You want to get away for a couple of days with the family and you want to make sure you have a minyan on vacation–even though you’re not going to another Jewish community.
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Thank you to Rabbi Shaya Kestenbaum and The Shtieble for providing the Sefer Torah for the minyan pictured in this post.
There are times that you are willing to forgo a minyan on vacation and other times that you are not. If one of those times you want a minyan is when you will not be near a Jewish community–or even a Chabad House–what are you to do?
1. Organize the Minyan
Try and connect with others who will be in relative proximity to where you are staying. If you are going within about 2-5 hours of your home community, especially during a typical vacation time (ex: yeshiva break), your best option may be setting up a WhatsApp group. If your community has an e-mail list, you can publicize your chat there to ensure enough members. Our experience has been that you should aim for at least 13 people to commit to each tefilla in order to “guarantee” a minyan.
As the organizer, you may need to contact each person individually in order to get a commitment. It is human nature to be more likely to feel a sense of obligation when there is a personal invitation rather than a general plan. With a general plan: I will show up if it works for me. With a personal invitation: I don’t want to let anybody down.
2. Set the Time
Setting the time for a pop-up minyan on vacation can be a bit tricky. On the one hand, you’re on vacation so people may want to sleep in and not have to get up too early. On the other hand, you’re on vacation so people may want to maximize the time they have to spend with their families or activities. You can individually poll those who have committed and then post the decided time in the chat. You can always adjust if you get too much pushback. Keep Netz and Zman Kriyas Shma in mind.
What about mincha/maariv? You can go the simple route and schedule for around shkiyah. Or, if you’re going somewhere that has one main attraction (i.e.: ski slope, amusement park, etc.), you could pick a time for a quick mincha break on-site. And then schedule a later maariv elsewhere, after families are settled in for the night.
3. Arrange a Location
The easiest way to arrange a location is to host it. If you are in a space that you own, this is really simple. But what if you are in a hotel? Or a vacation rental?
In a hotel, you can ask the front desk if they have a space available that you can use. Be sure to offer to pay for the use.
If you are in a vacation rental, be sure to contact your host AHEAD OF TIME. Many vacation rentals are subject to local ordinances in terms of occupancy, parking, and noise. Most have cameras and other forms of monitoring to ensure that only registered guests are on the property. Remember: you are coming together to pray to Hashem–do so in a way that will make a Kiddush HaShem.
I suggest that you contact the host (in writing) and explain that as an Orthodox Jew, you are arranging to pray with the requisite quorum. You are reaching out to ask permission to host the prayer service at your vacation rental. Our experience has been that, barring any local ordinance, the hosts will be happy to accommodate–assuming you are respectful. The property owner will probably give you some guidelines to adhere to. These may include which areas of the house can utilized or have restricted access, where to have people park, a limit on the number of attendees, and being considerate of the neighbors. Be courteous and limit attendance to only those obligated in minyan (read: no kids).
Most hosts are happy to have the opportunity for you to bring “blessing and good vibes to their home”.
Be sure to thank your host profusely and write a stellar and appreciative review. They may not want having a minyan on their property publicized, so do not include that in the public review.
We had a wonderful and accommodating host in Big Bear Lake, California. Check out the listing.
4. Tips if you are the host
Set up the space in as welcoming and “shul-like” a way as possible. You may even get lucky and have a built in alcove for your Ba’al Tefilla that just needs you to get creative with the nightstands from the bedrooms. This house even had a closet on the “mizrach-vant” to use as an Aron Kodesh!
You may need to assign someone to direct parking. When your numbers are tight, be sure to double check with all those who have committed that they are in fact on the way about 15 minutes before the scheduled start time.
Make sure your kids are aware of what is happening and do not disturb the Kedushas Beis Haknesses you are trying to create.
A nice touch for a Shacharis minyan is to have some “coffee-room” refreshments. Some coffee, orange juice, and rugelach go a long way. For an added bonus, you can always throw a bottle of schnapps into your “minyan to go” kit.
If you are the host–especially if you are a rabbinic/communal figure–have a 2-3 minute Dvar Torah prepared. After Shacharis, it will send people off feeling like they just attended a “real” shul and it will give the expected break between mincha and maariv. But, don’t make it too long. This is still a minyan on vacation. Feel out the crowd, and be prepared to skip it as well.
5. Sefer Torah-even when it’s not Shabbos
If your minyan will include a leining day, you may want to consider bringing a Sefer Torah. I say “may” since there are some considerations when moving a Sefer Torah from its home and you should consult with your Rav before doing so.
Should you bring a Sefer Torah with you, make sure you have arranged for a Ba’al Koreh–don’t just assume that someone will be able to do it. Also, be aware that having a Sefer Torah on your premises is a great privilege. But, it is also a great responsibility…as is getting it there. It is quite possible that someone will have to hold it in the car the entire way.
Bring a few extra talleisim to wrap the Sefer Torah, to cover the “bimah” and to be able to provide for those that may need and don’t have (ex: a bachur who leins, davens for the amud, or gets an aliyah). Be sure to consult with a Rav for guidance and applicable Halachos for transporting and storing a Sefer Torah.
Also, be sure that any insurance policy on the Sefer Torah covers such a situation.
If you are the one coordinating the minyan, you should be prepared to devote quite a bit of time in the days leading up to as well as during the vacation to ensuring there is a minyan. There will be frustrations, annoyances, and set-backs. But, each time it works out, will be another opportunity to say “Thank You Hashem” for the zechus–even if it doesn’t work out.
Quality family time and the memories that are created is what really what matters.
Amazing Lasting Family Memories Game
Most of the participants will not appreciate all the logistics that go into coordinating and hosting a minyan on vacation. But your children will see all the effort and the impact that it will have on your family and their sense of the value of Tefilla B’Tzibbur is immeasurable.
Looking for a minyan on a quick layover? Check out Layover Tips for Jewish Travelers
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