Last night I went to 770 (outdoors) to daven Ma'ariv for the first time since it was locked down.
Boy, was it refreshing compared to my back porch minyan.
I arrived just in time and stood where I thought I was sufficiently distant from others, just to have a bochur wearing a face mask (who seems to be in charge of enforcing rules) ask me to move away from where I stood, as it was in the middle of the sidewalk, potentially blocking pedestrian traffic. I relocated to the service lane, only to be told that I can't stand there either, because of oncoming vehicular traffic.
Davening was a breath of fresh air. No more at the mercy of a rushing שליח ציבור that can barely be heard, but rather davening במתינות with a loud clear שליח ציבור. Instead of davening with 10-20 people on a block minyan, I was davening in a minyan that probably had close to 100 people. Most were not wearing masks, though some did.
I would have loved to daven with the 770 outdoor minyan on Shabbos, but I would imagine it is much more limited, as there's only a limited area where one could carry a siddur to.
I really look forward to the reopening of 770.
If only we had proactive people in charge, I'm sure something could be worked out to have 770 open.
