The Purpose of Congregational Prayer – Tefillah Besibbur

Part 1: Congregational prayer is not the recitation of private prayer with ten other people. Rav Moshe Feinstein confirms that the Rambam sees the “”repetition of the amidah”” as the main public prayer. He does not say there is any value in saying silent prayer with ten people. There are two separate obligations – to pray silently and to participate in the public prayer.

Parts 2-3: Hayyei Adam, quoted by the Mishnah Berurah, says that the main point of congregational prayer is not only to hear kadish, kedushah and baruchu. Is there a special obligation to hear kedushah? The Rambam describes the requirements for participants in the repetition of the amidah.

Tephilla-Bessibur-1-unedited.mp3
Tephilla-Bessibur-2-unedited.mp3
Tephilla-Bessibur-3-unedited.mp3