55 Kaddish & Laws of the Minyan

Question 1

If someone is asleep, do they count in the minyan?

Answer 1

Yes

Question 2

If someone is unable to respond, do they count towards a minyan?

Answer 2

Yes

Question 3

If someone is asleep, should we wake them up for Kaddish?

Answer 3

Yes. MB: responding to kaddish is an honor.

Question 4

A deaf person who can speak, is he counted in a minyan?

Answer 4

yes

Question 5

A person who can hear but not speak (mute) are they counted in a minyan?

Answer 5

yes

Question 6

A boy is considered a child until when?

Answer 6

Until they are 13 years old and one day and have 2 adult hairs

Question 7

Can someone who transgressed a gazera be part of a minyan?

Answer 7

Yes. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have minyans.

Question 8

Can someone who has been banned be part of a minyan?

Answer 8

No. OH 55.11

Question 9

If a person is standing just outside the doorway, are they counted in a minyan?

Answer 9

Maybe. They are counted as being outside.. 55.13

Question 10

If someone is outside a synagogue and looking through the window, can they be counted in the minyan?

Answer 10

Yes 55.14
His face needs to be visible to the people inside.
Yes even if the window is less than 4 tefachim,
Yes even if the window is several stories high.

Question 11

If someone is in a roof or attic are they counted in a minyan?

Answer 11

No. Gloss, 55.14

Question 12

If some are inside and some outside, and the shatz is inside do the ones outside count towards the minyan?

Answer 12

Yes. 55.15

Question 13

What is an antechamber?

Answer 13

A small room leading to a main one.

Question 14

If some people are in the synagogue and some are in the antechamber, do they combine to form a minyan?

Answer 14

No. 55.18

Question 15

If the shatz is in a closet, and there are nine people in the synagogue, do they combine to form a minyan?

Answer 15

Yes 55.19

• Even if the closet is really big (and might be considered an antechamber)
• Since it is considered an integral part of the synagogue.
• Some say yes ONLY if the partitions do not reach the ceiling.

Question 16

Once there is a minyan saying kaddish or kedusha, can someone outsdie the synagogue respond?

Answer 16

Yes. 55.20

• Some say that there can not be anything unclean between them.
• No idols between them.
• Beyur Halacha: Urine is ok to be between them.

Question 17

If there are only 10 people in a town and one wants to leave for the days of awe, what should he do?

Answer 17

He should pay someone to take his place. 55.21

Question 18

If there are 11 people in a town and two wants to leave for the days of awe, what should they do?

Answer 18

They have to pay one person to take their place. 55.21

• They should share the payment equally, unless one is super rich and one super poor, then they divide the cost according to their ability to pay.
• They still have to pay for the chazan to come.
• Gloss : It doesn’t matter if they will be gone for a lot longer than the days of awe.

Question 19

Is it the custom to hire people to make up a minyan?

Answer 19

No, only during the days of awe. 55.22

Question 20

Can the townspeople be fined for not participating in a minyan?

Answer 20

Yes, if they need the people to make a minyan 55.22