Interruptions During Davening

Question:

If I’m davening and someone comes over and starts talking to me, am I permitted to smile, nod, or motion with my hands that we will talk later. I don’t want to make them feel bad. Does it matter which part of davening I’m up to?

Can one talk between karbanos?

Also, am I allowed to talk in between paragraphs of mincha, maariv, and shema before bed? Or between Ashrei and Shemona esrei?

What about during bentching? Can a person make hand motions to indicate they will talk later with someone?

Answer:

Shacharis:

Yes, but not during Shema, Shemone Esrai or between Goal Yisroel and Shemone Esrai.

Ideally, this should not be done during Birchos Krias Shema, unless there is a need. See similarly here.

Karbanos: Strictly speaking, yes. But in general one should avoid talking during Davening.

Mincha and Maariv:

One should not speak between Ashrei and Shemona esrei¹.

During Shemoneh Esrei, no talking whatsoever.

As for the other parts of davening, it depends where. Some places are more stringent than others. For example, between גאל ישראל and Shemoneh Esrei one may not interrupt.

Krias Shema She’al Hamitah:

It is proper not to interrupt between the paragraphs of Shema. If there is a need, speaking between paragraphs is less severe than in the middle of a paragraph.

After saying Krias Shema She’al Hamitah, one should avoid unnecessary conversation and go to sleep as soon as reasonably possible.

If you tell me the exact place (e.g. between the first and second paragraph of Shema, between Shema and Hamapil, between brachos of Bentching, etc.), I can answer more in detail.

Bentching:

One should not speak at all during Bentching, whether in the middle of a bracha or between brachos. If someone spoke, he generally continues Bentching and does not start over, but l’chatchilah there should be no interruptions.

One should not even make hand motions².

#51982

1. .ולהעיר משיחת ש״פ ויצא תשמ״ג (תו״מ ע׳ 541-2). וראה בהוספה לאחר זמן בשוה”ג להערות ותיקונים לתניא אגה״ק כד – קלח, א
2. .ראה שוע״ר קפג יא. ערוה״ש שם סוסע״י ח