Chazaras Hashatz if only five people Davened together

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May Chazaras Hashatz be recited if only five people Davened together?[1]

In the event that Shemoneh Esrei was Davened with less than six people, it is nevertheless permitted for the Chazan to recite the repetition for the sake of the Kedusha.[2] (Nevertheless, it is not considered that the congregation has Davened with a Minyan, and the above repetition does not have the status of a regular Chazaras Hashatz.[3]) However, initially in such a case, instead of Davening Shemoneh Esrei in silent and then repeating Shemoneh Esrei for the sake of the Kedusha, the Chazan is to Daven his silent Shemoneh Esrei aloud until after Kedusha and then recite the remainder of Shemoneh Esrei in silent.[4] [Accordingly, even in the event that one realized that there were only five people after finishing the silent Shemoneh Esrei, if possible, it is better for one of the other people who have not yet begun Shemoneh Esrei to say it aloud until Kedusha, and then say the remainder silently, than to have the Chazan repeat it. If everyone in the room already heard Kedusha, then the Shemoneh Esrei may never be repeated aloud unless six people Davened together.]

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[1] Admur 69:4-5; Piskeiy Teshuvos 69:1

[2] Admur 69:4; Michaber 69:1; Tehila Ledavid 69:2; Ashel Avraham Butchach 69; Imrei Yosher 2:9; Afrasakta Deanya 2:16; Minchas Yitzchak 1:57 and 10:107

Other opinions: Some Poskim question if according to the Radbaz 4:241, brought in M”A 69:4, one may recite the repetition for the sake of the Kedusha in such a case. [Biur Halacha 69:1 “Omer”]

[3] See Admur 69:5 in parentheses

[4] Admur 69:5; M”A 69:4; Piskeiy Teshuvos 69:1

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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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