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Question
What should a chazan do if there is someone praying behind him who cannot step back? Should he step back before the person praying, or start the chazan's repetition and then take his three steps?
Answer
It is preferable for the chazan to take his three steps to the sides and only then begin the repetition, as it is forbidden for the chazan to start the repetition before stepping back. If there are also people praying on the sides, he should begin the repetition.
Source
The Rambam in Perek 9, Halacha 3 of the Laws of Prayer wrote that the chazan is required to take three steps back before starting the repetition, as this is part of the silent prayer established before the repetition. The Shulchan Aruch also ruled this way in Orach Chaim, Siman 123, Seif 5, contrary to the opinion of Ohel Moed, who holds that the chazan does not need to step back, as his silent prayer is only to accustom him to prayer.
Therefore, when there is someone praying behind him, if he steps to the sides, it is a dispute between the Magen Avraham and the Eliyah Rabbah, brought in the Mishnah Berurah, Siman 102, Seif Katan 18, where the Mishnah Berurah rules that one can be lenient in a pressing situation, and it is considered pressing since he needs to step back for the repetition (as ruled by the Chazon Ish, Dinim and Hanhagot, Perek 4, Ot 33).
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