Avos 3:6-7

Avos 3:6

Rabbi Chalafta of Kfar Chananiah said that when ten people sit and occupy themselves with Torah, God’s Presence rests among them as per Psalms 82:1, “God stands in the congregation of God.” We see this also applies to five people from Amos 9:6, “(God) has founded His band (agudah) on the earth” (a band being five based on the root of agudah – ogged – referring to a person’s grip, which is five fingers). We see that this even applies to three people from Psalms 82:1, “He judges in the midst of the judges” (a beis din requiring three judges). We see that this even applies to two people from Malachi 3:16, “Then those who revered God spoke with one another, and God listened and heard” (see above, mishna 3:2). We see that this even applies to one person from Exodus 20:21, “Wherever I inspire My Name to be mentioned, I will come to you and bless you.”

Avos 3:7

Rabbi Elazar of Bartota said to give God what is His because both we and all we own come from Him. King David said similarly, “Everything comes from You and we have (really only) given You Your own property” (I Chronicles 29:14). Rabbi Shimon said that if a person is walking on the road studying Torah and he interrupts his learning to comment on how beautiful a tree or a field is, the Torah considers it as if he sins against himself (because desisting from Torah is bad for a person).