Take the 2-minute tour ×

My understanding (based, if I recall correctly, on R' Moshe Feinstein) is that when I pray in a congregation that uses a different version of the prayers (nusach) from the one I usually use, I should use the congregation's nusach whenever it's readily apparent to people around me which nusach I'm using (e.g. parts which are said aloud), but I may use my own nusach when I can do so unobtrusively (e.g. the silent Amida).

What if I'm leading the prayers? Clearly, for nearly everything, I'd use the congregation's nusach, but what about for the silent Amida, which is, of course, purely silent and presumably private? Is the rule different for prayers that include a repetition of the Amida (morning and afternoon) and for prayers that don't (night)?

share|improve this question
Why is one allowed to be the shaliach tzibbur in congration with a different nusach in the first place? –  Chanoch May 17 '11 at 19:35
@Chanoch Who knows? –  Isaac Moses May 17 '11 at 19:39
done. judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/7578/… –  Chanoch May 17 '11 at 19:51
related: judaism.stackexchange.com/q/13376/759 –  Double AA Jan 24 '12 at 1:45

2 Answers 2

up vote 3 down vote accepted

Rav Moshe in the teshuvah you cite says

"And if on is the Sheliach Tzibur one must say according to the Nusach of the congregation even in his silent prayer since he is to order his prayers. " Igros Moshe O.C. Vol. 4, 33

I will try to supplement, since I believe there are those (such as the Divrei Yechezkel) who disagree.

share|improve this answer
You beat me by two minutes! –  Yahu Jun 10 '10 at 4:30
Does that apply to Ma'ariv, as well? –  Isaac Moses Jun 11 '10 at 2:06
I don't think l'maaseh we treat ma'ariv differently than other t'fillos? Rav Moshe, it would seem, doesn't draw any distinctions. –  Yirmeyahu Jun 11 '10 at 4:38
R' Moshe's reason is because the purpose of the ST's silent Amidah is to get it in order for his loud repetition. This reasoning does not apply to Maariv. (As heard directly from Rav Ephraim Greenblatt.) –  Yahu Jun 14 '10 at 22:44

According to Reb Moshe Feinstein, (I'll track down the exact Teshuvah when I get back from my trip) if one is the Shaliah Tzibbur, since the purpose of his silent Amidah is to prepare for the loud Hazarah, the S"T should use only the Nusah of the congregation even for his silent Amidah. Rav Elyashiv argues.

share|improve this answer
Whoops! Yirmiyahu beat me by two minutes! –  Yahu Jun 10 '10 at 4:30

Your Answer


