If that fathers in shul are schmoozing through davening, what message is being taught to their sons?
Exactly… and I learned this the hard way.
While I’ve always been a stickler on talking during davening, there was one thing I used to do consistently… learn during Chazaras HaShatz. While the Chazzan recited the Amidah, I would often take out a Mishnayos and learn.
One day, I caught my son reading a novel during Chazaras Hashatz. When I asked him about it, he told me that he sees me reading, so it must be okay. I tried to justify it by claiming that, at least, I was learning, but at the end of the day, I had to admit that he was right.
Since then, I no longer learn during Chazras HaShatz. I now follow along in the siddur with the Chazzan.*
The Wolf
* I’d be lying if I said I *never* drifted off into day-dreaming during Chazaras HaShatz, but it doesn’t happen to often….