<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr"><base href="https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1176648/jewish/Minyan-The-Prayer-Quorum.htm"><style id="print"></style><title>Minyan: The Prayer Quorum - Chabad.org</title><div class="original-url"><br><a href="https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1176648/jewish/Minyan-The-Prayer-Quorum.htm">https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1176648/jewish/Minyan-The-Prayer-Quorum.htm</a><br><br></div><div id="article" role="article" style="-webkit-locale: "en"; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" class="system exported">
<!-- This node will contain a number of div.page. -->
<div class="page" style="text-align: start; overflow-wrap: break-word; max-width: 100%;"><h1 class="title" style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.95552em; line-height: 1.2141em; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; text-align: start; display: block; max-width: 100%;">Minyan: The Prayer Quorum</h1><div class="metadata singleline" style="text-align: start; display: block; margin-bottom: 1.45em; margin-top: -0.75em; max-width: 100%;"><span itemprop="author" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" class="byline" style="margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; font-size: 1em !important; font-weight: normal !important; font-style: normal !important; display: inline !important;">Aryeh Citron</span></div><div class="leading-image" style="max-width: 100%; margin-bottom: 1.15em; line-height: 1.5em; font-family: -apple-system-font; font-size: 0.75rem; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8);"><img src="https://w2.chabad.org/media/images/994/wFWp9948714.jpg?_i=_n32DD4A5CE5B405756B86D11830CBE5B1" alt="Art by Sefira Lightstone" srcset="https://w2.chabad.org/media/images/994/wFWp9948714.jpg?_i=_n32DD4A5CE5B405756B86D11830CBE5B1 500w, https://w2.chabad.org/media/images/994/wFWp9948714.jpg?_i=_n76B3E6A404D908E662A1538A4A879637 480w" class="" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; margin: auto; display: block; clear: both;" data-unique-identifier=""></div>
<co:body xmlns:co="www1.chabadonline.com/alpha1" xmlns:msxsl="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:xslt" xmlns:user="urn:my-scripts" style="max-width: 100%;">
<div style="max-width: 100%;">
<p style="max-width: 100%;">There are certain prayers or rituals that can only take place in public. Jewish law defines this as the presence of 10 males of 13 years or older. This is known as a <i style="max-width: 100%;"><span glossary_item="35430" style="max-width: 100%;">minyan</span>,</i> quorum. The quorum is so important, that the prayer service itself can be referred to as a <i style="max-width: 100%;"><a href="/library/article_cdo/aid/543104/jewish/Why-Are-Ten-Men-Needed-for-a-Minyan.htm" title="Why Are Ten Men Needed for a Minyan?" style="color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%; text-decoration: underline;">minyan</a></i>.</p>
<p style="max-width: 100%;">This article will focus on some of the laws of prayer, specifically those relating to praying with a <i style="max-width: 100%;">minyan</i>.</p>
<div style="max-width: 100%;">
<div style="max-width: 100%;">
<section style="max-width: 100%;"><h2 style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;">In this article:</h2>
<ul style="max-width: 100%;">
<li style="max-width: 100%;">
<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">The Importance of Praying with a Minyan</span>
</li>
<li style="max-width: 100%;">
<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">What Constitutes a Minyan?</span>
</li>
<li style="max-width: 100%;">
<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">Which Prayers Require a Minyan?</span>
</li>
<li style="max-width: 100%;">
<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">What Happens if the Minyan Disassembles During a Prayer?</span>
</li>
<li style="max-width: 100%;">
<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">Which Prayers Should Be Recited with a Minyan?</span>
</li>
</ul>
</section></div>
</div>
<h2 style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;">The Importance of Praying with a Minyan</h2>
<p style="max-width: 100%;">A person should make an effort to pray in a synagogue with a minyan.<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">1</span> <span glossary_item="38118" style="max-width: 100%;">G‑d</span> never rejects the prayers of a congregation, even if sinners are amongst the crowd.<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">2</span> Even if a person's <i style="max-width: 100%;">kavanah</i> (concentration, intention) is imperfect, if he prays with a congregation, his prayers will be heard.<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">3</span> Nowadays, as we all do not have perfect concentration when we pray,<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">4</span> it is all the more important that we pray with a minyan.<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">5</span> It is said that in the merit of praying with a minyan, one will make a living more easily and be blessed with the fruits of his labor.<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">6</span> In fact, even if praying with a minyan causes one financial loss, <a href="/library/article_cdo/aid/433240/jewish/God.htm" title="What Is G‑d?" style="color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%; text-decoration: underline;">G‑d</a> will repay him by granting him extra success.<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">7</span></p>
<p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">Praying in a synagogue (with a minyan) is a <i style="max-width: 100%;">segulah</i> for long life</span>An elderly woman once came to Rabbi Yosi <span glossary_item="37956" style="max-width: 100%;">ben</span> Chalafta and said, "I'm very old. My life has become unpleasant. I can't taste food or drink, and I would like to pass away." Rabbi Yossi said to her, "What <span glossary_item="34870" style="max-width: 100%;">mitzvah</span> do you do every day?" She replied, "I go early every day to the synagogue even if it means leaving an enjoyable activity." Rabbi Yosi instructed her to stop attending synagogue for three days. She did this and subsequently passed away.<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">8</span> Thus, we see that praying in a synagogue (with a minyan) is a <i style="max-width: 100%;">segulah</i> (spiritually propitious act) for long life.</p>
<p style="max-width: 100%;">The verse<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">9</span> alludes to this: "Fortunate is the man who listens to Me to watch by My doors day by day, to watch the doorposts of My entrances. For he who has found Me has found life, and he has obtained favor from G‑d." The phrase "doorposts of my entrance" refers to the entrance to a synagogue. When ten men pray together, constituting a minyan, the Divine Presence rests on them, as the <span glossary_item="34888" style="max-width: 100%;">Mishnah</span> states,<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">10</span> "When ten are sitting… the Divine Presence rests amongst them." For this reason, the prayer of a minyan is considered more effective than private prayer, because no interceding angels are needed to raise the prayer to G‑d. Rather, the prayers are accepted immediately.<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">11</span></p>
<p style="max-width: 100%;">In addition, when praying with a minyan, one is able to say and/or hear many prayers that are only recited with a minyan (i.e., <span glossary_item="34103" style="max-width: 100%;">Kaddish</span>, the repetition of the <span glossary_item="35799" style="max-width: 100%;">Amidah</span> [which includes <span glossary_item="33416" style="max-width: 100%;">Kedushah</span>], the <span glossary_item="36424" style="max-width: 100%;">Torah</span> reading, and more [see below]).</p>
<h2 style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;">What Constitutes a Minyan?</h2>
<p style="max-width: 100%;">A minyan is comprised of ten Jewish men above the age of <span glossary_item="30811" style="max-width: 100%;">Bar Mitzvah</span>. Some are of the opinion that if nine men are present as well as a child who's old enough to understand the concept of praying, that too can be considered a valid minyan. Others maintain that in this case, the child must hold a <a href="/library/article_cdo/aid/1426382/jewish/Torah.htm" title="What Is Torah?" style="color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%; text-decoration: underline;">Torah</a> Scroll or a <span glossary_item="34555" style="max-width: 100%;">Chumash</span> (book of the Pentateuch).<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">12</span> While some communities rely on this opinion, this is not the generally accepted ruling.<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">13</span></p>
<p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">If one of the men is asleep, some authorities say that he still counts for the minyan</span>If there's a minyan in the room, but some of the people are unable to respond to the prayer being said – for example, they are praying the <a href="/library/article_cdo/aid/283942/jewish/The-Weekday-Amidah.htm" title="The Weekday Amidah" style="color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%; text-decoration: underline;">Amidah</a> or they are mute – they still count for the minyan. If one of the men is asleep, some authorities say that he still counts for the minyan, but others disagree. Preferably, he should be awoken.<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">14</span> This holds true for <a href="/library/article_cdo/aid/514160/jewish/Mourners-Kaddish.htm" title="Mourner's Kaddish" style="color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%; text-decoration: underline;">Kaddish</a> or <span glossary_item="36022" style="max-width: 100%;">Barchu</span>, but not for the Repetition of the Amidah, for which there must be nine men who can actively respond to the blessings being said.<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">15</span></p>
<h2 style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;">Which Prayers Require a Minyan?</h2>
<p style="max-width: 100%;">No <i style="max-width: 100%;"><span glossary_item="34480" style="max-width: 100%;">devarim</span> shebikdushah</i> ("holy prayers") may be recited without a minyan.<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">16</span> These include:</p>
<ul style="max-width: 100%;">
<li style="max-width: 100%;">Kaddish<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">17</span></li>
<li style="max-width: 100%;"><a href="/library/article_cdo/aid/4326660/jewish/Why-Some-Repeat-Barechu-and-Others-Dont.htm" title="Why Some Repeat Barechu and Others Don’t" style="color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%; text-decoration: underline;">Barchu</a><span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">18</span></li>
<li style="max-width: 100%;">The Repetition of the Amidah<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">19</span></li>
<li style="max-width: 100%;">The Priestly Blessing<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">20</span></li>
<li style="max-width: 100%;">The reading of the Torah<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">21</span> and the <span glossary_item="33223" style="max-width: 100%;">Haftorah</span>.<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">22</span></li>
<li style="max-width: 100%;">The Seven Blessings recited at a wedding and at the post-wedding feasts.<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">23</span></li>
<li style="max-width: 100%;">The introductory prayer to the <span glossary_item="21823" style="max-width: 100%;">Grace after Meals</span> which includes G‑d's name ("<i style="max-width: 100%;">Zimun BeShem</i>").<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">24</span></li>
<li style="max-width: 100%;">The Thirteen Attributes of Mercy as recited in <span glossary_item="32863" style="max-width: 100%;">Tachanun</span>, <span glossary_item="33586" style="max-width: 100%;">Selichot</span> or when taking out the Torah on Holidays.<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">25</span></li>
<li style="max-width: 100%;">Any Aramaic prayer.<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">26</span> This includes certain parts of the <a href="/holidays/JewishNewYear/template_cdo/aid/4350/jewish/What-Are-Selichot.htm" title="What Are Selichot?" style="color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%; text-decoration: underline;">Selichot</a> prayers and certain parts of the <span glossary_item="34087" style="max-width: 100%;">Shabbat</span> <span glossary_item="36494" style="max-width: 100%;">Musaf</span> prayers. If the congregation has finished reciting the Aramaic section of the Shabbat <a href="/library/article_cdo/aid/939953/jewish/Laws-of-the-Musaf-Prayers.htm" title="Laws of the Musaf Prayers" style="color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%; text-decoration: underline;">Musaf</a> prayers but is still praying, one may still recite the Aramaic section.<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">27</span></li>
</ul>
<h2 style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;">What Happens if the Minyan Disassembles During a Prayer?</h2>
<p style="max-width: 100%;">If one started to say any of the above prayers with a minyan, and then some of the people left such that there is no longer a minyan present, that prayer may be completed provided that there are still six men in the room. They may not, however, start the next prayer that requires a minyan unless the minyan reassembles.</p>
<p style="max-width: 100%;">One should not leave a minyan if his absence will cause the minyan to be deactivated. In fact, regarding a person who leaves in the middle of a prayer such that he depletes the minyan, the Torah states<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">28</span>: "Those who forsake G‑d shall perish."<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">29</span></p>
<p style="max-width: 100%;">Practically speaking, if the minyan dissipated (but at least six men remained present) in the middle of:</p>
<ul style="max-width: 100%;">
<li style="max-width: 100%;">Kaddish… the Kaddish may be completed.</li>
<li style="max-width: 100%;">The Repetition of the Amidah… the Repetition may be completed. In fact, in this case, the Half Kaddish following the Amidah and the full Kaddish after U'va L'Tzion may also be recited, as they are considered a continuation of the Repetition of the Amidah.</li>
<li style="max-width: 100%;">The blessings of the <span glossary_item="36444" style="max-width: 100%;">Shema</span> of Ma'ariv… the half Kaddish before the Amidah may be recited, as this is considered the completion of those blessings.</li>
<li style="max-width: 100%;">The silent Amidah of <span glossary_item="35816" style="max-width: 100%;">Maariv</span>… the Kaddish after the Amidah may be recited, as this is considered a continuation of the silent Amidah.</li>
<li style="max-width: 100%;">The Priestly Blessing… the Blessing may be completed.</li>
<li style="max-width: 100%;">The Torah reading… the Torah reading may be completed.</li>
<li style="max-width: 100%;">The <a href="/multimedia/video_cdo/aid/3577363/jewish/Learning-the-Weekly-Haftorah.htm" title="Learning the Weekly Haftorah" style="color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%; text-decoration: underline;">Haftorah</a>… the Haftorah may be completed.</li>
</ul>
<p style="max-width: 100%;">As mentioned, this only allows a prayer that has already been started to be completed, but doesn't permit the beginning of the next prayer. This means that:<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">30</span></p>
<ul style="max-width: 100%;">
<li style="max-width: 100%;">If the Ashrei of <span glossary_item="34525" style="max-width: 100%;">Minchah</span> was begun with a minyan and then the minyan dissipated, the remaining men may not say the Half Kaddish which precedes the Amidah.</li>
<li style="max-width: 100%;">If one started Yishtabach with a minyan and then the minyan dissipated, those remaining may not say the Half Kaddish and subsequent Barchu.</li>
<li style="max-width: 100%;">If the <span glossary_item="27718" style="max-width: 100%;">Shir Shel Yom</span>, <span glossary_item="35640" style="max-width: 100%;">Aleinu</span>, or similar prayers were recited with a minyan and then the minyan dissipated, those remining may not say the subsequent Kaddish Yatom.</li>
<li style="max-width: 100%;">If there was a minyan when the silent Amidah began, but then it dissipated before the cantor began the Repetition, the cantor may not start the Repetition.</li>
<li style="max-width: 100%;">If the Minyan dissipated in the middle of the Torah reading, the Haftorah may not be chanted.</li>
<li style="max-width: 100%;">If the minyan dissipated in the middle of the Repetition of the Amidah, the <span glossary_item="34335" style="max-width: 100%;">Kohanim</span> may not recite the Priestly Blessing.<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">31</span></li>
</ul>
<h2 style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.43em; max-width: 100%;">Which Prayers Should Be Recited with a Minyan?</h2>
<p style="max-width: 100%;"><span style="max-width: 100%;">There are other prayers that one may recite privately as well</span>In addition to the prayers listed above that may only be recited with a minyan, there are other prayers that one may recite privately as well, but it is best to recite them with a minyan. Some of them are:</p>
<ul style="max-width: 100%;">
<li style="max-width: 100%;">The first blessing of the <a href="/library/article_cdo/aid/705353/jewish/The-Shema.htm" title="The Shema" style="color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%; text-decoration: underline;">Shema</a> in the morning. The reason for this is that some authorities maintain the <a href="/multimedia/video_cdo/aid/3011192/jewish/The-Sanctification-of-G-d.htm" title="The Sanctification of G-d" style="color: rgb(65, 110, 210); max-width: 100%; text-decoration: underline;">Kedushah</a> in this blessing should be recited with a minyan.<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">32</span></li>
<li style="max-width: 100%;">The silent Amidah. In fact, it is proper to begin the silent Amidah together with the minyan.<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">33</span> According to the <span glossary_item="20677" style="max-width: 100%;">Code of Jewish Law</span>,<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">34</span> this is so important that one should even skip certain parts of the prayer service to begin the Amidah with a minyan. (In practice, however, since every part of the prayer service has great kabbalistic significance, some people do not skip parts of it at all.<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">35</span>)</li>
<li style="max-width: 100%;">The recital of the Shema. This is because the Shema contains 245 words, and to reach the significant number of 248 (the amount of limbs in the body), the <i style="max-width: 100%;"><span glossary_item="34349" style="max-width: 100%;">chazzan</span></i> repeats the last three words of the Shema on behalf of the congregation.<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">36</span></li>
<li style="max-width: 100%;">The prayer of U'va L'Tzion. Some maintain that the <span glossary_item="33747" style="max-width: 100%;">Kedushah</span> in this prayer should be recited with a minyan too.<span class="converted-anchor" style="max-width: 100%;">37</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
</co:body>
</div></div></div><br><br><div dir="ltr">Reverend Dr. Carolyn Peters, National Federation Of The Blind, Ohio, affiliate, vice president, Ohio Communities Of Faith division, president, Miami Valley Chapter, Dayton, Ohio president. 1-937-657-5134,<div><br></div><div>Dr.carolyn.peters@gmail.com☺ï¸ðŸ‘ðŸ™ðŸ¤²</div></div></body></html>