Q. My father is in hospital, but he says Selichot every day at the time they are said in his shul. If he can call a friend in the shul and he maintains his cell phone on, can he answer the Thirteen Midos (13 Qualities of Mercy), with everyone else?
A. Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit”a opinion is that he should not, since the 13 Midos require the actual presence of a minyan, and a contact by phone is not considered as being part of a minyan. (See similar answers in questions: 2644, 1301, 827, 829, 660, 648 and 927)
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as advised by Horav Shlomo Miller and Horav Aharon Miller Shlit’a