Definition

The minimum quorum of ten adult Jewish men (in Orthodox tradition) required to conduct communal prayer services—because apparently God prefers group worship with a headcount. This requirement turns finding enough people into a logistical challenge for small Jewish communities. It's the original "sorry, we need a few more people before we can start."

Example Usage

They barely had minyan for Saturday morning services, with exactly ten men showing up.

Source: Religious terminology, Jewish tradition

Related Terms