1. Mishnah, Avot, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15, 1.16-2.4, 2.8, 2.10, 2.11, 4.11, 5.12, 5.14, 5.15, 5.17 (1st cent. CE - 3rd cent. CE)
| 1.12. Hillel and Shammai received [the oral tradition] from them. Hillel used to say: be of the disciples of Aaron, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving mankind and drawing them close to the Torah." |
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2. Mishnah, Hagigah, 2.1 (1st cent. CE - 3rd cent. CE)
| 2.1. They may not expound upon the subject of forbidden relations in the presence of three. Nor the work of creation in the presence of two. Nor [the work of] the chariot in the presence of one, unless he is a sage and understands of his own knowledge. Whoever speculates upon four things, it would have been better had he not come into the world: what is above, what is beneath, what came before, and what came after. And whoever takes no thought for the honor of his creator, it would have been better had he not come into the world." |
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3. Mishnah, Sotah, 9.15 (1st cent. CE - 3rd cent. CE)
| 9.15. When Rabbi Meir died, the composers of fables ceased. When Ben Azzai died, the diligent students [of Torah] ceased. When Ben Zoma died, the expounders ceased. When Rabbi Joshua died, goodness ceased from the world. When Rabban Shimon ben Gamaliel died, locusts come and troubles multiplied. When Rabbi Elazar ben Azaryah died, the sages ceased to be wealthy. When Rabbi Akiba died, the glory of the Torah ceased. When Rabbi Hanina ben Dosa died, men of wondrous deeds ceased. When Rabbi Yose Katnuta died, the pious men (hasidim) ceased and why was his name called Katnuta? Because he was the youngest of the pious men. When Rabban Yoha ben Zakkai died, the splendor of wisdom ceased. When Rabban Gamaliel the elder died, the glory of the torah ceased, and purity and separateness perished. When Rabbi Ishmael ben Fabi died, the splendor of the priesthood ceased. When Rabbi died, humility and fear of sin ceased. Rabbi Phineas ben Yair says: when Temple was destroyed, scholars and freemen were ashamed and covered their head, men of wondrous deeds were disregarded, and violent men and big talkers grew powerful. And nobody expounds, nobody seeks, and nobody asks. Upon whom shall we depend? Upon our father who is in heaven. Rabbi Eliezer the Great says: from the day the Temple was destroyed, the sages began to be like scribes, scribes like synagogue-attendants, synagogue-attendants like common people, and the common people became more and more debased. And nobody seeks. Upon whom shall we depend? Upon our father who is in heaven. In the footsteps of the messiah insolence (hutzpah) will increase and the cost of living will go up greatly; the vine will yield its fruit, but wine will be expensive; the government will turn to heresy, and there will be no one to rebuke; the meeting-place [of scholars] will be used for licentiousness; the Galilee will be destroyed, the Gablan will be desolated, and the dwellers on the frontier will go about [begging] from place to place without anyone to take pity on them; the wisdom of the learned will rot, fearers of sin will be despised, and the truth will be lacking; youths will put old men to shame, the old will stand up in the presence of the young, “For son spurns father, daughter rises up against mother, daughter-in-law against mother-in-law a man’s own household are his enemies” (Micah 7:6). The face of the generation will be like the face of a dog, a son will not feel ashamed before his father. Upon whom shall we depend? Upon our father who is in heaven. Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair says, “Heedfulness leads to cleanliness, cleanliness leads to purity, purity leads to separation, separation leads to holiness, holiness leads to modesty, modesty leads to fear of sin, fear of sin leads to piety, piety leads to the Holy Spirit, The Holy Spirit leads to the resurrection of the dead, and the resurrection of the dead comes from Elijah, blessed be his memory, Amen.”" |
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4. Mishnah, Yevamot, 4.13 (1st cent. CE - 3rd cent. CE)
| 4.13. Who is a mamzer? [The offspring of a union with] any relative with whom cohabitation is forbidden, the words of Rabbi Akiva. Shimon the Yemenite says: [The offspring of any union] for which one is obligated kareth at the hands of heaven; and the halachah is like his words. Rabbi Joshua says: [The offspring of any union] for which one is obligated death at the hands of a court.Rabbi Shimon ben Azzai said: I found a scroll of genealogical records in Jerusalem, and it was written on it, “So-and-so is a mamzer [having been born] from an adulterous woman”, which confirms the view of Rabbi Joshua. If a man’s wife died, he is permitted to marry her sister. If he divorced her and then she died he is permitted to marry her sister. If she was married to another man and died, he is permitted to marry her sister. If a man’s sister-in-law died, he may marry her sister. If he performed for her halitzah and then she died, he is permitted to marry her sister." |
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5. Tosefta, Hagigah, 2.1-2.6 (1st cent. CE - 2nd cent. CE)
| 2.2. Four entered the orchard: Ben Azzai, Ben Zoma, another, and Rabbi Akiva. One looked and died. One looked and was harmed. One looked and cut down the trees. And one went up in peace and went down in peace. Ben Azzai looked and died. Scripture says about him (Psalms 116, 15): \"Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His saints\". Ben Zoma looked and was harmed. Scripture says about him (Proverbs 25, 16): \"Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee\" and the continuation. [Cont. of the verse: \"Lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.\" Elisha looked and cut down the trees. Scripture says about him (Ecclesiastes 5, 5): \"Suffer not thy mouth to bring thy flesh into guilt\" etc. Rabbi Akiva went up in peace and went down in peace. Scripture says about him (Song of Songs 1, 4): \"Draw me, we will run after thee\" etc. They gave a parable: What is this similar to? To the orchard of a king and there is an attic above it. It is upon [the man] to look so long as he does not move [his eyes] from it. Another parable was given. What is this similar tp? To [a street] that passes between two paths, one of fire, and one of snow. If it leans one way, it gets burned [by the fire]. If it leans the other way it gets burned by the snow. A man must walk in the middle and not lean to or fro. A story of Rabbi Yehoshua [Who was walkin in the street and Ben Zoma came opposite him] he reached him and did not greet him. He said to him [from where and to where] Ben Zoma? He said to him: I was watching the creation, and there is not between the upper waters and the lower waters even a handbreadth. As it is written (Genesis 1, 2) \"and the spirit of God hovered over the face of the waters\". And it says (Deuteronomy 32, 11): \"As a vulture that stirreth up her nest\" etc. Just as the vulture flies over the nest, touching and not touching, so too there is not even a handbreadth between the upper waters and lower waters. Rabbi Yehoshua said to his students: Ben Zoma is already outside. In a few days, Ben Zoma passed away." 2.4. In their days they only argued about laying of hands. There were five pairs. three of the first pairs said not to lay on hands and two of the other pairs said to lay on hands. Three were Nesi'im (princes) and two (of them) were the heads of courts. The words of R. Meir. R. Judah said Simon ben Shetah was Nasi (prince) and Judah ben Tabbai the head of the court....Said R. Yose: Originally there were no arguments in Israel. Rather, a 71 member court sat in the chamber of hewn stone and other courts of 23 existed in the cities of Erez Yisrael. And two courts of 3 apiece were in Jerusalem, one on the temple mount and one in Hayil. When one of them was necessary [a person] goes to the court in his city. No court (in his city)--[the person] goes to the court near his city. If they heard, they say to him; if not, he and their most distinguished member go to the court on the temple mount. If they heard, they say to him; if not, he and their most distinguished member go to the court in Hayil. If they heard they say to him; if not these and these arrive at the court in the chamber of hewn stone (And the court of the chamber of hewn stone even though it is 71, it can never have less than 23. If one of them needs to leave, he sees if there will be 23 he may leave; if not, he may not leave until there are 23. They would sit from the offering of the morning sacrifice until the offering of the afternoon sacrifice. And on sabbaths and Holidays they would enter the Beit Midrash on the temple mount.) If they heard they say to them, and if not, they establish a quorum and take a roll. If the majority says impure it is impure. If the majority says pure it is pure. From there the Halakhah (law) goes out widespread in Israel. When there increased the students of Shammai and Hillel who did not properly apprentice, conflict increased in Israel and it became as though there were two Torahs. And for there they would sit and inspect. Whoever was wise and humble and abundant and sin-fearing and mature and getting along with other people they make him a judge in his city. After being made a judge in his city they could elevate and set him on the temple mount and from there they could elevate and seat him in Hayil and from there they can elevate and seat him in the chamber of hewn stone and from there they sit and inspect the lineages of the priests and levites. A priest in whom has been found a blemish wears black and wraps in black, exits and leaves. One in whom not a blemish is found wears white and wraps in white, enters and serves with his brothers the priests. They would make a holiday that not a blemish was found among the children of Aaron. And he would bring a tenth of an Eifah of his own flour and do the service with his own hands even though it is not his priestly shift. A high priest and a regular priest who served before bringing their tenth of an Eifah their service is acceptable. |
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6. Babylonian Talmud, Berachot, None (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE)
| 57b. אמר רבי יוחנן השכים ונפל פסוק לתוך פיו הרי זה נבואה קטנה תנו רבנן שלשה מלכים הם הרואה דוד בחלום יצפה לחסידות שלמה יצפה לחכמה אחאב ידאג מן הפורענות,ג' נביאים הם הרואה ספר מלכים יצפה לגדולה יחזקאל יצפה לחכמה ישעיה יצפה לנחמה ירמיה ידאג מן הפורענות,שלשה כתובים גדולים הם הרואה ספר תהלים יצפה לחסידות משלי יצפה לחכמה איוב ידאג מן הפורענות,שלשה כתובים קטנים הם הרואה שיר השירים בחלום יצפה לחסידות קהלת יצפה לחכמה קינות ידאג מן הפורענות הרואה מגלת אסתר נס נעשה לו,שלשה חכמים הם הרואה רבי בחלום יצפה לחכמה ראב"ע יצפה לעשירות רבי ישמעאל בן אלישע ידאג מן הפורענות,שלשה תלמידי חכמים הם הרואה בן עזאי בחלום יצפה לחסידות בן זומא יצפה לחכמה אחר ידאג מן הפורענות,כל מיני חיות יפות לחלום חוץ מן הפיל והקוף והקפוד והאמר מר הרואה פיל בחלום פלא נעשה לו לא קשיא הא דמסרג הא דלא מסרג,כל מיני מתכת יפין לחלום חוץ ממר פסל וקרדום והני מילי דחזנהו בקתייהו כל מיני פירות יפין לחלום חוץ מפגי תמרה כל מיני ירקות יפין לחלום חוץ מראשי לפתות והאמר רב לא איעתרי עד דחזאי ראשי לפתות כי חזא בכנייהו חזא כל מיני צבעונין יפין לחלום חוץ מן התכלת כל מיני עופות יפין לחלום חוץ מן קריא וקפופא וקורפראי:,[הגו"ף הגו"ף מעי"ן משיבי"ן ומרחיבי"ן סימן]:,ג' נכנסין לגוף ואין הגוף נהנה מהן גודגדניות וכפניות ופגי תמרה שלשה אין נכנסין לגוף והגוף נהנה מהן אלו הן רחיצה וסיכה ותשמיש שלשה מעין העולם הבא אלו הן שבת שמש ותשמיש,תשמיש דמאי אילימא תשמיש המטה הא מכחש כחיש אלא תשמיש נקבים,שלשה משיבין דעתו של אדם אלו הן קול ומראה וריח שלשה מרחיבין דעתו של אדם אלו הן דירה נאה ואשה נאה וכלים נאים:,[חמש"ה ושש"ה ועשר"ה סימן]: חמשה אחד מששים אלו הן אש דבש ושבת ושינה וחלום אש אחד מששים לגיהנם דבש אחד מששים למן שבת אחד מששים לעולם הבא שינה אחד מששים למיתה חלום אחד מששים לנבואה,ששה דברים סימן יפה לחולה אלו הן עטוש זיעה שלשול קרי ושינה וחלום עטוש דכתיב (איוב מא, י) עטישותיו תהל אור זיעה דכתיב (בראשית ג, יט) בזעת אפיך תאכל לחם שלשול דכתיב (ישעיהו נא, יד) מהר צועה להפתח ולא ימות לשחת קרי דכתיב (ישעיהו נג, י) יראה זרע יאריך ימים שינה דכתיב (איוב ג, יג) ישנתי אז ינוח לי חלום דכתיב (ישעיהו לח, טז) ותחלימני והחייני,ששה דברים מרפאין את החולה מחליו ורפואתו רפואה אלו הן כרוב ותרדין וסיסין יבשין וקיבה והרת ויותרת הכבד וי"א אף דגים קטנים ולא עוד אלא שדגים קטנים מפרין ומברין כל גופו של אדם,עשרה דברים מחזירין את החולה לחליו וחליו קשה אלו הן האוכל בשר שור בשר שמן בשר צלי בשר צפרים וביצה צלויה ותגלחת ושחלים והחלב והגבינה והמרחץ וי"א אף אגוזים וי"א אף קשואים,תנא דבי ר' ישמעאל למה נקרא שמן קשואים מפני שהן קשים לגוף כחרבות איני והכתיב (בראשית כה, כג) ויאמר ה' לה שני גוים בבטנך אל תקרי גוים אלא גיים וא"ר יהודה אמר רב אלו אנטונינוס ורבי שלא פסק משלחנם לא צנון ולא חזרת ולא קשואין לא בימות החמה ולא בימות הגשמים,לא קשיא הא ברברבי הא בזוטרי,ת"ר מת בבית שלום בבית אכל ושתה בבית סימן יפה לבית נטל כלים מן הבית סימן רע לבית תרגמא רב פפא במסאנא וסנדלא כל דשקיל שכבא מעלי בר ממסאנא וסנדלא כל דיהיב שכבא מעלי בר מעפרא וחרדלא:,מקום שנעקרה ממנו עבודת גלולים: תנו רבנן הרואה מרקוליס אומר ברוך שנתן ארך אפים לעוברי רצונו מקום שנעקרה ממנו עבודת כוכבים אומר ברוך שעקר עכו"ם מארצנו וכשם שנעקרה ממקום זה כן תעקר מכל מקומות ישראל והשב לב עובדיהם לעבדך ובח"ל אין צריך לומר והשב לב עובדיהם לעבדך מפני שרובה עובדי כוכבים רשב"א אומר אף בחוץ לארץ צריך לומר כן מפני שעתידים להתגייר שנאמר (צפניה ג, ט) אז אהפוך אל עמים שפה ברורה,דרש רב המנונא הרואה בבל הרשעה צריך לברך חמש ברכות ראה בבל אומר ברוך שהחריב בבל הרשעה ראה ביתו של נבוכדנצר אומר ברוך שהחריב ביתו של נבוכדנצר הרשע ראה גוב של אריות או כבשן האש אומר ברוך שעשה נסים לאבותינו במקום הזה ראה מרקוליס אומר ברוך שנתן ארך אפים לעוברי רצונו ראה מקום שנוטלין ממנו עפר אומר ברוך אומר ועושה גוזר ומקיים,רבא כי הוה חזי חמרי דשקלי עפרא טריף להו ידא על גבייהו ואמר רהוטו צדיקי למעבד רעותא דמרייכו מר בריה דרבינא כי הוה מטי לבבל הוה שקיל עפרא בסודריה ושדי לברא לקיים מה שנא' (ישעיהו יד, כג) וטאטאתיה במטאטא השמד אמר רב אשי אנא הא דרב המנונא לא שמיע לי אלא מדעתאי בריכתינהו לכולהו | 57b. bRabbi Yoḥa said: One who awakenedin the morning and ba verseimmediately bfalls into his mouth,it is ba minor prophecy. The Sages taught: There are three kingswhose appearance in a dream is significant. bOne who sees David in a dream should expect piety;one who sees bSolomon should expect wisdom;and one who sees bAhab should be concerned about calamity. /b,There are also bthree books of Prophetswhose appearance in a dream is meaningful: bOne who sees the book of Kings should anticipate greatness,royalty; one who sees the book of bEzekiel should anticipate wisdom,as the configuration of the Divine Chariot is described therein; one who sees the book of bIsaiah should anticipate consolation;and one who sees the book of bJeremiah should be concerned about calamity,because Jeremiah prophesied extensively of impending calamity.,Similarly, there are bthree greatbooks of bWritingswhose appearance in a dream has particular significance: bOne who sees the book of Psalms should anticipate piety;one who sees the book of bProverbs should anticipate wisdom;one who sees the book of bJob should be concerned about calamity. /b, bThere arealso bthree minorbooks of bWritingswhose appearance in a dream is significant: bOne who sees Song of Songs in a dream should anticipate piety,as it describes God’s love for Israel; one who sees bEcclesiastes should anticipate wisdom;one who sees bLamentations should be concerned about calamity;and bone who sees the scroll of Esther,it is a sign that ba miracle will be performed on his behalf. /b, bThere are three Sageswhose appearance in a dream is significant: bOne who sees RabbiYehuda HaNasi bin a dream should anticipate wisdom;one who sees bRabbi Elazar ben Azarya should anticipate wealth,as he was particularly wealthy; and one who sees bRabbi Yishmael ben Elisha should be concerned about calamity,as he was one of the ten martyrs executed by the Romans.,There are bthree Torah scholarswho, despite their greatness in Torah, were never given the title Rabbi, and whose appearance in a dream is significant: bOne who sees Ben Azzai in a dream should anticipate piety;one who sees bBen Zoma should anticipate wisdom;and one who sees iAḥer /i,Elisha ben Avuya, bshould be concerned about calamity,as he strayed from the path of righteousness.,The Gemara says: bAll types of animals are auspicioussigns bfor a dream except for an elephant, a monkey and a long-tailed ape.The Gemara asks: bDidn’t the Master say: A miracle will be performed for one who sees an elephant in a dream?The Gemara answers: This is bnot difficult. Thisstatement that a vision of an elephant is a good omen refers to a case bwhere it is saddled,while bthisstatement that it is not a good omen refers to a case bwhere it is not saddled. /b,Similarly, the Gemara says: bAll types of metalutensils bare auspicioussigns bfor a dream, except for a hoe, a chisel, and an axe,as these are instruments of destruction. The Gemara notes that bthis appliesspecifically bwhen they are seen on their handles.On a similar note, the Gemara says: bAll kinds of fruit are auspicioussigns bfor a dream except for unripe dates. All kinds of vegetables are auspicioussigns bfor a dream except for turnip heads.The Gemara challenges: bDidn’t Rav say: I did not become wealthy until I saw turnip headsin my dream? Apparently turnip heads are a good omen. The Gemara responds: bWhen Rav sawthem, bhe saw them on their stems;if one sees turnip heads already picked, it is a bad omen. Similarly, ball kinds of colors are auspicioussigns bfor a dream, except for sky-blue [ itekhelet /i]. All kinds of birds are auspicioussigns in a dream bexcept for an eagle-owl, and an owl, and a ikurferai, /iall of which are nocturnal and have strange and frightening appearances.,The words: bThe body, the body, microcosm, ease,and bcomfortare bmnemonicsfor matters that the Gemara will discuss, each of which represents a list with shared qualities, similar to the lists cited above.,The Gemara says: bThreefood items benter the bodyyet bthe body does not benefit from them: Cherries, bad dates, and unripe dates.In contrast: bThreematters bdo not enter the bodyyet bthe body benefits from them, and they are: Washing, anointing, and usage [ itashmish /i],commonly used as a euphemism for conjugal relations. bThreematters bare microcosms of the World-to-Come, and they are: Sabbath, the sun and usage. /b,The Gemara asks: bUsage of whatbenefits the body and is a microcosm of the World-to-Come? bIf you saythat it refers to bconjugal relations, doesn’t that weakenthe body? bRather,it refers to busage of his orifices,relieving oneself., bThreematters bease one’s mind, and they are: Voice, sight, and smell,when they are pleasant and aesthetic. bThreematters bgive a person comfort, and they are: A beautiful abode, a beautiful wife, and beautiful vessels. /b,The numbers bfive, six, and ten are mnemonicsfor the categories to follow. The Gemara says: There are bfivematters in our world which are bone-sixtiethof their most extreme manifestations. bThey are: Fire, honey, Shabbat, sleep, and a dream.The Gemara elaborates: Our bfireis bone-sixtieth ofthe fire of bGehenna; honey is one-sixtieth of manna; Shabbat is one-sixtieth of the World-to-Come; sleep is one-sixtieth of death;and ba dream is one-sixtieth of prophecy. /b,Similarly: bSix matters are good omens for the sick: Sneezing, sweating, diarrhea, a seminal emission, sleep, and a dream.These are all alluded to in Scripture: bSneezing, as it is written: “His sneezes flash forth light”(Job 41:10), indicating that by means of a sneeze one comes to see the light of the world. bSweat, as it is written: “In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread”(Genesis 3:19). bDiarrhea, as it is written: “He that is bent down shall speedily be loosed; and he shall not go down dying into the pit”(Isaiah 51:14). bA seminal emission, as it is written: “That he might see his seed, prolong his days”(Isaiah 53:10). bSleep, as it is written: “I should have slept; then had I been at rest”(Job 3:13). bA dream, as it is written: “Wherefore You recover me [ ivataḥalimeni /i], and make me to live”(Isaiah 38:16); ivataḥalimeniis interpreted as etymologically similar to iḥalom /i, dream.,Similarly: bSix matters cure a sick person from his illness, and their cure isan effective bcure. They are: Cabbage, beets, dried foley,a medicinal plant, bthe stomach, the placenta, and the diaphragmof an animal. bSome saythat bsmall fishalso possess these qualities. bFurthermore, small fish cause one’s entire body to flourish and become healthy. /b,In contrast, bthere are ten matters thatcause a sick person who has recovered to suffer a brelapse of his illness, and his illness iseven more bsevere, and they are:Eating box meat,eating bfatty meatin general, eating broasted meat,eating bpoultry,eating ba roasted egg, shaving,eating bcress,drinking bmilk,eating bcheese, andbathing in a bbathhouse. And some sayeating bnuts, and some say eveneating bcucumbers. /b,It was btaughtin the bschool of Rabbi Yishmael: Why are they called cucumbers [ ikishu’im /i]? Because they are as harmful [ ikashim /i] to the body as swords.The Gemara asks: bIs that really so? Is it not written: “And the Lord said unto her: Two nations [ igoyim /i] are in your womb”(Genesis 25:23) and the Gemara says: bDo not readit as igoyim /i, ratherread it as igayim /i, proud ones. And Rav Yehuda saidthat bRav said:This verse was fulfilled in bthesetwo great individuals who descended from Rebecca: bAntoninus and RabbiYehuda HaNasi, bwhose tables,because of their wealth, bnever lacked for radish, lettuce or cucumbers, neither in summer nor in the rainy season.Apparently, cucumbers are good and are even a delicacy of kings.,The Gemara resolves: This is bnot difficult. Thisthat says they are harmful to the body refers bto large ones,while bthisthat says they were always served on the table of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi and Antoninus refers bto small ones. /b,With regard to dreams, bthe Sages taught:One who dreams that he sees ba corpse in his house,it is a sign of bpeace in his house.If the corpse bate and drank in the house, it is good omen for the house.If the corpse bremoved vessels from the house,it bis a bad omen for the house,as it suggests that the corpse is taking someone from the house with him. bRav Pappa explainedthis only if the dream was bwith regard to a shoe and a sandal,as that indicates that someone from the house is going to embark on a long journey. As the Sages said: bEverythingthat ba corpse takesin a dream is a bgoodomen bexcept a shoe and a sandal; everything that a corpse givesin a dream is a bgoodomen bexcept dust and mustard,which looks like dust, as they portend burial.,We learned in the mishna that one who sees ba place from which idolatry was eradicatedshould recite the blessing: Blessed…Who eradicated idolatry from our land. On this topic bthe Sages taughtin the iTosefta /i: bOne who seesthe idol called bMercury [ iMarkulis /i] recites: Blessed…who has shown patience to those who violate His will,as each day new rocks would be thrown upon the pile constructed in Mercury’ honor ( iTosafot /i). One who sees ba place from which idolatry was eradicated should recite: Blessed…Who eradicated idolatry from our land. And just as it was eradicated from this place, so too may it be eradicated from all places of Israel, and restore the hearts of their worshippers to worship You. Outside of EretzYisrael, bone need not recite: And restore the hearts of their worshippers to worship You, since it is predomitly populated by gentiles. Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar says: Even outside of EretzYisrael bone is required to recite thatformula bbecausein the end of days all nations bwill convert, as it is stated: “For then will I turn to the peoples a pure language,that they may all call upon the Name of the Lord, to serve Him with one consent” (Zephaniah 3:9).,The Gemara goes on to discuss special blessings instituted by the Sages to be recited upon seeing extraordinary sights. bRav Hamnuna taught: One who sees the wicked Babylonia must recite five blessings.The Gemara elaborates: br bOne who sawthe ruins of bBabylonia, recites: Blessed…Who destroyed the wicked Babylonia.br bOne who sawthe ruins of bNebuchadnezzar’s house, recites: Blessed…Who destroyed the house of wicked Nebuchadnezzar.br bOne who saw the lion’s deninto which Daniel was thrown (see Daniel ch. 6) bor the furnaceinto which Haiah, Mishael, and Azariah bwere thrown(see Daniel ch. 3), brecites: Blessed…Who performed miracles for our ancestors in this place.br bOne who saw Mercury, recites: Blessed…Who has shown patience to those who violate His will.br bOne who saw a place from which earth is taken,as over the generations earth was taken from certain places and used as fertilizer or for construction in the surrounding areas, brecites: Blessed…Who speaks and acts, decrees and fulfills. /b,The Gemara relates that bwhen Rava would see donkeys carrying earthfrom Babylonia, bhe would slap their backs with his hand and sayto them: bRun, righteous ones, and fulfill the will of your Master. When Mar, son of Ravina, would arrive in Babylonia he would take earth in his kerchief and throw it outside, to fulfill that which is said: “And I will sweep it with the broom of destruction”(Isaiah 14:23). bRav Ashi said: I never heard thestatement of bRav Hamnuna,that one who sees Babylonia the wicked must recite five blessings. bHowever, based on my independent reasoning, I recited all of the blessings. /b |
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7. Babylonian Talmud, Moed Qatan, None (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE)
| 20a. שכבר נתעסקו בו ברגל כללו של דבר כל שהוא משום אבל רגל מפסיקו וכל שהוא משום עסקי רבים אין רגל מפסיקו,קברו שלשה ימים בסוף הרגל מונה שבעה אחר הרגל ארבעה ימים הראשונים רבים מתעסקין בו שלשה ימים האחרונים אין רבים מתעסקין בו שכבר נתעסקו ברגל ורגל עולה לו,מאי לאו אסיפא לא ארישא,איתיביה רגל עולה לו למנין שלשים כיצד קברו בתחילת הרגל מונה שבעה אחר הרגל ומלאכתו נעשית על ידי אחרים ועבדיו ושפחותיו עושין בצנעא בתוך ביתו ואין רבים מתעסקין בו שכבר נתעסקו בו ברגל ורגל עולה לו תיובתא,כי אתא רבין אמר רבי יוחנן אפילו קברו ברגל וכן אורי ליה ר' אלעזר לרבי פדת בריה אפילו קברו ברגל,ת"ר קיים כפיית המטה שלשה ימים קודם הרגל אינו צריך לכפותה אחר הרגל דברי רבי אליעזר וחכמים אומרים אפי' יום אחד ואפי' שעה אחת,א"ר אלעזר בר' שמעון הן הן דברי ב"ש הן הן דברי בית הלל שבית שמאי אומרים שלשה ימים וב"ה אומרים אפי' יום אחד,אמר רב הונא אמר ר' חייא בר אבא אמר ר' יוחנן ואמרי לה אמר (ליה) ר' יוחנן לר' חייא בר אבא ולרב הונא אפי' יום אחד אפי' שעה אחת רבא אמר הלכה כתנא דידן דאמר שלשה,רבינא איקלע לסורא דפרת א"ל רב חביבא לרבינא הלכתא מאי אמר ליה אפי' יום אחד ואפילו שעה אחת,יתיב רבי חייא בר אבא ורבי אמי ור' יצחק נפחא אקילעא דרבי יצחק בן אלעזר נפק מילתא מבינייהו מנין לאבילות שבעה דכתיב (עמוס ח, י) והפכתי חגיכם לאבל מה חג שבעה אף אבילות שבעה,ואימא עצרת דחד יומא ההוא מיבעי ליה לכדריש לקיש דאמר ר"ל משום ר' יהודה נשיאה מנין לשמועה רחוקה שאינה נוהגת אלא יום אחד דכתיב והפכתי חגיכם לאבל ואשכחן עצרת דאיקרי חד יומא חג,ת"ר שמועה קרובה נוהגת שבעה ושלשים שמועה רחוקה אינה נוהגת אלא יום אחד איזו היא קרובה ואיזו היא רחוקה קרובה בתוך שלשים רחוקה לאחר שלשים דברי ר"ע וחכמים אומרים אחת שמועה קרובה ואחת שמועה רחוקה נוהגת שבעה ושלשים,אמר רבה בר בר חנה א"ר יוחנן כל מקום שאתה מוצא יחיד מקיל ורבים מחמירין הלכה כרבים חוץ מזו שאע"פ שרבי עקיבא מקיל וחכמים מחמירין הלכה כרבי עקיבא דאמר שמואל הלכה כדברי המקיל באבל,רב חנינא אתיא ליה שמועה דאבוה מבי חוזאי אתא לקמיה דרב חסדא אמר ליה שמועה רחוקה אינה נוהגת אלא יום אחד רב נתן בר אמי אתא ליה שמועה דאימיה מבי חוזאי אתא לקמיה דרבא אמר ליה הרי אמרו שמועה רחוקה אינה נוהגת אלא יום אחד בלבד,איתיביה במה דברים אמורים בחמשה מתי מצוה אבל על אביו ועל אמו שבעה ושלשים,אמר ליה יחידאה היא ולא סבירא לן כוותיה דתניא מעשה ומת אביו של רבי צדוק בגינזק והודיעוהו לאחר שלש שנים ובא ושאל את אלישע בן אבויה וזקנים שעמו ואמרו נהוג שבעה ושלשים וכשמת בנו של רבי אחייה בגולה ישב עליו שבעה ושלשים,איני והא רב בר אחוה דרבי חייא דהוא בר אחתיה דר' חייא כי סליק להתם אמר ליה אבא קיים | 20a. bfor they already occupied themselves with himwhen they came to console him bduring the Festival. Thegeneral bprinciple with regard to the matteris as follows: bAnyactivity bthatis prohibited to the mourner bbecause it isan expression of bmourning is interrupted by the Festivaland remains prohibited afterward. bAnd anything that involves the public’s occupationwith the mourner, e.g., coming to the mourner to offer him comfort and condolence, bis not interrupted by the Festival,for people console the mourner during the Festival as well.,If bheburies his relative bthree daysbefore bthe end of the Festival,the mourner bmust count sevendays of mourning bafter the Festivalbecause his mourning never began. On the bfirst four daysof his mourning, bthe public must occupy themselves with himand come to console him. On bthe three last days,however, bthe public need not occupy themselves with him, as they already occupied themselves with him during the Festival.That is to say, they certainly came to console him during the Festival, although the period of mourning did not actually begin until afterward. bAnd the Festival counts for himtoward the thirty-day mourning period.,With regard to the statement of the ibaraitathat the Festival counts toward the thirty-day period of mourning: bWhat, is it notreferring to bthe latter clauseof that ibaraita /i, which speaks about a case where the burial was performed during the Festival itself? If this is the case, then a refutation of Rava’s opinion is stated explicitly, that the Festival counts toward the thirty-day mourning period, even if the deceased was buried on the Festival itself. Rava rejects this argument: bNo,it is referring to bthe first clause,which discusses a case where the burial was performed before the Festival, and since rites of mourning were observed already before the Festival, the Festival is counted toward the thirty-day period of mourning. Therefore, it is not a refutation of Rava’s ihalakha /i.,Abaye braised an objection toRava’s opinion from another ibaraita /i, in which it was taught: bA pilgrimage Festival counts toward the thirty- /bday period of mourning. bHow so?If one bburiedhis dead relative bat the beginning of a pilgrimage Festival, he must count sevendays of mourning bafter the Festival, andduring this period bhis work is performed by others. And his menservants and maidservants performthis work bin private inside his house, and the public need not occupy themselves with himand come to console him, bfor they already occupied themselves with him during the Festival. And the Festival counts for him.Here it is explicitly stated that the Festival counts toward the thirty-day period of mourning, even when the deceased was buried during the Festival itself. The Gemara concludes: This is indeed ba conclusive refutationof Rava’s opinion., bWhen Ravin camefrom Eretz Yisrael to Babylonia, bhe saidthat bRabbi Yoḥa said: Evenif bone buriedhis dead relative bduring the Festival,the Festival counts toward his thirty-day period of mourning. bAnd, similarly, Rabbi Elazar ruled for Rabbi Pedat, his son: Even if one buriedhis dead relative bduring the Festivalit counts towards his thirty days.,§ bThe Sages taughtthe following ibaraita /i: If bone fulfilled theobligation of boverturning the bed for three days before the pilgrimage Festival, he is nolonger brequired to overturn it after the Festival;this is bthe statement of Rabbi Eliezer. But the Rabbis say: Evenif one overturned his bed for only bone day, or even foronly bone hour,he is not required to overturn it after the Festival., bRabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon, said: This is the statement of Beit Shammai,and bthat is the statement of Beit Hillel.In other words, Rabbi Eliezer and the Rabbis disagreed about a matter that was the subject of an earlier dispute between Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel, bfor Beit Shammai say: Three days, and Beit Hillel say: Even one day. /b, bRav Huna saidthat bRabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba saidthat bRabbi Yoḥa said, and some saya different version of this line of transmission: bRabbi Yoḥa said to Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba and to Rav Huna: Even one day, even one hour.The Gemara cites bRava,who bsaid: The ihalakhais in accordance withthe opinion of bthe itanna /iof bourmishna, who bsaid threedays. Based on this, we rule that the mourning rites are not canceled after the Festival unless they were observed for at least three days before the Festival., bRavina happenedto come to the city of bSura on thebanks of the bEuphratesRiver. bRav Ḥaviva said to Ravina: What isthe ihalakha /iwith regard to this issue? bHe said to him: Even one day, and even one hour. /b,§ It was related that bRabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba, Rabbi Ami, and Rabbi Yitzḥak Nappaḥa wereonce bsitting in the pavilion of Rabbi Yitzḥak ben Elazarand were conversing. bA matter emerged from among them: From whereis it derived that the rites of bmourningare observed for bsevendays? bAs it is written: “And I will turn your Festivals into mourning”(Amos 8:10). bJust as a Festivallasts for bsevendays, bso too mourninglasts for bsevendays.,The Gemara asks: bAnd saythat perhaps mourning is like iShavuot /i, which isonly bone day.The Gemara rejects this argument: bThatderivation, from the one day of iShavuot /i, bis required forwhat was stated by bReish Lakish, as Reish Lakish said in the name of Rabbi Yehuda Nesia: From whereis it derived bthatmourning in the case of bdistant tidings,i.e., when one hears that one of his relatives died a long time ago, bapplies for only one day? As it is written: “And I will turn your Festivals into mourning,” and we findwith regard to iShavuotthat one day isalso bcalled a Festival. /b, bThe Sages taughtthe following ibaraita /i: In the case of brecent tidingsof a relative’s death, mourning bapplies for seven- and thirty- /bday periods. In the case of bdistant tidings, it applies only for one day. What areconsidered brecent tidings and what areconsidered bdistant tidings? Recenttidings are news that arrives bwithin thirtydays of the person’s death. bDistanttidings are news that arrives bafter thirtydays; this is bthe statement of Rabbi Akiva. And the Rabbis say: Bothin the case of brecent tidings andin the case of bdistant tidings,mourning bapplies for seven- and thirty- /bday periods., bRabba bar bar Ḥana saidthat bRabbi Yoḥa said: Wherever you find an individual being lenient and the majority being stringent, the ihalakhais in accordance with the majority, except for thiscase, bfor even though Rabbi Akiva is lenient and the Rabbis are stringent, the ihalakhais in accordance withthe opinion of bRabbi Akiva.This is in keeping with the principle bstated by Shmuel: The ihalakhafollows the statement of themore blenientauthority binmatters relating to bmourning. /b,It was related that bRav Ḥanina receiveddistant btidings of his father’sdeath bfrom Bei Ḥozai. He came before Rav Ḥisdato ask what he should do. Rav Ḥisda bsaid to him:In the case of bdistant tidings,mourning bapplies for only one day.It was similarly related that bRav Natan bar Ami received a report about his mother’sdeath bfrom Bei Ḥozai. He came before Rava,and Rava bsaid to him: They saidthat in the case of bdistant tidings,mourning bapplies for only one day. /b,Rav Natan braised an objection toRava’s opinion based on what was taught in a ibaraita /i: bIn whatcase bis this statementthat mourning applies for only one day bsaid?In the case of btheother bfive close relatives,over whose bdeathit is ba mitzvato mourn, i.e., son, daughter, brother, sister, and spouse. bBut for one’s father or mother,one is required to mourn for bseven and thirtydays, even when the report of the parent’s death is received some time after the event.,Rava bsaid to him:This bis an individualopinion, band we do not hold in accordance with hisopinion, bas it is taughtin a ibaraita /i: There was ban incident and the father of Rabbi Tzadok died inthe city of bGinzak, and they informed himof his father’s passing only bafter three years. He came and asked Elisha ben Avuya and the Elders with himwhat he should do. bAndElisha ben Avuya bsaidto him: bObservethe rites of mourning for bseven and thirtydays. bAnd when the son of Rabbi Aḥiyya died in the Diaspora,and Rabbi Aḥiyya was informed about his passing a long time afterward, he bsatin mourning for bseven and thirtydays. Therefore, it is clear that this opinion was held only by a few individual Sages, but it was not generally accepted.,The Gemara asks: bIs that so,that this is Rabbi Aḥiyya’s opinion? bBut Rav was the son of Rabbi Ḥiyya’s brother andalso bthe son of Rabbi Ḥiyya’s sister,for Rav’s father, Aivu, was Rabbi Ḥiyya’s paternal half brother, and Rav’s mother was Rabbi Ḥiyya’s maternal half sister. bWhenRav bwent there,Eretz Yisrael, his uncle Rabbi Ḥiyya bsaid to him: Isyour bfather,Aivu, still balive? /b |
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8. Anon., Avot Derabbi Nathan A, 40 (6th cent. CE - 8th cent. CE)
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9. Anon., Avot Derabbi Nathan B, 24, 34, 23 (6th cent. CE - 8th cent. CE)
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