Answering Amen to a Covid-19 Minyan which defies medical and Rabbinical directives

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May one answer Amen etc if he is in range of hearing a Minyan that does not follow proper protocol for Covid-19, or is taking place contrary to the instructions of the local medical or/and Rabbinical directives?

It is forbidden for a Chazan to lead a Minyan against the will of the congregation, and if he does so, it is forbidden for one to answer Amen to his blessings.[1] Minyanim which are taking place contrary to the local medical and Rabbinical directives, are similar in law to a Chazan which is Davening against the will of the congregation, and therefore it is not only forbidden to join such Minyanim, but one is not allowed to answer Amen towards their blessings even if he is within hearing distance from inside his home. The same applies to answering Kedusha, Barchu, Kerias Hatorah, and any matter of the like.


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[1] Admur 53:29 “One may not pray against the will of the congregation. Whoever Davens against the will of the congregation, out of forcefulness and haughtiness, one may not answer Amen after his blessings.”; Rama 53:22; M”A 53:26; Aggudah Brachos Perek Keizad Mevarchim, brought in Binyamon Zeev 163; Kitzur SHU”A 15:12

The reason: As the verse [Tehillim 10:3] states “Ubotzeia Bireich Noeitz Hashem,” that Hashem hates one who says a blessing on stolen bread. [Admur ibid; Binyamon Zev ibid] See also Admur 11:12 regarding stolen Tzitzis, Admur 586:4 regarding a stolen Shofar. Accordingly, even if the Minyan is taking place due to deep religious reasons and Mesirus Nefesh, nonetheless, since according to Halacha it is forbidden to take place due to the medical danger, therefore it is similar to a Minyan which is stealing from the public, and therefore a blessing is not to be recited.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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