Does anyone know the halacha regarding if one is allowed to talk in shul (divrei chulin)
I'm not referring to times of prayer, but general even after prayer.
Seems that mundane speech is forbidden according to halacha, but I see almost everyone doing it, even Rabbis answer their phones and shmooze in the synagogue.
Is there a clear cut halacha on this?
Answer
The Aruch Hashulchan paskens like common practice that it is permitted (see here and here), justifying it as follows:
The Arukh Ha-Shulchan (Orach Chaim 151:5) asked why people speak idle chatter in (even non-Chassidic) synagogues after prayer services and answered that we must follow the view of the Ramban and Ran that when synagogues are founded with the condition that certain non-holy things will take place in them (such as eating or speaking idle chatter), then in cases of need these activities are permitted. And, continues the Arukh Ha-Shulchan, we must find these friendly discussions to be needed. He rules this way even though the Shulchan Arukh rules against the Ramban and Ran.
Edit: I would add that it seems that the Bach permits sichas chullin bein gavra legavra (see here for more), which surely takes place in a shul. My strong suspicion is that "sichas chullin" and/or "sicha beteila" is a homonym, and means different things to different people.
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