray in a minyan, and that I am permitted, if necessary and from time to time, to pray alone?
thanks!
This is evident from several sources. The Shulchan Aruch also does not state this explicitly, although I recall two pieces of evidence that it nevertheless considers it obligatory. Amoraim and Rishonim prayed in private, and I have the impression that this was completely normative among them. Today, they tend to regard this as a halakhic obligation, but it seems to me that at least in cases of necessity there is definitely room for leniency.
Proving from what it is ruled that one must go 4 words or repeat a word… Some Rishonim explain about washing hands, and some about the minyan… and also from what one can free a slave to cook minyan because it is a ‘mitzvah of the rabbis’ (This is also not absolute proof, after all, this is certainly the maximum mitzvah of the rabbis, and therefore it is necessary for many but not that it is an actual obligation)….
What are the sources that the Rishonim prayed in the singular?
Scattered in the first few verses, mainly on blessings. I don't have time to look for specific sources right now. The Gemara already talks about praying in the singular, as in the issue of Bini Amudi and more. This has already been discussed here once and you can search for it.
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