The Minyan

As mentioned in an earlier post, I mentioned that I try to say a daily prayer for my mother. This is a Jewish tradition, to say Kaddish for a parent for eleven months on a daily basis after they pass. At home, I typically attend services a Congregation Shaare T'filla, a modern Orthodox Synagogue where I am a member.

I was in line at the restaurant above - an actual Kosher vendor at the Wells Fargo center. I started talking to two gentlemen behind me, obviously Orthodox men who were reporters for a Jewish on-line news paper in New York. All food lines in Wells Fargo were long on Monday evening. Close to the end of the line, the men said to each other about getting a Minyan that evening. I chimed in - could I join them, I'm saying Kaddish for my mother who passed six months ago. They were a little skeptical. I pulled out the siddur I brought with me on the trip, the Koren Ani Tefilla Siddur. They saw it and nodded - it passed muster.


My friend Rosalie got wind and wanted to join in too. She recently lost a loved one and wanted to say Kaddush too. She got their contact information. At 8:10 Rosalie grabbed me, minyan now! We followed the men to a private room for catering underneath a stairwell, near the Kosher vendor.


10 men, Rosalie and I prayed together in a food prep room. Rosalie and I in a corner behind the men. The 10th man was Texas Rep. Elliott Naishtadt recruited by Rosalie. There was a man who lost his brother a few days earlier. It was important to the Orthodox men that the man in mourning was able to say Kaddish and it was necessary to have a minyan for him.

A fellow Texas delegate heard about the minyan and wanted to join Tuesday night. Another delegate from Arkansas I met at the charging station also heard about the minyan while we were being interviewed by WWHY. He wanted to join us. Back into the supply room under the stairwell. at 8:10. 

That same night a woman received the Democratic nomination for President.