Tales From a Garden Minyan
Borehamwood and Elstree enjoyed at least 7 different pop-up garden services during summer 2020. Here is the story of one of them..... Lockdown - pasta shortages and soughdough proving. The maximum 6 people per garden rule came into force on June 1st, 2020. At last, a chance to socialise with a few friends, and partake in tea and cucumber sandwiches on the patio. Admission strictly via the side gate. For those looking to start an outside minyan, it was simple: 6+6=12. Within hours, garden minyanim sprang up. Fence panels were removed and privit bushes pruned to create a neighbourly link. Back garden owners and renters, armed with WhatsApp (and a weather app), began to juggle who would attend the services. Late additions, pleas for Bosman transfers and last minute drop outs needed to be managed. 13th (or even 14th) men sometimes hovered outside the gatepost to stay within the letter of the law. No permissions were asked. "Don't ask, don't tell" - for very differen