A number of Halachic sources address the situation of a person who comes to the synagogue late for Arbit, when the congregation is about to begin the Amida. A person in this case faces two possible options. The first option is to recite Arbit normally, starting with the Shema and its Berachot, followed by the Amida, in which case he will lose the special Misva of reciting the Amida together with the congregation. The other option is to immediately recite the Amida together with the congregation, and then recite the first part of the Arbit service – Shema with the Berachot before and after it. This option allows him to recite Arbit with the congregation, but he forfeits the Misva of reciting the Beracha of "Ga’al Yisrael" just before the Amida. Which option should a person follow in this case?
The Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 236) discusses this case and rules that the value of praying with the congregation supersedes the concern of beginning the Amida immediately after the Beracha of "Ga’al Yisrael." Therefore, one should begin the Amida together with the congregation, and afterward recite the first part of the Arbit service. The Kaf Ha’haim (Rav Yaakov Haim Sofer, Baghdad-Israel, 1870-1939), however, records the view of the Kabbalists that one should recite Arbit in its proper sequence, even at the expense of Tefila Be’sibur (reciting the Amida with the congregation). This is the view accepted by the Kaf Ha’haim and by Hacham Ben Sion Abba Shaul (Israel, 1924-1998).
Hacham Ovadia Yosef, however, rules in accordance with the view of the Shulhan Aruch. He draws proof from a famous passage in Masechet Berachot which tells that Rav (a famous Talmudic Sage) would customarily recite the Friday night Arbit service before dark on Friday afternoon. Rabbenu Yona (Spain, 1180-1263) explained this to mean that Rav would recite the Amida with the congregation before dark, and then later, after dark, he would recite the rest of the Arbit service – Shema and its accompanying blessings. This clearly demonstrates that already in Talmudic times it was accepted to recite the Amida with the congregation before reciting the other part of Arbit. Hacham Ovadia cites the Piskeh Ha’Rosh as commenting that this was in fact the common practice in Israel throughout the week, and not only on Friday night. This was the position taken by other Rishonim, as well, including the Rashba and Rashi. Rav Hai Gaon similarly held the view accepted by the Shulhan Aruch.
Therefore, based on all these sources, Hacham Ovadia held that one who arrives at the synagogue for Arbit as the congregation begins the Amida should recite the Amida with them and then complete the rest of Arbit afterward.
Summary: If a person arrives late for Arbit, when the congregation begins the Amida, he should recite the Amida with the congregation and thereafter recite the rest of Arbit – the two Berachot before Shema, Shema, and the two blessings after Shema.
