Translation:Mishnah/Seder Nezikin/Tractate Avot/Chapter 3/6

Introduction

This Mishnah presents sayings of Rabbi Chalafta ben Dosa, the leader of Kfar Chananiah.

Hebrew Text

רַבִּי חֲלַפְתָּא בֶּן דּוֹסָא אִישׁ כְּפַר חֲנַנְיָה אוֹמֵר:
עֲשָׂרָה שֶׁיּוֹשְׁבִין וְעוֹסְקִין בַּתּוֹרָה,
שְׁכִינָה שְׁרוּיָה בֵּינֵיהֶם,
שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים פב,),
"אֱלֹהִים נִצָּב בַּעֲדַת אֵל."

וּמִנַּיִן אֲפִלּוּ חֲמִשָּׁה?
שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (עמוס ט,),
"וַאֲגֻדָּתוֹ עַל אֶרֶץ יְסָדָהּ."

וּמִנַּיִן אֲפִלּוּ שְׁלֹשָׁה?
 שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים פב,),
"בְּקֶרֶב אֱלֹהִים יִשְׁפֹּט."

וּמִנַּיִן אֲפִלּוּ שְׁנַיִם?
שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלאכי ג,),
"אָז נִדְבְּרוּ יִרְאֵי ה' אִישׁ אֶל רֵעֵהוּ
וַיַּקְשֵׁב ה' וַיִּשְׁמָע וְגוֹ'."

וּמִנַּיִן אֲפִלּוּ אֶחָד?
שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כ,),
"בְּכָל הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר אַזְכִּיר אֶת שְׁמִי אָבוֹא אֵלֶיךָ וּבֵרַכְתִּיךָ."

English Translation

Rabbi Chalafta [ben Dosa] of Kfar Chananiah said:
[When] ten sit together and occupy themselves with Torah,
The Divine Presence rests among them,
As it is said (in Psalm 82:1):
“God stands in the congregation of God.”

And from where [can one learn that the Divine Presence rests] even [among] five?
As it is said (in Amos 9:6):
“And He has founded His band upon the earth.”

And from where [can one learn that the Divine Presence rests] even [among] three?
As it is said (in Psalm 82:1):
“In the midst of the judges He judges.”

And from where [can one learn that the Divine Presence rests] even [with] two?
As it is said (in Malachi 3:16):
“Then they who feared the Lord spoke one with another,
And the Lord hearkened, and heard.”

And from where [can one learn that the Divine Presence rests] even [with] one?
As it is said (in Exodus 20:20 (20:21 in NJPS)):
“In every place where I cause My Name to be mentioned I will come to you and bless you.”

Explanation

For commentary on Mishnah Avot 3:6, see, for example:

• The Maharal
• Rabbi Menachem Schneerson
• Rabbi Dovid Rosenfeld