Vayechi

The Mystical Power of Minyan

Rabbi Laura Duhan Kaplan

Jacob called his sons and said, "Gather round . . ." (Bereisheet/Genesis 49:1)

Why does Jacob ask his sons to gather into a single group in order to receive their individual deathbed blessings from him? Why does Midrash teach that they answer by praying the Shema together? What does this teach us about praying as a group?

Zohar turns to the verse He has turned to the prayer of the solitary one and has not spurned their prayer (Psalms 102:18). When the prayer of an individual comes before the Blessed Holy One, God "turns it over" - scrutinizes that personís sins and virtue. But a congregational prayer includes many prayers of those who are not virtuous, and yet they all enter the presence of the King without the King "turning over" - overturning - their sins! Jacob's sons pray together hoping that their father will overlook their sins and give each a loving blessing.

Rabbi Moshe Cordovero looks towards the verse God forgives the . . . remnant of God's heritage (Micah 7:18). The Hebrew word "remnant" can also be understood to mean "oneís own flesh." All people are blood relatives, and all souls are united. Thus each person should desire the well-being of all others. Ideally, everyone will uphold the mitzvah of "love your neighbor as yourself" and act with kindness and forgiveness. Because the souls of each member of a minyan are connected with one another, the prayer of a minyan is equal in power to 100 prayers. Jacob's sons pray together to show that they have forgiven one another the abuses of youth and understand that they are stronger as a loving unit.

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