A window into Judaism
Several weeks ago my friend the Rev. Ralph Howe wrote a letter to the editor of this paper about the growing need for community. His words stayed with me, and they made me think about a core Jewish tradition that embodies that need: the minyan.
A minyan is a quorum, a gathering of 10 Jewish adults over the age of 13 required for certain prayers and rituals. Some of Judaism’s most meaningful moments can only happen in the presence of at least 10 adults. A minyan is required for reading the Torah aloud. A minyan is required for saying Kaddish, the ancient Hebrew prayer recited when a loved one dies and recited each year on the anniversary of the death of loved ones. Prayers for healing during the Torah reading (Mi Sheberach), are said aloud, names of the sick are voiced and heard. In these moments, Judaism insists no one should have to carry grief, fear or hope by themselves.
Of course, one can always pray alone, at any time or in any place. But praying with others creates something different, a sense of connection and closeness that strengthens both the individual and the group. By requiring a minyan for many rituals, Judaism pushes people toward one another. It gives us a reason to gather, and a reminder that some parts of life are not meant to be handled alone.
There is something simple, yet powerful about a minyan. Ten (or more) ordinary people come together, not because they are clergy, scholars or especially holy, but simply because they show up. Alone, none of them can recite certain prayers. Together, they make those prayers possible. A minyan is a lesson in community.
Community, as research shows, is essential to human well-being. People who feel connected to neighbors, to social groups, to teams, clubs, organizations or faith communities experience less loneliness, anxiety, and depression. They recover more quickly from loss and are more resilient to change. A minyan is not therapy, but it offers something just as vital – belonging.
A minyan also teaches responsibility. Each person’s presence matters. When you show up, you are not only tending to your own needs, you are tending to someone else’s as well. Growing up, I remember my father often getting calls to come down to the synagogue because someone needed a minyan to say Kaddish. They weren’t always his closest friends, but he went anyway. It’s just what you did out of a deep sense of responsibility. You were all part of the same community and you were there for each other whether they were the people closest to you or not.
In the end, a minyan is not really about the number 10. It is about presence. It is about shared ritual, shared responsibility, and the truth that we are healthier, stronger, and more whole when we stand together.
A minyan is a reminder that none of us is meant to carry life alone.
