1. Hebrew Bible, Deuteronomy, 28.1, 28.15 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE)
| 28.1. וְהָיָה אִם־שָׁמוֹעַ תִּשְׁמַע בְּקוֹל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לִשְׁמֹר לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת־כָּל־מִצְוֺתָיו אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם וּנְתָנְךָ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ עֶלְיוֹן עַל כָּל־גּוֹיֵי הָאָרֶץ׃ 28.1. וְרָאוּ כָּל־עַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ כִּי שֵׁם יְהוָה נִקְרָא עָלֶיךָ וְיָרְאוּ מִמֶּךָּ׃ 28.15. וְהָיָה אִם־לֹא תִשְׁמַע בְּקוֹל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לִשְׁמֹר לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת־כָּל־מִצְוֺתָיו וְחֻקֹּתָיו אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם וּבָאוּ עָלֶיךָ כָּל־הַקְּלָלוֹת הָאֵלֶּה וְהִשִּׂיגוּךָ׃ | 28.1. And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all His commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all the nations of the earth." 28.15. But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee." |
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2. Hebrew Bible, Isaiah, 41.2-41.4, 44.28, 45.1, 47.6 (8th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)
| 41.2. לְמַעַן יִרְאוּ וְיֵדְעוּ וְיָשִׂימוּ וְיַשְׂכִּילוּ יַחְדָּו כִּי יַד־יְהוָה עָשְׂתָה זֹּאת וּקְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּרָאָהּ׃ 41.2. מִי הֵעִיר מִמִּזְרָח צֶדֶק יִקְרָאֵהוּ לְרַגְלוֹ יִתֵּן לְפָנָיו גּוֹיִם וּמְלָכִים יַרְדְּ יִתֵּן כֶּעָפָר חַרְבּוֹ כְּקַשׁ נִדָּף קַשְׁתּוֹ׃ 41.3. יִרְדְּפֵם יַעֲבוֹר שָׁלוֹם אֹרַח בְּרַגְלָיו לֹא יָבוֹא׃ 41.4. מִי־פָעַל וְעָשָׂה קֹרֵא הַדֹּרוֹת מֵרֹאשׁ אֲנִי יְהוָה רִאשׁוֹן וְאֶת־אַחֲרֹנִים אֲנִי־הוּא׃ 44.28. הָאֹמֵר לְכוֹרֶשׁ רֹעִי וְכָל־חֶפְצִי יַשְׁלִם וְלֵאמֹר לִירוּשָׁלִַם תִּבָּנֶה וְהֵיכָל תִּוָּסֵד׃ 45.1. הוֹי אֹמֵר לְאָב מַה־תּוֹלִיד וּלְאִשָּׁה מַה־תְּחִילִין׃ 45.1. כֹּה־אָמַר יְהוָה לִמְשִׁיחוֹ לְכוֹרֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר־הֶחֱזַקְתִּי בִימִינוֹ לְרַד־לְפָנָיו גּוֹיִם וּמָתְנֵי מְלָכִים אֲפַתֵּחַ לִפְתֹּחַ לְפָנָיו דְּלָתַיִם וּשְׁעָרִים לֹא יִסָּגֵרוּ׃ 47.6. קָצַפְתִּי עַל־עַמִּי חִלַּלְתִּי נַחֲלָתִי וָאֶתְּנֵם בְּיָדֵךְ לֹא־שַׂמְתְּ לָהֶם רַחֲמִים עַל־זָקֵן הִכְבַּדְתְּ עֻלֵּךְ מְאֹד׃ | 41.2. Who hath raised up one from the east, At whose steps victory attendeth? He giveth nations before him, And maketh him rule over kings; His sword maketh them as the dust, His bow as the driven stubble." 41.3. He pursueth them, and passeth on safely; The way with his feet he treadeth not." 41.4. Who hath wrought and done it? He that called the generations from the beginning. I, the LORD, who am the first, And with the last am the same." 44.28. That saith of Cyrus: ‘He is My shepherd, And shall perform all My pleasure’; Even saying of Jerusalem: ‘She shall be built’; And to the temple: ‘My foundation shall be laid.’" 45.1. Thus saith the LORD to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him, and to loose the loins of kings; to open the doors before him, and that the gates may not be shut:" 47.6. I was wroth with My people, I profaned Mine inheritance, And gave them into thy hand; Thou didst show them no mercy; Upon the aged hast thou very heavily Laid thy yoke." |
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3. Hebrew Bible, Lamentations, 1.5, 1.8-1.9, 1.12-1.15, 1.17-1.18, 2.1-2.8, 2.17, 2.20, 2.22, 3.1-3.3, 3.16-3.18, 3.42, 4.11, 4.13, 5.7, 5.16 (8th cent. BCE - 5th cent. BCE)
| 1.5. הָיוּ צָרֶיהָ לְרֹאשׁ אֹיְבֶיהָ שָׁלוּ כִּי־יְהוָה הוֹגָהּ עַל רֹב־פְּשָׁעֶיהָ עוֹלָלֶיהָ הָלְכוּ שְׁבִי לִפְנֵי־צָר׃ 1.8. חֵטְא חָטְאָה יְרוּשָׁלִַם עַל־כֵּן לְנִידָה הָיָתָה כָּל־מְכַבְּדֶיהָ הִזִּילוּהָ כִּי־רָאוּ עֶרְוָתָהּ גַּם־הִיא נֶאֶנְחָה וַתָּשָׁב אָחוֹר׃ 1.9. טֻמְאָתָהּ בְּשׁוּלֶיהָ לֹא זָכְרָה אַחֲרִיתָהּ וַתֵּרֶד פְּלָאִים אֵין מְנַחֵם לָהּ רְאֵה יְהוָה אֶת־עָנְיִי כִּי הִגְדִּיל אוֹיֵב׃ 1.12. לוֹא אֲלֵיכֶם כָּל־עֹבְרֵי דֶרֶךְ הַבִּיטוּ וּרְאוּ אִם־יֵשׁ מַכְאוֹב כְּמַכְאֹבִי אֲשֶׁר עוֹלַל לִי אֲשֶׁר הוֹגָה יְהוָה בְּיוֹם חֲרוֹן אַפּוֹ׃ 1.13. מִמָּרוֹם שָׁלַח־אֵשׁ בְּעַצְמֹתַי וַיִּרְדֶּנָּה פָּרַשׂ רֶשֶׁת לְרַגְלַי הֱשִׁיבַנִי אָחוֹר נְתָנַנִי שֹׁמֵמָה כָּל־הַיּוֹם דָּוָה׃ 1.14. נִשְׂקַד עֹל פְּשָׁעַי בְּיָדוֹ יִשְׂתָּרְגוּ עָלוּ עַל־צַוָּארִי הִכְשִׁיל כֹּחִי נְתָנַנִי אֲדֹנָי בִּידֵי לֹא־אוּכַל קוּם׃ 1.15. סִלָּה כָל־אַבִּירַי אֲדֹנָי בְּקִרְבִּי קָרָא עָלַי מוֹעֵד לִשְׁבֹּר בַּחוּרָי גַּת דָּרַךְ אֲדֹנָי לִבְתוּלַת בַּת־יְהוּדָה׃ 1.17. פֵּרְשָׂה צִיּוֹן בְּיָדֶיהָ אֵין מְנַחֵם לָהּ צִוָּה יְהוָה לְיַעֲקֹב סְבִיבָיו צָרָיו הָיְתָה יְרוּשָׁלִַם לְנִדָּה בֵּינֵיהֶם׃ 1.18. צַדִּיק הוּא יְהוָה כִּי פִיהוּ מָרִיתִי שִׁמְעוּ־נָא כָל־עמים [הָעַמִּים] וּרְאוּ מַכְאֹבִי בְּתוּלֹתַי וּבַחוּרַי הָלְכוּ בַשֶּׁבִי׃ 2.1. אֵיכָה יָעִיב בְּאַפּוֹ אֲדֹנָי אֶת־בַּת־צִיּוֹן הִשְׁלִיךְ מִשָּׁמַיִם אֶרֶץ תִּפְאֶרֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלֹא־זָכַר הֲדֹם־רַגְלָיו בְּיוֹם אַפּוֹ׃ 2.1. יֵשְׁבוּ לָאָרֶץ יִדְּמוּ זִקְנֵי בַת־צִיּוֹן הֶעֱלוּ עָפָר עַל־רֹאשָׁם חָגְרוּ שַׂקִּים הוֹרִידוּ לָאָרֶץ רֹאשָׁן בְּתוּלֹת יְרוּשָׁלִָם׃ 2.2. בִּלַּע אֲדֹנָי לא [וְלֹא] חָמַל אֵת כָּל־נְאוֹת יַעֲקֹב הָרַס בְּעֶבְרָתוֹ מִבְצְרֵי בַת־יְהוּדָה הִגִּיעַ לָאָרֶץ חִלֵּל מַמְלָכָה וְשָׂרֶיהָ׃ 2.2. רְאֵה יְהוָה וְהַבִּיטָה לְמִי עוֹלַלְתָּ כֹּה אִם־תֹּאכַלְנָה נָשִׁים פִּרְיָם עֹלֲלֵי טִפֻּחִים אִם־יֵהָרֵג בְּמִקְדַּשׁ אֲדֹנָי כֹּהֵן וְנָבִיא׃ 2.3. גָּדַע בָּחֳרִי אַף כֹּל קֶרֶן יִשְׂרָאֵל הֵשִׁיב אָחוֹר יְמִינוֹ מִפְּנֵי אוֹיֵב וַיִּבְעַר בְּיַעֲקֹב כְּאֵשׁ לֶהָבָה אָכְלָה סָבִיב׃ 2.4. דָּרַךְ קַשְׁתּוֹ כְּאוֹיֵב נִצָּב יְמִינוֹ כְּצָר וַיַּהֲרֹג כֹּל מַחֲמַדֵּי־עָיִן בְּאֹהֶל בַּת־צִיּוֹן שָׁפַךְ כָּאֵשׁ חֲמָתוֹ׃ 2.5. הָיָה אֲדֹנָי כְּאוֹיֵב בִּלַּע יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּלַּע כָּל־אַרְמְנוֹתֶיהָ שִׁחֵת מִבְצָרָיו וַיֶּרֶב בְּבַת־יְהוּדָה תַּאֲנִיָּה וַאֲנִיָּה׃ 2.6. וַיַּחְמֹס כַּגַּן שֻׂכּוֹ שִׁחֵת מוֹעֲדוֹ שִׁכַּח יְהוָה בְּצִיּוֹן מוֹעֵד וְשַׁבָּת וַיִּנְאַץ בְּזַעַם־אַפּוֹ מֶלֶךְ וְכֹהֵן׃ 2.7. זָנַח אֲדֹנָי מִזְבְּחוֹ נִאֵר מִקְדָּשׁוֹ הִסְגִּיר בְּיַד־אוֹיֵב חוֹמֹת אַרְמְנוֹתֶיהָ קוֹל נָתְנוּ בְּבֵית־יְהוָה כְּיוֹם מוֹעֵד׃ 2.8. חָשַׁב יְהוָה לְהַשְׁחִית חוֹמַת בַּת־צִיּוֹן נָטָה קָו לֹא־הֵשִׁיב יָדוֹ מִבַּלֵּעַ וַיַּאֲבֶל־חֵל וְחוֹמָה יַחְדָּו אֻמְלָלוּ׃ 2.17. עָשָׂה יְהוָה אֲשֶׁר זָמָם בִּצַּע אֶמְרָתוֹ אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה מִימֵי־קֶדֶם הָרַס וְלֹא חָמָל וַיְשַׂמַּח עָלַיִךְ אוֹיֵב הֵרִים קֶרֶן צָרָיִךְ׃ 2.22. תִּקְרָא כְיוֹם מוֹעֵד מְגוּרַי מִסָּבִיב וְלֹא הָיָה בְּיוֹם אַף־יְהוָה פָּלִיט וְשָׂרִיד אֲשֶׁר־טִפַּחְתִּי וְרִבִּיתִי אֹיְבִי כִלָּם׃ 3.1. דֹּב אֹרֵב הוּא לִי אריה [אֲרִי] בְּמִסְתָּרִים׃ 3.1. אֲנִי הַגֶּבֶר רָאָה עֳנִי בְּשֵׁבֶט עֶבְרָתוֹ׃ 3.2. אוֹתִי נָהַג וַיֹּלַךְ חֹשֶׁךְ וְלֹא־אוֹר׃ 3.2. זָכוֹר תִּזְכּוֹר ותשיח [וְתָשׁוֹחַ] עָלַי נַפְשִׁי׃ 3.3. אַךְ בִּי יָשֻׁב יַהֲפֹךְ יָדוֹ כָּל־הַיּוֹם׃ 3.3. יִתֵּן לְמַכֵּהוּ לֶחִי יִשְׂבַּע בְּחֶרְפָּה׃ 3.16. וַיַּגְרֵס בֶּחָצָץ שִׁנָּי הִכְפִּישַׁנִי בָּאֵפֶר׃ 3.17. וַתִּזְנַח מִשָּׁלוֹם נַפְשִׁי נָשִׁיתִי טוֹבָה׃ 3.18. וָאֹמַר אָבַד נִצְחִי וְתוֹחַלְתִּי מֵיְהוָה׃ 3.42. נַחְנוּ פָשַׁעְנוּ וּמָרִינוּ אַתָּה לֹא סָלָחְתָּ׃ 4.11. כִּלָּה יְהוָה אֶת־חֲמָתוֹ שָׁפַךְ חֲרוֹן אַפּוֹ וַיַּצֶּת־אֵשׁ בְּצִיּוֹן וַתֹּאכַל יְסוֹדֹתֶיהָ׃ 4.13. מֵחַטֹּאת נְבִיאֶיהָ עֲוֺנוֹת כֹּהֲנֶיהָ הַשֹּׁפְכִים בְּקִרְבָּהּ דַּם צַדִּיקִים׃ 5.7. אֲבֹתֵינוּ חָטְאוּ אינם [וְאֵינָם] אנחנו [וַאֲנַחְנוּ] עֲוֺנֹתֵיהֶם סָבָלְנוּ׃ 5.16. נָפְלָה עֲטֶרֶת רֹאשֵׁנוּ אוֹי־נָא לָנוּ כִּי חָטָאנוּ׃ | 1.5. Her adversaries have become the head, her enemies are at ease; for the Lord has afflicted her because of the multitude of her sins; her young children went into captivity before the enemy. (PAUSE FOR REFLECTIONS)" 1.8. Jerusalem sinned grievously, therefore she became a wanderer; all who honored her despised her, for they have seen her shame; moreover, she herself sighed and turned away." 1.9. Her uncleanliness is in her skirts, she was not mindful of her end, and she fell astonishingly with none to comfort her. 'Behold, O Lord, my affliction, for the enemy has magnified himself.' \t" 1.12. All of you who pass along the road, let it not happen to you. Behold and see, if there is any pain like my pain, which has been dealt to me, [with] which the Lord saddened [me] on the day of His fierce anger. " 1.13. From above He has hurled fire into my bones, and it broke them; He has spread a net for my feet, He has turned me back, He has made me desolate [and] faint all day long. " 1.14. The yoke of my transgressions was marked in His hand, they have become interwoven; they have come upon my neck and caused my strength to fail; the Lord delivered me into the hands of those I could not withstand." 1.15. The Lord has trampled all my mighty men in my midst, He summoned an assembly against me to crush my young men; the Lord has trodden as in a wine press the virgin daughter of Judah." 1.17. Zion spreads out her hands [for help], but there is none to comfort her; the Lord has commanded concerning Jacob [that] his adversaries shall be round about him; Jerusalem has become an outcast among them." 1.18. The Lord is righteous, for I have rebelled against His word; hear, I pray, all you peoples, and behold my pain; my maidens and my youths have gone into captivity." 2.1. How hath the Lord covered with a cloud The daughter of Zion in His anger! He hath cast down from heaven unto the earth The beauty of Israel, And hath not remembered His footstool In the day of His anger." 2.2. The Lord hath swallowed up unsparingly All the habitations of Jacob; He hath thrown down in His wrath The strongholds of the daughter of Judah; He hath brought them down to the ground; He hath profaned the kingdom and the princes thereof." 2.3. He hath cut off in fierce anger All the horn of Israel; He hath drawn back His right hand From before the enemy; And He hath burned in Jacob like a flaming fire, Which devoureth round about." 2.4. He hath bent His bow like an enemy, Standing with His right hand as an adversary, And hath slain all that were pleasant to the eye; In the tent of the daughter of Zion He hath poured out His fury like fire." 2.5. The Lord is become as an enemy, He hath swallowed up Israel; He hath swallowed up all her palaces, He hath destroyed his strongholds; And He hath multiplied in the daughter of Judah Mourning and moaning." 2.6. And He hath stripped His tabernacle, as if it were a garden, He hath destroyed His place of assembly; The LORD hath caused to be forgotten in Zion Appointed season and sabbath, And hath rejected in the indignation of His anger The king and the priest." 2.7. The Lord hath cast off His altar, He hath abhorred His sanctuary, He hath given up into the hand of the enemy The walls of her palaces; They have made a noise in the house of the LORD, As in the day of a solemn assembly." 2.8. The LORD hath purposed to destroy The wall of the daughter of Zion; He hath stretched out the line, He hath not withdrawn His hand from destroying; But He hath made the rampart and wall to mourn, They languish together." 2.17. The LORD hath done that which He devised; He hath performed His word That He commanded in the days of old; He hath thrown down unsparingly; And He hath caused the enemy to rejoice over thee, He hath exalted the horn of thine adversaries." 2.20. ’See, O LORD, and consider, To whom Thou hast done thus! Shall the women eat their fruit, The children that are dandled in the hands? Shall the priest and the prophet be slain In the sanctuary of the Lord?" 2.22. Thou hast called, as in the day of a solemn assembly, My terrors on every side, And there was none in the day of the LORD’S anger That escaped or remained; Those that I have dandled and brought up Hath mine enemy consumed.’" 3.1. I am the man that hath seen affliction By the rod of His wrath." 3.2. He hath led me and caused me to walk in darkness and not in light." 3.3. Surely against me He turneth His hand again and again all the day." 3.16. He hath also broken my teeth with gravel stones, He hath made me to wallow in ashes." 3.17. And my soul is removed far off from peace, I forgot prosperity." 3.18. And I said: ‘My strength is perished, And mine expectation from the LORD.’" 3.42. We have transgressed and have rebelled; Thou hast not pardoned." 4.11. The LORD hath accomplished His fury, He hath poured out His fierce anger; And He hath kindled a fire in Zion, Which hath devoured the foundations thereof." 4.13. It is because of the sins of her prophets, And the iniquities of her priests, That have shed the blood of the just In the midst of her." 5.7. Our fathers have sinned, and are not; And we have borne their iniquities." 5.16. The crown is fallen from our head; Woe unto us! for we have sinned." |
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4. Babylonian Talmud, Bava Metzia, 85a (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE)
| 85a. ובני בתירה ויונתן בן שאול רבן שמעון בן גמליאל הא דאמרן בני בתירה דאמר מר הושיבוהו בראש ומינוהו לנשיא עליהן יונתן בן שאול דקא"ל לדוד (שמואל א כג, יז) ואתה תמלוך על ישראל ואני אהיה לך למשנה,ממאי דלמא יונתן בן שאול דחזא דגריר עלמא בתר דוד בני בתירה נמי דחזו להלל דעדיף מינייהו אלא רבן שמעון בן גמליאל ודאי ענוותן הוה,אמר רבי חביבין יסורין קבל עליה תליסר שני שית בצמירתא ושבע בצפרנא ואמרי לה שבעה בצמירתא ושית בצפרנא,אהורייריה דבי רבי הוה עתיר משבור מלכא כד הוה רמי כיסתא לחיותא הוה אזיל קלא בתלתא מילי הוה מכוין דרמי בההיא שעתא דעייל רבי לבית הכסא ואפי' הכי מעבר ליה קליה לקלייהו ושמעו ליה נחותי ימא,ואפ"ה יסורי דר' אלעזר בר' שמעון עדיפי מדרבי דאילו ר"א בר"ש מאהבה באו ומאהבה הלכו דרבי ע"י מעשה באו וע"י מעשה הלכו,ע"י מעשה באו מאי היא דההוא עגלא דהוו קא ממטו ליה לשחיטה אזל תליא לרישיה בכנפיה דרבי וקא בכי אמר ליה זיל לכך נוצרת אמרי הואיל ולא קא מרחם ליתו עליה יסורין,וע"י מעשה הלכו יומא חד הוה קא כנשא אמתיה דרבי ביתא הוה שדיא בני כרכושתא וקא כנשא להו אמר לה שבקינהו כתיב (תהלים קמה, ט) ורחמיו על כל מעשיו אמרי הואיל ומרחם נרחם עליה,כולהו שני יסורי דר' אלעזר לא שכיב איניש בלא זמניה כולהו שני יסורי דרבי לא איצטריך עלמא למיטרא דאמר רבה בר רב שילא קשי יומא דמיטרא כיומא דדינא ואמר אמימר אי לאו צריך לעלמא בעו רבנן רחמי עליה ומבטלי ליה אפי' הכי כי הוו עקרי פוגלא ממשרא הוה קיימא בירא מליא מיא,איקלע רבי לאתריה דר' אלעזר בר' שמעון א"ל יש לו בן לאותו צדיק אמרו לו יש לו בן וכל זונה שנשכרת בשנים שוכרתו בשמנה אתייה אסמכיה ברבי ואשלמיה לר' שמעון בן איסי בן לקוניא אחות דאמיה,כל יומא הוה אמר לקרייתי אנא איזיל אמר ליה חכים עבדו יתך וגולתא דדהבא פרסו עלך ורבי קרו לך ואת אמרת לקרייתי אנא איזיל אמר ליה מומי עזובה דא כי גדל אתא יתיב במתיבתא דרבי שמעיה לקליה אמר הא קלא דמי לקליה דר' אלעזר בר' שמעון אמרו ליה בריה הוא,קרי עליה (משלי יא, ל) פרי צדיק עץ חיים ולוקח נפשות חכם פרי צדיק עץ חיים זה ר' יוסי בר' אלעזר בר' שמעון ולוקח נפשות חכם זה ר' שמעון בן איסי בן לקוניא,כי נח נפשיה אמטוהו למערתא דאבוה הוה הדרא לה עכנא למערתא אמר ליה עכנא עכנא פתח פיך ויכנס בן אצל אביו לא פתחא להו כסבורים העם לומר שזה גדול מזה,יצתה בת קול ואמרה לא מפני שזה גדול מזה אלא זה היה בצער מערה וזה לא היה בצער מערה,איקלע רבי לאתריה דר' טרפון אמר להו יש לו בן לאותו צדיק שהיה מקפח את בניו אמרו לו בן אין לו בן בת יש לו וכל זונה שנשכרת בשנים שוכרתו בשמנה,אתיוהו לקמיה אמר ליה אי הדרת בך יהיבנא לך ברתאי הדר ביה איכא דאמרי נסבה וגירשה איכא דאמרי לא נסבה כלל כדי שלא יאמרו בשביל זו חזר זה,ולמה ליה כולי האי דאמר רב יהודה אמר רב ואמרי לה אמר ר' חייא בר אבא אמר ר' יוחנן ואמרי לה אמר ר' שמואל בר נחמני אמר ר' יונתן כל המלמד את בן חבירו תורה זוכה ויושב בישיבה של מעלה שנאמר (ירמיהו טו, יט) אם תשוב ואשיבך לפני תעמוד,וכל המלמד את בן עם הארץ תורה אפילו הקב"ה גוזר גזירה מבטלה בשבילו שנאמר (ירמיהו טו, יט) ואם תוציא יקר מזולל כפי תהיה,אמר ר' פרנך אמר ר' יוחנן כל שהוא תלמיד חכם ובנו תלמיד חכם ובן בנו תלמיד חכם שוב אין תורה פוסקת מזרעו לעולם שנאמר (ישעיהו נט, כא) ואני זאת בריתי וגו' לא ימושו מפיך ומפי זרעך ומפי זרע זרעך אמר ה' מעתה ועד עולם,מאי אמר ה' אמר הקב"ה אני ערב לך בדבר זה מאי מעתה ועד עולם אמר ר' ירמיה מכאן ואילך תורה מחזרת על אכסניא שלה,רב יוסף יתיב ארבעין תעניתא ואקריוהו לא ימושו מפיך יתיב ארבעים תעניתא אחריני ואקריוהו לא ימושו מפיך ומפי זרעך יתיב מאה תעניתא אחריני אתא ואקריוהו לא ימושו מפיך ומפי זרעך ומפי זרע זרעך אמר מכאן ואילך לא צריכנא תורה מחזרת על אכסניא שלה,ר' זירא כי סליק לארעא דישראל יתיב מאה תעניתא דלשתכח גמרא בבלאה מיניה כי היכי דלא נטרדיה יתיב מאה אחרניתא דלא לשכוב ר' אלעזר בשניה ונפלין עילויה מילי דצבורא ויתיב מאה אחריני דלא נשלוט ביה נורא דגיהנם,כל תלתין יומי הוה בדיק נפשיה שגר תנורא סליק ויתיב בגויה ולא הוה שלטא ביה נורא יומא חד יהבו ביה רבנן עינא ואיחרכו שקיה וקרו ליה קטין חריך שקיה,אמר רב יהודה אמר רב מאי דכתיב (ירמיהו ט, יא) מי האיש החכם ויבן את זאת ואשר דבר פי ה' אליו ויגידה על מה אבדה הארץ דבר זה | 85a. bthe sons of Beteira; and Jonathan, son of Saul.The Gemara discusses each case: The incident revealing the modesty of bRabban Shimon ben Gamliel is thatwhich bwejust bsaid,as he referred to himself modestly as a fox. bThe sons of Beteirawere exceptionally modest, as they served in the position of iNasiand yet abdicated their positions in favor of Hillel when he emigrated from Babylonia to Eretz Yisrael. bAs the Master said:The sons of Beteira, upon recognizing that Hillel was a superior expert in ihalakha /i, bseated him at the head and appointed him iNasiover them(see iPesaḥim66a). bJonathan, son of Saul,was extremely modest, bas he said to David: “And you shall be king over Israel, and I shall be second to you”(I Samuel 23:17), despite the fact that his father, Saul, was the current king.,The Gemara asks: bFrom wheredo we know that the aforementioned men were truly modest? bPerhaps Jonathan, son of Saul,relinquished his rights to the kingship not due to modesty, but bbecause he saw that the world,i.e., the masses, were bdrawn after David,and he felt he had no other recourse. With regard to the bsons of Beteira also,perhaps they abdicated only because they bsaw that Hillel was greater than they,as he was able to answer questions that they could not resolve. The Gemara adds: bBut Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel certainly wasa truly bmodestindividual.,§ The Gemara returns to the previous incident. When he heard that the greatness of Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon, was due to his suffering, bRabbiYehuda HaNasi bsaidto himself: bAfflictions areevidently bprecious. He accepted thirteen yearsof afflictions bupon himself; sixyears bof stones in the kidneys and sevenyears bof scurvy [ ibitzfarna /i]. And some sayit was bsevenyears bof stones in the kidneys and sixyears bof scurvy. /b,The Gemara relates: bThe stableman [ iahuriyareih /i] of the house of RabbiYehuda HaNasi bwas wealthier than King Shapurof Persia, due to Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi’s abundant livestock. bWhenthe stableman bwould place fodder before the livestock, the soundof their lowing bwould travelthe distance bof three imil /i. He would calculatethe right moment so bthathe would bplacethe fodder before the animals batprecisely bthat time when RabbiYehuda HaNasi bentered the latrine,so that the lowing of the animals would drown out Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi’s screams of pain. bBut even so,Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi’s bvoicewas so loud that it bovercame the sound ofthe livestock, bandeven bsailors heard itout at sea.,The Gemara says: bBut even so, the afflictions of Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon,were bgreater thanthose bof RabbiYehuda HaNasi. The reason is bthat whereasthe afflictions of bRabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon, cameupon him bout of love, and lefthim bout of love,i.e., they were solely the result of his own request, not because he deserved them, those bof RabbiYehuda HaNasi bcameupon him bdue to an incident and lefthim bdue toanother bincident. /b,The Gemara stated that Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi’s suffering bcameupon him bdue to an incident. What was thatincident that led to his suffering? The Gemara answers bthatthere was ba certain calf that was being led to slaughter.The calf bwent and hung its head on the corner of RabbiYehuda HaNasi’s garment band was weeping.Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi bsaid to it: Go,as byou were created for thispurpose. It was bsaidin Heaven: bSince he was not compassionatetoward the calf, blet afflictions come upon him. /b,The Gemara explains the statement: bAnd lefthim bdue toanother bincident. One day, the maidservant of RabbiYehuda HaNasi bwas sweepinghis bhouse. There were young weasels [ ikarkushta /i] lyingabout, band she wasin the process of bsweeping themout. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi bsaid to her: Let them be,as bit is written:“The Lord is good to all; band His mercies are over all His works”(Psalms 145:9). bThey saidin Heaven: bSince he was compassionate, we shall be compassionate on him,and he was relieved of his suffering.,The Gemara relates: During ball the years of the suffering of Rabbi Elazar,son of Rabbi Shimon, bno one died prematurely,as his afflictions atoned for the entire generation. During ball the years of the suffering of RabbiYehuda HaNasi, bthe world did not requireany brain,as the moisture of the dew was sufficient. bAs Rabba bar Rav Sheila said: A day of rain is as difficult as a day of judgment,due to the damage that storms and flooding can cause. bAnd Ameimar said: Wereit bnotfor the fact bthatrain is bneeded by people, the Sages would pray for mercy and annul it,due to the nuisances of rain. And beven so,despite the fact that there was no rain all those years, bwhen a radish was uprooted from its rowin the field, bthere remainedin its place ba hole filled with water,due to the moisture in the earth.,The Gemara continues discussing Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi’s relationship with Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon. Once bRabbiYehuda HaNasi barrived at the place of Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon. He said tothe locals: bDoes that righteous person have a son? They said to him: He has a sonwho is wayward, band any prostitute who hires herselfout to others bfor twocoins bhires him for eight,due to his handsomeness. Upon hearing this report, Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi resolved to extricate Rabbi Elazar’s son from his plight. bHe brought himback with him, bordained him as a rabbi, and gave him over to Rabbi Shimon ben Isi ben Lakonya,the bbrother ofthe boy’s bmother,to teach him Torah., bEach day,the boy bwould say: I am going back to my town,because it was difficult for him to study. Rabbi Shimon ben Isi ben Lakonya bsaid to him: You have been made wise, and a golden cloak has been spread over youwhen you were ordained, band you are calledby the title bRabbi, andyet byou say: I am going back to my town?The boy bsaid to him: I vow [ imomei /i]that bthisthought of leaving is now babandoned,i.e., I will stay and improve my ways. bWhenthe boy bmaturedand became a Torah scholar, bhe came and sat in the academy of RabbiYehuda HaNasi. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi bheard his voice and said: This voice is similar to the voice of Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon.Those who were present bsaid to him: It is his son. /b,Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi breadthe verse babout him: “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that is wise wins souls”(Proverbs 11:30). The Gemara explains, with regard to the phrase b“the fruit of the righteous,”that bthisis referring to bRabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon,who was the son of a righteous individual and became a great scholar in his own right. When the verse states: b“And he that is wise wins souls,” thisis referring to bRabbi Shimon ben Isi ben Lakonya,who successfully helped Rabbi Yosei reach his potential., bWhenthis Rabbi Yosei bdied, he was brought to his father’s cavefor burial. bA serpent encircled theentrance of the bcave,denying any access. Those present bsaid to it: Serpent, serpent! Open your mouth, so that a son may enter next to his father.The serpent bdid not openits mouth bfor them. The peoplethere bthought thatRabbi Yosei was denied burial alongside his father because bthisone, Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon, was bgreater than thatone, Rabbi Yosei., bA Divine Voice emerged and said:It is bnot because this one is greater than that one; rather,it is because bthis one,Rabbi Elazar, bexperienced the suffering of the cave, while that one,i.e., Rabbi Yosei, bdid not experience suffering of the cave.Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon, suffered with his father for thirteen years in a cave while hiding from the Romans (see iShabbat33b).,The Gemara relates a similar incident: Once bRabbiYehuda HaNasi barrived at the place of Rabbi Tarfon. He said tothe townspeople: bDoes that righteous person,Rabbi Tarfon, bwho would take an oath by the life of his children, have a son?Rabbi Tarfon was wont to take oaths by the lives of his children (see iOholot16:1). bThey said to him: He does not have a son,but bhe hasa grandson, ba sonfrom bhis daughter, and every prostitutewho is bhired for twocoins bhires him for eight. /b,The townspeople bbroughtRabbi Tarfon’s grandson bbeforeRabbi Yehuda HaNasi, who bsaid to him: If you repentfrom your evil ways, bI will give you my daughterin marriage. bHe repentedand became a righteous individual. bThere arethose bwho saythat bhe marriedRabbi Yehuda HaNasi’s daughter bandsubsequently bdivorced her. There arethose bwho saythat bhe did not marry her at all, so that it would not be saidabout him: It was bfor the sake of thatwoman that bthisman brepented. /b,§ The Gemara asks: bAnd whydid Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi exert himself bso muchto save these wayward sons? The Gemara answers: It is because of bthatwhich bRav Yehuda saysthat bRav says, and some saythat which bRabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba saysthat bRabbi Yoḥa says, and some saythat which bRabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani saysthat bRabbi Yonatan says: Anyone who teaches Torah to the son of another merits to sitand study bin the heavenly academy, as it is stated:“Therefore so says the Lord: bIf you return, and I bring you back, you shall stand before Me”(Jeremiah 15:19). This verse, which is addressed to Jeremiah, indicates that if he is able to cause the Jewish people to return to God, he himself will be brought to stand before God., bAnd anyone who teaches Torah to the son of an ignoramusachieves such an exalted status that beven if the Holy One, Blessed be He,were to bissuea harsh bdecree, Hemay bnullify it for his sake, as it is statedin the continuation of the verse: b“And if you bring forth the precious out of the worthless, you shall be as My mouth,”i.e., you will be like the mouth of God that can rescind a decree.,The Gemara relates other statements pertaining to Torah scholars and their descendants. bRabbi Parnakh saysthat bRabbi Yoḥa says:With regard to banyone who is a Torah scholar, and whose sonis ba Torah scholar, and whose grandsonis ba Torah scholar, the Torah will never again cease from his descendants, as it is stated: “And as for Me, this is My covet… /bMy spirit that is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, bshall not depart out of your mouth, nor out of the mouth of your seed, nor out of the mouth of your seed’s seed, says the Lord, from now and forever”(Isaiah 59:21).,The Gemara asks: bWhatis the significance of the phrase b“says the Lord”?The Gemara answers that bthe Holy One, Blessed be He, said: I am your guarantor in this matter.The Gemara asks: bWhatis the meaning of the phrase b“from now and forever”?The verse mentioned only three generations. bRabbi Yirmeya says:The verse means that bfrom thispoint bforward,after three generations, bthe Torah returns to its lodging,i.e., the Torah is now ingrained in the family.,The Gemara relates that bRav Yosef fasted forty fastsso that the Torah would become ingrained in his family, band he was readthe verse in a dream: “My words… bshall not depart out of your mouth.” He fasted an additional forty fasts and he was read: “Shall not depart out of your mouth, nor out of the mouth of your seed.” He fasted an additional one hundred fasts.In a dream, bhe came and was readthe conclusion of the verse: b“Shall not depart out of your mouth, nor out of the mouth of your seed, nor out of the mouth of your seed’s seed.” He said: From thispoint bforward I do not needto fast anymore, as I am now assured that the bTorahwill breturn to its lodging. /b,The Gemara relates a similar occurrence: bWhen Rabbi Zeira ascendedfrom Babylonia bto Eretz Yisrael, he fasted one hundred fasts so that hewould bforget the Babylonianmethod of studying bGemara, so that it would not hinder himfrom adapting to the unique style of study prevalent in Eretz Yisrael. bHe fasted an additional one hundredfasts so bthat Rabbi Elazar,son of Rabbi Shimon, would bnot die during his lifetime,which would have caused the burden of bcommunal mattersto fall bupon him.As dean of the Torah academy, Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon, was in charge of all public affairs, leaving Rabbi Zeira unencumbered to study Torah. Rabbi Zeira bfasted an additional one hundredfasts bso that the fire of Gehennashould bnot affect him. /b,The Gemara relates with regard to Rabbi Zeira: bEvery thirty days, he would examine himselfto ascertain if he remained on his exalted level. He would bignite an oven, climb in, and sit inside it, and the fire would not affect him. One day, the Sages gave him theevil beye,i.e., they were envious of him, band his legs became singedin the fire. bAndfrom then on bthey referred to himas: The bshort one with singed legs. /b,§ The Gemara discusses the topic of the acquisition of Torah knowledge. bRav Yehuda saysthat bRav says: Whatis the meaning of that bwhich is written: “Who is the wise man, that he may understand this? And who is he to whom the mouth of the Lord has spoken, that he may declare it? Why has the land been lostand laid waste like a wilderness, so that none passes through?” (Jeremiah 9:11). bThis matter,i.e., the question: Why has the land been lost |
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5. Babylonian Talmud, Megillah, 28b (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE)
| 28b. ואין ניאותין בהם ואין מטיילין בהם ואין נכנסין בהן בחמה מפני החמה ובגשמים מפני הגשמים ואין מספידין בהן הספד של יחיד אבל קורין בהן ושונין בהן ומספידין בהן הספד של רבים,א"ר יהודה אימתי בישובן אבל בחורבנן מניחין אותן ועולין בהן עשבים ולא יתלוש מפני עגמת נפש,עשבים מאן דכר שמייהו חסורי מיחסרא והכי קתני ומכבדין אותן ומרביצין אותן כדי שלא יעלו בהן עשבים א"ר יהודה אימתי בישובן אבל בחורבנן מניחין אותן לעלות עלו בהם עשבים לא יתלוש מפני עגמת נפש,א"ר אסי בתי כנסיות שבבבל על תנאי הן עשויין ואעפ"כ אין נוהגין בהן קלות ראש ומאי ניהו חשבונות,אמר רב אסי בהכ"נ שמחשבין בו חשבונות מלינין בו את המת מלינין סלקא דעתך לא סגי דלאו הכי אלא לסוף שילינו בו מת מצוה:,ואין ניאותין בהן: אמר רבא חכמים ותלמידיהם מותרין דאמר ריב"ל מאי בי רבנן ביתא דרבנן:,ואין נכנסין בהן בחמה מפני החמה ובגשמים מפני הגשמים: כי הא דרבינא ורב אדא בר מתנה הוו קיימי ושאלי שאילתא מרבא אתא זילחא דמיטרא עיילי לבי כנישתא אמרי האי דעיילינן לבי כנישתא לאו משום מיטרא אלא משום דשמעתא בעא צילותא כיומא דאסתנא,א"ל רב אחא בריה דרבא לרב אשי אי אצטריך ליה לאיניש למיקרי גברא מבי כנישתא מאי א"ל אי צורבא מרבנן הוא לימא הלכתא ואי תנא הוא לימא מתני' ואי קרא הוא לימא פסוקא ואי לא לימא ליה לינוקא אימא לי פסוקיך א"נ נישהי פורתא וניקום:,ומספידין בהן הספד של רבים: ה"ד הספידא דרבים מחוי רב חסדא כגון הספידא דקאי ביה רב ששת מחוי רב ששת כגון הספידא דקאי ביה רב חסדא,רפרם אספדה לכלתיה בבי כנישתא אמר משום יקרא דידי ודמיתא אתו כוליה עלמא ר' זירא ספדיה לההוא מרבנן בבי כנישתא אמר אי משום יקרא דידי אי משום יקרא דידיה דמיתא אתו כולי עלמא,ריש לקיש ספדיה לההוא צורבא מרבנן דשכיח בארעא דישראל דהוי תני הלכתא בכ"ד שורתא אמר ווי חסרא ארעא דישראל גברא רבה,ההוא דהוי תני הלכתא סיפרא וסיפרי ותוספתא ושכיב אתו ואמרו ליה לרב נחמן ליספדיה מר אמר היכי נספדיה הי צנא דמלי סיפרי דחסר,תא חזי מה בין תקיפי דארעא דישראל לחסידי דבבל,תנן התם ודאשתמש בתגא חלף תני ריש לקיש זה המשתמש במי ששונה הלכות כתרה של תורה,ואמר עולא לשתמש איניש במאן דתני ארבעה ולא לשתמש במאן דמתני ארבעה כי הא דריש לקיש הוה אזיל באורחא מטא עורקמא דמיא אתא ההוא גברא ארכביה אכתפיה וקא מעבר ליה א"ל קרית אמר ליה קרינא תנית תנינא ארבעה סידרי משנה א"ל פסלת לך ארבעה טורי וטענת בר לקיש אכתפך שדי בר לקישא במיא,אמר ליה ניחא לי דאשמעינן למר אי הכי גמור מיני הא מלתא דאמר ר' זירא בנות ישראל הן החמירו על עצמן שאפילו רואות טיפת דם כחרדל יושבות עליו שבעה נקיים,תנא דבי אליהו כל השונה הלכות מובטח לו שהוא בן עולם הבא שנאמר (חבקוק ג, ו) הליכות עולם לו אל תקרי הליכות אלא הלכות,ת"ר | 28b. band one may not adorn oneself inside them; nor may one wander about inside them; nor may one enter them in the sunfor protection bfrom the sun, or in the rainto find shelter bfrom the rain; nor may one offer a eulogy inside them for an individual,which is a private event. bHowever, one may readthe Bible binside them, and one may study ihalakhot binside them, and one may offer a eulogy inside them fora Torah scholar, if bthe publicattends the eulogy., bRabbi Yehuda said: Whendoes this apply? bWhenthe synagogues are boccupiedby the people using them. bBut when they are ina state of bruin, they should be left aloneso that bgrass will sprout up inside them. Andthat grass bshould not be pickedand removed, bdue tothe banguishthat it will bring to those who see it. It will remind them of the disrepair of the synagogue and the need to rebuild it.,The Gemara asks: Why did Rabbi Yehuda discuss the ihalakhaabout bgrass? Who mentionedanything babout it?The Gemara explains: The text of the ibaraita bis incomplete and is teaching the following: Andamong the other things that may be done in synagogues, bthey shouldalso be sure to bsweep them andto bsprinkletheir floors with water, bin order that grass not sprout up in them. Rabbi Yehuda said: Whendoes this apply? bWhenthe synagogues are boccupiedby the people using them, bbut when they are ina state of bruin, they should be left aloneso that grass bwill sprout up inside them.If bgrass did sprout up, it should not be removed, due tothe banguishthat this will bring to those who see it., bRav Asi said: Synagogues in Babylonia are builtfrom the outset bwith a stipulationthat they not have the full sanctity of a synagogue, in order that it be permitted to use them for the community’s general needs. bBut nevertheless,one bshould not act inside them with frivolity.The Gemara explains: bWhat ismeant by bthis?One should not make business bcalculationsin a synagogue., bRav Asi said:With regard to ba synagogue in whichpeople bmakebusiness bcalculations, they willeventually bkeep a corpse inside it overnight.The Gemara questions the wording of this dictum: bCan itreally benter your mindto say that bthey willever actually bkeep a corpse inside it overnight?Could it really be that bthere will not be any other alternative? Rather,Rav Asi means that as a punishment for acting with frivolity people in the community will die, including those who have no family, and so bultimately they willhave to bkeep a corpse with no one to bury it [ imet mitzva /i] overnightin the synagogue.,§ The ibaraitataught: bAnd one may not adorn oneself inside them. Rava said:The prohibition applies only to laypeople, but bTorah scholars and their disciples are permittedto do so, bas Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: Whatis the meaning of the term: iBeiof the Sages,which is used to describe a study hall? It is a shortened form of bhouse [ ibeita /i] of the Sages.In order to facilitate the constant presence of the Torah scholars in the study hall, it is permitted for them to use the hall as though it were their home.,The ibaraitacontinued: bAnd nor may one enter them in the sunfor protection bfrom the sun, or in the rainto find shelter bfrom the rain.The Gemara explains: This bis similar to thatcase of bRavina and Rav Adda bar Mattana. They were standing and asking a question of Rava,when ba shower [ izilḥa /i] of rain beganto fall upon them. bTheyall bentered the synagogue, saying: Our having entered the synagogue is not due to the rain,that we stay dry; brather, it is due tothe fact that bthe ihalakha /iwe were discussing brequires clarity like the day the north wind [ iistena /i]blows and the sky is perfectly clear. Therefore, we are entering the synagogue for the sake of studying Torah, which is certainly permitted., bRav Aḥa, son of Rava, said to Rav Ashi: If a person needs to summon an individual frominside ba synagogue, whatshould he do, since it is not permitted to enter a synagogue just for that purpose? Rav Ashi bsaid to him: If he is a young Torah scholar, let him recite a ihalakha /iupon entering the synagogue; band if he is a itanna /iwho memorizes large numbers of imishnayot /i, blet him recitevarious imishnayot /i; and if he is an expert inthe bBible, let him recite a verse; and ifhe is bnotable to do even this, blet him say to a child: Recite for me a versethat you have learned today. bAlternatively, he should remainin the synagogue bfor a shorttime bandonly afterward bstand upand leave.,The ibaraitacontinues: bAnd one may offer a eulogy inside them fora Torah scholar if bthe publicattends the eulogy. The Gemara asks: bWhat are the circumstances of a eulogy for the public? Rav Ḥisda depicteda case: bFor example, a eulogyfor a Torah scholar bat which Rav Sheshet is present.Owing to his presence, many people will come. bRav Sheshethimself bdepictedanother case: bFor example, a eulogy at which Rav Ḥisda is present. /b,The Gemara offers another example: bRaframonce beulogized his daughter-in-law inside a synagogue. He said: Due to my honor andthe honor bof the deceased, everyone will cometo the eulogy. It will consequently be a public event, and it is therefore permitted to hold it in a synagogue. Similarly, bRabbi Zeiraonce beulogized a certain Sage inside a synagogue. He said: Whether due to my honor, or whether due to the honor of the deceased, everyone will cometo the eulogy., bReish Lakishonce beulogized a certain young Torah scholar who was frequentlypresent bin Eretz Yisrael and who used to study ihalakhain the twenty-fourth rowof the study hall. He sat so far back because he was not one of the principal scholars. Nevertheless, when he died, Reish Lakish bsaid: Alas, Eretz Yisrael has lost a great man. /b,In contrast, there was ba certain man who used to study ihalakha /i, the iSifra /i, and the iSifrei /i, and the iTosefta /i, and he died.People bcame and said to Rav Naḥman: Let the Master eulogize him. He saidto them: bHow can I eulogize him?Should I say: bAlas, a basket filled with books is lost?This would not be true. Although the man studied many areas of Torah, he was not proficient in them.,The Gemara compares the conduct of Reish Lakish in Eretz Yisrael to that of Rav Naḥman in Babylonia. bComeand bsee whatthe difference is bbetween the harshscholars bof Eretz Yisrael and the saintly ones of Babylonia.Although Reish Lakish was known for his harsh nature, he was still more respectful than Rav Naḥman, who was known for his saintliness., bWe learnedin a mishna bthere( iAvot1:13): bAnd one who makes use of the crown [ itaga /i]of Torah learning bwill perishfrom the world. bReish Lakish taught: Thisis referring to bone whoallows himself to be bserved by one who studies ihalakhot /i,which is bthe crown of the Torah. /b, bAnd Ulla said:It is better that ba person should be served by one who studies fourorders of the Mishna, band he should notallow himself to bbe served by one who teachesto others bfourorders of the Mishna, bas in thatcase bof Reish Lakish. He was traveling along the roadwhen bhe reacheda deep bpuddle of water. A certain man cameand bplaced him upon his shoulders andbegan btransferring himto the other side. Reish Lakish bsaid to him: Have you readthe Bible? bHe said to him: I have readit. He then asked: bHave you studiedthe Mishna? He answered him: bI have studied four orders of the Mishna.Reish Lakish then bsaid to him: You have hewnthese bfour mountains andyet byou bear the weight of the son of Lakish upon your shoulders?It is inappropriate for you to carry me; bthrow the son of Lakish into the water. /b,The man bsaid toReish Lakish: bIt is pleasing for me to serve the Masterin this way. Reish Lakish said to him: bIf so, learn from me this matter that Rabbi Zeira said.In this way you will be considered my disciple, and it will then be appropriate for you to serve me. bJewish women were strict upon themselves in that even if they see a spot ofmenstrual bbloodthat is only the size bof a mustard seed they wait on its account seven cleandays before immersing themselves in a ritual bath to purify themselves., bThe school of Eliyahu taught: Anyone who studies ihalakhot /ievery day, bhe is guaranteed that he is destined for the World-to-Come, as it is stated: “His ways [ ihalikhot /i] are eternal”(Habakkuk 3:6): bDo not readthe verse as ihalikhot[ways]; rather,read it as ihalakhot /i.Consequently, the verse indicates that the study of the ihalakhotbrings one to eternal life., bThe Sages taughtin a ibaraita /i: |
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6. Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin, 24a (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE)
| 24a. בעדים פסולין ודיינין כשרין מיגו דפסלי עדים פסלי נמי דייני סיפא בדיינין פסולין ועדים כשרין דמיגו דפסלי דיינין פסלי נמי עדים,מתקיף לה רבא בשלמא מיגו דפסלי עדים פסלי נמי דייני איכא בי דינא אחרינא אלא מיגו דפסלי דייני פסלי נמי עדים והא עדים תו ליכא,לא צריכא דאיכא כת אחרת,הא ליכא כת אחרת מאי הכי נמי דלא מצי פסלי היינו דרב דימי,איכא בינייהו מיגו דמר סבר אמרינן מיגו ומר סבר לא אמרינן מיגו,גופא אמר ר"ל פה קדוש יאמר דבר זה תני עדו,איני והאמר עולא הרואה את ר"ל בבית המדרש כאילו עוקר הרים וטוחנן זה בזה,אמר רבינא והלא כל הרואה ר"מ בבית המדרש כאילו עוקר הרי הרים וטוחנן זה בזה,הכי קאמר בא וראה כמה מחבבין זה את זה,כי הא דיתיב רבי וקאמר אסור להטמין את הצונן אמר לפניו ר' ישמעאל בר' יוסי אבא התיר להטמין את הצונן א"ל כבר הורה זקן,אמר רב פפא בא וראה כמה מחבבין זה את זה דאילו רבי יוסי קיים היה כפוף ויושב לפני רבי דהא ר' ישמעאל בר' יוסי ממלא מקום אבותיו הוה והיה כפוף ויושב לפני רבי וקא אמר כבר הורה זקן,א"ר אושעיא מאי דכתיב (זכריה יא, ז) ואקח לי (את) שני מקלות לאחד קראתי נועם ולאחד קראתי חובלים נועם אלו ת"ח שבארץ ישראל שמנעימין זה לזה בהלכה חובלים אלו ת"ח שבבבל שמחבלים זה לזה בהלכה,(זכריה יא, יג) ויאמר (אלי) אלה [שני] בני היצהר העומדים וגו' ושנים זיתים עליה יצהר אמר רבי יצחק אלו ת"ח שבא"י שנוחין זה לזה בהלכה כשמן זית ושנים זיתים עליה אלו ת"ח שבבבל שמרורין זה לזה בהלכה כזית,(זכריה ה, ט) ואשא עיני וארא והנה שתים נשים יוצאות ורוח בכנפיהם ולהנה כנפים ככנפי החסידה ותשאנה האיפה בין השמים ובין הארץ ואומר אל המלאך הדובר בי אנה המה מוליכות את האיפה ויאמר אלי לבנות לה בית בארץ שנער א"ר יוחנן משום רבי שמעון בן יוחי זו חנופה וגסות הרוח שירדו לבבל,וגסות הרוח לבבל נחית והאמר מר עשרה קבין גסות ירדו לעולם תשעה נטלה עילם ואחת כל העולם כולו,אין לבבל נחית ואישתרבובי דאישתרבב לעילם דיקא נמי דכתיב לבנות לה בית בארץ שנער ש"מ,והאמר מר סימן לגסות הרוח עניות ועניות לבבל נחית מאי עניות עניות תורה דכתיב (שיר השירים ח, ח) אחות לנו קטנה ושדים אין לה אמר ר' יוחנן זו עילם שזכתה ללמוד ולא זכתה ללמד,מאי בבל א"ר יוחנן בלולה במקרא בלולה במשנה בלולה בתלמוד (איכה ג, ו) במחשכים הושיבני כמתי עולם אמר ר' ירמיה זה תלמודה של בבל:, big strongמתני׳ /strong /big אמר לו נאמן עלי אבא נאמן עלי אביך נאמנים עלי שלשה רועי בקר ר"מ אומר יכול לחזור בו וחכמים אומרים אינו יכול לחזור בו,היה חייב לחבירו שבועה ואמר לו דור לי בחיי ראשך ר"מ אומר יכול לחזור בו וחכ"א אין יכול לחזור בו:, big strongגמ׳ /strong /big אמר רב דימי בריה דרב נחמן בריה דרב יוסף כגון דקבליה עליה בחד,אמר רב יהודה אמר שמואל מחלוקת במחול לך אבל באתן לך דברי הכל יכול לחזור בו ורבי יוחנן אמר באתן לך מחלוקת,איבעיא להו באתן לך מחלוקת אבל במחול לך דברי הכל אין יכול לחזור בו או דילמא בין בזו ובין בזו מחלוקת,תא שמע דאמר רבא מחלוקת באתן לך אבל במחול לך דברי הכל אין יכול לחזור בו,אי אמרת בשלמא באתן לך מחלוקת אבל במחול לך דברי הכל אין יכול לחזור בו רבא דאמר כרבי יוחנן אלא אי אמרת בין בזו ובין בזו מחלוקת רבא דאמר כמאן,רבא טעמא דנפשיה קאמר,איתיביה רב אחא בר תחליפא לרבא היה חייב לחבירו שבועה ואמר לו דור לי בחיי ראשך רבי מאיר אומר יכול לחזור בו וחכמים אומרים אין יכול לחזור בו | 24a. is stated bwith regard toa case of bdisqualified witnesses and fit judges,i.e., the litigant claims that both the witnesses and the judges are disqualified and proves his claim only with regard to the witnesses. Rabbi Meir holds that bsince the witnesses are disqualified the judges are also disqualified,as the litigant’s entire claim is deemed credible. bThe latter clause,where Rabbi Meir rules that a litigant can disqualify witnesses, is stated bwith regard toa case of bdisqualified judges and fit witnesses,i.e., the litigant proves his claim only with regard to the judges. bSince the judges are disqualified the witnesses were also disqualified. /b, bRava objects to thisinterpretation: bGranted,in the former clause, it is reasonable that bsince the witnesses are disqualified the judges are also disqualified,as, since bthere isthe option of going to banother court,disqualifying these specific judges has no irreversible effect on the outcome of the case. bButin the latter case, how can Rabbi Meir hold that bsince the judges are disqualified, the witnesses are also disqualifiedwithout proof? This disqualification nullifies the entire case, as bthere are no more witnesses. /b,The Gemara answers: bNo,the mishna is not referring to a case where there are no other witnesses. The dispute between Rabbi Meir and the Rabbis is bnecessaryonly in a case bwhere there is another setof witnesses, which the litigant did not disqualify. Since disqualifying this set will not predetermine the outcome, the litigant’s claim that these witnesses are disqualified is accepted.,The Gemara asks: bButif bthere is no other setof witnesses, bwhatis the ihalakha /i? Is it bindeedtrue bthatthe litigant bcannot disqualifythem? If so, bthis isidentical to bRav Dimi’sinterpretation that the mishna is referring to a case where there are two sets of witnesses.,The Gemara answers: bThere isa practical difference bbetween themwith regard to the principle that bsince [ imiggo /i]one of the litigant’s claims is found to be correct, it can be assumed that other claims of his are correct as well. bAsone bSage,Ravin, bholdsthat according to Rabbi Meir, bwe say imiggo /i,i.e., this principle should be followed, bandone bSage,Rav Dimi, bholdsthat bwe do not say imiggo /i,but rather the litigant is required to prove every claim he makes.,§ The Gemara returns to discuss bthematter bitself: Reish Lakish says: Would a holy mouth,i.e., that of Rabbi Meir, bsay thisstrange bstatement,that a litigant can prevent a witness from testifying against him? Rather, emend the text of the mishna and bteach: His witness,in the singular, meaning that a litigant can disqualify only a witness who testifies alone.,The Gemara asks: bIs that so?Was it in character for Reish Lakish to speak of Rabbi Meir with such reverence when disagreeing with his ruling? bBut doesn’t Ulla say:When bone sees Reish Lakishstudying Torah bin the study hallit is bas though he is uprooting mountains and grinding them into each other?Reish Lakish was evidently very sharp in his analyses., bRavina saidin response: What is the difficulty? bBut is it notso that when banyone sees Rabbi Meirstudying Torah bin the study hall,it is bas though he is uprooting the highest of mountains and grinding them into each other?Rabbi Meir was a greater scholar than Reish Lakish, so it was fitting for Reish Lakish to speak of him with reverence.,The Gemara answers: The question: Is that so, was not stated to raise a difficulty; rather, bthisis what he bis saying,i.e., this is what the Gemara was noting: bCome and see how muchthe Sages blove each other.Although Reish Lakish was himself very sharp and a great Torah scholar, he spoke of Rabbi Meir with reverence.,The Gemara cites another example of Torah scholars who spoke of each other with reverence. It is blike thatincident bwhere RabbiYehuda HaNasi bsat and said: It is prohibited to insulate coldfood on Shabbat to keep it cold, as this may lead one to insulate hot food on Shabbat to keep it hot. bRabbi Yishmael, son of Rabbi Yosei, said before him: My fatherruled that it is bpermitted to insulate coldfood on Shabbat. There is no concern that this will lead one to insulate hot food on Shabbat. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi subsequently bsaid tothose who asked him about this issue: I retract my previous statement; bthe elder,Rabbi Yosei, bhas already issued a rulingon this topic, and I defer to his ruling., bRav Pappa says: Come and see how much they loved each other. As, had Rabbi Yoseistill bbeen alive, he would have been subordinateto band sitting before RabbiYehuda HaNasi as his student, bas Rabbi Yishmael, son of Rabbi Yosei, was his fathers’ replacement,i.e., he was as great a Torah scholar as his forebears, band he was subordinateto band sitting before RabbiYehuda HaNasi as his student. bAnd,nevertheless, Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi bsaid: The elder has already issued a rulingon this topic, and he deferred to Rabbi Yosei’s ruling.,This demonstrates what bRabbi Oshaya says: Whatis the meaning of that bwhich is written: “And I took for myself two staves; the one I called Graciousness, and the other I called Binders”(Zechariah 11:7)? b“Graciousness”; these arethe bTorah scholars in Eretz Yisrael, who are gracious to one another indiscussions of ihalakha /i.They treat each other with honor and love, as demonstrated in the statements of Reish Lakish and Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi. b“Binders [ iḥovelim /i]”; these arethe bTorah scholars in Babylonia, who injure [ ishemeḥabbelim /i] each other indiscussions of ihalakha /i,i.e., they speak harshly to each other when they disagree.,Similarly, it is stated: b“Then he said to me: These are the two anointed ones, that standby the Lord of the whole earth” (Zechariah 4:14), and it is stated: b“And two olive trees by it,one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon its left side” (Zechariah 4:3). With regard to the expression b“anointed ones,” Rabbi Yitzḥak says: These arethe bTorah scholars in Eretz Yisrael, who are pleasant to each other indiscussions of ihalakhalike olive oil,which is not bitter. The verse b“and two olive trees by it”should be interpreted as follows: bThese arethe bTorah scholars in Babylonia, who are bitter to each other indiscussions of ihalakhalike an olive. /b,The Gemara interprets another verse in Zechariah: b“Then I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold there came forth two women, and the wind was in their wings, for they had wings like the wings of a stork. And they lifted up the measure between the earth and the heaven. Then I said to the angel that spoke with me: To where do they take the measure? And he said to me: To build her a house in the land of Shinar”(Zechariah 5:9–11). bRabbi Yoḥa says in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai: Thismeasure refers to bflattery and arrogance that descended to Babylonia,i.e., Shinar.,The Gemara asks: bAnd did arrogance descend to Babylonia? But doesn’t the Master say: Ten ikav /iof barrogance descended to the world; Eilam took nine and allthe rest of bthe world in its entiretytook bone? /b,The Gemara answers: bYes, it descended to Babylonia, and it made its way to Eilam.The language of the verse bis also precise, as it is written: “To build her a house in the land of Shinar,”which indicates that the original intention was to build a house in Babylonia, but it was not built there. The Gemara comments: bConclude from itthat arrogance did not remain in Babylonia.,The Gemara asks: bBut doesn’t the Master say: A sign of arroganceis bpoverty? And poverty descended to Babylonia,not to Eilam. The Gemara answers: To bwhatkind of bpovertyis this referring? It is bpovertywith regard to bTorah,which was characteristic of Eilam. bAs it is written: “We have a little sister, and she has no breasts”(Song of Songs 8:8), and bRabbi Yoḥa says: Thisrefers to bEilam, whoseinhabitants bmerited to learnTorah bbut did not merit to teachit. They did not produce Torah scholars capable of imparting their wisdom to others.,The Gemara asks: bWhatis the homiletic interpretation of the word bBabylonia? Rabbi Yoḥa says,as a tribute to the Jewish community of Babylonia and its Torah scholars: It means bmixed with Bible, mixed with Mishna,and bmixed with Talmud.Other Sages had a different opinion of the Torah in Babylonia: With regard to the verse: b“He has made me dwell in dark places, as those that have been long dead”(Lamentations 3:6), bRabbi Yirmeya says: This is the Talmud of Babylonia,which is not as clear as the Talmud of Eretz Yisrael., strongMISHNA: /strong If one litigant bsays tothe other: bMy father is trustedto adjudicate bfor me,or: bYour father is trustedto adjudicate bfor me,or: bThree cattle herders,who are not proficient in ihalakha /i, bare trustedto adjudicate bfor me,all of whom are disqualified from serving as judges, bRabbi Meir says:The one who made the offer bcan retract it, and the Rabbis say: He cannot retract it,but must accept their verdict.,Similarly, one who bwas obligatedby Torah law to take ban oath to another,which is done while grasping a sacred object, bandthe latter bsaid to him:Instead of taking an oath, merely bvow to me by the life of your headthat what you claim is true, bRabbi Meir says:The one who made the offer bcan retract it,and demand that the other litigant take an oath, as he is obligated to do by Torah law. bAnd the Rabbis say: He cannot retracthis offer. Once he has agreed to accept a vow, which is of less severity than an oath, he cannot retract his agreement., strongGEMARA: /strong bRav Dimi, son of Rav Naḥman, son of Rav Yosef, says:The case of a litigant who accepts his father or the father of the other litigant as a judge is referring to bwherethe litigant bacceptedthis relative bupon himself as oneof the judges in a court of three, where the other two judges are fit. It is not referring to where he accepted him as the sole judge., bRav Yehuda saysthat bShmuel says:The bdisputebetween Rabbi Meir and the Rabbis is bwith regard toa case where the claimant had said to the defendant: The money I claim you owe me is bforgiven youif my father or your father rules as judge to that effect, and the claimant subsequently wishes to retract his offer. bBut ina case where it is the defendant who said: bI will give youwhat you claim if that is the ruling of this judge, beveryone agreesthat bhe can retracthis offer. bAnd Rabbi Yoḥa says:The bdisputeis bwith regard toa case where the defendant said: bI will give youwhat you claim if that is the ruling of this judge., bA dilemma was raised beforethe Sages with regard to the opinion of Rabbi Yoḥa: Is the bdisputeonly bwith regard toa case where the defendant says: bI will give you, but ina case where the claimant says: The money I claim you owe me is bforgiven you, everyone agreesthat bhe cannot retracthis offer? bOr perhapsRabbi Yoḥa maintains that the bdispute is both with regard to thiscase band with regard to thatcase?,The Gemara suggests: bComeand bheara resolution from that bwhich Rava says:The bdispute is with regard toa case where the defendant says: bI will give you, but ina case where the claimant says: The money I claim you owe me is bforgiven you, everyone agreesthat bhe cannot retracthis offer., bGranted,this makes sense bif you saythat according to Rabbi Yoḥa too, the bdisputeis bwith regard toa case where the defendant says: bI will give you, but ina case where the claimant says: The money I claim you owe me is bforgiven you, everyone agreesthat bhe cannot retracthis offer; this means that bRava is statingthe ihalakha bin accordance withthe opinion of bRabbi Yoḥa. But if you saythat according to Rabbi Yoḥa the bdispute is both with regard to thiscase band with regard to thatcase, then bin accordance with whoseopinion bis Rava statingthe ihalakha /i? His statement is in accordance with neither Shmuel’s opinion nor Rabbi Yoḥa’s opinion.,The Gemara rejects this: Perhaps bRava is stating his own explanationof the dispute., bRav Aḥa bar Taḥlifa raised an objection tothe opinion of bRavafrom the latter clause in the mishna: With regard to one who bwas obligatedby Torah law to take ban oath to another, andthe latter bsaid to him: Vow to me by the life of your headthat what you claim is true, bRabbi Meir says:The one who made the offer bcan retract it; and the Rabbis say: He cannot retracthis offer. |
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