[Avodah] John Locke and Tzedaqa

[Zev Sero]

Simon Montagu wrote:
> This is true even of a minimal tzibbur of 10, who have the right to 
> compel one another not to leave town on Yamim Nora'im, or to pay for a 
> replacement. (end of OH 55).
> 
> The Rema's lashon "kofin ze et ze" is interesting: I think it implies 
> exactly the opposite of your premise -- none of the tzibbur has this 
> right as individuals, and even nine do not have the right to compel the 
> tenth; but ten have the right to compel one another.

What makes you say that?  Lich'ora the reason nine can't compel each
other to stay is simple: there is no minyan!  Each individual in the
village is an areiv for each other member's ability to daven with a
minyan; if he wants to go away for yomtov, thus leaving the other nine
with no minyan, he must hire a replacement.  Presumably if there are
nine and it's proposed to hire a tenth to come and join them for yomtov,
the other eight would also be obliged to pay his share.  But if there
are only nine and no tenth is coming, then why should he not go away?
On the contrary, going away would then be a mitzvah, and the only
question to ask is whether he can compel the other eight to come with
him!

-- 
Zev Sero                      The trouble with socialism is that you
zev at sero.name                 eventually run out of other people’s money
                                                     - Margaret Thatcher