Every Thursday at 7am, we have Shacharit services at Chabad. The truth is, we usually do not have a minyan in attendance. But this week, the miracle occurred and there was a full minyan throughout the service. We read the Torah and recited all the relevant prayers in the presence of a minyan. Afterwards everyone went on their way with an extra jump in their step. We made the minyan!
What is it about having a minyan by services that causes much excitement in every community? In every synagogue there is satisfaction when ten bar mitzvah aged men come together to pray and disappointment when the magic number is not reached. Especially in a small community, the joy of making it is magnified.
In this week’s parsha we learn of the birth of Binyamin, the final son of Yaakov. Immediately following his birth, the Torah counts the twelve tribes of Israel for the first time. Regardless of the fact that Binyamin was a newborn, the tribe of Israel were now complete.
When Yaakov’s family migrated to the land of Egypt to join Joseph, they were meant to be a family of 70 souls to counterbalance the influence of the 70 nations. Leaving Canaan, they were 69 and upon reaching the gates of Egypt Yocheved was born bringing the total Jewish population to 70. Only then were they able to accomplish their mission in relocating to Egypt. She was no more than a newborn and yet an integral part of the sum total.
There can be room of nine sages gathering to pray, but the arrival of a 13-year-old ignorant Jewish teenager will drastically change the dynamic of the prayer of these saintly men. Jewish perfection necessitates everyone’s participation.
Perfection is reached only through adversity. Yaakov succeeded in building the family of twelve tribes only in the face of the challenges of Lavan and Eisav. The birth of the Jewish nation evolved from a reality of harsh slavery. And in small communities, gathering a minyan is a feat accomplished only through overcoming many challenges.
There is the personal challenge each participant may have. Trust me, it’s hard to show up every time when having a minyan is uncertain. Then there may be external pressures of individuals that discourage participation in regular services. They have no malicious intension, but the effects can be real.
When despite all the challenges the minyan comes together – the satisfaction is great and the joy is palpable. Ten individuals beat the odds and made it happen.
We must always be aware that our collective strength is dependent on every individual.