the number of persons required by Jewish law to be present to conduct a communal religious service, traditionally a minimum of 10 Jewish males over 13 years of age.
such a group.
descended from Minyas.
being or pertaining to a gray, wheel-thrown pottery produced in ancient Greece during the early part of the Helladic period, c2000 b.c.
minyān literally, number
In Judaism, some prayers require a minyan, or a group of at least ten adults. Wedding blessings and prayers for the dead are among those that need a minyan. A minyan is a religious quorum, the minimum number of people required. In Judaism, many prayers can be said alone, but some of them require the sense of community and connection that comes from a cohesive group of people. Saying Kaddish after a loved one’s death is one example. In Orthodox synagogues, a minyan is composed only of men, but in most Jewish communities women are also included. Minyan has a Hebrew root, maneh, "to count or to number."
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Weiss went to the chapel door but stayed in the room to maintain the minyan.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 1, 2023
Pil makes sure that every day, morning and night, a minyan — a quorum of 10 men necessary for Orthodox Jews to hold certain prayers — is present.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 28, 2023
Here, encouraged by his grandfather and their new neighbors, David completes the minyan.
From New York Times ● Oct. 21, 2021
Meanwhile, there are also cultural things that people do want to import which get complicated because it’s Mars, like... how do you have a minyan when there aren’t ten Jewish men on the planet?
From The Verge ● Sep. 18, 2018
But suddenly I thought standing in a minyan for somebody’s bar mitzvah was the most important thing in the word.
From "Prisoner B-3087" by Alan Gratz
Rabbi Benjamin Lehrfield, formerly of Baron Hirsch and now the rabbi at the Riverdale Minyan in the Bronx, officiated before 260 guests, all but two of whom were fully vaccinated.
From New York Times ● Dec. 3, 2021
“It’s kind of a reunion,” said Citron, a rabbi at Surfside Minyan.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 16, 2021
Minyan Oneg Shabbat: Jewish renewal service and potluck lunch led by Rabbi Mark Novak, an actor, musician and storyteller, in a joy-filled morning of song and silence.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 20, 2015
Minyan Oneg Shabbat will sponsor this event, co-led by Rabbi Mark Novak and mindfulness games leader Klia Bassing.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 6, 2015
Steed-renowned Magnetians dwelt there, and the Minyan race Who smote the sounding billows with the oar.
From Pharsalia; Dramatic Episodes of the Civil Wars by Lucan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
