2 Responses

1. The shul can only be destroyed, ר”ל, if Hashem wants it to happen and so we should be thinking of ways to persuade Him not to let it happen. The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 124:7) says that people talking during davening is too great a sin to be borne, and the Mishna Brura there (sk 27) cites the Eliyahu Rabba in the name of Kol Bo: “we have seen a number of shuls destroyed because of this sin”. While I’ve never been in that shul and have to be dan le-chaf zechus that talking during davening isn’t a problem there, it’s reasonable to suggest that one way the shul’s members (and all those who sympathize with them) have of building up merits on the shul’s behalf is to undertake to stop talking during davening everywhere. There are a number of organizations that are working on this matter, so perhaps people concerned about Ayelet HaShachar’s future could support those organizations either financially or by distributing their literature. Also be resolving to speak to anyone they see talking during davening anywhere (in private and gently and constructively, as the halacha requires) to get them to stop. It’s known that the only shul in Antwerp that was not destroyed during the war (and in fact survived totally untouched) was the German shul where people were very careful not to talk during davening.

2. Kodus #1

   Could not have said it any better!!!!