What about someone who starts shemoni esrei with the tzibur. Should he try to shorten his tefilla in order to be able to say kedusha?
Tzvi Possick, Baltimore, MD
The Gemara is not talking about Davenning faster. It is talking about a person who is late, who is asked to assess how long his Tefilah will take (not to Daven quickly), as to whether to join the Tzibur or not.
Clearly, someone who begins together with the Tzibur is not asked to anything other than to begin together with the Tzibur, because davenning together with the Tzibur outweighs all other considerations.
Nothing is said about Davening quickly, and when one stands before Hash-m and pours out one's heart to Hash-m, no power on earth can tell him to hurry up.
On the other hand, if one is near the end of the Amidah when the Shatz begins Chazaras ha'Shatz, and one is able to finish (until 'Elokai' plus 'Yih'yu le'Ratzon') there is no point in prolonging one's Tefilah unnecessarily and missing the boat (as long as pne does not infringe on one's Kavanah).
Kol Tuv,
R. Eliezer Chrysler