I have always wondered how this problem has come about.
Perhaps it all goes back to when they were children and were
encouraged to go round with a pushke during
chazoras haShatz. Thank G-d we don't have that
minhag in our shul but it is quite common,
despite the fact that the Peri Megodim writes so strongly
against it. It is not surprising that he would understand the
bad effect it would have on children since he always
described himself as a makrei dardekei, an elementary-
school teacher.
I have seen quite often that people ask for change or even
crack a joke with the child. Obviously children learn from
this practice that chazoras haShatz is not so terribly
important and one can talk then. They do not realize the
severity of the prohibition which the Shulchan Oruch
describes as, "Godol avono mineso -- his sin is
greater than he can bear."
I suppose that for people who chat anyway, a charitable
donation may be a palliative, a sort of pidyon for
their aveiroh, but it can only be a second best to
giving undivided attention to the shaliach tzibbur.
However, the children should be told, in no uncertain
terms, not to rattle the pushke, since this can be
very distracting to those who are trying to concentrate. I
have seen cases where the child has rattled it very noisily
next to someone who had not even finished his quiet
Shemoneh Esrei!
On the other hand where this custom is firmly established, it
is difficult to abolish it. If everyone knows of it, they can
have a coin ready in advance and avoid any distraction.
The same cannot be said of the many meshullachim who
turn up. It would be best if a notice barring them at such
times were put outside the shul door and the
gabboim ensured that they did not disturb the
mispalelim at such inappropriate times.
There is another custom of collecting after krias haTorah
which is in my opinion infinitely preferable. One shul
I went to on my business trips had this custom and it
worked well for many years. Then they decided that they could
raise more money by collecting every day. In order to avoid
chazoras haShatz, they sent a child round during
Ashrei on other days, despite the Pri Megodim's
reservations. It did not take long before the children forgot
the original custom and collected then even on Mondays and
Thursdays.
I am sure the amount collected did not justify the
disturbance caused. People do not realize the importance of
Ashrei, whose recitation three times a day Chazal tell
us assures us of a place in the World to Come.
One incident I witnessed struck me quite forcefully as to how
this minhag taught the children not to appreciate the
importance of tefillah. It happened one Sunday morning
that one of them noticed that the pushke was not in
its usual place, having been put away in the cupboard under
the omud over Shabbos. He tried to extract it during
chazoras haShatz, seeming not even to be aware that he
might be disturbing the shaliach tzibbur in the middle
of his davening.
Of course this observation does not apply to meshullachim
who, in any case, do not come to daven. After all,
they need some time in which to collect, and talking during
Ashrei and Uvo leTsion is a less serious matter
than during chazoras haShatz.
Similarly, one can hardly object to them collecting during
Pesukei dezimroh especially since there is a custom,
according to the Arizal, to give tzedokoh when one
reaches Vayevorech Dovid. They should, however,
realize that one cannot talk during Pesukei dezimroh,
and always have change ready should someone not have
available the precise amount he wishes to donate. I have not
infrequently had problems with meshullachim who did
not do so and could not understand why I had to gesture to
them to that effect, demanding that I tell them verbally what
I wanted even when I pointed into my siddur to show
him why I was silent.
However, from Borechu until after chazoras
haShatz, when one should have even greater concentration,
it would be more appropriate if they desisted from disturbing
the tzibbur.
Whether they should approach the shaliach tzibbur at
all is another matter. After all, the latter is the agent of
the congregation and should not interrupt his duties for any
reason, any more than an employee may undertake personal
affairs during work time.
Perhaps the answer to those who put giving money to charity
above all else by saying, "Tzedokoh tatzil mimoves,
charity saves from death," is that through tefillah
one becomes a true ben Olam Habo, one who really
merits eternal life.
Wishing you and all your family kesivoh vechasimoh
tovoh,
Your friend
Moshe
