The source that I had always learned as paramount to this principle is
the spies that Moshe sent to Israel in parshas Shlach (Numbers Chap.
13-14). Those who gave a bad report about the land are referred to as an
"eidah" -- a congregation or group. Of the 12 spies, Calev and Yehoshua
gave favorable reports; hence, the eidah is composed of the other 10.
There also seems to be a hint to the number of 10 when Avraham pleads
with HaShem to spare the 5 cities (including S'dom and G'morrah) that He
wanted to destroy. Avraham's bargaining indicated the power of 10
individuals, starting with 50 - a minyan of righteous people in each city
- and finishing with 10 - a single minyan.
- Richie
sevrins@columbia.edu / rs305@columbia.edu
| Richard S. Sevrinsky |
| (212)305-2955 |
http://www.cpmc.columbia.edu/homepages/sevrins/