Minyan

High school (ages 12+)
Holidays & Celebrations

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/minyan

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the biblical and legal antecedents?Roots in Genesis 18:32 (Abraham's prayer) and Exodus 18:25 (Moses' judicial organization)
2. What is the primary religious function?Essential for public prayer services, particularly the recitation of the Kaddish
3. Why do we need ten people for a minyan?Ten people are needed because ancient stories and laws say that a small, close group can make decisions and support each other. The number ten also comes from stories about Abraham and Moses, where groups of ten were used to help the community. It helps keep the community strong.
4. Who can be counted in a minyan in different Jewish groups?In Orthodox Judaism, only men who are 13 or older can count. In Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist groups, women who are 12 or 13 can also count. Some places use the same rules for everyone.

Halakha: Jewish law, derived from the Torah and rabbinic interpretation, guiding religious practice.
Egalitarianism: The belief that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities.
Patriarch: An important male ancestor or founder of a lineage or religious tradition.