Talmud for Pirkei Avot 3:6

רַבִּי חֲלַפְתָּא בֶן דּוֹסָא אִישׁ כְּפַר חֲנַנְיָה אוֹמֵר, עֲשָׂרָה שֶׁיּוֹשְׁבִין וְעוֹסְקִין בַּתּוֹרָה, שְׁכִינָה שְׁרוּיָה בֵינֵיהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים פב) אֱלֹהִים נִצָּב בַּעֲדַת אֵל. וּמִנַּיִן אֲפִלּוּ חֲמִשָּׁה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (עמוס ט) וַאֲגֻדָּתוֹ עַל אֶרֶץ יְסָדָהּ. וּמִנַּיִן אֲפִלּוּ שְׁלשָׁה, 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 אָבֹא אֵלֶיךָ וּבֵרַכְתִּיךָ:

R. Chalafta Ish Kfar Chaninah says: If ten sit in judgment, the Shechinah abides among them, as it is written (Psalms 82:1): "G-d stands in the congregation of the Almighty" [and a "congregation" is not less than ten, as it is written in respect to the spies (Numbers 14:27): "How long for this evil congregation!" (Joshua and Kalev are excluded, leaving ten)]. And whence (is this derived) even for five? From (Psalms 82:1): "In the midst of the judges [(three judges and the litigants)] shall He judge." And (whence is this derived) even for three? From (Amos 9:6): "And He founded His bond upon the earth." [(three:) fire, air, and water (which circle the foundation of the earth) — whence it is seen that three is a "bond." Or from (Exodus 12:22): "a bundle (three stalks) of hyssop." There are texts which read: And whence do we derive even five? From "And He founded His bond upon the earth." A man "bonds" with one hand, on which there are five fingers. And the (five) fingers of the hand collectively are called a "bond." And the beginning of the verse reads: "He builds His ascents in the heavens." That is, the Shechinah, which is in the heavens, descends to the earth when there is a bond (of men) engaged in Torah study. And whence do we derive even three? From "In the midst of the judges (three) shall He judge."] And whence do we derive even two? From (Malachi 3:16): "Then the fearers of the L rd spoke to each other [(two are implied)] and the L rd listened and heard, etc." and whence do we derive even one? From (Exodus 20:21): "Wherever I mention My name, I shall come to you and bless you."

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