"Although there were thirteen synagogues in Tiberias, R. Ammi and R. Assi prayed only between the pillars, the place where they studied."
This line stood out to me today. The rabbis seem comfortable affirming the value of individual prayer, and the mindset of an individual while in prayer. Why would these two rabbis choose to pray between two pillars where they were studying rather than going to one of the 13 synagogues? Do you ever find yourself choosing to pray alone, in an unusual place, rather than with the congregation?
Interesting, I read this differently. I was puzzled by the expression "between the pillars" and thought of it more as "between the walls [of the 13 synagogues]" as in, out in the street at no synagogue. On one hand it reminded me of the joke about the man deserted on an island who builds two shuls: one he goes to and the other he wouldn't be caught dead in. All kidding aside, I think this speaks to a certain core human tendency to be different. Think back to our previous issue with standing in the back of the shul. I think this was a system that liked conformity, and anything breaking from that is, while uncomfortable to the system, a basic human instinct. We stand in the back of the room, we walk in late, we daven too fast or too slow (earlier last week in daf yomi), and like to NOT go to the shuls where everyone else is going. Maybe this is something to consider in this season of reflection about self and community.
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