I was recently at a shul in Marine Park where the Rav made a speech delineating who can and cannot daven there.
It was right after the Har Nof massacre. He got up and spoke about talking and other distractions during davening. He spoke of the evils of talking, checking your email, text messaging, etc. during davening. As it is, I agreed with him 100% on those issues. I am very careful not to talk during davening.* I also do not pull out my phone during davening for any reason.
However, it is what he said towards the end of the speech that prevents me from going back there. He said that in the shul one must not talk during davening, one must not check his email or text message and if you see it, you should protest against it and, if you can’t do that, he said, you should find someplace else to daven.
My policy is to not rebuke anyone. I’ve stated it on these boards before — it’s not a new policy of mine. I simply will not do it. The few times that I have done it, it turned out very badly. Afterwards, I went over to the Rav and told him that while I agree with the overall sentiment of his speech, I simply cannot do as he asks. I cannot rebuke others who talk during davening.
The Rav said if you can’t do that, don’t daven there. So, I no longer daven there. So, I know from experience that a shul does not have to accept everyone.
The Wolf
* Aside from perhaps a quick “I’m sorry” or “excuse me” if I bump into someone or the like.