1. Hebrew Bible, Leviticus, 26.1 (9th cent. BCE - 3rd cent. BCE) Tagged with subjects: •susiya synagogue, holy congregation •holy congregation Found in books: Levine (2005) 238| 26.1. "לֹא־תַעֲשׂוּ לָכֶם אֱלִילִם וּפֶסֶל וּמַצֵּבָה לֹא־תָקִימוּ לָכֶם וְאֶבֶן מַשְׂכִּית לֹא תִתְּנוּ בְּאַרְצְכֶם לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺת עָלֶיהָ כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם׃", 26.1. "וַאֲכַלְתֶּם יָשָׁן נוֹשָׁן וְיָשָׁן מִפְּנֵי חָדָשׁ תּוֹצִיאוּ׃", | 26.1. "Ye shall make you no idols, neither shall ye rear you up a graven image, or a pillar, neither shall ye place any figured stone in your land, to bow down unto it; for I am the LORD your God.", |
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2. Anon., Deuteronomy Rabbah, 7.2 (2nd cent. CE - 5th cent. CE) Tagged with subjects: •holy congregation Found in books: Levine (2005) 246| 7.2. זֶה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב (משלי ח, לד): אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם שֹׁמֵעַ לִי, מַהוּ אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם שֹׁמֵעַ לִי, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אַשְׁרָיו לְאָדָם בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁשְּׁמוּעוֹתָיו לִי. מַהוּ (משלי ח, לד): לִשְׁקֹד עַל דַּלְתֹתַי, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אִם הָלַכְתָּ לְהִתְפַּלֵּל בְּתוֹךְ בֵּית הַכְּנֶסֶת אַל תַּעֲמֹד עַל הַפֶּתַח הַחִיצוֹן לְהִתְפַּלֵּל שָׁם, אֶלָּא הֱוֵי מִתְכַּוֵּן לְהִכָּנֵס דֶּלֶת לִפְנִים מִדֶּלֶת, לִשְׁקֹד עַל דַּלְתִּי, אֵין כְּתִיב, אֶלָּא עַל דַּלְתֹתַי, שְׁתֵּי דְּלָתוֹת, וְלָמָּה כֵן, שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מוֹנֶה פְּסִיעוֹתֶיךָ וְנוֹתֵן לְךָ שָׂכָר. וּמַהוּ (משלי ח, לד): לִשְׁמֹר מְזוּזֹת פְּתָחָי. אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בַּר סִימָא, וְכִי יֵשׁ מְזוּזָה בְּבָתֵּי כְנֵסִיּוֹת, אֶלָּא מַה הַמְּזוּזָה הַזּוֹ אֵינָהּ זָזָה מֵהַפֶּתַח, כָּךְ לֹא תְהֵא זָז מִבָּתֵּי כְנֵסִיּוֹת וּמִבָּתֵּי מִדְרָשׁוֹת, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אִם תַּעֲשֶׂה כֵן דַּע שֶׁאַתָּה מְקַבֵּל פְּנֵי שְׁכִינָה, מַה כְּתִיב אַחֲרָיו (משלי ח, לה): כִּי מֹצְאִי מָצָא חַיִּים, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִי הוּא זֶה שֶׁבָּא לְבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת וְלֹא מָצָא אֶת כְּבוֹדִי שָׁם. אָמַר רַבִּי אַיְּבוּ וְלֹא עוֹד אֶלָּא שֶׁאַתָּה עוֹמֵד בְּבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עוֹמֵד עָלֶיךָ, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים פב, א): אֱלֹהִים נִצָּב בַּעֲדַת אֵל, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְלֹא דַּיָּךְ שֶׁאַתְּ מְקַבֵּל פְּנֵי הַשְּׁכִינָה בְּבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת, אֶלָּא שֶׁאַתָּה יוֹצֵא מִשָּׁם טָעוּן בְּרָכוֹת, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי ח, לה): כִּי מֹצְאִי מָצָא חַיִּים וַיָּפֶק רָצוֹן מֵה', הֱוֵי וְהָיָה אִם שָׁמוֹעַ תִּשְׁמַע וגו'. | |
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| 3. Anon., Qohelet Rabba, 8.10 (2nd cent. CE - 5th cent. CE) Tagged with subjects: •susiya synagogue, holy congregation •holy congregation Found in books: Levine (2005) 238 |
| 4. Palestinian Talmud, Berachot, None (2nd cent. CE - 5th cent. CE) Tagged with subjects: •nan Found in books: nan nan nan nan nan nan |
| 5. Palestinian Talmud, Hagigah, None (2nd cent. CE - 5th cent. CE) Tagged with subjects: •nan Found in books: nan nan |
| 6. Palestinian Talmud, Megillah, None (2nd cent. CE - 5th cent. CE) Tagged with subjects: •nan Found in books: nan nan |
| 7. Palestinian Talmud, Bikkurim, None (2nd cent. CE - 5th cent. CE) Tagged with subjects: •nan Found in books: nan nan |
| 8. Anon., Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, None (2nd cent. CE - 7th cent. CE) Tagged with subjects: •susiya synagogue, holy congregation •holy congregation Found in books: Levine (2005) 238 |
9. Babylonian Talmud, Bava Qamma, None (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE) Tagged with subjects: •holy congregation Found in books: Levine (2005) 26| 82a. והא כי אתא ר' אבין א"ר יוחנן אחד אילן הנוטה לתוך שדה חבירו ואחד אילן הסמוך למצר מביא וקורא שעל מנת כן הנחיל יהושע לישראל את הארץ,אלא מאן תנא עשרה תנאין שהתנה יהושע ר' יהושע בן לוי הוא רב גביהה מבי כתיל מתני לה בהדיא ר' תנחום ור' ברייס אמרי משום זקן אחד ומנו ר' יהושע בן לוי עשרה תנאין התנה יהושע:,עשרה תקנות תיקן עזרא שקורין במנחה בשבת וקורין בשני ובחמישי ודנין בשני ובחמישי ומכבסים בחמישי בשבת ואוכלין שום בערב שבת ושתהא אשה משכמת ואופה ושתהא אשה חוגרת בסינר ושתהא אשה חופפת וטובלת ושיהו רוכלין מחזירין בעיירות ותיקן טבילה לבעלי קריין:,שיהו קוראין במנחה בשבת משום יושבי קרנות:,ושיהו קוראין בשני ובחמישי עזרא תיקן והא מעיקרא הוה מיתקנא דתניא (שמות טו, כב) וילכו שלשת ימים במדבר ולא מצאו מים דורשי רשומות אמרו אין מים אלא תורה שנאמר (ישעיהו נה, א) הוי כל צמא לכו למים,כיון שהלכו שלשת ימים בלא תורה נלאו עמדו נביאים שביניהם ותיקנו להם שיהו קורין בשבת ומפסיקין באחד בשבת וקורין בשני ומפסיקין שלישי ורביעי וקורין בחמישי ומפסיקין ערב שבת כדי שלא ילינו ג' ימים בלא תורה,מעיקרא תקנו חד גברא תלתא פסוקי אי נמי תלתא גברי תלתא פסוקי כנגד כהנים לוים וישראלים אתא הוא תיקן תלתא גברי ועשרה פסוקי כנגד עשרה בטלנין:,ודנין בשני ובחמישי דשכיחי דאתו למקרא בסיפרא:,ושיהו מכבסין בחמישי בשבת משום כבוד שבת:,ושיהו אוכלין שום בע"ש משום עונה דכתיב (תהלים א, ג) אשר פריו יתן בעתו וא"ר יהודה ואיתימא רב נחמן ואיתימא רב כהנא ואיתימא ר' יוחנן זה המשמש מטתו מע"ש לע"ש,ת"ר חמשה דברים נאמרו בשום משביע ומשחין ומצהיל פנים ומרבה הזרע והורג כנים שבבני מעיים וי"א מכניס אהבה ומוציא את הקנאה:,ושתהא אשה משכמת ואופה כדי שתהא פת מצויה לעניים:,ושתהא אשה חוגרת בסינר משום צניעותא:,ושתהא אשה חופפת וטובלת דאורייתא היא,דתניא (ויקרא יד, ט) ורחץ את בשרו במים שלא יהא דבר חוצץ בין בשרו למים את בשרו את הטפל לבשרו ומאי ניהו שער,אמרי דאורייתא לעיוני דלמא מיקטר אי נמי מאוס מידי משום חציצה | 82a. The Gemara further questions the number of Joshua’s stipulations: b But when Rabbi Avin came /b from Eretz Yisrael he said that b Rabbi Yoḥa says: /b With regard to b both a tree that leans into the field of another and a tree that is close to a boundary /b with another field, the owner of the tree b brings /b the first fruits of the tree b and recites /b the accompanying declaration, as described in Deuteronomy 26:5–10, b as /b it was b on this condition /b that b Joshua apportioned Eretz /b Yisrael b to the Jewish people. /b This is an additional stipulation by Joshua, which means that there are more than ten.,The Gemara answers: b Rather, who /b is the one who b taught /b the i baraita /i that deals with the b ten conditions that Joshua stipulated? It is Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi, /b an i amora /i . Therefore, Rabbi Yoḥa, another i amora /i , can disagree with it. b Rav Geviha from Bei Katil teaches /b this b explicitly /b in his version of the i baraita /i : b Rabbi Tanḥum and Rabbi Berayes say in the name of a certain elder, and who is that /b elder? It is b Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi: Joshua stipulated ten conditions. /b ,§ The Sages taught that b Ezra /b the Scribe b instituted ten ordices: /b He instituted b that /b communities b read /b the Torah b on Shabbat in the afternoon; and they /b also b read /b the Torah b on /b every b Monday and Thursday; and /b the courts convene and b judge /b every b Monday and Thursday; and one does laundry on Thursday; and one eats garlic on Shabbat eve. And /b Ezra further instituted b that a woman should rise early and bake /b bread on those days when she wants to bake; b and that a woman should don a breechcloth; and that a woman should /b first b comb /b her hair b and /b only then b immerse /b in a ritual bath after being ritually impure; b and that peddlers /b of cosmetics and perfumes b should travel around through /b all b the towns. And /b Ezra further b instituted /b the requirement of b immersion for those who experienced a seminal emission. /b ,The Gemara analyzes these ordices, the first of which is b that /b communities b shall read /b the Torah b on Shabbat afternoon. /b This Gemara explains that this ordice was instituted b due to those who sit /b idly on street b corners, /b who do not attend the synagogue during the week.,The Gemara discusses the second of Ezra’s ordices: b And that they should read /b the Torah b on /b every b Monday and Thursday. /b The Gemara asks: b Did Ezra institute /b this practice? b But it was instituted from the beginning, /b i.e., long before his time. b As it is taught /b in a i baraita /i with regard to the verse: “And Moses led Israel onward from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; b and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water” /b (Exodus 15:22). b Those who interpret verses /b metaphorically b said /b that b water /b here is referring to b nothing other than Torah, as it is stated /b metaphorically, concerning those who desire wisdom: b “Ho, everyone who thirsts, come for water” /b (Isaiah 55:1).,The i baraita /i continues: The verse means that b since /b the Jews b traveled for three days without /b hearing any b Torah they became weary, /b and therefore the b prophets among them arose and instituted for them that they should read /b from the Torah each b Shabbat, and pause /b on b Sunday, and read /b again on b Monday, and pause /b on b Tuesday and Wednesday, and read /b again on b Thursday, and pause /b on b Shabbat eve, so they would not tarry three days without /b hearing the b Torah. /b Evidently this practice predates Ezra.,The Gemara answers: b Initially they instituted /b that b one man /b read b three verses; /b or b alternatively, /b that b three men /b read b three verses. /b Either way, the number three b corresponds to /b the three types of Jews: b Priests, Levites, and Israelites. /b Ezra later b came /b and b instituted /b that b three men /b always read, b and /b that b ten verses /b altogether be read by them, b corresponding to the ten idlers /b in a city, i.e., the ten men who are paid to spend their time dealing with synagogue and communal matters.,The next ordice of Ezra is: b And /b the courts convene and b judge /b every b Monday and Thursday. /b The Gemara explains that the reason for this ordice is b that /b many people are b found /b in a city on these days, b as they come /b from the countryside b for the reading of the /b holy b book, /b the Torah, which is performed on Mondays and Thursdays, as stated above.,The i baraita /i teaches: b And that one should do laundry on Thursday. /b This was instituted b due to /b the need to have clean garments in b deference to Shabbat. /b ,The Gemara explains the next listed ordice: b And that one should eat garlic Shabbat eve. /b This is b due to /b the fact that garlic enhances sexual potency, and Friday night is an appropriate time for b conjugal relations. As it is written /b concerning the righteous: “And he shall be like a tree planted by streams of water, b who brings forth his fruit in his season” /b (Psalms 1:3); b and Rabbi Yehuda says, and some say /b it was b Rav Naḥman, and some say /b it was b Rav Kahana, and some say /b it was b Rabbi Yoḥa /b who said: b This /b is referring to b one who engages in sexual intercourse every Shabbat eve. /b , b The Sages taught /b in a i baraita /i that b five matters were stated with regard to garlic: It satisfies; it warms /b the body; b it causes /b one’s b countece to shine; it increases /b one’s b sperm, and it kills lice that are in the intestines. And some say /b that it also b instills love /b into those who eat it b and removes jealousy /b from them.,The next ordice is: b And that a woman should rise early and bake /b bread on those days when she bakes. This Gemara explains that this was instituted b so that bread should be available for poor people, /b who go begging for bread in the mornings.,The i baraita /i further teaches: b And that a woman should don a breechcloth [ i sinar /i ]. /b This ordice was instituted b due to /b reasons of b modesty. /b ,The i baraita /i adds: b And that a woman should /b first b comb /b her hair b and /b only then b immerse /b in a ritual bath. This is to ensure that there is no dirt or other substance in the hair that would invalidate the immersion. The Gemara questions this: b This is /b required b by Torah law, /b Ezra did not institute this., b As it is taught /b in a i baraita /i , concerning a verse that discusses one who must undergo ritual immersion: b “And he shall bathe his flesh [ i et besaro /i ] in water” /b (Leviticus 14:9). This verse teaches b that no substance should interpose between his flesh and the water. /b When the verse states this in the expanded form of b “ i et /i his flesh,” /b using the term “ i et /i ,” this teaches that the water must come into contact even with b that which is subordinate to his flesh. And what is that? /b It is one’s b hair. /b Accordingly, the Torah itself states that there may not be any interposing substance in the hair at the time of immersion. What, then, did Ezra add?,The Sages b say /b in response: b By Torah law /b one is required b to inspect /b his or her hair before immersion, as b perhaps /b some hairs are b knotted /b together, preventing contact with water at that spot, b or /b perhaps there is some b repulsive substance /b in his hair. One must perform this inspection b because /b these would constitute b an interposition. /b |
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10. Babylonian Talmud, Berachot, None (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE) Tagged with subjects: •holy congregation Found in books: Levine (2005) 246| 6a. אמר ר' יוסי ברבי חנינא זוכה לברכות הללו שנאמר (ישעיהו מח, יח) לוא הקשבת למצותי ויהי כנהר שלומך וצדקתך כגלי הים ויהי כחול זרעך וצאצאי מעיך וגו':,תניא אבא בנימין אומר אלמלי נתנה רשות לעין לראות אין כל בריה יכולה לעמוד מפני המזיקין,אמר אביי אינהו נפישי מינן וקיימי עלן כי כסלא לאוגיא,אמר רב הונא כל חד וחד מינן אלפא משמאליה ורבבתא מימיניה,אמר רבא האי דוחקא דהוי בכלה מנייהו הוי הני ברכי דשלהי מנייהו הני מאני דרבנן דבלו מחופיא דידהו הני כרעי דמנקפן מנייהו,האי מאן דבעי למידע להו לייתי קיטמא נהילא ונהדר אפורייה ובצפרא חזי כי כרעי דתרנגולא האי מאן דבעי למחזינהו ליתי שלייתא דשונרתא אוכמתא בת אוכמתא בוכרתא בת בוכרתא ולקליה בנורא ולשחקיה ולימלי עיניה מניה וחזי להו ולשדייה בגובתא דפרזלא ולחתמי' בגושפנקא דפרזלא דילמא גנבי מניה ולחתום פומיה כי היכי דלא ליתזק רב ביבי בר אביי עבד הכי חזא ואתזק בעו רבנן רחמי עליה ואתסי:,תניא אבא בנימין אומר אין תפלה של אדם נשמעת אלא בבית הכנסת שנאמר (מלכים א ח, כח) לשמוע אל הרנה ואל התפלה במקום רנה שם תהא תפלה,אמר רבין בר רב אדא א"ר יצחק מנין שהקב"ה מצוי בבית הכנסת שנאמר (תהלים פב, א) אלהים נצב בעדת אל,ומנין לעשרה שמתפללין ששכינה עמהם שנאמר אלהים נצב בעדת אל,ומנין לשלשה שיושבין בדין ששכינה עמהם שנאמר (תהלים פב, א) בקרב אלהים ישפוט,ומנין לשנים שיושבים ועוסקין בתורה ששכינה עמהם שנאמר (מלאכי ג, טז) אז נדברו יראי ה' איש אל רעהו ויקשב ה' וגו',מאי (מלאכי ג, טז) ולחושבי שמו אמר רב אשי חשב אדם לעשות מצוה ונאנס ולא עשאה מעלה עליו הכתוב כאילו עשאה,ומנין שאפילו אחד שיושב ועוסק בתורה ששכינה עמו שנאמר (שמות כ, כד) בכל המקום אשר אזכיר את שמי אבוא אליך וברכתיך,וכי מאחר דאפילו חד תרי מבעיא תרי מכתבן מלייהו בספר הזכרונות חד לא מכתבן מליה בספר הזכרונות,וכי מאחר דאפי' תרי תלתא מבעיא מהו דתימא דינא שלמא בעלמא הוא ולא אתיא שכינה קמ"ל דדינא נמי היינו תורה,וכי מאחר דאפי' תלתא עשרה מבעיא עשרה קדמה שכינה ואתיא תלתא עד דיתבי:,א"ר אבין בר רב אדא א"ר יצחק מנין שהקב"ה מניח תפילין שנאמר (ישעיהו סב, ח) נשבע ה' בימינו ובזרוע עוזו,בימינו זו תורה שנאמר (דברים לג, ב) מימינו אש דת למו ובזרוע עוזו אלו תפילין שנאמר (תהלים כט, יא) ה' עוז לעמו יתן,ומנין שהתפילין עוז הם לישראל דכתי' (דברים כח, י) וראו כל עמי הארץ כי שם ה' נקרא עליך ויראו ממך ותניא ר' אליעזר הגדול אומר אלו תפילין שבראש,א"ל רב נחמן בר יצחק לרב חייא בר אבין הני תפילין דמרי עלמא מה כתיב בהו א"ל (דברי הימים א יז, כא) ומי כעמך ישראל גוי אחד בארץ,ומי משתבח קוב"ה בשבחייהו דישראל אין דכתיב (דברים כו, יז) את ה' האמרת היום (וכתיב) וה' האמירך היום אמר להם הקב"ה לישראל אתם עשיתוני חטיבה אחת בעולם ואני אעשה אתכם חטיבה אחת בעולם,אתם עשיתוני חטיבה אחת בעולם שנאמר (דברים ו, ד) שמע ישראל ה' אלהינו ה' אחד ואני אעשה אתכם חטיבה אחת בעולם שנאמר ומי כעמך ישראל גוי אחד בארץ,אמר ליה רב אחא בריה דרבא לרב אשי תינח בחד ביתא בשאר בתי מאי,א"ל (דברים ד, ז) כי מי גוי גדול ומי גוי גדול (דברים לג, כט) אשריך ישראל (דברים ד, לד) או הנסה אלהים (דברים כו, יט)ולתתך עליון,אי הכי נפישי להו טובי בתי אלא כי מי גוי גדול ומי גוי גדול דדמיין להדדי בחד ביתא אשריך ישראל ומי כעמך ישראל בחד ביתא או הנסה אלהים בחד ביתא ולתתך עליון בחד ביתא | 6a. In terms of this reward, b Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Ḥanina said: /b One who waits in the synagogue for the other to finish his prayer b merits the following blessings, as it is stated: “If only you had listened to My mitzvot then your peace would be as a river, and your righteousness as the waves of the sea. Your seed would be as the sand, and the offspring of your body /b like the grains thereof; his name would be neither cut off nor destroyed from before Me” (Isaiah 48:18–19). The explanation of this passage is based on the etymological similarity between the word mitzva and the word i tzevet /i , which means group. If he keeps the other person company and does not abandon him after his prayer, all of the blessings that appear later in the verse will be fulfilled in him ( i Talmidei Rabbeinu Yona /i ).,In another i baraita /i b it was taught /b that b Abba Binyamin says: If the eye was given permission to see, no creature would be able to withstand the /b abundance and ubiquity of the b demons /b and continue to live unaffected by them.,Similarly, b Abaye said: They are more numerous than we /b are b and they stand over us like mounds of earth surrounding a pit. /b , b Rav Huna said: Each and every one of us has a thousand /b demons b to his left and ten thousand to his right. /b God protects man from these demons, as it says in the verse: “A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; they will not approach you” (Psalms 91:7).,Summarizing the effects of the demons, b Rava said: /b br b The crowding at the i kalla /i , /b the gatherings for Torah study during Elul and Adar, b is from /b the demons; br b those knees that are fatigued /b even though one did not exert himself b is from /b the demons; br b those clothes of the Sages that wear out, /b despite the fact that they do not engage in physical labor, b is from friction /b with the demons; br b those feet that are in pain is from /b the demons., b One who seeks to know /b that the demons exist b should place fine ashes around his bed, and in the morning /b the demons’ footprints b appear like chickens’ footprints, /b in the ash. b One who seeks to see them should take the afterbirth of a firstborn female black cat, born to a firstborn female black cat, burn it in the fire, grind it and place it in his eyes, and he will see them. /b He must then b place /b the ashes b in an iron tube sealed with an iron seal [ i gushpanka /i ] lest the demons steal it from him, and /b then b seal the opening /b so b he will not be harmed. Rav Beivai bar Abaye performed this /b procedure, b saw /b the demons, b and was harmed. The Sages prayed for mercy on his /b behalf b and he was healed. /b , b It was taught /b in a i baraita /i that b Abba Binyamin said: One’s prayer is only /b fully b heard in a synagogue, as it is stated /b with regard to King Solomon’s prayer in the Temple: “Yet have You turned toward the prayer of Your servant and to his supplication, Lord my God, b to listen to the song and the prayer /b which Your servant prays before You on this day” (I Kings 8:28). The following verse concludes: “To hear the prayer Your servant directs toward this place” (I Kings 8:29). We see that one’s prayer is heard specifically in the Temple, of which the synagogue is a microcosm (Rav Yoshiyahu Pinto). It may be inferred that b in a place of song, /b a synagogue where God’s praises are sung, b there prayer should be. /b ,In explaining Abba Binyamin’s statement, b Ravin bar Rav Adda said /b that b Rabbi Yitzḥak said: From where /b is it derived b that the Holy One, Blessed be He, is located in a synagogue? As it is stated: “God stands in the congregation of God; /b in the midst of the judges He judges” (Psalms 82:1). The congregation of God is the place where people congregate to sing God’s praises, and God is located among His congregation., b And from where /b is it derived that b ten people who pray, the Divine Presence is with them? As it is stated: “God stands in the congregation of God,” /b and the minimum number of people that constitute a congregation is a quorum of ten., b From where /b is it derived b that three who sit in judgment, the Divine Presence is with them? /b It is derived from this same verse, b as it is stated: “In the midst of the judges He judges,” /b and the minimum number of judges that comprises a court is three., b From where /b is it derived b that two who sit and engage in Torah /b study, b the Divine Presence is with them? As it is stated: “Then they that feared the Lord spoke one with the other, and the Lord listened, /b and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before Him, for them that fear the Lord, and that think upon His name” (Malachi 3:16). The Divine Presence listens to any two God-fearing individuals who speak with each other.,With regard to this verse, the Gemara asks: b What /b is the meaning of the phrase, b “And that think upon His name”? Rav Ashi said: /b If b a person intended to perform a mitzva, but due to /b circumstances b beyond /b his b control, he did not perform it, the verse ascribes him /b credit b as if he performed /b the mitzva, as he is among those that think upon His name.,The Gemara returns to Ravin bar Rav Adda’s statement: b And from where /b is it derived b that when even one who sits and engages in Torah /b study, b the Divine Presence is with him? As it is stated: “In every place where I cause My Name to be mentioned, I will come to you and bless you” /b (Exodus 20:21); God blesses even a single person who mentions God’s name, a reference to Torah study ( i Iyyun Ya’akov /i ).,The Gemara asks: b Since /b the Divine Presence rests b even /b upon b one /b who engages in Torah study, b was it necessary /b to say that the Divine Presence rests upon b two /b who study Torah together? The Gemara answers: There is a difference between them. b Two /b people, b their words /b of Torah b are written in the book of remembrance, /b as it is stated: “And a book of remembrance was written”; however b a single /b individual’s b words /b of Torah b are not written in a book of remembrance. /b ,The Gemara continues: b Since /b the Divine Presence rests b even /b upon b two /b who engage in Torah study, is it b necessary /b to mention b three? /b The Gemara answers: Here too, a special verse is necessary b lest you say that judgment is merely to /b keep the b peace /b among the citizenry, b and the Divine Presence does not come /b and rest upon those who sit in judgment as they are not engaged in Torah study. Ravin bar Rav Adda b teaches us that /b sitting in b judgment is also Torah. /b ,The Gemara asks: b Since /b the Divine Presence rests b even /b upon b three, /b is it b necessary /b to mention b ten? /b The Gemara answers: b The Divine Presence arrives before a group of ten, /b as the verse: “God stands in the congregation of God,” indicates that when the ten individuals who comprise a congregation arrive, the Divine Presence is already there. For a group of b three /b judges, however, the Divine Presence does not arrive b until they sit /b and begin their deliberations, as in the midst of the judges He judges. God aids them in their judgment, but does not arrive before them.,The Gemara cites another aggadic statement: b Rabbi Avin bar Rav Adda said /b that b Rabbi Yitzḥak said: From where /b is it derived b that the Holy One, Blessed be He, wears phylacteries? As it is stated: “The Lord has sworn by His right hand, and by the arm of His strength” /b (Isaiah 62:8). Since it is customary to swear upon holy objects, it is understood that His right hand and the arm of His strength are the holy objects upon which God swore.,Specifically, b “His right hand” refers to the Torah, as it is stated /b in describing the giving of the Torah: b “From His right hand, a fiery law for His people” /b (Deuteronomy 33:2). b “The arm of His strength,” /b His left hand, b refers to phylacteries, as it is stated: “The Lord gave strength to His nation” /b (Psalms 29:11), in the form of the mitzva of phylacteries.,The Gemara asks: b And from where /b is it derived b that phylacteries provide strength for Israel? As it is written: “And all the nations of the land shall see that the name of the Lord is called upon you, and they will fear you” /b (Deuteronomy 28:10). b It was taught /b in a i baraita /i that b Rabbi Eliezer the Great says: This is /b a reference to b the phylacteries of the head, /b upon which the name of God is written in fulfillment of the verse: “That the name of the Lord is called upon you.”, b Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said to Rav Ḥiyya bar Avin: What is written in the phylacteries of the Master of the world? Rav Ḥiyya bar Avin replied: /b It is written: b “Who is like Your people, Israel, one nation in the land?” /b (I Chronicles 17:21). God’s phylacteries serve to connect Him, in a sense, to the world, the essence of which is Israel.,Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak continues: b Is the Holy One, Blessed be He, glorified through the glory of Israel? /b Rav Ḥiyya bar Avin answered: b Yes, /b as indicated by the juxtaposition of two verses; b as it is stated: “You have affirmed, this day, /b that b the Lord /b is your God, and that you will walk in His ways and keep His laws and commandments, and listen to His voice.” b And the /b subsequent b verse states: “And the Lord has affirmed, this day, /b that b you /b are His treasure, as He spoke to you, to keep His commandments” (Deuteronomy 26:17–18). From these two verses it is derived that b the Holy One, Blessed be He, said to Israel: You have made Me a single entity [ i ḥativa /i ] in the world, /b as you singled Me out as separate and unique. b And /b because of this, b I will make you a single entity in the world, /b and you will be a treasured nation, chosen by God., b You have made Me a single entity in the world, as it is stated /b that Israel declares God’s oneness by saying: b “Hear, Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One” /b (Deuteronomy 6:4). b And /b because of this, b I will make you a single entity in the world, /b unique and elevated with the utterance: b “Who is like Your people, Israel, one nation in the land?” /b Consequently, the Holy One, Blessed be He, is glorified through the glory of Israel whose praises are written in God’s phylacteries., b Rav Aḥa, son of Rava said to Rav Ashi: It works out well /b with regard to the contents of b one /b of the four b compartments /b of God’s phylacteries of the head. However, all four compartments of Israel’s phylacteries of the head contain portions of the Torah that praise God. b What /b portions in praise of Israel are written in b the rest of the compartments /b of God’s phylacteries of the head?,Rav Ashi b said to him: /b In those three compartments it is written: b “For who is a great nation, /b to whom God is close, like the Lord our God whenever we call upon Him?” (Deuteronomy 4:7); b “And who is a great nation, /b who has righteous statutes and laws, like this entire Torah which I set before you today?” (Deuteronomy 4:8); b “Happy are you, Israel, /b who is like you? A people saved by the Lord, the shield of your help, and that is the sword of your excellence. And your enemies shall dwindle away before you, and you shall tread upon their high places” (Deuteronomy 33:29); b “Or has God attempted /b to go and take for Himself a nation from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs and by wonders” (Deuteronomy 4:34); b “And to elevate you /b above all nations that He has made, in praise, in name and in glory; that you may be a holy people to the Lord, your God, as He has spoken” (Deuteronomy 26:19).,Rav Aḥa, son of Rava, raises an objection: b If /b all of these verses are included in God’s phylacteries of the head, b there are too many compartments /b as more than four verses of praise were listed. b Rather, /b the portions in God’s phylacteries must be arranged as follows: The verses b “For who is a great nation” and “And who is a great nation” /b are included b in one compartment, /b as they are similar. b “Happy are you, Israel” and "Who is like your people, Israel" are in one compartment. “Or has God attempted” is in one compartment and “And to elevate you” is /b in one b compartment /b |
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11. Babylonian Talmud, Megillah, None (3rd cent. CE - 6th cent. CE) Tagged with subjects: •nan Found in books: Levine (2005) 246| 29a. מבטלין ת"ת להוצאת המת ולהכנסת הכלה אמרו עליו על ר' יהודה בר' אילעאי שהיה מבטל ת"ת להוצאת המת ולהכנסת הכלה בד"א בשאין שם כל צורכו אבל יש שם כל צורכו אין מבטלין,וכמה כל צורכו אמר רב שמואל בר איניא משמיה דרב תריסר אלפי גברי ושיתא אלפי שיפורי ואמרי לה תריסר אלפי גברי ומינייהו שיתא אלפי שיפורי עולא אמר כגון דחייצי גברי מאבולא עד סיכרא,רב ששת אמר כנתינתה כך נטילתה מה נתינתה בששים ריבוא אף נטילתה בס' ריבוא ה"מ למאן דקרי ותני אבל למאן דמתני לית ליה שיעורא,תניא ר"ש בן יוחי אומר בוא וראה כמה חביבין ישראל לפני הקב"ה שבכל מקום שגלו שכינה עמהן גלו למצרים שכינה עמהן שנאמר (שמואל א ב, כז) הנגלה נגליתי לבית אביך בהיותם במצרים וגו' גלו לבבל שכינה עמהן שנאמר (ישעיהו מג, יד) למענכם שלחתי בבלה ואף כשהן עתידין ליגאל שכינה עמהן שנאמר (דברים ל, ג) ושב ה' אלהיך את שבותך והשיב לא נאמר אלא ושב מלמד שהקב"ה שב עמהן מבין הגליות,בבבל היכא אמר אביי בבי כנישתא דהוצל ובבי כנישתא דשף ויתיב בנהרדעא ולא תימא הכא והכא אלא זמנין הכא וזמנין הכא אמר אביי תיתי לי דכי מרחיקנא פרסה עיילנא ומצלינא התם אבוה דשמואל [ולוי] הוו יתבי בכנישתא דשף ויתיב בנהרדעא אתיא שכינה שמעו קול ריגשא [קמו ונפקו,רב ששת הוה יתיב בבי כנישתא דשף ויתיב בנהרדעא אתיא שכינה] ולא נפק אתו מלאכי השרת וקא מבעתו ליה אמר לפניו רבש"ע עלוב ושאינו עלוב מי נדחה מפני מי אמר להו שבקוהו,(יחזקאל יא, טז) ואהי להם למקדש מעט אמר רבי יצחק אלו בתי כנסיות ובתי מדרשות שבבבל ור"א אמר זה בית רבינו שבבבל,דרש רבא מאי דכתיב (תהלים צ, א) ה' מעון אתה היית לנו אלו בתי כנסיות ובתי מדרשות אמר אביי מריש הואי גריסנא בביתא ומצלינא בבי כנשתא כיון דשמעית להא דקאמר דוד (תהלים כו, ח) ה' אהבתי מעון ביתך הואי גריסנא בבי כנישתא,תניא ר"א הקפר אומר עתידין בתי כנסיות ובתי מדרשות שבבבל שיקבעו בא"י שנאמר (ירמיהו מו, יח) כי כתבור בהרים וככרמל בים יבא והלא דברים ק"ו ומה תבור וכרמל שלא באו אלא לפי שעה ללמוד תורה נקבעים בארץ ישראל בתי כנסיות ובתי מדרשות שקורין ומרביצין בהן תורה עאכ"ו,דרש בר קפרא מאי דכתיב (תהלים סח, יז) למה תרצדון הרים גבנונים יצתה בת קול ואמרה להם למה תרצו דין עם סיני כולכם בעלי מומים אתם אצל סיני כתיב הכא גבנונים וכתיב התם (ויקרא כא, כ) או גבן או דק אמר רב אשי ש"מ האי מאן דיהיר בעל מום הוא:,אין עושין אותו קפנדריא: מאי קפנדריא אמר רבא קפנדריא כשמה מאי כשמה כמאן דאמר אדמקיפנא אדרי איעול בהא,א"ר אבהו אם היה שביל מעיקרא מותר,אר"נ בר יצחק הנכנס ע"מ שלא לעשות קפנדריא מותר לעשותו קפנדריא וא"ר חלבו אמר ר"ה הנכנס לבהכ"נ להתפלל מותר לעשותו קפנדריא שנא' (יחזקאל מו, ט) ובבא עם הארץ לפני ה' במועדים הבא דרך שער צפון להשתחוות יצא דרך שער נגב:,עלו בו עשבים לא יתלוש מפני עגמת נפש: והתניא אינו תולש ומאכיל אבל תולש ומניח כי תנן נמי מתני' תולש ומאכיל תנן,ת"ר בית הקברות אין נוהגין בהן קלות ראש אין מרעין בהן בהמה ואין מוליכין בהן אמת המים ואין מלקטין בהן עשבים ואם ליקט שורפן במקומן מפני כבוד מתים,אהייא אילימא אסיפא כיון ששורפן במקומן מאי כבוד מתים איכא אלא ארישא:, big strongמתני׳ /strong /big ר"ח אדר שחל להיות בשבת קורין בפרשת שקלים חל להיות בתוך השבת מקדימין לשעבר ומפסיקין לשבת אחרת,בשניה זכור בשלישית פרה אדומה ברביעית החודש הזה לכם בחמישית חוזרין לכסדרן,לכל מפסיקין בראשי חדשים בחנוכה ובפורים בתעניות ובמעמדות וביוה"כ:, big strongגמ׳ /strong /big תנן התם באחד באדר משמיעין על השקלים | 29a. b One interrupts /b his b Torah study to carry out the dead /b for burial b and to escort a bride /b to her wedding. b They said about Rabbi Yehuda, son of Rabbi Elai, that he would interrupt /b his b Torah study to carry out the dead /b for burial b and to escort a bride /b to her wedding. The Gemara qualifies this ruling: b In what /b case b is this statement said? /b Only b where there are not sufficient /b numbers of other people available to perform these mitzvot and honor the deceased or the bride appropriately. b However, /b when b there are sufficient /b numbers, additional people b should not interrupt /b their Torah study to participate.,The Gemara asks: b And how many /b people b are /b considered b sufficient? Rav Shmuel bar Inya said in the name of Rav: Twelve thousand men and /b another b six thousand /b men to blow b horns /b as a sign of mourning. b And some say /b a different version: b Twelve thousand men, among whom are six thousand /b men with b horns. Ulla said: For example, /b enough b to make a procession of people /b all the way b from the /b town b gate [ i abbula /i ] to the place of burial. /b , b Rav Sheshet said: As /b the Torah b was given, so it /b should be b taken away, /b i.e., the same honor that was provided when the Torah was given at Mount Sinai should be provided when the Torah is taken through the passing away of a Torah scholar. b Just as /b the Torah b was given in the presence of six hundred thousand /b men, b so too its taking /b should be done b in the presence of six hundred thousand /b men. The Gemara comments: b This applies to someone who read /b the Bible b and studied /b i halakhot /i for himself. b But for someone who taught /b others, b there is no limit /b to the honor that should be shown to him.,§ b It is taught /b in a i baraita /i : b Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai says: Come and see how beloved the Jewish people are before the Holy One, Blessed be He. As every place they were exiled, the Divine Presence /b went b with them. They were exiled to Egypt, /b and b the Divine Presence /b went b with them, as it is stated: “Did I reveal myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt?” /b (I Samuel 2:27). b They were exiled to Babylonia, /b and b the Divine Presence /b went b with them, as it is stated: “For your sake I have sent to Babylonia” /b (Isaiah 43:14). b So too, when, in the future, they will be redeemed, the Divine Presence will be with them, as it is stated: “Then the Lord your God will return with your captivity” /b (Deuteronomy 30:3). b It does not state: He will bring back, /b i.e., He will cause the Jewish people to return, b but rather /b it says: b “He will return,” /b which b teaches that the Holy One, Blessed be He, will return /b together b with them from among the /b various b exiles. /b ,The Gemara asks: b Where in Babylonia /b does the Divine Presence reside? b Abaye said: In the /b ancient b synagogue of Huzal and in the synagogue that was destroyed and rebuilt in Neharde’a. And do not say /b that the Divine Presence resided b here and there, /b i.e., in both places simultaneously. b Rather, at times /b it resided b here /b in Huzal b and at times there /b in Neharde’a. b Abaye said: I have /b a blessing b coming to me, for whenever I am /b within b a distance of a parasang /b from one of those synagogues, b I go in and pray there, /b due to the special honor and sanctity attached to them. It was related that b the father of Shmuel and Levi were /b once b sitting in the synagogue that was destroyed and rebuilt in Neharde’a. The Divine Presence came /b and b they heard a loud sound, /b so b they arose and left. /b ,It was further related that b Rav Sheshet was /b once b sitting in the synagogue that was destroyed and rebuilt in Neharde’a, /b and b the Divine Presence came but he did not go out. The ministering angels came and were frightening him /b in order to force him to leave. Rav Sheshet turned to God and b said before Him: Master of the Universe, /b if one is b wretched and /b the other is b not wretched, who should defer to whom? /b Shouldn’t the one who is not wretched give way to the one who is? Now I am blind and wretched; why then do you expect me to defer to the angels? God then turned to the angels and b said to them: Leave him. /b ,The verse states: b “Yet I have been to them as a little sanctuary /b in the countries where they have come” (Ezekiel 11:16). b Rabbi Yitzḥak said: This /b is referring to b the synagogues and study halls in Babylonia. And Rabbi Elazar said: This /b is referring to b the house of our master, /b i.e., Rav, b in Babylonia, /b from which Torah issues forth to the entire world., b Rava interpreted /b a verse b homiletically: What is /b the meaning of that b which is written: “Lord, You have been our dwelling place /b in all generations” (Psalms 90:1)? b This /b is referring to b the synagogues and study halls. Abaye said: Initially, I used to study /b Torah b in /b my b home and pray in the synagogue. Once I heard /b and understood b that which /b King b David says: “Lord, I love the habitation of Your house” /b (Psalms 26:8), b I would /b always b study /b Torah b in the synagogue, /b to express my love for the place in which the Divine Presence resides., b It is taught /b in a i baraita /i : b Rabbi Elazar HaKappar says: In the future, the synagogues and the study halls in Babylonia will be /b transported and b reestablished in Eretz Yisrael, as it is stated: “Surely, like Tabor among the mountains, and like Carmel by the sea, so shall he come” /b (Jeremiah 46:18). There is a tradition that these mountains came to Sinai at the giving of the Torah and demanded that the Torah should be given upon them. b And are /b these b matters not /b inferred through an b i a fortiori /i /b argument: b Just as Tabor and Carmel, which came only momentarily to study Torah, were /b relocated and b established in Eretz Yisrael /b in reward for their actions, b all the more so /b should b the synagogues and study halls /b in Babylonia, b in which the Torah is read and disseminated, /b be relocated to Eretz Yisrael., b Bar Kappara interpreted /b a verse b homiletically: What is /b the meaning of that b which is written: “Why do you look askance [ i teratzdun /i ], O high-peaked mountains, /b at the mountain that God has desired for His abode” (Psalms 68:17)? b A Divine Voice issued forth and said to /b all the mountains that came and demanded that the Torah be given upon them: b Why do you seek [ i tirtzu /i ] /b to enter into b a legal dispute [ i din /i ] with /b Mount b Sinai? You are all blemished in comparison to /b Mount b Sinai, /b as b it is written here: “High-peaked [ i gavnunnim /i ]” and it is written there, /b with regard to the blemishes that disqualify a priest: b “Or crookbacked [ i gibben /i ] or a dwarf” /b (Leviticus 21:20). b Rav Ashi said: Learn from /b this that b one who is arrogant is /b considered b blemished. /b The other mountains arrogantly insisted that the Torah should be given upon them, and they were therefore described as blemished.,§ The mishna teaches that even if a synagogue fell into ruin, b it may not be made /b into b a i kappendarya /i . /b The Gemara asks: b What is /b meant by b i kappendarya /i ? Rava said: A shortcut, as /b implied by b its name. /b The Gemara clarifies: b What /b do you mean by adding: b As /b implied by b its name? /b It is b like one who said: Instead of going around the /b entire row of b houses [ i makkifna addari /i ] /b to get to the other side, thereby lengthening my journey, b I will enter this /b house and walk through it to the other side. The word i kappendarya /i sounds like a contraction of i makkifna addari /i . This is what Rava meant by saying: As implied by its name., b Rabbi Abbahu said: If /b a public b path had initially /b passed through that location, before the synagogue was built, b it is permitted /b to continue to use it as a shortcut, for the honor due to a synagogue cannot annul the public’s right of access to the path., b Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said: /b With regard to b one who enters /b a synagogue b without intending to make it /b into b a shortcut, /b when he leaves b he is permitted to make it /b into b a shortcut /b for himself, by leaving through the exit on the other side of the building. b And Rabbi Ḥelbo said /b that b Rav Huna said: /b With regard to b one who enters a synagogue to pray, he is permitted to make it /b into b a shortcut /b for himself by leaving through a different exit, and it is fitting to do so, b as it is stated: “And when the people of the land shall come before the Lord in the appointed seasons, he that enters by way of the north gate to bow down shall go forth by the way of the south gate” /b (Ezekiel 46:9). This indicates that it is a show of respect not to leave through the same entrance through which one came in; it is better to leave through the other side.,§ The mishna teaches: If b grass sprang up in /b a ruined synagogue, although it is not befitting its sanctity, b one should not pick /b it, b due to /b the b anguish /b that it will cause to those who see it. It will remind them of the disrepair of the synagogue and the need to rebuild it. The Gemara asks: b But isn’t it taught /b in a i baraita /i : b One may not pick /b the grass b and feed /b it to one’s animals, b but he may pick /b it b and leave /b it there? The Gemara answers: b When we learned /b the prohibition against picking the grass in b the mishna as well, we learned /b only that it is prohibited to b pick /b it and b feed /b it to one’s animals, but it is permitted to leave it there., b The Sages taught /b in a i baraita /i : In b a cemetery, one may not act with frivolity; one may not graze an animal /b on the grass growing b inside it; and one may not direct a water channel /b to pass b through it; and one may not gather grass inside it /b to use the grass as feed for one’s animals; b and if one gathered /b grass for that purpose, b it should be burnt on the spot, out of respect for the dead. /b ,The Gemara clarifies: With regard to the phrase: Out of respect for the dead, b to which /b clause of the i baraita /i does it refer? b If we say /b it is referring b to the last clause, /b that if one gathered grass that it should be burnt out of respect for the dead, then one could ask: b Since /b the grass b is burnt on the spot, /b and not publicly, b what respect for the dead is there /b in this act? b Rather, /b the phrase must be referring b to the first clause /b of the i baraita /i , and it explains why it is prohibited to act with frivolity., strong MISHNA: /strong On four i Shabbatot /i during and surrounding the month of Adar, a Torah portion of seasonal significance is read. When b the New Moon of Adar occurs on Shabbat, /b the congregation b reads the portion of i Shekalim /i /b on that Shabbat. If the New Moon b occurs during /b the middle of b the week, they advance /b the reading of that portion b to the previous /b Shabbat, b and, /b in such a case, b they interrupt /b the reading of the four portions b on the following Shabbat, /b which would be the first Shabbat of the month of Adar, and no additional portion is read on it., b On the second /b Shabbat, the Shabbat prior to Purim, they read the portion: b “Remember /b what Amalek did” (Deuteronomy 25:17–19), which details the mitzva to remember and destroy the nation of Amalek. b On the third /b Shabbat, they read the portion of b the Red Heifer [ i Para /i ] /b (Numbers 19:1–22), which details the purification process for one who became ritually impure through contact with a corpse. b On the fourth /b Shabbat, they read the portion: b “This month [ i haḥodesh /i ] shall be for you” /b (Exodus 12:1–20), which describes the offering of the Paschal lamb. b On the fifth /b Shabbat, b they resume the /b regular weekly b order /b of readings and no special portion is read., b For all /b special days, the congregation b interrupts /b the regular weekly order of readings, and a special portion relating to the character of the day is read. This applies b on the New Moons, on Hanukkah, and on Purim, on fast days, and on the /b non-priestly b watches, and on Yom Kippur. /b , strong GEMARA: /strong b We learned /b in a mishna b there /b ( i Shekalim /i 1:1): b On the first of Adar they make /b a public b announcement concerning /b the forthcoming collection of half- b shekels. /b The money is used for the communal offerings in the Temple in the coming year. |
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| 12. Anon., Midrash Psalms, 84.4 (4th cent. CE - 9th cent. CE) Tagged with subjects: •holy congregation Found in books: Levine (2005) 246 |
| 13. Theodosius Ii Emperor of Rome, Theodosian Code, 7.8.2 (5th cent. CE - 5th cent. CE) Tagged with subjects: •susiya synagogue, holy congregation •holy congregation Found in books: Levine (2005) 238 |
| 14. Anon., Pesiqta De Rav Kahana, 5.8, 28.8 Tagged with subjects: •holy congregation Found in books: Levine (2005) 246 |
