Based on extrapolation of several Bible verses, the Talmud concludes that “sanctification” occurs in the “midst” of a “congregation” of ten Jewish men, called a minyan-מִנְיָן.

“Based on deep Bible study, the Sages firmly believed that wherever ten Jewish men gather, the Divine Presence resides amongst them,” explained Roni Segal, academic adviser for The Israel Institute of Biblical Studies, to Breaking Israel News. “Judaism has held this belief for over a thousand years. So strong is this dictate that orthodox Jewish men make every effort to attend prayer services with a minyan three times a day, every day of the week.”

Segal pointed out that through in-depth Bible study one comes to understand God’s intentions. For example, the Sages understood that a minimum of ten Jewish men are required to be considered a “congregation” through similar Hebrew words used in Bible phrases.

For example, ten spies went into the land of Canaan and are referred to as a “congregation”.

“How long shall I bear with this evil congregation?” (עַד מָתַי לָעֵדָה הָרָעָה הַזֹּאת-Ad matai l’eida ha-raa ha-zoet) (Numbers 14:27)

In these Bible verses the “children of Israel” refers to Jacob’s ten sons who went down to Egypt to obtain food during a famine:

“And the children of Israel came to buy among those that came” ( וַיָּבֹאוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לִשְׁבֹּר בְּתוֹךְ-Ve-ya-voe-oo Bnei Israel l’shbor b’toek) (Genesis 42:5)

Here, the words for “sanctification”, “midst” and “children of Israel” are used in one verse.

“And I shall be sanctified in the midst of the children of Israel” ( וְנִקְדַּשְׁתִּי בְּתוֹךְבְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל-Ve-neekdashtee b’toek bnei Israel) (Leviticus 22:32)’

The same word, eida-עֵדָה is used for “congregation” in the following along with the word for “midst”:

“Separate yourselves from the midst of this congregation” ( הִבָּדְלוּ מִתּוֹךְ הָעֵדָה הַזֹּאת-Hee-bodloo me-toek ha-eida ha-zoet) (Numbers 16:21)

And, in this verse, “congregation” and “holy” (i.e. “sanctification”) are connected:

“Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.” (דַּבֵּר אֶל כָּל עֲדַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם קְדֹשִׁים תִּהְיוּ כִּי קָדוֹשׁ אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם-Dabeer el kol eidat Bnei Israel ve-amarta aleihem kodshim teeheeyoo kee kadosh anee A-donoy eloehaychem) (Leviticus 19:2)

By studying all of these factors, traditional Judaism concludes that one way to bring the Divine Presence into the world is through a minyan. “Ten Jewish men gathered are considered a congregation which can bring sanctification,” continued Segal. “In fact, nine learned Rabbis together do not constitute a minyan. Yet, ten simple Jews does. That is a very powerful lesson. An individual can transform a small gathering into a minyan where the Divine Presence rests.”

Additionally, gathering a minyan for serving God might be a way to repent for the gathering of the ten spies who sinned by speaking badly about the Holy land.

“People might wonder why women are not included in a minyan,” shared Segal. “Firstly, since traditionally women cared for the children and home, the rabbis had sensitivity to their situation and would not command them to leave their other obligations to pray three times a day with a minyan. In addition, the Israelite women in the wilderness never sinned against God or the Land of Israel. Therefore, they do not need to participate in a minyan to fix the sin of the men.”

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