We continue our discussion of where one should daven in shul and potential problems of praying very close to one's Rov.

It is important to establish the right environment in which to daven. The Shulchan Aruch mentions finding a fixed place, ideally close to the wall, and without interruptions of large objects or people between you and the wall. These are not mandatory but create a higher quality of environment for prayer.

The Halacha discusses how far one must journey forwards or backwards to find a minyan to pray in.

We learn that there is a special quality with praying at exactly the same time as the community prays in shul, even if you cannot be with them physically at the same time. When in a minyan you should not pray the Amidah before the community unless feeling very unwell.

Today we learn of the importance of praying with a minyan and the extra qualities that are achieved over and above praying by oneself.

We learn about the type of conditions that need to surround a person when praying. Ideally, with windows, the preference of a building over a field, and not praying in a ruined building that can lead to problems.

The Halacha teaches us what to do if we need to set out early in the morning before the ideal time of saying Shema and the Amidah. We also learn about not standing on high places to daven - whether because we will be thinking of our safety and not concentrating or we should not put ourselves in a high place with regards HaShem

In essence, the importance of morning prayers even overrides the learning of Torah after the time for saying the Shema and the Amidah has arrived. In practice, there are reasons where Torah study is encouraged even during this time on condition that the time for davenning will not pass by without Shema and Amidah said in their correct times.

The Halachos we are learning underscore the importance of prayer and greeting one's Maker in the morning before we take care of our own needs. We discuss the common practice of drinking tea or coffee before morning prayers and how sugar is perhaps no longer a sign of wealth and arrogance when consumed with hot drinks.

We are not allowed to greet someone invoking HaShem's quality of Shalom  - as in wishing someone 'shalom alaychem' before one has said the amidah. However, to casually greet someone you meet on the way by saying 'hi' is not a problem. Certainly, one can respond to a greeting initiated from another person.