Start on Time?

Small minyans face the great question of whether to start Shachrit on time. (“On Time” generally means starting before there are ten.) On the one hand we argue that we should wait for the latecomers, especially for the sake of those on time who are saying kaddish. On the other hand we argue that if we started on time, the latecomers would get their act together and come sooner.

There’s a lot at stake. If we start on time, obviously we finish earlier. In fact we finish even earlier than that because, without a minyan, we leave out the kaddishes at the beginning of Shachrit.