I rarely get to hear a rabbi that gives an interesting sermon, but at least you know that no matter what happens you are kind of locked into shul for musaf and all that prepubescent singing afterwards so your stuck either way. I am always excited when the rabbi skips the pre-musaf speech, as I am sure many of you agree – its kind of like the shul version of having a cop put on his lights behind you and passing you right by – its God saying “you got off this time but…” and its a real heavenly feeling when that happens – I just get so happy when I begin to sit down for the speech and the chazzan strikes up musaf.
On the flip side this sometimes happens and then when you think shul is over and suddenly instead of being serenaded to kiddush with anim zemiros the prayers are stopped and the rabbi si up there telling you that he is not going to take a long time. Time moves at a standstill and everyone in the shul is think WTFK where the F is kiddush? Well at least I think everyone is – but they are probably too nice to even acknowledge their feelings and not as cynical as me about food and waiting.
The other problem with after musaf speeches is that the president always gets up after shul as well and this is like having two speeches in a row. I never understood what exactly the point of a shul president announcing the times is. They never do a good job, sometimes interject something really corny and never have anything interesting to say. Shul presidents usually suck at public speaking, although I never really know what they do behind the scenes at board meetings.
I wish there was some sort of RCA or OU rule that mandated time limits and official locations during davening for rabbi sermons.
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Our shul has a 5 minutes time limit for the drasha, which is done before mussaf. I usually catch up on Tehillim at that time.
I think all speeches should be saved for the kiddush, gives people that aren’t interested a chance to leave.
I know of a few m.o. shuls that have those insane 45 minute speeches. They even have the nerve to run the kiddush club at maftir, so as to be back on time for the rabbi to speak.
Seems very strange that they would rather listen to some boring speach than to the word of God or the neviim. Then again, the rabbi would probably ban the club if he was losing listeners.
Phil I wish speeches were made at kiddush – at least you have something to do during them. MO shuls love long speeches because half the people only hear torah or come to shul on shabbos.
Try the shul where I daven.. the rav speaks for a half hour between shacharis and mussaf!!
The only time he never speaks onshabbos is when he has a drasha to give later that day (e.g. shabbos hagadol or shabbos shuva) or if we say Hallel on that particular shabbos
why are there old women in the picture wearing talesim are they reform/conservative..?
Nobody has ever died from a speech.
depends if you it’s a speech or a vort. vorts are almost always inspirational, whereas speeches depend on topic. shul is not a place for talking about stuff other than shabbos or davening or Hashem.
I guess it’s time you stop going to Young Israel shuls, and hit up the nusach sefard Flatbush style shuls. You will practically never hear a speech from the rav (especially if he’s chassidish), unless of course there is a simcha in shul that week.
I would love the speech during kiddush, thats the best idea ever.
Thew best is when they give a speech before Mussaf and after Davening than the gabbai makes announcements.But I do admit I lot of those speeches are quite interesting like the time the rabbi talked about pregnant teenagers masturbating and smoking weed in the back of the shul building.
That was a sting operation, so the rabbi could bust all the perverted married men snooping around the back of the building after shul. There’s always a few suckers every year.
iluvmusic,
That gave me an idea. What if the speeches were sung. Like some improptu musical or opera?
Looks like you’ll never go to my shul if you ever come to Toronto.
Even though the rabbi speaks after mussaf, I have a small cop-out because our youth minyan ends around the same time as the main one (which I usually go to), and I go to their kiddush where they serve chicken wings! and they’re cool with it too.
but I like the rabbi’s drashes so I end going back to catch the last half – i guess I just miss the opening joke and parsha preamble (hmm.. maybe you come…)