The Biur Halacha in siman 109 is mesupak about a case where one's shoneh esrei is usually longer and he will miss kedusha if he starts together with the congregation. My question is: What happens if I start krias shema or birchos krias shema with the congregation, but they go so fast that they start shmonah esrei before me. Am I considered like the Gamara's case of "one who comes to shul and finds them davening" or am I considered to be like the case of the Biur Halacha because I b'etzem started with the congregation, however, they sped ahead of me?
Avraham Halpern, Flushing, NY
If they catch you by surprise you may daven Shemoneh Esreh as soon as you can get to it, even if you will miss Kedushah. However, if you are aware of this "speedtrap," you should see to it to begin Birkas Keri'as Shema before them so you can begin Shemoneh Esreh together with the Tzibur.
Shimon Brodie
In addition to what the Bi'ur Halachah writes, I think we see from other places in the Mishnah Berurah (for example, 90:28 and 66:35) that Tefilah b'Tzibur means starting Shemoneh Esreh together, not just starting Keri'as Shema and its Berachos with the Tzibur.
Warmly,
Yishai Rasowsky