Search results for: ""Minyan""

Minyan Leader Follows Custom of Minyan
Say the entire prayer service (and not just the public portions) according to the custom of the minyan of which you are the leader, even if it differs from your custom.
 
Say Minyan's Version of Kedusha
At a minyan with a custom different from yours, say their version of kedusha.
 
Large Minyan or Small
In general, praying with a large group of Jews is preferable to praying with a small group.
Reason A large group is considered to be more honoring of God (b'rov am hadrat melech).
Note You may pray with a smaller minyan if you are not happy with the large minyan, such as the speed of the service, people talking during the service, or inconvenient timing when you need to get to work.
Mezuman/Minyan at pre-Yom Kippur Meal (Se'uda HaMafseket)
A mezuman or minyan is permitted at the pre-Yom Kippur meal (se'uda ha'mafseket).
Reason It is a festive meal.
Prayer with Minyan in another Room
If you are outside the room in which a minyan is praying, you may still join and reply to all of the prayers as long as:
  • You can see or hear the congregation, or
  • There are at least 10 men (in addition to you) inside the main room.
 
Amida with Minyan but with less than Nine Men Answering
On Shabbat, even if there will not be at least nine men answering amen to the reader's repetition of the amida, the reader should say the repetition anyway, without intending that his repetition be counted as a nedava (which can only be offered on weekdays). If less than six men will be answering, the leader must wait before doing the repetition.
 
Kiddush Levana: Minyan
You do not need a minyan to say kiddush levana.
Mourners Leading a Minyan

The dead person benefits if his/her son or sons lead public prayer services, whether during shloshim or the entire year (11 or 12 months). However, if the mourner is uncomfortable leading the minyan or is not a good reader or will be embarrassed, he should not feel obligated to do so.

 

A mourner does not lead a minyan on:

  • Shabbat;

  • Jewish Festivals (including chol ha'moed);

  • Purim;

  • Rosh Chodesh.

Opinions differ concerning Chanuka, so follow your local custom.

Burial: Kaddish: Attending Minyan
It is a mitzva to attend the minyan at a burial, but no one needs to interrupt his day in order to do so.
Burial: Kaddish: Having Minyan
It is important, but not critical, to have a minyan at the gravesite so the mourner will be able to say kaddish.
Birkat HaMazon: Eating for Minyan
You may say birkat ha'mazon with a minyan if:
  • At least seven men washed, said ha'motzi, and ate bread, with
  • Enough other men who ate some food (anything other than water or salt) to total 10 men.
NoteIf the 10 men's eating overlapped in time with each other, they MAY say birkat ha'mazon with a minyan
If the 10 men began eating at the same time, they MUST say birkat ha'mazon with a minyan.
Saying Hallel with a Minyan
When saying half- and full Hallel:
  • It is preferable to say half-hallel with a minyan.
  • You do not need to say full hallel with a minyan.
 
Prayers that Require a Minyan
Although it is preferable to join a minyan whenever possible, prayer services may be said without a minyan. However, certain prayers may be said (or omitted) only with a minyan present:
  • Bar'chu (morning and night),
  • The word “Eloheinu” in the birkat ha'mazon introduction,
  • Kaddish,
  • Kedusha,
  • Reader's repetition of the amida,
  • Sheva brachot (the seven blessings) at a wedding,
  • Sheva brachot during the week following the wedding,
  • 13 midot in selichot,
  • Torah reading if there will be aliyot, and
  • Skipping the three introductory words for the shema.
Note A minyan is preferable but not required for a circumcision.
Reason for Shiv'a House Minyan
The main reason for a shiv'a house minyan is to allow the male mourners to pray with a minyan and say kaddish, since they may not leave the house.
Birkat HaMazon: Seating for Minyan or Mezuman
You may join with other men to make a minyan or mezuman (a mezuman is any group of 3 or more Jewish men 13 years old or older and so a minyan is also a kind of mezuman) for birkat ha'mazon if, while you are eating:
  • You can see any other tables at which the other men are eating, or
  • You had the same waiter as the other men, even if you could not see the rest of the group (such as in an L-shaped room).