Q&A: Prayer with a Congregation
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Prayer with a Congregation
Question
Hello,
According to the Rabbi’s view that there is no obligation to pray with a minyan, how are we to understand Rabbi Eliezer, who freed his Canaanite slave so that he could complete the quorum of ten, even though one who frees his slave violates a positive commandment? (The medieval authorities disagree whether this is truly a positive commandment or only a rabbinic rule.)
Thank you
Answer
In order for there to be permission, it does not have to be a commandment. As Nachmanides explained, the permission is based on the fact that this is a need of the master, and in that way he fulfills “you shall work them forever.”