Q. A gabay goes around the shul with a pushka during pesukei dezimara (by Vaiborech Dovid) to collect tzedaka for the shul. He often says yasher koach or thank you to the givers and he argues that it is not a hefsek or interruption,since he is only responding to their giving. Is that permitted?
A. Shulchan Aruch (O.H. 51: 5) rules that in the middle of the psalms of pesukei dezimra it is prohibited to greet someone deserving to be honored, but it is permitted to answer to that person, when he greeted us.
However, Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that thanking for a donation received, is not considered to be a response to a salute. (The Rabbi should explain this Halacha in his teachings, so the people will not expect a thank you then).
The Rov added that the gabay may attach a noticeable thank-you note to the pushka and point to it if necessary.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a