119. Chazaras HaShatz

20:1 When the shaliach tzibbur takes three steps back after completing his personal Shemoneh Esrei, he should remain in place for the amount of time it would take for a person to walk four cubits (six feet). He then returns to his place and quietly says the verse “Hashem s’fasai tiftach…” (“God, open my lips…”), followed by the repetition of Shemoneh Esrei aloud. Everyone should be quiet and pay attention to what the shaliach tzibbur is saying. They respond “Baruch Hu u’Baruch shmo” and “Amen” to each bracha as is appropriate. One may not even study Torah when he should be listening to the repetition of Shemoneh Esrei. It goes without saying that one may not engage in conversation at this time. If one can do so easily, it is good to stand as if one is saying Shemoneh Esrei, or close one’s eyes or follow along in the siddur. (Some authorities maintain that everyone should stand during the reader’s repetition – Rema OC 124:4.) Some who wear Rabbeinu Tam tefillin change into them from their Rashi tefillin during the repetition of Shemoneh Esrei but this is not the appropriate time to do so.

20:2 Since the shaliach tzibbur has already said his own Shemoneh Esrei, the public repetition is not for his personal benefit but for the congregation. Accordingly, there must be a minimum of nine listening and responding so that his blessings are not recited as if in vain. (Nine are needed because, with the shaliach tzibbur, this equals a full minyan.) If there are exactly ten people in the minyan, the shaliach tzibbur should not begin the repetition until each one has completed his personal Shemoneh Esrei so that all of them will be available to respond to the blessings. (If there is reason to believe that not everyone will respond, the practice is for the shaliach tzibbur to repeat Shemoneh Esrei with the intention that if nine do not answer, then his prayer should be considered a tefillas nedava, a voluntary prayer – Mishnah Brurah 124:19.)