It is best for one to daven facing a wall without any obstructions. The poskim say that the following items are not considered obstructions with respect to this halacha: 1) Any large permanent object such as an aron or benches are not obstructions. 2) According to some, an item less than ten tefachim high and four tefachim wide is also not an obstruction. 3) Anything beneficial for davening (e.g. a shtender) is also acceptable. 4) People are not obstructions. Nonetheless, some Rishonim say that it is appropriate not to daven behind another person. In most situations this is untenable, and the poskim say that it is acceptable l’chatchilah to daven behind another person.
סכ"א וכ"ב ס"ק ס"ו ס"ח וס"ט
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