Grant Salvation to Your People Since people may not be counted by being numbered, the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch writes that “it is customary to count [congregants to see whether a minyan of ten is present] by reciting the following verse, which comprises ten words: הושיעה את עמך, וברך את נחלתך, ורעם ונשאם עד העולם — ‘Grant salvation to Your people and bless Your heritage; tend them and exalt them forever.’ ” This is somewhat surprising, for Rashi writes explicitly in his Sefer HaPardes that one counts by using a different verse, which also has ten words: ואני ברוב חסדך אבוא ביתך, אשתחוה אל היכל קדשך ביראתך — “And I, through Your abundant kindness, come into Your house; I bow toward Your holy sanctuary in awe of You.” This change can be explained as follows: In these last generations that await the approaching footsteps of Mashiach, in a time pervaded by the doubly dense darkness of exile, the very first request of any ten Jews that assemble together is — that G‑d bring about the Redemption. And so it is that even before they begin to daven they plead: הושיעה את עמך — “Grant salvation to Your people and bless Your heritage; tend them and exalt them forever!”
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