I’m not usually the type to write letters, but this has been bothering me for a long time, and I finally felt like I had to speak up.
I’m talking about the pamphlets in shul. I know they’re meant for a good purpose. Divrei Torah, chizuk, stories, halachah—it all sounds great on paper. But let’s be honest: what it’s turned into is a distraction at best, and a real bizayon at worst.
When I was younger, people used to bring Israeli newspapers into shul. I remember seeing guys sitting through davening flipping through Maariv weekend or whatever. It was crazy. Everyone knew it was wrong. Fast forward a few years, and now it’s the same thing—just with a frum label. The pamphlets look different, but the result is often the same. People aren’t focused on davening. They’re reading about some uplifting story while the chazzan is trying to be motzi them in chazaras hashatz.
And what really gets to me is that we all know the halachah. You’re not even supposed to learn Torah during chazaras hashatz—and that’s real Torah, from a sefer! But now it’s become perfectly acceptable to flip through a colorful, flashy booklet full of ads, comics, Q&A, and headlines during davening itself. It’s become normal. That should scare us a little.
I’ve seen people come into shul, grab a stack, sit down and read through the whole thing without even picking up a siddur. That’s what it’s come to.
People say, “But it’s Torah.” Listen, I’m sorry—but not everything printed in fancy layout with a divrei Torah quote at the top is automatically holy. Imagine walking into a king’s palace to speak to him, and there’s flyers and handouts thrown all over the table. Would you sit down and read one while the king is waiting for you to speak? Would you even dare?
And now we even have those newsletters that say, “Do not bring into shul” right on the front—and yet I’ve seen them in shul literally hundreds of times. They’re full of ads, simchos, events, mazal tovs, local politics. And we’re bringing that into the one place we ask Hashem to accept our tefillos?
Who gave these companies the right to decide that because they want to push their ad or printing business, now the shul has to become a bulletin board? It’s not their place to decide that. It’s not their shul. It’s everyone’s.
And the Torah pamphlets—sorry to say, same goes for a lot of them. Some of them are beautiful. But they don’t belong during davening. It’s not the time. It’s not the place. It’s not what Hashem wants.
I’m not against the material. There’s a time and place—at home, on the couch Shabbos afternoon, on a long chol hamoed trip, whatever. But in shul? During davening? No way.
I’m begging rabbanim and gabbaim to take this seriously. Put up signs, make announcements, take the table away if you have to. Ban it. Not just the simcha papers and newsletters—everything. Enough is enough.
Let’s take back our shuls. Let’s make them into what they’re supposed to be. Maybe then, when we daven, Hashem will listen a little closer. Because we’re finally showing we’re talking to Him—and not just flipping through another story.
Respectfully,
A Fed Up Mispallel
TLS welcomes your letters by submitting them to [email protected]
Chill out if u have a problem with it dont read it but let other people who enjoy it live in peace
This is the problem with lakewood everything that someone decides is not right has to be banned
Please just chill out and live life without complaining
Forget a building fund — we need a sheimos removal fund
So, Mr Help,
Anytime you wanna continue doing something wrong you just say “chill out”? Great logic!
I’m just wondering, a few years ago during Covid-19 all the shuls and batei medrashim were closed, and all the Rabbanim were pointing out how the name of the virus is Covid (Kavod) 19 – reference to the 19 brachos of Shmoneh Esrei. And that this virus was sent by Hashem because we weren’t giving the proper kavod during tefilah in our shuls, so Hashem was basically saying I don’t need your tefillos or kaddish etc.
And during that whole time people were going nuts. There were secret minyanim. There were porch minyanim. People were crying that they couldn’t go to shul.
It’s funny how 5 years later people already forgot how much they were crying for the shuls to be open again to be able to daven…
crisis!
I agree with this post however I as well disagree as I know people who go to shul Shabas to read those pamphlets, without those pamphlets these people would not be going to shul. Yes there might be a. Issue why they won’t be going but those pamphlets at least bring them into the Place.
Not really a good argument
The maskilim had the same argument for bringing musical instruments into shul. Not saying that these pamphlets are the same, just pointing out the flaw in that logic
For the last 10 years people have been looking through their phones during davening scrolling through WhatsApp chats and various news sites as the Chanan recites CH, as if it’s a normal thing to do, their own children have begun doing it too, I stopped going to Shul during the week I found it more peaceful and less of a chillul Hashem.
Your being mevatel your mitzvas Tefila betzibur & krias hatorah because some people are using their phones? Please explain.
Sounds like you’re just looking for an excuse not to go to shul!
There are plenty of shuls that don’t have clowns scrolling through their phones during davening. You won’t find that in most of the BMG botei medrash…
maybe your shul doesn’t sing by kedusha. mine does. what am i supposed to do in that time? same for kel adon and hallel.
Maybe sing along? Get an artscroll siddur and focus on the meaning of the words?
find another shul?
Take an egg and throw it at the chazzan
Amazing letter.. and while we’re on the topic of disturbances should we talk about the people who come collecting and won’t let me concentrate on the conversation I’m having with the King of Kings?!
Your tzedakah is worth more than your davening. Even if you call it a ‘conversation’.
seriously this is what you decided to complain about today? My mind is blown
If it saves one person from talking during davening it’s worth it
What would the Rebbe Reb Elimelich say?
Even when they read the paper – they’re davening.
Shouldn’t you be too involved with your own davening and kavanos to notice what yenem is doing?
Hay buddy! Most people can’t block everything out of their mind, even when focused on davening. Good idea for people who pace endlessly to keep in mind – your pacing may be annoying the heck out of someone…
Omg ditto
I agree
Unless it’s TLS that’s dropping them off or bringing them in, discuss it with the Rav of the shul. He, or his surrogate, is the one who can contact the pamphlet printer/distributor and tell them to stop. Don’t get frustrated and bellyache – do something!
I am so with you. I don’t know why the Rabbanim do not put a complete stop to this. Again, this is not to say that these reading materials do not contain tora. But it definitely disturbs the davening
I think that you’re over reacting a little too much.. All your points you bring up about focusing on davening and chazaras hashatz and about ‘walking into the kings palace’ are all good points, but not in this instance… the fact of the matter is, most people are not reading it through davening or through chazaras hashatz and your comparison to bringing the maariv newspaper to shul is totally way off. My experience is that people during kabalas shabbos tend to look at it a little during ‘lecho dodi’ and that’s it and maybe when they are waiting for the chazan during shabbos davening.. I really think youre making something out of nothing. The only thing I would mention is that they should be cleared up from the shul after Shabbos to maintain the kedushas beis haknesses/ hamedrash…
Do the people who dump them in the shuls come and collect them after shabbos? They probably never through if the fact that someone needs to keep the shul clean and has to find a place for all this shaimos
The Pamphlets are not the problem, especially Artscroll puts out a very chushiver weekly pamphlets. The problem is the current culture. Most have a nice beard, I see they come to Shul and They Don’t Daven, they take a Gemara, a mikraos gedolos chumish, and other seforim, during davening they have it open and put it on top of their siddur of which they don’t daven a word! I’ve been going to Shul for over 60 years of which I always had a hard time pronouncing every word in davening correctly and clearly during the time I’m given. On the table in front of me I never have a single excessive book other than my siddur or Chumash when applicable. & on Yom Tov I have a Machzor only. Most guests whom sit down next to me with all their books don’t last more than a few minutes and than sneak away to somewhere else in Shul as they sense that I’m watching them not davening.
I don’t think they really believe in g-d, the seforim they bring to the table is an excuse not to daven!
Maybe the reason why you don’t have time to say every word is because your busy watching other people “not davening”.
Maybe some people would rather learn or read a pamphlet instead of people watching.
Personally, I think kudos to you that you made it inside at least, I usually don’t make it past the parking lot because I’m very busy making sure that everyone parked correctly.
I wouldn’t go as far as to say they don’t believe in Hashem. The fact that they’re coming to shul shows that they realize they have an obligation and are trying to fulfill it. It gets hard though when they don’t feel any connection to Hashem or they view Him as a dictator with a stick in His hand ready to strike them if they put a toe out of line, and that is enough to stop anyone from davening.
Or they just don’t have the patience or can’t concentrate. There’s a lot of factors.
But clearly they believe in Hashem if they’re bothering to come to shul. That alone proves it. If they didn’t, they would never bother leaving their house/work to come.
Hate to break it to you, Mutty. There are problems with the Artscroll one too. They’re always advertising their latest releases or whatever… Most printings also have sponsors….
Why do you think your inability to read at a normal pace is universal? Many people can read quicker than you, don’t judge them by your standards.
I think the author of this letter is spot on. It is clear from the comments that many people don’t understand what Tefilah is and what Kedushas Beis Haknesses is all about. It’s not limited to all of the pamphlets (mostly propaganda for their views), there is a general lack of Kavod for Tefilla and Kavod Shomayim. I see people coming into Shul to “Daven” in the morning with their mandatory coffee and sipping it through פסוקי דזימרה, putting aside tha Halachik issues it is hard to see how that is Kavod Shomayim. The Mishulachim have taken over an average of 20 every morning with their cc devices pinging… it’s hard to tell if I’m in Shul or a casino. Instead of looking at women’s dress code as something to fix for the issues we face, perhaps we should look in the mirror and fix the many things that we need to fix ourselves. Kol Hakavod for this letter!
The comments here are hysterical and typical. Nebach on each and every one of the comments here who mock the letter writer. He is so spot on and you make a joke out of it.
You married? You have a home? Your wife lets you bring in all types of magazines and papers and leave them wherever you want? Your wife fine with trying to talk to you but your busy reading the magazines your holding? Oh so it’s not ok in your house with your wife but chill out if it’s Hashems house and he himself. Yup figured as much.
A bunch of comments here defending the satan. And TLS basement bloggers who comment here thank you for once again defending the wrong. Bottom line is it is wrong, has no place in a shul makes a mess distracts Teffila and does anything it can to make you not Daven. Lakewood scoop commenters aligned with the Yaytzer Hora 1 and poshuta yid trying to Daven in a clean Shul 0. But of course what do you expect the guy with coffee that came in late to do? Daven? Of course not. He needs to read.
So sad. Oh well.
Stop focusing on what other people do. Its not your business. We personally love the pamphlets and bring them home for our shabbos seuda discussions. If you read the ones on emuna and bitachon, maybe itll help you see things in a different way.
Mr Tova – glad to see you getting good use out of the pamphlets. However, what other people do IS others’ business, at least in Judaism. The concept of “mind your own business” is American but not Jewish.
Besides, when it’s disturbing, it’s definitely my business!
not sure why everyone is entitled to his OWN opinion, we still have a shulchen aruch to follow, which clearly states in simin#68 that even during peyutim, and in simin #124 states you can NOT learn during chazoras hashatz, so b’h we still follow the old testament, and not follow your boich svoros that this is better than not coming to shul, the reform movement also held driving to shul on shabbos is better than not coming at all, as well.
You should move to Monsey and daven at Scheiner’s. You can relax with a fresh coffee and a mezonos before (or during) davening until you calm down. No one in your old shul will miss you.
Apparently you don’t believe in Torah.
If halacha states that one should not learn from a sefer during chazaras hashatz, why is there a greater concern with using Torah pamphlets as opposed to a regular sefer? Is the issue primarily related to distractions that could prevent someone from fully davening, or is there a specific concern regarding Torah pamphlets?
Thanks for bringing up this issue that’s been going on so long it’s basically part of מנהגי בית המדרש these days
Every single week, it just gets worse — like matzah prices before Pesach.
Now, have you ever tried talking to the pamphlet distributors?
I have. As a Gabbei, I’ve pleaded, I’ve reasoned, I’ve even given them the “Gabbei face.” No dice.
These guys are harder to stop than kids running to the kiddush table.
So here’s the situation: every week our shul is gifted with about 20 pounds of holy deadweight.
We’re not collecting donations, we’re collecting sheimos — and it’s costing us just to have it hauled away.
Basically, we’re paying for the privilege of being a recycling center for other people’s divrei Torah.
Yes as a gabbai of a small shul we’re inundated with pamphlets in various languages, I’ve tried to stop the distributors but to no avail. I’ve offered to pick five that are one’s that Will be read, to no avail. I’ve asked to limit it to five copies each not thirty being that we are a small shul. But they just won’t listen.
lol 😆
Here’s an idea for Gabbaim.
Every week, gather the pamphlets that have been brought to your Shul and store them in a box, one box for each pamphlet. Before Pesach, bring each box to the home of the person behind the pamphlet, and drop them off on his porch. If a few Shuls do this, it may take some work, but the pamphlet distributors will think twice before spamming us with their ‘choshuve’ ideas.
Why wait until Pesach? I would do it once a month!
Find the guy’s address who brings it every week, and dump the whole years worth of papers on his porch on Erev Pesach!
Most of the pamphlets are wonderful. It is easiest to drop them off in shuls so that those interested can get them. And I I agree that they should not be looked at during davening period. That’s the halacha. Just take them home and enjoy them in your house on Shabbos and during the week
The Bais Yisroel zt”l was extremely makpid on no talking in shul or leining. He was similarly makpid on not looking into a Sefer during davening or leining.
A pity on anyone that he caught.
And don’t bring them back to the shul’s shaimos.
Do yourself a favor and focus on your Avoda and your family’s growth.
While there is a place to question whether these papers should be specifically distributed to shuls or whether this sort of practice is against what it says you may do during chazaras hashatz, you certainly have to question whether you mussar will be ignored or open an avenue for Leitzanus. אל תוכח לץ פן ישנאך.
But let’s get real here for a second.
The guy sitting to my right who has an attention disorder (yes, attention disorders affect adults too. They manifest in a variety of different ways that you might not expect), he can sit there in shul during chazaras hashatz and twiddle his fingers for thirty seconds or so before he moves on to his next antic which you (who seems to take great irritation from the benign behaviors of others) will certainly find to be disruptive.
Alternatively, he can use the cover of some publication to zone out.
Sometimes we choose to ignore something-not because it’s not an issue, rather because the solution may cause more harm than the problem
My point is that you generally don’t know what is going on in someone else’s life, so just put up with a smile and appreciate the good life you have.
In places like New Square, such things are banned. In places like Emunas Yisruel (R. Wolfson) they are either totally banned or very restricted, ditto at Khal Bnei Hayeshivos in Bklyn, and elsewhere too I’m sure.
Are these truly SHEIMOS? Or can you double wrap them and dispose of them in a respectful way in your own trash bin? So here’s my suggestion. If you’re outside the shul in the coat room, leave them there if they make their way in the shore, collect them, and dispose of them before it distracts other people.
I hear. But like r zelig Epstein ztl said – when Klal Yisroel’s pants is on fire we shouldn’t focus on straightening out our tie…..
My rabbi prints out very informative information every week on various subjects about weekly torah portion, Israel,famous rabbis,etc etc. if people choose to read them at some point during davening, it doesn’t bother me ( as I sometimes do the same). Don’t dictate your personal agenda on this, do your own thing. Live and let live, there’s no harm being done.
We heard this serious issue for some time and we haven’t seen any let down
Some of the distributors have stooped very low by giving the S. American the combinations of the shuls and yeshivas.
Perhaps they should collect them all dump them by the place of business of the distributors or publishers.
I applaud the letter. What I think could be added is something I think that is implicit in the letter anyway: what happened to having fear and awe when we are speaking to the Melech Malchei Hamelachim? The sense of outrage of the letter implies that: how in the world can we be doing these things if we actually believe we are talking to Hashem? Chazal made it very clear that we are supposed to follow along with the chazzan during C”H. I heard from a first person witness that Rav Moshe’s practice was to follow along word for word with the chazzan inside a siddur. One is supposed to say Baruch Hu Uvaruch Shmo and Amen to each bracha with kavana that you are affirming the truth of each statement of praise for Hashem that is made by the bracha. It is literally impossible to fulfill these halachic requirements with any distractions.
The talking, incessant pacing and nose blowing are more disruptive to me than someone quietly standing still reading a pamphlet or scrolling WhatsApp. At least that’s between them and Hashem and less disruptive to actual mispallelim.
Whats the deal with all the pacing
100% right, and what even worse is that it now became a full fledged advertising money making thing. Printing companies are putting these things out to advertise their latest projects.
As the original letter writer I want to clarify. Seems like some do not get the point. I am not judging people who read it or people who don’t daven at all. I am saying that the theses distributors who either are trying to advertise their new publications, or people who wanna share their beutiful vorts to all, they hsould reliaze that they are single handedly brinigning down the kedusha of a shul. They should have no right to just drop off their things that definitely do majorly distract tefilah. What someone does once is in shul, is not my business, and I myself get distracted plenty due to them. I just am saying how terribly unfair and single handedly distructive they are being, while they are thinking WOW, let me share my Divrei Torah with every person in shul. They are not doing Hashems will, and I am 100% confident of that.
What about this pamphlet about the (moderated) last week?
12 pages on things meant to be private. And in shul at that
In my shul, where I am part Gabbai, I don’t let them to be placed inside. They’re placed near the door. Most people take them on the way out or read them in the hallway. Only a few make it inside. Also, I’m very strict on whats even allowed. There are a few that go straight to the garbage or shaimos.
To the writer.
Your a lucky man if this is your biggest problem.
shul, shul, shul. Evryone thinks its something different. One guy thinks it a yeshiva, one guy thinks its a library (dont daven loud) one guy thinks its a men’s club (only the “in click “matters, one guy thinks its a playground, or a coffe shop, or a business, or a concert hall. actually its a place to work on one’s middos. Davening? as long as you do it fast, you are OK. too bad the adhd chevra took over and dont have time for an extra kapital tehillim. Times are soo great, wh needs it?
I applaud this writer! so well written and so true every last word!!!!