A minyan is a quorum of ten Jewish adults (men in traditional communities) required for certain prayers, including the Mourner's Kaddish.

How many minyanim are there at shiva?

There are typically three daily minyanim: Shacharis (morning), Mincha (afternoon), and Maariv (evening). Each requires ten people.

Can you leave the shiva house to go to shul?

This depends on halachic authority and community custom. In some circumstances a mourner may attend a minyan outside the home. Consult with a rabbi.

Who organizes the minyan at shiva?

Typically a friend or community member takes responsibility for coordinating. A shared online schedule that anyone can update makes this easier.

What if there are not enough men for a minyan?

In smaller communities this can be a challenge. Options include reaching out to nearby shuls, combining prayer services, or using your community WhatsApp groups to broadcast the need to a wider community.

How to Coordinate a Minyan for Shiva

Ensuring a minyan at a shiva house for the full seven days requires coordination. Here's how to organize davening times and get the community involved.

Why Minyan at Shiva Matters

Jewish law requires a minyan — a quorum of ten Jewish adults (men in traditional communities) — for the recitation of Kaddish, the mourner's prayer. Since the mourner must say Kaddish multiple times a day during shiva, ensuring a minyan at the shiva house for each davening is a profound act of chesed.

The Three Daily Prayers

A typical shiva house will need a minyan for three daily prayer services:

Shacharis (morning prayer) — typically 7–9am
Mincha (afternoon prayer) — varies by season
Maariv (evening prayer) — after nightfall

How to Organize

1. Set the Times

Coordinate with the family to establish consistent prayer times. The earlier you communicate these times, the easier it is to gather people.

2. Communicate Widely

Use your community WhatsApp groups, shul bulletin board, or a shared sign-up page to share the minyan times, so anyone can see and update the schedule.

3. Designate a Coordinator

One person should take responsibility for confirming that each tefillah has at least ten people. This doesn't require a full-time commitment — a few phone calls per day.

4. Have a Backup Plan

If numbers are uncertain, have a few committed "anchors" who will always come, and reach out for additional people as needed.

What If We Can't Get a Minyan?

In smaller communities or on weekdays when people are at work, a minyan can be difficult to maintain. Options include:

Shortening the prayer service (Mincha and Maariv can sometimes be combined)
Organizing a community minyan earlier in the morning before work hours
Asking the local shul rabbi to help coordinate
Having the mourner attend a regular shul minyan if they are able to leave the house (check with a rabbi)

Keeping the Minyan Schedule Updated

A shared online schedule — a group chat, a spreadsheet, or a sign-up page anyone can edit — lets the community keep minyan times current. This means:

The community always knows the current schedule
Times can be updated in real-time as they change
Multiple minyanim can be listed for the same davening (e.g., two different shacharis times at two locations)

Reviewed with guidance from Jewish mourning traditions across Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform practices.