(condensed from Ein Ayah, Berachot 9:18)

Gemara: Abayei said: One must thank Hashem [with Birkat Hagomel] before ten people, as the pasuk says: “They will extol Him in an assemblage of the nation” (Tehillim 107:32). Mar Zutra said: “Two of them must be rabbis, as the pasuk says: “…and in an assemblage of elders they will praise Him” (ibid.).

Ein Ayah: The joining together of many people has significant value only if it contains an element of ethical improvement. If we will give value to a group just from the material perspective, there is little chance of it helping reach piety or unity, for on a materialistic level, people’s material desires are individualistic. In contrast, ethical goals of wisdom and benevolence link all together and cause individuals to strive for the betterment of the masses. When one sees the impact of spiritual aspirations, even an individual will be filled with a desire to join and feel optimistic about the prospect of communal spiritual advancement.

A congregation requires spiritual guidance to have a lasting effect. There is a difference between those who see material gains as their main aspiration and give a place for spiritual guidance to keep things running smoothly, and between those who see righteousness as the purpose of forming the group. After all, only in the spiritual realm is the power of the congregation most significant. Those who are interested in material success will minimize the place of wisdom, whereas those who are interested in spirituality will strive to increase wisdom and the number of people who promulgate it. They will not be satisfied with the minimum needed to lead in a direction of spirituality but will want to have more of that good thing. With this attitude, the group will have a special power.

This is the reason to have ten, the minimum number for a congregation, including two rabbis. While in the context of leadership, there is an advantage in having exactly one leader for a group, when the matter is giving complete thanks to Hashem, the presence of more rabbis increases the insight that can make these thanks complete.