bet

It was taught: R. Joshua b. Hanania stated: When we used to rejoice at the Simchat Bet Hashoeavh our eyes saw no sleep. How so? The first hour [was occupied with] the daily morning sacrifice; from there [we proceeded] to prayers; from there [we proceeded] to the additional sacrifice, then the additional prayers, then to the Bet Midrash, then to eating and drinking, then to Minhah, then to the daily evening sacrifice, and after that the Simchat Bet Hashoevah.

Shall we say that Rav and Rabbah b. Bar Hannah differ on the same principles as those on which Bet Shammai and Beth Hillel differed? For our rabbis have taught, These are the points of difference between Beth Shammai and Beth Hillel with regard to [the ritual at] a meal: Beth Shammai says that one recites the blessing of the day and then the blessing over the wine, whereas Beth Hillel says that one recites the blessing over the wine and then the blessing of the day.

Beth Shammai says that one recites the blessing of the day and then the blessing over the wine since it is the day which causes the wine to be brought and the day has been sanctified before the wine was brought. Whereas Bet Hillel says that one recites the blessing over the wine first and then the blessing of the day, since the wine is the cause of the sanctification being recited. Another reason: The blessing over wine is frequent,and the blessing of the day is infrequent,and that which is frequent takes precedence over that which is infrequent.

[No,] Rav could say to you: I can state my view even according to Bet Hillel, for Bet Hillel stated their ruling only in that case, since the wine is the cause of the sanctification being recited, but not in this case, since even if there were no blessing of the season, would we not still say [the blessing of] the Sukkah?

[No,] Rav could say to you: I can state my view even according to Bet Hillel, for Bet Hillel stated their ruling only in that case, since the wine is the cause of the sanctification being recited, but not in this case, since even if there were no blessing of the season, would we not still say [the blessing of] the Sukkah?

Is it not possible that both libations are meant to be of wine? In that case the text should read either hassēk hassēk or nēsek nēsek, why hassēk nēsek? This change of expression implies both ideas. But if this be so, on whose authority will you base the Mishnah (Sukkah, iv, 1): The water libation was observed during the entire week of the festival? If this Mishnah follows R. Joshua, there was only one day of libation; if it follows R. 'Aḳiba, there were two days; and if R. Judah b. Bathyra, there were six days! The Mishnah certainly follows R. Judah b. Bathyra, who, however, agrees with R. Judah (b. 'Ila'i); for we read (ib., iv, 9): R. Judah (b. 'Ila'i) says: One log of water was used daily for libation during eight days; but R. Judah b. Bathyra excludes the first day and includes the eighth. Why does he exclude the first day? Is it not because the allusion to water is found in connection with the second day? If so, the eighth day too should be excluded, since Scripture speaks of the seventh only and not of the eighth day! The only solution, therefore, is that the seven days' libation is based on a tradition; for R. 'Asi said in the name of R. Johanan, who in turn said it in the name of R. Neḥunya of the Plain of Bet-Ḥawartan: The laws concerning the ten plants, the willow-branch, and the water libation are halakas given to Moses on Sinai.

R. Aḳiba happened to come to Ginzak (Gazaka), where he was asked the following questions: Does fasting by hours count or not? When may the wine-vessels of idolaters be used? In what garments did Moses officiate during the seven days of consecration (Lev., 8. 33)? He had no answer and went to the Bet ha-Midrash for information, where he was told: The law is that fasting by hours counts; wine-vessels of idolaters may be used after twelve months; Moses officiated during the seven days of consecration in a white frock. R. Kahana's version is: In a white frock without border.

Mishnah: 1. What is the order of procedure on the (last seven) fast days? The ark is carried out into the open place of the town and wood-ashes are strewn upon it, upon the head of the Nasi, and the head of the Ab Bet Din, and every one present takes some of it and puts upon his own head. The Elder among them addresses them in words of exhortation, saying: Brethren: Of the people of Nineveh it is not said: And God saw their sackcloth and their fasting, but (Jonah, 3. 10): "And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way," and in the Prophets it is said (Joel, 2. 13): "And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, long-suffering and abundant in mercy, and repenteth Him of the evil."

Gemara: What is the order of procedure on the fast days? The ark is carried out, etc. Does this order of procedure apply also to the first six fasts? This would contradict a Baraita which reads: On the first three and the second three fast days the people go to the synagogue and pray in the same way as they do during the whole year, but on the seven last fast days the ark is carried into the open place of the town and ashes are strewn on it (on the head of the Nasi, and on the head of the Ab Bet Din, and everyone else takes ashes and puts on his head; R. Nathan said, it was wood-ashes that were used)! Said R. Papa: Our Mishnah also has reference to the last seven fasts only.

On the head of the Nasi and the head of the Ab Bet Din. And then "everyone present takes some of it and puts upon his own head"? Does not a Baraita state: Rabbi said: For distinction the most important person comes first, but for degradation the least important comes first; for distinction the most important person comes first, because it is said (Levit., 10. 6): "And Moses spake unto Aaron and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar his son." For degradation the least important comes first because the serpent was degraded first, then Eve, and then Adam?! Answer. In our case, too, it is a sign of distinction for them, for we thus demonstrate to them that they are the men to pray for mercy for all of us.

And everyone present takes some of it and puts upon his own head. Why do not the Nasi and the Ab Bet Din take the ashes themselves and put them on their heads? Why is it that someone else has to take them and put them on their heads? Said R. 'Abba of Cæsarea: Because self-humiliation is not the same as

While in this mood he chanced upon a man who was extremely ugly. "Raca!" R. Simeon said, "Are all the people of thy town as homely as thou art?" "Go to the artisan, who made me," the man replied, "and say to him: 'How ugly is this vessel which thou hast made'!" As soon as R. Simeon realized his error he alighted from the ass and bowing before the man said: "I submit myself to thee, forgive me!" "No!" the man replied, "I will not forgive thee, until thou goest to the artisan who made me and sayest unto him, 'O how ugly is this vessel which thou hast made'!" R. Simeon followed him until he reached his town. When he arrived there, people of the town came to meet R. Simeon and greeted him with the words, "Peace be with thee, Master!" The man then asked them, "Whom do you address as Master?" "Him that follows thee," they replied. "If this man is a Master," he said, "may there not be many like him in Israel!" "Why? God beware!" they exclaimed, "What did he do to you?" "So and so he behaved toward me," he answered. "Nevertheless, forgive him," the people pleaded, "for he is a great scholar." "I will forgive him," the man said, "but on condition that he should never act in this manner again." R. Simeon b. Eleazar thereupon entered the Bet Hamidrash and lectured: "A man should always be soft as a reed and not hard as a cedar tree. And it is because of its softness that the reed was privileged to be used for the making of pens with which Torah scrolls, phylacteries and mezuzot are written".

Said R. Johanan: All his life long this righteous man (Ḥoni) was troubled about this verse (Psalms, 126. 1): "When the Lord brought back those that returned to Zion, we were like unto them that dream." Did anybody ever sleep seventy years (without interruption)? One day while walking on the road he noticed a man planting a carob-tree. Said Ḥoni to the man: "You know that it takes seventy years before a carob-tree bears fruit; are you so sure that you will live seventy years and eat therefrom?" "I found this world provided with carob-trees," the man replied, "as my ancestors planted them for me, so I plant them for my progeny." Thereupon Ḥoni sat down to eat and was overcome by sleep. As he slept, a grotto was formed around him, so that he was screened off from the human eye, and thus he slept for seventy years. When he awoke, he saw a man gathering carobs from the carob-tree and eating them. "Do you know who planted this carob-tree?" Ḥoni asked. "My grandfather," the man replied. "I must have slept seventy years!" Ḥoni exclaimed. (He saw the many herds that had descended from his she ass.) He then went to his house and inquired whether the son of Ḥoni the Circle-drawer was still alive. He was told that the son was no longer among the living, but that his grandson was still alive. "I am Ḥoni," he said, but the people did not believe him. He betook himself to the Bet ha-Midrash where he heard the scholars say, "Our studies are as clear to us today as they used to be in the times of Ḥoni the Circle-drawer, for when he came to the Bet ha-Midrash he used to explain to the scholars all their difficulties." He then said to them: "I am Ḥoni," but they would not believe him nor would they show him the respect due him. [This grieved him very much], and he therefore prayed to God (that he should die), and he died. Said Raba, hence comes the popular proverb, "either a companion or death!"

Said R. Johanan: All his life long this righteous man (Ḥoni) was troubled about this verse (Psalms, 126. 1): "When the Lord brought back those that returned to Zion, we were like unto them that dream." Did anybody ever sleep seventy years (without interruption)? One day while walking on the road he noticed a man planting a carob-tree. Said Ḥoni to the man: "You know that it takes seventy years before a carob-tree bears fruit; are you so sure that you will live seventy years and eat therefrom?" "I found this world provided with carob-trees," the man replied, "as my ancestors planted them for me, so I plant them for my progeny." Thereupon Ḥoni sat down to eat and was overcome by sleep. As he slept, a grotto was formed around him, so that he was screened off from the human eye, and thus he slept for seventy years. When he awoke, he saw a man gathering carobs from the carob-tree and eating them. "Do you know who planted this carob-tree?" Ḥoni asked. "My grandfather," the man replied. "I must have slept seventy years!" Ḥoni exclaimed. (He saw the many herds that had descended from his she ass.) He then went to his house and inquired whether the son of Ḥoni the Circle-drawer was still alive. He was told that the son was no longer among the living, but that his grandson was still alive. "I am Ḥoni," he said, but the people did not believe him. He betook himself to the Bet ha-Midrash where he heard the scholars say, "Our studies are as clear to us today as they used to be in the times of Ḥoni the Circle-drawer, for when he came to the Bet ha-Midrash he used to explain to the scholars all their difficulties." He then said to them: "I am Ḥoni," but they would not believe him nor would they show him the respect due him. [This grieved him very much], and he therefore prayed to God (that he should die), and he died. Said Raba, hence comes the popular proverb, "either a companion or death!"

The collectors of charity funds used to hide themselves whenever they saw Eleazar of the village of Bartota, because he was in the habit of giving them everything he happened to possess. One day he was going to the market in order to buy a wedding outfit for his daughter, when the collectors espied him and tried to hide themselves. Eleazar, however, followed them and said: "I adjure you to tell me for what purpose you are collecting?" "For a marriage between an orphaned boy and an orphaned girl," they replied. "By the Service of the Temple! they have precedence over my daughter," exclaimed he, and putting together all that he had, he gave it to them, except one zuz that remained in his possession. For this he bought wheat and deposited it in the granary. Thereupon his wife inquired of her daughter what her father had brought her. "All that he brought he took up to the granary," the daughter replied. The wife then went up to the granary and found it full of wheat, to the extent that it came through the door hinges. When Eleazar returned from the Bet ha-Midrash, she said to him, "Come and see what thy Friend (God) has done for thee!" Said he: "By the service of the Temple! This wheat shall be sacred property and thy share in it shall not be more than that of any among the poor of Israel."

Whom does this follow? Bet Shammai, as we have learned: Beth Shammai say: Offerings of wellbeing may be brought on the festival, but without laying on of hands; but not burnt-offerings; while Beth Hillel say:

Nahman said: All mocking is forbidden except mocking idolatry, which is permitted, as it is written, “Bel is bowed, Nebo is cowering” and the text goes on, “They cowered, they bowed as well, they could not rescue the burden” (Isaiah 46:1-2). Jannai learns from here: The inhabitants of Samaria fear for the calf of Bet Aven, Indeed, its people and priestlings, whose joy it once was. Mourn over it for the glory that is departed from it” (Hosea 10:5). Do not read “for the glory” [kevodo], but “for the burden”.

The statement of R. Papi is the more reasonable, since R. Joshua b. Levi said: It is permissible to make a synagogue into a bet hamidrash. Learn from this.

It may be presumed that it was R. Joshua b. Levi who said, “the place where Torah is magnified”, since R. Joshua b. Levi said that a synagogue may be turned into a bet ha-midrash; learn from this.

Peridah was asked by his disciples: How did you live such a long life? He replied: My whole life no one came to the Bet Midrash before me,

Zera was asked by his disciples: How have you lived such a long life? He replied: Never in my life have I been overly demanding with my household, nor have I walked in front of one greater than myself, nor have I meditated on the Torah in filthy alleys, nor have I gone four cubits without Torah and tefillin, nor have I slept in the bet hamidrash, either a long or a short sleep, nor have I rejoiced in the downfall of my fellow, nor have I called my fellow by a disgraceful name, or, as some say, his family nickname.