What is a minyan?

A minyan is the quorum of ten Jewish adults required for certain communal prayers and rituals — including the Mourner's Kaddish, the public repetition of the Amidah, and the public reading of the Torah. The number ten signals that some of the holiest moments in Jewish life are meant to happen in community, not alone. Whom the count includes (traditionally ten men in Orthodox practice; men and women in egalitarian communities) varies by movement, but the principle is shared: certain prayers need a gathered congregation.

Which prayers require a minyan?

• The public repetition of the Amidah and certain responsive prayers.
• The Mourner's Kaddish and other forms of Kaddish.
• The public Torah reading with its blessings (what is an aliyah?).

Without a minyan, individuals still pray — but these communal elements wait for a quorum.

Why does Judaism require ten?

The requirement expresses a core value: prayer is not only personal but communal. A minyan turns scattered individuals into a congregation, ensures no mourner says Kaddish alone, and builds the daily rhythm of gathering that holds a community together. It's one reason the synagogue is so central to Jewish life.

In short: a minyan is the quorum of ten Jewish adults needed for communal prayers like Kaddish, the Amidah's repetition, and the Torah reading — Judaism's insistence that holiness is communal.

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