Priority of Davening with a Minyan

Question

Is it better to Daven [pray] with a earlier large minyan or better to wait to daven later with a much smaller minyan where i will be needed as the tenth?

Answer 1

Ken, great point.

There's some discussion about if you choose between doing a mitzvah in an "okay" way sooner, vs. a "better" way later. (E.g. we wait till Saturday night for Kiddush Levana so we're in a more spiritual mood when we say it, having just gone through Shabbos; even though earliest time for Kiddush Levana may have been a few days earlier.)

Classically in Halacha it's considered "davening better" when doing it with a larger crowd, but that assumes the later people will still have their minyan. I agree, if you can daven earlier and then attend later, that's ideal.

Answer 2

I was always led to believe you never pass up a chance to do a mitzvah. Guess I would daven with the earlier minyan, but also go to the later one and just be there as a tenth just answering "amen" so any person needing to say kaddish would still be able to.

Answer 3

The Mishnah Berurah says to boycott minyanim that will not be up to K"S (or tefillas shacharis) before sof zman. I believe that he was also talking about shabbos minyanim that start at 9am as well if sof zman is early!

Answer 4

Idunno. What is the value placed on "needed for tenth"? (What would those 9 people do otherwise? Could they daven earlier.)

Mishna Brurah records some people would daven Shachris at a house early Shabbos morning; they should then join the larger crowd in a shul for mussaf. (B'Rov am hadras melech.) But that's not the same thing.