Changing Place in Synagogue When One's Place is Near the Wall

A mourner who usually prays all year near the wall, and if he changes his place to one far from the Ark, he will lose the advantage of praying near the wall. Should he change his place?

If he fears that changing his place will reduce his concentration, he can change his place to the sides at a distance of four cubits.

It is stated in Berachot, page 5, side 2: "From where do we know that one who prays should not have anything intervening between him and the wall? - As it is said: 'And Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed.'" Similarly, it is written in Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, Siman 90, Seif 21: "There should be nothing intervening between him and the wall. Permanent objects such as a cabinet or a box are not considered an interruption, (and it is not considered a partition unless it is a large object with a height of 10 and a width of 4, but a small object is not considered an interruption), also living beings are not considered an interruption, even a person is not considered an interruption. The Rema writes: 'And it seems to me that living beings are an interruption, but a person is not an interruption, and this seems to be the opinion of the poskim, and perhaps there was an error in the books.' The reason why it is preferable to pray near the wall is because it helps with concentration. In the Tur, Siman 98, another reason is brought: since prayers were established corresponding to the regular offerings, and just as in an offering, an interruption between it and the vessel invalidates it, so too in prayer. And although it is certainly impossible for everyone in the congregation to pray by the wall, as explained in Siman 90, Seif 69, nevertheless, the mitzvah in its most preferred form is to pray by the wall. And certainly, if one's concentration is disturbed by praying far from the wall, he should strive to pray near the wall. And the rule about moving from one's place is a custom, as explained in the Rema, and the custom is to distance oneself from the Ark, as Rabbi Shlomo Kluger writes in Shu"T Elef Lecha Shlomo, part Yoreh Deah, Siman 315: "Regarding the question of changing place in mourning, if he changes his place from the middle bench to the eastern wall, is this considered a change. This is not considered a change because a change for the better is not considered a change, and the general rule is that anything that is not customary to do without mourning and is done only because of mourning is considered a change, but what is customary to do without mourning is not a change, and a change for the better can be done without mourning, this is not a change." Similarly, it is stated in Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, Siman 201, Seif 15: "It is customary for the mourner to change his place in the synagogue for all thirty days, and after a father and mother for twelve months, and the change of place is at least a distance of four cubits from his place, and to a place that is further from the Ark than his place." However, it seems that certainly one can be lenient in moving to the sides if because of this his concentration will be nullified, and he will lose the advantage of praying near the wall, which is a rule of the Gemara, as the Maharam Shik writes about one who sits on the last bench, that he can move to the sides and rely on this as a change.