Tefillahתפילה

Minyan Requirements After Shemona Esrei

Sources address whether a minyan remains valid when participants depart after the silent Shemona Esrei, particularly regarding the recitation of Kaddish and other communal prayers. The halakhic sources discuss whether ten must remain present or whether having begun with a full minyan permits completion of sanctified utterances.

אם התחיל לומר קדיש בעשרה ויצאו מקצתן גומרים אותו

6 sources · all verified

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What the sources say

The baseline rule is that any davar shebikdushah requires a minyan of ten, derived from a gezera shava between the word "among" in Vayikra 22:32 and the word "among" in the passage of Korach, as the Gemara (Berakhot 21b) establishes — and crucially, the Gemara there adds that once begun, it is not interrupted.

Building on that principle, the Shulchan Arukh (Orach Chayim 55:2) rules that if the chazzan began kaddish or kedushah with ten and some left, they may complete what was started — provided the majority (i.e., at least six) remain, as the Arukh HaShulchan (Orach Chayim 55) specifies; and if the chazzan began the Amidah with Avot, they may complete even the Kedushah.

However, the Rema (Orach Chayim 55:2) stresses that leaving is nonetheless a sin, invoking the verse "those who forsake the Lord shall perish" (Yeshayahu 1:28), and permits departure only when ten remain.

Regarding the Kaddish that follows the Amidah specifically, Shulchan Arukh HaRav (Orach Chayim 55) rules that it may be said only if ten were present at the start of the Amidah itself — meaning that ten present only for Shema and its blessings is insufficient — and the Mishnah Berurah (55:6) adds that once the Amidah was begun with ten, the chazzan completes the entire Amidah, the half-Kaddish, and the full Kaddish after it, since all of these belong to the same unit.

Source 1 · Chazal
Verified

Berakhot 21b

ברכות כ״א ב — ד"ה וְכֵן אָמַר רַב אַדָּא בַּר אַהֲבָה

Berakhot 21b:4

This sugya discusses communal prayer and the special sanctity of public worship, forming a basis for minyan requirements.

וְכֵן אָמַר רַב אַדָּא בַּר אַהֲבָה: מִנַּיִן שֶׁאֵין הַיָּחִיד אוֹמֵר ״קְדוּשָּׁה״ — שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְנִקְדַּשְׁתִּי בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל״, כׇּל דָּבָר שֶׁבִּקְדוּשָּׁה לֹא יְהֵא פָּחוֹת מֵעֲשָׂרָה. מַאי מַשְׁמַע? דְּתָנֵי רַבְנַאי אֲחוּהּ דְּרַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא: אָתְיָא ״תּוֹךְ״ ״תּוֹךְ״. כְּתִיב הָכָא: ״וְנִקְדַּשְׁתִּי בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל״, וּכְתִיב הָתָם: ״הִבָּדְלוּ מִתּוֹךְ הָעֵדָה הַזֹּאת״, מָה לְהַלָּן עֲשָׂרָה. אַף כָּאן עֲשָׂרָה. וּדְכוּלֵּי עָלְמָא מִיהַת מִפְסָק לָא פָּסֵיק.

Similarly, Rav Adda bar Ahava stated, in accordance with the second opinion: From where is it derived that an individual may not recite kedusha alone? As it is stated: “And I shall be hallowed among the children of Israel” (Leviticus 22:32), any expression of sanctity may not be recited in a quorum of fewer than ten men. The Gemara asks: How is this inferred from that verse? The Gemara responds: This must be understood in light of a baraita, which was taught by Rabbenai, the brother of Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba: It is inferred by means of a verbal analogy [gezera shava] between the words among, among. Here it is written: “And I shall be hallowed among the children of Israel,” and there, regarding Korah’s congregation, it is written “Separate yourselves from among this congregation” (Numbers 16:21). Just as there among connotes ten, so too here, among connotes ten. The connotation of ten associated with the word among written in the portion of Korah is, in turn, derived by means of another verbal analogy between the word congregation written there and the word congregation written in reference to the ten spies who slandered Eretz Yisrael: “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation?” (Numbers 14:27). Consequently, among the congregation there must be at least ten. And, in any case, everyone agrees that one may not interrupt his prayer in order to respond to kedusha.

Source 2 · Rishonim
Verified

Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing 8:1-5

משנה תורה, הלכות תפילה וברכת כהנים ח׳:א׳-ה׳

Mishneh Torah, Prayer and the Priestly Blessing 8:1-5

The Rambam sets out the laws of communal prayer and devarim shebikdushah, providing a foundational codification of when a congregation is considered complete.

וְכֵיצַד הִיא תְּפִלַּת הַצִּבּוּר. יִהְיֶה אֶחָד מִתְפַּלֵּל בְּקוֹל רָם וְהַכּל שׁוֹמְעִים. וְאֵין עוֹשִׂין כֵּן בְּפָחוֹת מֵעֲשָׂרָה גְּדוֹלִים וּבְנֵי חוֹרִין. וּשְׁלִיחַ צִבּוּר אֶחָד מֵהֶם. וַאֲפִלּוּ הָיוּ מִקְצָתָן שֶׁכְּבָר הִתְפַּלְּלוּ וְיָצְאוּ יְדֵי חוֹבָתָן מַשְׁלִימִין לָהֶם לַעֲשָׂרָה. וְהוּא שֶׁיִּהְיוּ רֹב הָעֲשָׂרָה שֶׁלֹּא הִתְפַּלְּלוּ. וְכֵן אֵין אוֹמְרִים קְדֻשָּׁה וְלֹא קוֹרְאִין בַּתּוֹרָה וּמְבָרְכִין לְפָנֶיהָ וּלְאַחֲרֶיהָ וְלֹא מַפְטִירִין בַּנְּבִיאִים אֶלָּא בַּעֲשָׂרָה:

What is implied by [the term,] communal prayer? One [person] prays aloud and all [the others] listen. This should not be done with fewer than ten adult free males. The leader of the congregation is [counted as] one of them. Even if some of them have already prayed and fulfilled their obligation, they can complete the [quorum of] ten provided the majority of the ten have not prayed. Similarly, we should not recite Kedushah, read the Torah with its blessings before and after it, or read the haftorah from the Prophets except in [a quorum of] ten.

Source 3 · Acharonim
Verified

Shulchan Arukh HaRav, Orach Chayim 55

שולחן ערוך הרב, אורח חיים נ״ה

Shulchan Arukh HaRav, Orach Chayim 55

This section clarifies the laws of communal prayer and the requirements for maintaining a valid minyan during prayer and קדיש/קדושה.

וְכֵן כַּיּוֹצֵא בָּזֶה בְּעַרְבִית לֹא יֹאמַר הַקַּדִּישׁ שֶׁלְּאַחַר תְּפִלַּת י"ח אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן הָיוּ עֲשָׂרָה בִּתְחִלַּת תְּפִלַּת י"ח, וְלֹא דַּי בְּמַה שֶּׁהָיוּ עֲשָׂרָה בִּשְׁעַת קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע וּבִרְכוֹתֶיהָ.

Source 4 · Acharonim
Verified

Arukh HaShulchan, Orach Chaim 55

ערוך השולחן, אורח חיים נ״ה

Arukh HaShulchan, Orach Chaim 55

This chapter systematically analyzes the rules of a minyan, including the status of prayers once the tenth man leaves.

ומכל מקום אם התחילו לומר קדיש או קדושה בעשרה, ויצאו מקצתן באמצע – גומרין אותו הקדיש או הקדושה שהתחיל. והוא שנשתיירו ששה שהן רוב מהעשרה.

Source 5 · Acharonim
Verified

Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 55

שולחן ערוך, אורח חיים נ״ה — ד"ה אם התחיל לומר קדיש או קדושה

Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 55:2

This siman discusses the requirements for a minyan and the laws of devarim shebikdushah, including the need for ten present for communal sanctification and prayer rituals.

אם התחיל לומר קדיש או קדושה בעשר' ויצאו מקצתן גומרים אותו הקדיש או אותה הקדושה שהתחיל והוא שנשתיירו רובן: הגה ומ"מ עבירה הוא לצאת ועליה' נאמר ועוזבי ה' יכלו [ירושלמי] אבל אם נשארו י' מותר לצאת [מרדכי פ' בתרא דמגילה]: אם התחיל באבות ויצאו מקצתן גומר אפילו קדושה: הגה ואם יצאו מקצתן לאחר שהתחילו להתפלל יוצר לא יתחיל הש"צ להתפלל התפלה בקול רם דכבר נשלם תפלת יוצר ואם יצאו לאחר שהתחיל בקול רם וקדושה יכולים להשלים כל סדר קדושה ולומר הקדיש שלם שלאחריה דשייך לתפלה שהרי אומר תתקבל צלותהון וכו' אבל אין קורין בתורה דזהו ענין אחר ותפלת ערבית וקדיש שלאחריו לא שייך לק"ש וברכותיה [ר"ן פרק הקורא את המגילה שבולי הלקט ות"ה סי' ט"ו]:

If the chazzan started kaddish or kedusha with 10 people and a few left he can finish the kaddish and kedusha that he started as long as the majority of them remain. Rem"a: Nevertheless, it is a sin to leave. And regarding that, the verse says: "...and those who forsake the Lord shall perish" (Isaiah 1:28) [Yerushalmi]. But if there are 10 people remaining it is allowed [Mordechi in the last chapter of Tractate Megillah]. If [the chazzan] started with [the blessing of] Avot [in the Amidah] and a few people left, he can finish even Kedusha. Rem"a: If a few of them left after they began to pray "Yotzer Ohr", the prayer-leader should not begin to pray the audible [Amidah repetition] prayer because he already completed the prayer of Yotzer. And if they left after he began the audible [Amidah repetition] and Kedusha, they can complete the entire order of Kedusha and say the full Kaddish that comes after it because it belongs to the [Amidah] Prayer, in that behold it says "may their prayer be accepted..." [in the Kaddish]. But they may not read from the Torah (ie. when some left and you are now left with less than 10 men) because this is a different matter. And the evening [Amidah] Prayer and the Kaddish that comes after it - they do not belong to the recitation of the Sh'ma and its blessings. [Ran on the chapter "the one who reads the Megillah"; Shibolei Ha-Leket ... chapter 15]

See also

Source 6 · Acharonim
Verified

Mishnah Berurah 55

משנה ברורה נ״ה — ד"ה (ו) אם התחיל - וה"ה בכל

Mishnah Berurah 55:6

The Mishnah Berurah explains the halakhic details of a minyan, including what happens if some participants leave and whether one may continue reciting devarim shebikdushah.

(ו) אם התחיל - וה"ה בכל דבר שצריך עשרה כגון נ"כ וקריאת התורה והפטרה בנביא גומרין כל מה ששייך לענין זה כיון שכבר התחילו בו בעשרה אבל לא מתחילין מה שהוא ענין אחר: (י) הקדושה - וה"ה כל תפלת י"ח. ולפי מה שמבואר בהג"ה שבסעיף ג' גומר גם החצי קדיש וקדיש שלם שלאחריה. וכתבו האחרונים דיאמר ג"כ ברכה דאלהינו ברכנו בברכה המשולשת וכו' דכל שהתחיל בתפלת י"ח גומרה אע"ג דתנן אין נושאין כפים בפחות מעשרה ואפילו אם התחיל התפלה בעשרה וכדאיתא בר"ן וב"י היינו דוקא נ"כ ממש ומשום שהוא ענין אחר אבל תפלת אלקינו יאמר מאחר שהתחיל בתפלת י"ח וג"ז שייך לתפלת י"ח:

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