From where do we know that ten men constitute a minyan – a quorum for prayer?
The source is in Parshat Emor. The Torah tells us ‘ונקדשתי בתוך בני ישראל’ - these are the words of Hashem - ‘I will be sanctified in the midst of the children of Israel’.
Here we are being told about a community of people worshipping Hashem, but how do we understand the phrase: ‘in the midst of’?
So, we know that in the Parsha of Korach, the Torah tells us ‘הבדלו מתוך העדה’ - separate yourselves from the midst of this community.
So, there we have the same phrase, ‘in the midst’, with reference to a community, and the term ‘עדה’ for the community is used in Parshat Shelach Lecha, where the ten evil spies are referred to as ‘העדה הרעה הזאת’ - that evil assembly.
So that is how we know that the reference in Parshat Emor to a group of people, in the midst of whom we sanctify the Name of Hashem, is ten people.
I find it absolutely extraordinary that we learn about a minyan from two historic events.
One is the Korach rebellion, and the other is the story of the spies.
In both instances, we had people within our nation who seriously let us down, but the message of the minyan is that everybody should be included. It is not for us to judge others.
Of course, we need to assess what’s right and wrong, and we do need to make a stand when we believe it is necessary, but having said that, ultimately, we must leave judgment in the Hands of Hashem.
When it comes to a community, absolutely everybody should be ‘in our midst’, so let’s pray with all our hearts, for the healing of all those injured, for the safe return of those taken as hostages, as well as Divine Protection for our brave IDF soldiers, police officers, medical professionals, firefighters, ZAKA members, security personnel and all those citizens protecting us in Israel as well as around the world, and for those who need healing, shidduchim, children or parnassah and may we be blessed to have the most awesome, gorgeous, beautiful, peaceful, healthy, amazing, relaxed, spiritual, safe, quiet and sweet Shabbat.
NUMBER OF MITZVOT: 63
MITZVOT ASEH: 24
MITZVOT LO TAASEH: 39
NUMBER OF PESUKIM: 124
NUMBER OF WORDS: 1614
NUMBER OF LETTERS: 6106
HAFTORA:
Yechezkel 44:15 – 31
This week we study Chapter 4 of Pirkei Avot
