Minyan Archives | Rosh Yeshiva Responds

23 08, 2026

Yom Kippur Selichot and Vidui Without a Minyan

August 23rd, 2026|Minyan, Orach Chayim, Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, Shulchan Arukh, Synagogue|

QUESTION

What should a congregation do if it does not have a minyan for Yom Kippur services, particularly regarding the Selichot and Vidui normally recited during Chazarat HaShatz?

ANSWER

Without a minyan, you cannot do Chazarat HaShatz. However, each person should recite Vidui as part of the silent Amidah. There is also no problem with reciting an additional Vidui together after the Amidah.

The Selichot may also be recited without a minyan, but the Yud-Gimel Middot HaRachamim (Thirteen Attributes of Mercy) cannot be said in their regular way without a minyan. Rather, they should be read with trope (

14 07, 2026

Counting Visitors for Minyan Without Investigating Jewish Status

July 14th, 2026|Minyan, Non-Jews and Other Religions, Orach Chayim, Status, Tefillah|

QUESTION

In a tourist town with only one synagogue, many visitors — both Jewish and non-Jewish — may attend services. Is there an obligation to ascertain the Jewish status of visitors before counting them toward a minyan? Or does the general principle apply that, absent specific grounds for doubt, one may rely on a person’s statement that he is Jewish without investigating further?

ANSWER

The general principle applies. The fact that non-Jewish visitors also attend services does not change this. If a person says that he is Jewish, he may be counted for a minyan. Without specific grounds for doubt (leidat ha-safek) regarding

27 02, 2026

Navigating Traditional Egalitarian Prayer Spaces

February 27th, 2026|Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Berakhot, Kaddish, Keriat HaTorah, Mechitza, Minyan, Orach Chayim, Shema and Shemoneh Esrei, Tefillah|

Question

NY, NY

I have recently been spending time in “traditional egalitarian” tefillah spaces, largely connected to my work teaching in a pluralistic school setting. I am seeking general halakhic framing and practical guidance.

Specifically:

May I daven b’yechidut (individually) in such a space while the communal tefillah is taking place? Or should I refrain from davening there entirely?
May I accept a kibbud (honor)?
Should I respond to Kaddish,

25 07, 2024

Davening Parts of Shabbat Mincha Before Mincha Gedola to Ensure A Minyan

July 25th, 2024|Keriat HaTorah, Minyan, Orach Chayim, Shabbat, Shacharit, Mincha and Ma'ariv, Shulchan Arukh, Tefillah|

QUESTION

St. Louis Park, Minnesota

In our shul, we currently have Mincha on Shabbat right after Kiddush. I’m trying to keep it going as long as possible because our minyanim are slim, especially if it involves coming back out in the cold to a shul that currently does not offer seudah shelishit.

Due to the time of Mincha Gedola, we have a sizable time gap between Kiddush and Mincha. We have already moved Shacharit as late as possible and I give a small shiur to fill part of the gap, but some congregants are unhappy. We currently begin Ashrei in time to reach Mincha Gedola by the Amidah.

12 03, 2024

Mechitza Construction with Bima in Between the Men’s and Women’s Sections

March 12th, 2024|Keriat HaTorah, Mechitza, Minyan, Orach Chayim, Synagogue, Tefillah, Women|

QUESTION

Washington, DC

Question regarding the construction of a new mechitza:

We have a chapel that seats 115 people. It opens from the back, straight into the middle aisle. The seats are distributed equally on both sides of the aisle, and the bimah is at the front of the room in the center. Our old mechitza for the space was 3 panels; two down the middle aisle, and a third to angle around the bimah so that there was a physical separation between the shaliach

Early Ma’ariv on Motzei Yom Tov When it Will be Difficult to Get a Minyan at a Later Time

12 06, 2023

Early Ma’ariv on Motzei Yom Tov When it Will be Difficult to Get a Minyan at a Later Time

June 12th, 2023|Minyan, Orach Chayim, Shacharit, Mincha and Ma'ariv, Shema and Shemoneh Esrei, Tefillah|

QUESTION

Boston, MA

I daven in a backyard minyan that typically only meets on Friday nights. We also gather for Yom Tov Mincha-Ma’ariv. Often on motzei yom tov we cannot keep a minyan for Ma’ariv as some men don’t want to wait and end up leaving after Mincha.

Would it be permissible to daven Ma’ariv early betzibur? (The Beit Yosef OC 293 says it’s ok for a yachid when there’s tzorekh, but I believe it is clear that this would apply for a tzibur. As well, I wonder if whether or not losing a

23 04, 2023

Counting a Security Person in Another Room as the Tenth for a Minyan

April 23rd, 2023|Minyan, Orach Chayim, Synagogue, Tefillah|

QUESTION

Houston, TX

We pray out of the JCC and are required to have a security person at the door when the building is otherwise closed, which includes Shabbat. For financial reasons, we use rotating volunteers, but sometimes, like for Mincha, we have ten men, and only ten men. Other times, there are ten men, as well as women, but the optics of making it be a woman are rough. The security person can just barely see into the shul room from

16 08, 2022

Tenth Man for Minyan Outside

August 16th, 2022|Minyan, Orach Chayim, Shulchan Arukh, Tefillah|

QUESTION

Rhode Island

We are required to have a security person at the door when the building we daven at is otherwise closed (on Shabbat). For financial reasons, we use rotating volunteers, but sometimes, like for Mincha, we have only ten men. The security person can just barely see into the shul room from the back door of the room where we daven. The last person in the room can barely see them. Can that security person be the tenth, bedieved or lekhatchilah?

ANSWER

Shulchan Arukh (OC 55:14) rules that a tziruf for minyan can be achieved even if a person is outside

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