Davening with a Minyan: Difference between revisions

# Though a deaf-mute is generally assumed to have the status of a Shoteh, there is much debate as to whether or not he is considered a Bar Da'at and can count for a [[minyan]] if he attended a special education school and learned how to communicate. As such, if there are only ten people, one may count him for a [[minyan]] but should only do a short Chazara, so as not to risk too many Berachot Levatala.<ref>Yechave Daat 2:6</ref>

===If Some of the Minyan Left Early===

# If there are only 10 men in the [[minyan]], none of them may leave in middle. However, if there are more than 10 men, those who are in excess of 10 may leave if they already heard [[Barchu]], [[Kedusha]], and all the Kaddishim. <Ref>Kitzur Shuchan Aruch 15:10 </ref>

# After the fact, if there are less than ten men left, they one's left are allowed to finish what they had started as long as there are at least 6 men left. <Ref>Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 15:10 </ref>

## If the Shaliach Tzibbur began [[Chazarat HaShatz]] he may finish Chazara including [[Kedusha]], but there is no [[Nesiyat Kapayim]] and he may not say [[Kaddish]] after the Chazara. <Ref>Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 15:10 </ref>

## If the [[minyan]] began [[Kriyat HaTorah]] and then part of the [[minyan]] left (four or less), the one's remaining may finish the Kriyah but may not do Hosafot and the Maftir is said without brachot. <Ref>Kitzur Shuclhan Aruch 15:10 </ref>

==Missing a Minyan for Business Purposes==

# It is permissible to miss a [[minyan]] in order to prevent a loss of money, however, it is forbidden if it is just a loss of a potential profit. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 90:29 </ref>

==Missing a Minyan for Vacation ==

# A person should not travel from a place where there is a [[minyan]] to a place where there is no [[minyan]] unless there is a serious health need, [[parnasa]] (financial support for oneself and family) need, or mitzvah need. <Ref> Halichot Shlomo (5:4 pg 61) writes that for [[parnasa]], health, or mitzvah needs one may travel to a place where one will not be able to find a [[minyan]].  

* Theoretical discussion: [Rav Zalman Nechemyah Goldberg (Halichot Shlomo (page 72 and 358) at first writes that seemingly it would be permissible to put oneself in a situation where one will be without a [[minyan]] as long as the time for that [[tefillah]] did not arrive, similar to the Baal HaMoer who permits boarding a boat 3 days before [[Shabbat]] even if one might need to violate [[Shabbat]] for Pikuach Nefesh. (The reason for 3 days is that there is an extension of [[Shabbat]] into the last three days of the week, however, the obligation of [[tefillah]] only applies at the time of [[prayer]]). However, he strongly rejects this by saying that putting oneself in a situation of missing praying with a [[minyan]] because it would be out of one's control to get a [[minyan]] in one's destination is totally dissimilar to violating [[Shabbat]] for Pikuach Nefesh which is permitted. He says that going to such a place is like not building a [[Sukkah]] for [[Sukkot]] and trying to claim that it is out of one's control to sit in the [[Sukkah]]. He continues that perhaps the exemption from traveling more than a [[mil]] to find a [[minyan]] is not because of it being out of one's control, but that the obligation of [[minyan]] was removed by chazal for someone at such a distance, similar to someone beyond a certain distance at the time of korban [[pesach]], then perhaps there would not be a prohibition to put oneself in such a situation. He leaves the question whether there is an obligation to find oneself in a place where there is a [[minyan]] (before the time of [[tefillah]]) unanswered, nonetheless, it is certain that the correct righteous practice would be not to put oneself in such a situation.] [http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/743095/Rabbi_Aryeh_Lebowitz/Ten_Minute_Halacha_-_Minyan:_Cake_or_Icing Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz] explained that this question would be dependent on another dispute whether [[davening]] in a [[minyan]] is an absolute obligation or an added feature to [[davening]]. </ref> However one should not go on a tiyul (trip) if it means missing praying with a [[minyan]]. <Ref>Rav Nevinsal in BeYitzchak Yikra 90:18 </ref>

==Missing Minyan in order to Host Guests==

# Do not leave a guest in order to go daven. Welcoming guests (hachsanat orchim) overrides [[davening]] in a [[minyan]]. <Ref>Halichot Shlomo (chapter 5 note 25 pg 66) </ref>

==Missing Minyan in order to Daven Vatikin==

# Someone who usually davens [[vatikin]] should daven [[vatikin]] even if one day he is not able to get a [[minyan]]. <Ref>Halichot Shlomo 5:17 </ref>

==Missing Minyan Because One Is Sick==

# One is only exempt in cases of extenuating circumstances such as someone not feeling well and even in such a case one should at least pray at the time of the Tzibbur. <Ref>Shulchan Aruch 90:9, Mishna Brurah 90:29 </ref>

==Missing Minyan Because of Learning==

# Someone who’s learning is his “occupation”, meaning that one does not waste any time not learning except for the absolutely necessary activities, may daven without being part of a [[minyan]] from time to time, however, nowadays using this leniency is highly discouraged. <Ref>Rama 90:18, Mishna Brurah 90:56, Piskei Teshuvot 90:23 writes that this leniency is discouraged but there is what to rely on and quotes the son of the Chafetz Chaim who writes about his father when writing the Mishna Brurah would go ten hours at a time learning without eating or even stopping for [[mincha]]. </ref> Therefore, even if one is involved in learning one should make sure to daven with a [[minyan]] and there is an added seriousness for such a person to daven with a [[minyan]] so that others do not judge him incorrectly or mistakenly learn out of his actions that davening in a [[minyan]] is unimportant. <Ref>Shulchan Aruch 90:18, Mishna Brurah 90:29, 57, See Sh”t Igrot Moshe 2:27 regarding missing [[minyan]] for learning  </ref>

# If one came late to the set [[minyan]] and going to a later one will cause you to miss learning in a chevruta. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 90:56 writes that one who is going to give a shuir to the public may not miss out on the opportunity in order to go to a [[minyan]]. Halichot Shlomo 5:16 adds that even if one will only miss learning with a chevruta one should not go to the [[minyan]]; BeYitzchak Yikra (Rav Nevinsal) 90:18 writes that if a student in a yeshiva eats and sleeps by the yeshiva it is an imperative to daven in the yeshiva [[minyan]] and it is forbidden to daven in an even holier place such as by the Kotel because of Mitzvah HaBah BeAvierah! </ref>

# If it is going to cause a loss of teaching Torah in public such as if one will miss giving a public shuir, one should miss [[minyan]] in order not to miss that opportunity of giving shiur. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 90:56 writes that one who is going to give a shuir to the public may not miss out on the opportunity in order to go to a [[minyan]].</ref>