The prayers of the individual may be rejected, but the prayers of many are never rejected!
There is no question as to the importance of praying in a synagogue. It is a place of prayer, built especially for prayer. However, if at all possible, one should specifically choose a synagogue that one finds conducive to praying. There are synagogues where praying is time, not less than “x” amount of minutes, not more than “y” amount of minutes, etc. Furthermore, there are synagogues where talking has become prevalent – even surpassing the prayers. One should use one’s discretion. Reb Noson writes that there are those who pray quickly, others who pray slowly, each according to his true feelings (Likutey Halakhot, NIzkey Shkheinim 5:2). Still, one should make the effort to put as much kavanah (devout concentration) as possible, into one’s prayers.
If at all possible, one should specifically choose a synagogue that one finds conducive to praying…
Praying with a minyan (quorum) is also of tantamount importance. The Talmud teaches: The prayers of the individual may be rejected, but the prayers of many are never rejected (Ta’anit 8a). One should pray there with joy and happiness, even to the point of clapping one’s hands and singing the words. As Rebbe Nachman said: I put great value in the Baal Shem Tov’s way of praying: with exertion and joy (Tovot Zikhronot #5). However, one should not pray in a manner that disturbs others, nor use mannerisms designed to draw attention to oneself. Better to pray simply, with as much kavanah as one can muster.
Rebbe Nachman said: You should not say that if you were praying so intensely, you would not hear or feel someone else. People can be annoying, even though it appears that the person is involved totally in his prayers (Rebbe Nachman’s Wisdom #285). There are some who feel that since they pray differently from others in their synagogue, perhaps it would be better if they were to stay home and pray individually. However, this is incorrect. One should make every effort to pray in a synagogue. If there are disturbances that disrupt his prayers, then he should pray about this too, during his hitbodedut (Oneg Shabbat p. 502).
One should pray there with joy and happiness!
The Rebbe never asked his followers to give up their “inherited” version of the prayers. Family traditions of nusach – Sefardi, Ashkenaz or Sefard (Chassidic) – did not have to be changed. Its makes no difference which version one prays. Rebbe Nachman said: Chassidut has nothing to do with nusach. One can be a chassid and still pray the Ashkenaz version (Siach Sarfei Kodesh I-90).
(Taken from the book Crossing the Narrow Bridge: A Practical Guide to Rebbe Nachman’s Teachings, chapter 8 – Prayer)
