It is regarded as a grave transgression to humiliate another person in public. Some emphasize the prohibition against verbally abusing one’s spouse, noting that maintaining food (financial stability) in the household is advisable to preserve harmony. While many prayers may not always find immediate acceptance, the prayers of those who have suffered verbal abuse will always be heard, and God will punish the perpetrators. The story of the oven of Achnai illustrates the potency of prayers from those who have endured verbal abuse. Rabbi Eliezer, who stood against the majority opinion of the rabbis and was subsequently excommunicated and mistreated, serves as a prime example. Despite presenting miraculous signs and even a heavenly voice affirming the correctness of his stance, Rabbi Yehoshua asserted, “It is not in heaven.” This narrative underscores the authority of the rabbinic system to establish its own truths, even if they diverge from the absolute truth of God. However, mentioning this story in this context highlights the impact of words and how the mistreatment of Rabbi Eliezer ultimately led to the death of Rabban Gamliel through his prayers. The prohibition against abusing converts is emphasized, with the Torah warning against it in thirty-six (or forty-six) instances. This underscores the severity of the offense and the importance of treating converts with respect and dignity.
Bava Metzia
Masechet Bava Metzia is sponsored by Rabbi Art Gould in memory of his beloved bride of 50 years, Carol Joy Robinson, Karina Gola bat Huddah v’Yehuda Tzvi.
רבות בנות עשו חיל ואת עלית על־כלנה
This week’s learning is sponsored by Sara Averick in loving memory of her mother, Leah Shifrin Averick, לאה בת יהודה לייב חייקל וחיה מאשה. “She infused her many descendants with her love for Torah, Israel and the Jewish people.”
This week’s learning is sponsored by Elana and Daniel Storch in honor of their youngest daughter Arianne Yael’s engagement to Brett Aiken and for a for a refuah shleima for Ilana Malka bat Aviva Tamar and Leah Maritza bat Raizel. “We are thrilled to share besorot tovot with our Hadran Family. We pray that the chuppah will take place בשעה טובה ומוצלחת and they should be zoche to build a בית נאמן בישראל.
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Bava Metzia
Masechet Bava Metzia is sponsored by Rabbi Art Gould in memory of his beloved bride of 50 years, Carol Joy Robinson, Karina Gola bat Huddah v’Yehuda Tzvi.
רבות בנות עשו חיל ואת עלית על־כלנה
This week’s learning is sponsored by Sara Averick in loving memory of her mother, Leah Shifrin Averick, לאה בת יהודה לייב חייקל וחיה מאשה. “She infused her many descendants with her love for Torah, Israel and the Jewish people.”
This week’s learning is sponsored by Elana and Daniel Storch in honor of their youngest daughter Arianne Yael’s engagement to Brett Aiken and for a for a refuah shleima for Ilana Malka bat Aviva Tamar and Leah Maritza bat Raizel. “We are thrilled to share besorot tovot with our Hadran Family. We pray that the chuppah will take place בשעה טובה ומוצלחת and they should be zoche to build a בית נאמן בישראל.
Bava Metzia 59
נוֹחַ לוֹ לְאָדָם שֶׁיָּבוֹא עַל סְפֵק אֵשֶׁת אִישׁ, וְאַל יַלְבִּין פְּנֵי חֲבֵירוֹ בָּרַבִּים. מְנָא לַן? מִדְּדָרֵשׁ רָבָא, דְּדָרֵשׁ רָבָא: מַאי דִּכְתִיב ״וּבְצַלְעִי שָׂמְחוּ וְנֶאֱסָפוּ… קָרְעוּ וְלֹא דָמּוּ״? אָמַר דָּוִד לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, גָּלוּי וְיָדוּעַ לְפָנֶיךָ, שֶׁאִם הָיוּ מְקָרְעִים בְּשָׂרִי, לֹא הָיָה דָּמִי שׁוֹתֵת לָאָרֶץ.
It is preferable for a person to engage in intercourse with a woman whose married status is uncertain and not humiliate another in public. The Gemara asks: From where do we derive this? The Gemara answers: It is from that which Rava interpreted, as Rava interpreted: What is the meaning of that which is written: “And when I limped they rejoiced and gathered…they tore and did not cease [damu]” (Psalms 35:15)? The term “damu” can also be understood as a reference to blood. Concerning the fasting he undertook to atone for his sin with Bathsheba (see II Samuel, chapters 11–12), David said before the Holy One, Blessed be He: Master of the Universe, it is revealed and known before You that if my tormenters were to tear my flesh, my blood [dami] would not flow to the ground, due to excessive fasting.
וְלֹא עוֹד אֶלָּא, אֲפִילּוּ בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁעוֹסְקִין בִּנְגָעִים וְאֹהָלוֹת, אוֹמְרִים לִי: דָּוִד, הַבָּא עַל אֵשֶׁת אִישׁ, מִיתָתוֹ בַּמֶּה? וַאֲנִי אוֹמֵר לָהֶם: מִיתָתוֹ בְּחֶנֶק, וְיֵשׁ לוֹ חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. אֲבָל הַמַּלְבִּין אֶת פְּנֵי חֲבֵירוֹ בָּרַבִּים, אֵין לוֹ חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא.
And moreover, they torment me to the extent that even at the time when they are engaged in the public study of the halakhot of leprous sores and tents in which there is a corpse, i.e., halakhic matters that have no connection to my sin, they say to me: David, one who engages in intercourse with a married woman, his death is effected with what form of execution? And I say to them: One who engages in intercourse with a married woman before witnesses and with forewarning, his death is by strangulation, but he still has a share in the World-to-Come. But one who humiliates another in public has no share in the World-to-Come. The transgression of you, who humiliate me, is more severe than my transgression.
וְאָמַר מָר זוּטְרָא בַּר טוֹבִיָּה אָמַר רַב, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ: אָמַר רַב חָנָא בַּר בִּיזְנָא אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן חֲסִידָא, וְאָמְרִי לָהּ: אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַאי: נוֹחַ לוֹ לְאָדָם שֶׁיַּפִּיל עַצְמוֹ לְכִבְשַׁן הָאֵשׁ וְאַל יַלְבִּין פְּנֵי חֲבֵירוֹ בָּרַבִּים. מְנָא לַן? מִתָּמָר, דִּכְתִיב: ״הִיא מוּצֵאת וְהִיא שָׁלְחָה אֶל חָמִיהָ״.
And Mar Zutra bar Toviyya says that Rav says; and some say Rav Ḥana bar Bizna says that Rabbi Shimon Ḥasida says; and some say Rabbi Yoḥanan says in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai: It is more comfortable for a person to cast himself into a fiery furnace, than to humiliate another in public to avoid being cast into the furnace. From where do we derive this? From Tamar, daughter-in-law of Judah. When she was taken out to be burned, she did not reveal that she was pregnant with Judah’s child. Rather, she left the decision to him, to avoid humiliating him in public, as it is written: “And Judah said: Bring her forth, and let her be burnt. When she was brought forth, she sent to her father-in-law, saying: I am pregnant by the man to whom these belong. And she said: Examine these, whose are these, the signet, and the cords, and the staff?” (Genesis 38:24–25).
אָמַר רַב חִנָּנָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַב אִידִי: מַאי דִּכְתִיב ״וְלֹא תוֹנוּ אִישׁ אֶת עֲמִיתוֹ״? עַם שֶׁאִתְּךָ בְּתוֹרָה וּבַמִּצְווֹת, אַל תּוֹנֵיהוּ. אָמַר רַב: לְעוֹלָם יְהֵא אָדָם זָהִיר בְּאוֹנָאַת אִשְׁתּוֹ, שֶׁמִּתּוֹךְ שֶׁדִּמְעָתָהּ מְצוּיָה, אוֹנָאָתָהּ קְרוֹבָה.
§ Rav Ḥinnana, son of Rav Idi, says: What is the meaning of that which is written: “And you shall not mistreat each man his colleague [amito]” (Leviticus 25:17)? The word amito is interpreted as a contraction of im ito, meaning: One who is with him. With one who is with you in observance of Torah and mitzvot, you shall not mistreat him. Rav says: A person must always be careful about mistreatment of his wife. Since her tear is easily elicited, punishment for her mistreatment is immediate.
אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: מִיּוֹם שֶׁנֶּחְרַב בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, נִנְעֲלוּ שַׁעֲרֵי תְפִילָּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״גַּם כִּי אֶזְעַק וַאֲשַׁוֵּעַ שָׂתַם תְּפִילָּתִי״. וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁשַּׁעֲרֵי תְפִילָּה נִנְעֲלוּ, שַׁעֲרֵי דְמָעוֹת לֹא נִנְעֲלוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״שִׁמְעָה תְפִלָּתִי ה׳ וְשַׁוְעָתִי הַאֲזִינָה, אֶל דִּמְעָתִי אַל תֶּחֱרַשׁ״.
Rabbi Elazar says: Since the day the Temple was destroyed the gates of prayer were locked, and prayer is not accepted as it once was, as it is stated in lament of the Temple’s destruction: “Though I plead and call out, He shuts out my prayer” (Lamentations 3:8). Yet, despite the fact that the gates of prayer were locked with the destruction of the Temple, the gates of tears were not locked, and one who cries before God may rest assured that his prayers will be answered, as it is stated: “Hear my prayer, Lord, and give ear to my pleading, keep not silence at my tears” (Psalms 39:13).
וְאָמַר רַב: כׇּל הַהוֹלֵךְ בַּעֲצַת אִשְׁתּוֹ נוֹפֵל בְּגֵיהִנָּם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״רַק לֹא הָיָה כְאַחְאָב וְגוֹ׳״. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב פָּפָּא לְאַבָּיֵי: וְהָא אָמְרִי אִינָשֵׁי, אִיתְּתָךְ גּוּצָא – גְּחֵין וְתִלְחוֹשׁ לָהּ! לָא קַשְׁיָא: הָא בְּמִילֵּי דְעָלְמָא, וְהָא בְּמִילֵּי דְבֵיתָא. לִישָּׁנָא אַחֲרִינָא: הָא בְּמִילֵּי דִשְׁמַיָּא, וְהָא בְּמִילֵּי דְעָלְמָא.
And Rav says: Nevertheless, anyone who follows the counsel of his wife descends into Gehenna, as it is stated: “But there was none like Ahab, who did give himself over to do that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel his wife incited” (I Kings 21:25). Rav Pappa said to Abaye: But don’t people say a popular proverb: If your wife is short, stoop and whisper to her and consult with her? The Gemara answers: This is not difficult, as this statement of Rav instructs that one not follow her counsel in general matters; and that proverb instructs that one follow her counsel in household matters. The Gemara presents another version of this distinction: This statement of Rav maintains that one should not follow her counsel in divine matters; and that proverb maintains that one should follow her counsel in general matters.
אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: כׇּל הַשְּׁעָרִים נִנְעָלִים, חוּץ מִשַּׁעֲרֵי אוֹנָאָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הִנֵּה ה׳ נִצָּב עַל חוֹמַת אֲנָךְ וּבְיָדוֹ אֲנָךְ״. אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: הַכֹּל נִפְרָע בִּידֵי שָׁלִיחַ, חוּץ מֵאוֹנָאָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּבְיָדוֹ אֲנָךְ״.
Rav Ḥisda says: All the gates of Heaven are apt to be locked, except for the gates of prayer for victims of verbal mistreatment, as it is stated: “And behold, the Lord stood upon a wall built with a plumb line, and a plumb line in His hand” (Amos 7:7). God stands with the scales of justice in His hand to determine if one has been subjected to injustice. Rabbi Elazar says: In response to all transgressions, God punishes the perpetrator by means of an agent, except for mistreatment [ona’a], as it is stated: “And a plumb line [anakh] in His hand.” The term for mistreatment and the term for plumb line are spelled in a similar manner, indicating that God Himself inflicts retribution.
אָמַר רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ: שְׁלֹשָׁה אֵין הַפַּרְגּוֹד נִנְעָל בִּפְנֵיהֶם: אוֹנָאָה, וְגָזֵל, וַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה. אוֹנָאָה, דִּכְתִיב: ״וּבְיָדוֹ אֲנָךְ״. גָּזֵל, דִּכְתִיב: ״חָמָס וָשֹׁד יִשָּׁמַע בָּהּ עַל פָּנַי תָּמִיד״. עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, דִּכְתִיב: ״הָעָם הַמַּכְעִיסִים אוֹתִי עַל פָּנַי תָּמִיד וְגוֹ׳״.
Rabbi Abbahu says: There are three sins before whose transgressors the curtain [hapargod] between the world and the Divine Presence is not locked; their sins reach the Divine Presence. They are: Verbal mistreatment, robbery, and idol worship. Mistreatment, as it is stated: “And a plumb line in His hand”; robbery, as it is stated: “Violence and robbery are heard in her, they are before Me continually” (Jeremiah 6:7); idol worship, as it is stated: “A people that angers Me before Me continually; that sacrifice in gardens, and burn incense upon bricks” (Isaiah 65:3).
אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה: לְעוֹלָם יְהֵא אָדָם זָהִיר בִּתְבוּאָה בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ, שֶׁאֵין מְרִיבָה מְצוּיָה בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם אֶלָּא עַל עִסְקֵי תְבוּאָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הַשָּׂם גְּבוּלֵךְ שָׁלוֹם חֵלֶב חִטִּים יַשְׂבִּיעֵךְ״. אָמַר רַב פָּפָּא, הַיְינוּ דְּאָמְרִי אִינָשֵׁי: כְּמִשְׁלַם שְׂעָרֵי מִכַּדָּא, נָקֵישׁ וְאָתֵי תִּגְרָא בְּבֵיתָא.
Apropos the topic of how a man should approach his household, Rav Yehuda says: A person must always be careful about ensuring that there is grain inside his house, as discord is found in a person’s house only over matters of grain, as it is stated: “He makes your borders peace; He gives you plenty with the finest wheat” (Psalms 147:14). If there is the finest wheat in your house, there will be peace there. Rav Pappa said: This is in accordance with the adage that people say: When the barley is emptied from the jug, quarrel knocks and enters the house.
וְאָמַר רַב חִינָּנָא בַּר פָּפָּא: לְעוֹלָם יְהֵא אָדָם זָהִיר בִּתְבוּאָה בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ, שֶׁלֹּא נִקְרְאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל דַּלִּים אֶלָּא עַל עִסְקֵי תְבוּאָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְהָיָה אִם זָרַע יִשְׂרָאֵל וְגוֹ׳״, וּכְתִיב: ״וַיַּחֲנוּ עֲלֵיהֶם וְגוֹ׳״, וּכְתִיב: ״וַיִּדַּל יִשְׂרָאֵל מְאֹד מִפְּנֵי מִדְיָן״.
And Rav Ḥinnana bar Pappa says: A person must always be careful about ensuring that there is grain inside his house, as the Jewish people were characterized as poor only over matters of grain, as it is stated: “And it was, if Israel sowed, and Midian and the children of the east ascended” (Judges 6:3); and it is written: “And they encamped against them and they destroyed the crops of the land” (Judges 6:4); and it is further written: “And Israel was greatly impoverished due to Midian” (Judges 6:6).
וְאָמַר רַבִּי חֶלְבּוֹ: לְעוֹלָם יְהֵא אָדָם זָהִיר בִּכְבוֹד אִשְׁתּוֹ, שֶׁאֵין בְּרָכָה מְצוּיָה בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל אִשְׁתּוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּלְאַבְרָם הֵטִיב בַּעֲבוּרָהּ״. וְהַיְינוּ דַּאֲמַר לְהוּ רָבָא לִבְנֵי מָחוֹזָא: אוֹקִירוּ לִנְשַׁיְיכוּ, כִּי הֵיכִי דְּתִתְעַתְּרוּ.
And Rabbi Ḥelbo says: A person must always be careful about sustaining the honor of his wife, as blessing is found in a person’s house only because of his wife, as it is stated in allusion to this: “And he dealt well with Abram for her sake, and he had sheep and oxen” (Genesis 12:16). And that is what Rava said to the residents of Meḥoza, where he lived: Honor your wives, so that you will become rich.
תְּנַן הָתָם: חֲתָכוֹ חוּלְיוֹת, וְנָתַן חוֹל בֵּין חוּלְיָא לְחוּלְיָא – רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר מְטַהֵר, וַחֲכָמִים מְטַמְּאִין.
§ Apropos the topic of verbal mistreatment, we learned in a mishna there (Kelim 5:10): If one cut an earthenware oven widthwise into segments, and placed sand between each and every segment, Rabbi Eliezer deems it ritually pure. Because of the sand, its legal status is not that of a complete vessel, and therefore it is not susceptible to ritual impurity. And the Rabbis deem it ritually impure, as it is functionally a complete oven.
וְזֶה הוּא תַּנּוּר שֶׁל עַכְנַאי. מַאי עַכְנַאי? אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: שֶׁהִקִּיפוּ[הוּ] דְּבָרִים כְּעַכְנָא זוֹ, וְטִמְּאוּהוּ. תָּנָא: בְּאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם הֵשִׁיב רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר כׇּל תְּשׁוּבוֹת שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, וְלֹא קִיבְּלוּ הֵימֶנּוּ.
And this is known as the oven of akhnai. The Gemara asks: What is the relevance of akhnai, a snake, in this context? Rav Yehuda said that Shmuel said: It is characterized in that manner due to the fact that the Rabbis surrounded it with their statements like this snake, which often forms a coil when at rest, and deemed it impure. The Sages taught: On that day, when they discussed this matter, Rabbi Eliezer answered all possible answers in the world to support his opinion, but the Rabbis did not accept his explanations from him.
אָמַר לָהֶם: אִם הֲלָכָה כְּמוֹתִי – חָרוּב זֶה יוֹכִיחַ. נֶעֱקַר חָרוּב מִמְּקוֹמוֹ מֵאָה אַמָּה, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ: אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת אַמָּה. אָמְרוּ לוֹ: אֵין מְבִיאִין רְאָיָה מִן הֶחָרוּב. חָזַר וְאָמַר לָהֶם: אִם הֲלָכָה כְּמוֹתִי – אַמַּת הַמַּיִם יוֹכִיחוּ. חָזְרוּ אַמַּת הַמַּיִם לַאֲחוֹרֵיהֶם. אָמְרוּ לוֹ: אֵין מְבִיאִין רְאָיָה מֵאַמַּת הַמַּיִם.
After failing to convince the Rabbis logically, Rabbi Eliezer said to them: If the halakha is in accordance with my opinion, this carob tree will prove it. The carob tree was uprooted from its place one hundred cubits, and some say four hundred cubits. The Rabbis said to him: One does not cite halakhic proof from the carob tree. Rabbi Eliezer then said to them: If the halakha is in accordance with my opinion, the stream will prove it. The water in the stream turned backward and began flowing in the opposite direction. They said to him: One does not cite halakhic proof from a stream.
חָזַר וְאָמַר לָהֶם: אִם הֲלָכָה כְּמוֹתִי – כּוֹתְלֵי בֵּית הַמִּדְרָשׁ יוֹכִיחוּ. הִטּוּ כּוֹתְלֵי בֵּית הַמִּדְרָשׁ לִיפּוֹל. גָּעַר בָּהֶם רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, אָמַר לָהֶם: אִם תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים מְנַצְּחִים זֶה אֶת זֶה בַּהֲלָכָה, אַתֶּם מָה טִיבְכֶם? לֹא נָפְלוּ מִפְּנֵי כְבוֹדוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, וְלֹא זָקְפוּ מִפְּנֵי כְבוֹדוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר, וַעֲדַיִן מַטִּין וְעוֹמְדִין.
Rabbi Eliezer then said to them: If the halakha is in accordance with my opinion, the walls of the study hall will prove it. The walls of the study hall leaned inward and began to fall. Rabbi Yehoshua scolded the walls and said to them: If Torah scholars are contending with each other in matters of halakha, what is the nature of your involvement in this dispute? The Gemara relates: The walls did not fall because of the deference due Rabbi Yehoshua, but they did not straighten because of the deference due Rabbi Eliezer, and they still remain leaning.
חָזַר וְאָמַר לָהֶם: אִם הֲלָכָה כְּמוֹתִי – מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם יוֹכִיחוּ. יָצָאתָה בַּת קוֹל וְאָמְרָה: מָה לָכֶם אֵצֶל רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר, שֶׁהֲלָכָה כְּמוֹתוֹ בְּכׇל מָקוֹם.
Rabbi Eliezer then said to them: If the halakha is in accordance with my opinion, Heaven will prove it. A Divine Voice emerged from Heaven and said: Why are you differing with Rabbi Eliezer, as the halakha is in accordance with his opinion in every place that he expresses an opinion?
עָמַד רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ עַל רַגְלָיו וְאָמַר: ״לֹא בַשָּׁמַיִם הִיא!״ מַאי ״לֹא בַּשָּׁמַיִם הִיא״? אָמַר רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה: שֶׁכְּבָר נִתְּנָה תּוֹרָה מֵהַר סִינַי, אֵין אָנוּ מַשְׁגִּיחִין בְּבַת קוֹל, שֶׁכְּבָר כָּתַבְתָּ בְּהַר סִינַי בַּתּוֹרָה ״אַחֲרֵי רַבִּים לְהַטֹּת״. אַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ רַבִּי נָתָן לְאֵלִיָּהוּ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מַאי עָבֵיד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּהַהִיא שַׁעְתָּא? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: קָא חָיֵיךְ וְאָמַר, ״נִצְּחוּנִי בָּנַי! נִצְּחוּנִי בָּנַי!״
Rabbi Yehoshua stood on his feet and said: It is written: “It is not in heaven” (Deuteronomy 30:12). The Gemara asks: What is the relevance of the phrase “It is not in heaven” in this context? Rabbi Yirmeya says: Since the Torah was already given at Mount Sinai, we do not regard a Divine Voice, as You already wrote at Mount Sinai, in the Torah: “After a majority to incline” (Exodus 23:2). Since the majority of Rabbis disagreed with Rabbi Eliezer’s opinion, the halakha is not ruled in accordance with his opinion. The Gemara relates: Years after, Rabbi Natan encountered Elijah the prophet and said to him: What did the Holy One, Blessed be He, do at that time, when Rabbi Yehoshua issued his declaration? Elijah said to him: The Holy One, Blessed be He, smiled and said: My children have triumphed over Me; My children have triumphed over Me.
אָמְרוּ: אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם הֵבִיאוּ כׇּל טְהָרוֹת שֶׁטִּיהֵר רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר וּשְׂרָפוּם בָּאֵשׁ. וְנִמְנוּ עָלָיו וּבֵרְכוּהוּ, וְאָמְרוּ: מִי יֵלֵךְ וְיוֹדִיעוֹ? אֲמַר לָהֶם רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא: אֲנִי אֵלֵךְ, שֶׁמָּא יֵלֵךְ אָדָם שֶׁאֵינוֹ הָגוּן וְיוֹדִיעוֹ, וְנִמְצָא מַחְרִיב אֶת כָּל הָעוֹלָם כּוּלּוֹ.
The Sages said: On that day, the Sages brought all the ritually pure items deemed pure by the ruling of Rabbi Eliezer with regard to the oven and burned them in fire, and the Sages reached a consensus in his regard and ostracized him. And the Sages said: Who will go and inform him of his ostracism? Rabbi Akiva, his beloved disciple, said to them: I will go, lest an unseemly person go and inform him in a callous and offensive manner, and he would thereby destroy the entire world.
מָה עָשָׂה רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא? לָבַשׁ שְׁחוֹרִים וְנִתְעַטֵּף שְׁחוֹרִים, וְיָשַׁב לְפָנָיו בְּרִיחוּק אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת. אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר: עֲקִיבָא, מָה יוֹם מִיָּמִים? אָמַר לוֹ: רַבִּי, כִּמְדוּמֶּה לִי שֶׁחֲבֵירִים בְּדֵילִים מִמֶּךָ. אַף הוּא קָרַע בְּגָדָיו וְחָלַץ מִנְעָלָיו, וְנִשְׁמַט וְיָשַׁב עַל גַּבֵּי קַרְקַע.
What did Rabbi Akiva do? He wore black and wrapped himself in black, as an expression of mourning and pain, and sat before Rabbi Eliezer at a distance of four cubits, which is the distance that one must maintain from an ostracized individual. Rabbi Eliezer said to him: Akiva, what is different about today from other days, that you comport yourself in this manner? Rabbi Akiva said to him: My teacher, it appears to me that your colleagues are distancing themselves from you. He employed euphemism, as actually they distanced Rabbi Eliezer from them. Rabbi Eliezer too, rent his garments and removed his shoes, as is the custom of an ostracized person, and he dropped from his seat and sat upon the ground.
זָלְגוּ עֵינָיו דְּמָעוֹת, לָקָה הָעוֹלָם: שְׁלִישׁ בְּזֵיתִים, וּשְׁלִישׁ בְּחִטִּים, וּשְׁלִישׁ בִּשְׂעוֹרִים. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים: אַף בָּצֵק שֶׁבִּידֵי אִשָּׁה טָפַח. תָּנָא: אַף גָּדוֹל הָיָה בְּאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם, שֶׁבְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁנָּתַן בּוֹ עֵינָיו רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר – נִשְׂרַף.
The Gemara relates: His eyes shed tears, and as a result the entire world was afflicted: One-third of its olives were afflicted, and one-third of its wheat, and one-third of its barley. And some say that even dough kneaded in a woman’s hands spoiled. The Sages taught: There was great anger on that day, as any place that Rabbi Eliezer fixed his gaze was burned.
וְאַף רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל הָיָה בָּא בִּסְפִינָה. עָמַד עָלָיו נַחְשׁוֹל לְטַבְּעוֹ. אָמַר: כִּמְדוּמֶּה לִי שֶׁאֵין זֶה אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן הוּרְקָנוֹס. עָמַד עַל רַגְלָיו וְאָמַר: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, גָּלוּי וְיָדוּעַ לְפָנֶיךָ שֶׁלֹּא לִכְבוֹדִי עָשִׂיתִי, וְלֹא לִכְבוֹד בֵּית אַבָּא עָשִׂיתִי, אֶלָּא לִכְבוֹדְךָ, שֶׁלֹּא יִרְבּוּ מַחְלוֹקוֹת בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל. נָח הַיָּם מִזַּעְפּוֹ.
And even Rabban Gamliel, the Nasi of the Sanhedrin at Yavne, the head of the Sages who were responsible for the decision to ostracize Rabbi Eliezer, was coming on a boat at the time, and a large wave swelled over him and threatened to drown him. Rabban Gamliel said: It seems to me that this is only for the sake of Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus, as God punishes those who mistreat others. Rabban Gamliel stood on his feet and said: Master of the Universe, it is revealed and known before You that neither was it for my honor that I acted when ostracizing him, nor was it for the honor of the house of my father that I acted; rather, it was for Your honor, so that disputes will not proliferate in Israel. In response, the sea calmed from its raging.
אִימָּא שָׁלוֹם, דְּבֵיתְהוּ דְּרַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר, אֲחָתֵיהּ דְּרַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל הֲוַאי. מֵהָהוּא מַעֲשֶׂה וְאֵילָךְ, לָא הֲוָה שָׁבְקָה לֵיהּ לְרַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר לְמִיפַּל עַל אַפֵּיהּ. הָהוּא יוֹמָא רֵישׁ יַרְחָא הֲוָה, וְאִיחַלַּף לַהּ בֵּין מָלֵא לְחָסֵר. אִיכָּא דְּאָמְרִי: אֲתָא עַנְיָא וְקָאֵי אַבָּבָא, אַפִּיקָא לֵיהּ רִיפְתָּא.
The Gemara further relates: Imma Shalom, the wife of Rabbi Eliezer, was the sister of Rabban Gamliel. From that incident forward, she would not allow Rabbi Eliezer to lower his head and recite the taḥanun prayer, which includes supplication and entreaties. She feared that were her husband to bemoan his fate and pray at that moment, her brother would be punished. A certain day was around the day of the New Moon, and she inadvertently substituted a full thirty-day month for a deficient twenty-nine-day month, i.e., she thought that it was the New Moon, when one does not lower his head in supplication, but it was not. Some say that a pauper came and stood at the door, and she took bread out to him. The result was that she left her husband momentarily unsupervised.
אַשְׁכַּחְתֵּיהּ דְּנָפֵל עַל אַנְפֵּיהּ. אֲמַרָה לֵיהּ: קוּם, (קטלית לאחי) [קְטַלְיתֵּהּ לְאָח]. אַדְּהָכִי נְפַק שִׁיפּוּרָא מִבֵּית רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל דִּשְׁכֵיב. אֲמַר לַהּ: מְנָא יְדַעְתְּ? אֲמַרָה לֵיהּ: כָּךְ מְקוּבְּלַנִי מִבֵּית אֲבִי אַבָּא: כׇּל הַשְּׁעָרִים נִנְעָלִים חוּץ מִשַּׁעֲרֵי אוֹנָאָה.
When she returned, she found him and saw that he had lowered his head in prayer. She said to him: Arise, you already killed my brother. Meanwhile, the sound of a shofar emerged from the house of Rabban Gamliel to announce that the Nasi had died. Rabbi Eliezer said to her: From where did you know that your brother would die? She said to him: This is the tradition that I received from the house of the father of my father: All the gates of Heaven are apt to be locked, except for the gates of prayer for victims of verbal mistreatment.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: הַמְאַנֶּה אֶת הַגֵּר, עוֹבֵר בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה לָאוִין. וְהַלּוֹחֲצוֹ, עוֹבֵר בִּשְׁנַיִם.
§ The Sages taught: One who verbally mistreats the convert violates three prohibitions, and one who oppresses him in other ways violates two.
מַאי שְׁנָא מְאַנֶּה, דִּכְתִיבִי שְׁלֹשָׁה לָאוִין: ״וְגֵר לֹא תוֹנֶה״, ״וְכִי יָגוּר אִתְּךָ גֵּר בְּאַרְצְכֶם לֹא תוֹנוּ אֹתוֹ״, ״וְלֹא תוֹנוּ אִישׁ אֶת עֲמִיתוֹ״, וְגֵר בִּכְלַל עֲמִיתוֹ הוּא. לוֹחֲצוֹ נָמֵי שְׁלֹשָׁה כְּתִיבִי: ״וְלֹא תִלְחָצֶנּוּ״, ״וְגֵר לֹא תִלְחָץ״, ״וְלֹא תִהְיֶה לוֹ כְּנֹשֶׁה״, וְגֵר בַּכְּלָל הוּא! אֶלָּא, אֶחָד זֶה וְאֶחָד זֶה בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה.
The Gemara asks: What is different with regard to verbal mistreatment, that three prohibitions are written concerning it: “And you shall neither mistreat a convert” (Exodus 22:20); “And when a convert lives in your land, you shall not mistreat him” (Leviticus 19:33); “And you shall not mistreat, each man his colleague” (Leviticus 25:17), and a convert is included in the category of colleague? With regard to one who also oppresses a convert as well, three prohibitions are written: “And you shall neither mistreat a convert, nor oppress him” (Exodus 22:20); “And you shall not oppress a convert (Exodus 23:9); “And you shall not be to him like a creditor” (Exodus 22:24). This last prohibition is a general prohibition, in which converts are included. Consequently, it is not correct that one who oppresses a convert violates only two prohibitions. Rather, both this one, who verbally mistreats a convert, and that one, who oppresses him, violate three prohibitions.
תַּנְיָא, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר הַגָּדוֹל אוֹמֵר: מִפְּנֵי מָה הִזְהִירָה תּוֹרָה בִּשְׁלֹשִׁים וְשִׁשָּׁה מְקוֹמוֹת, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ: בְּאַרְבָּעִים וְשִׁשָּׁה מְקוֹמוֹת, בְּגֵר? מִפְּנֵי שֶׁסּוֹרוֹ רַע.
It is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Eliezer the Great says: For what reason did the Torah issue warnings in thirty-six places, and some say in forty-six places, with regard to causing any distress to a convert? It is due to the fact that a convert’s inclination is evil, i.e., he is prone to return to his previous way of living.
מַאי דִּכְתִיב ״וְגֵר לֹא תוֹנֶה וְלֹא תִלְחָצֶנּוּ כִּי גֵרִים הֱיִיתֶם בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם״? תְּנֵינָא, רַבִּי נָתָן אוֹמֵר: מוּם שֶׁבְּךָ אַל תֹּאמַר לַחֲבֵרֶךָ. וְהַיְינוּ דְּאָמְרִי אִינָשֵׁי: דִּזְקִיף לֵיהּ זְקִיפָא בִּדְיוּתְקֵיהּ, לָא נֵימָא לֵיהּ לְחַבְרֵיהּ זְקֵיף בִּינִיתָא.
What is the meaning of that which is written: “And you shall not mistreat a convert nor oppress him, because you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 22:20)? We learned in a baraita that Rabbi Natan says: A defect that is in you, do not mention it in another. Since the Jewish people were themselves strangers, they are not in a position to demean a convert because he is a stranger in their midst. And this explains the adage that people say: One who has a person hanged in his family [bidyotkei], does not say to another member of his household: Hang a fish for me, as the mention of hanging is demeaning for that family.
מַתְנִי׳ אֵין מְעָרְבִין פֵּירוֹת בְּפֵירוֹת, אֲפִילּוּ חֲדָשִׁים בַּחֲדָשִׁים.
MISHNA: One may not intermingle produce bought from one supplier with other produce, even if he intermingles new produce with other new produce and ostensibly the buyer suffers no loss from his doing so.
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Shortly after the death of my father, David Malik z”l, I made the commitment to Daf Yomi. While riding to Ben Gurion airport in January, Siyum HaShas was playing on the radio; that was the nudge I needed to get started. The “everyday-ness” of the Daf has been a meaningful spiritual practice, especial after COVID began & I was temporarily unable to say Kaddish at daily in-person minyanim.
Wynnewood, United States
Having never learned Talmud before, I started Daf Yomi in hopes of connecting to the Rabbinic tradition, sharing a daily idea on Instagram (@dafyomiadventures). With Hadran and Sefaria, I slowly gained confidence in my skills and understanding. Now, part of the Pardes Jewish Educators Program, I can’t wait to bring this love of learning with me as I continue to pass it on to my future students.
Pennsylvania, United States
Ontario, Canada
In early January of 2020, I learned about Siyyum HaShas and Daf Yomi via Tablet Magazine’s brief daily podcast about the Daf. I found it compelling and fascinating. Soon I discovered Hadran; since then I have learned the Daf daily with Rabbanit Michelle Cohen Farber. The Daf has permeated my every hour, and has transformed and magnified my place within the Jewish Universe.
San Francisco, CA , United States
I started learning daf yomi at the beginning of this cycle. As the pandemic evolved, it’s been so helpful to me to have this discipline every morning to listen to the daf podcast after I’ve read the daf; learning about the relationships between the rabbis and the ways they were constructing our Jewish religion after the destruction of the Temple. I’m grateful to be on this journey!
Teaneck NJ, United States
I was inspired to start learning after attending the 2020 siyum in Binyanei Hauma. It has been a great experience for me. It’s amazing to see the origins of stories I’ve heard and rituals I’ve participated in my whole life. Even when I don’t understand the daf itself, I believe that the commitment to learning every day is valuable and has multiple benefits. And there will be another daf tomorrow!
Jerusalem, Israel
Ive been learning Gmara since 5th grade and always loved it. Have always wanted to do Daf Yomi and now with Michelle Farber’s online classes it made it much easier to do! Really enjoying the experience thank you!!
Neve Daniel, Israel
Last cycle, I listened to parts of various מסכתות. When the הדרן סיום was advertised, I listened to Michelle on נידה. I knew that בע”ה with the next cycle I was in (ב”נ). As I entered the סיום (early), I saw the signs and was overcome with emotion. I was randomly seated in the front row, and I cried many times that night. My choice to learn דף יומי was affirmed. It is one of the best I have made!
אפרת, Israel
I started learning on January 5, 2020. When I complete the 7+ year cycle I will be 70 years old. I had been intimidated by those who said that I needed to study Talmud in a traditional way with a chevruta, but I decided the learning was more important to me than the method. Thankful for Daf Yomi for Women helping me catch up when I fall behind, and also being able to celebrate with each Siyum!
Bakersfield, United States
I read Ilana Kurshan’s “If All the Seas Were Ink” which inspired me. Then the Women’s Siyum in Jerusalem in 2020 convinced me, I knew I had to join! I have loved it- it’s been a constant in my life daily, many of the sugiyot connect to our lives. My family and friends all are so supportive. It’s incredible being part of this community and love how diverse it is! I am so excited to learn more!
Jerusalem, Israel
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Raanana, Israel
I was moved to tears by the Hadran Siyyum HaShas. I have learned Torah all my life, but never connected to learning Gemara on a regular basis until then. Seeing the sheer joy Talmud Torah at the siyyum, I felt compelled to be part of it, and I haven’t missed a day!
It’s not always easy, but it is so worthwhile, and it has strengthened my love of learning. It is part of my life now.
Beit Shemesh, Israel
I had never heard of Daf Yomi and after reading the book, The Weight of Ink, I explored more about it. I discovered that it was only 6 months before a whole new cycle started and I was determined to give it a try. I tried to get a friend to join me on the journey but after the first few weeks they all dropped it. I haven’t missed a day of reading and of listening to the podcast.
Elkins Park, United States
I started learning Dec 2019 after reading “If all the Seas Were Ink”. I found
Daily daf sessions of Rabbanit Michelle in her house teaching, I then heard about the siyum and a new cycle starting wow I am in! Afternoon here in Sydney, my family and friends know this is my sacred time to hide away to live zoom and learn. Often it’s hard to absorb and relate then a gem shines touching my heart.
Dover Heights, Australia
I was exposed to Talmud in high school, but I was truly inspired after my daughter and I decided to attend the Women’s Siyum Shas in 2020. We knew that this was a historic moment. We were blown away, overcome with emotion at the euphoria of the revolution. Right then, I knew I would continue. My commitment deepened with the every-morning Virtual Beit Midrash on Zoom with R. Michelle.
Zichron Yaakov, Israel
I started my journey on the day I realized that the Siyum was happening in Yerushalayim and I was missing out. What? I told myself. How could I have not known about this? How can I have missed out on this opportunity? I decided that moment, I would start Daf Yomi and Nach Yomi the very next day. I am so grateful to Hadran. I am changed forever because I learn Gemara with women. Thank you.
Mitspe, Israel
Ive been learning Gmara since 5th grade and always loved it. Have always wanted to do Daf Yomi and now with Michelle Farber’s online classes it made it much easier to do! Really enjoying the experience thank you!!
Neve Daniel, Israel
3 years ago, I joined Rabbanit Michelle to organize the unprecedented Siyum HaShas event in Jerusalem for thousands of women. The whole experience was so inspiring that I decided then to start learning the daf and see how I would go…. and I’m still at it. I often listen to the Daf on my bike in mornings, surrounded by both the external & the internal beauty of Eretz Yisrael & Am Yisrael!
Raanana, Israel
I started learning Daf Yomi in January 2020 after watching my grandfather, Mayer Penstein z”l, finish shas with the previous cycle. My grandfather made learning so much fun was so proud that his grandchildren wanted to join him. I was also inspired by Ilana Kurshan’s book, If All the Seas Were Ink. Two years in, I can say that it has enriched my life in so many ways.
New York, United States
Inspired by Hadran’s first Siyum ha Shas L’Nashim two years ago, I began daf yomi right after for the next cycle. As to this extraordinary journey together with Hadran..as TS Eliot wrote “We must not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we began and to know the place for the first time.
Jerusalem, Israel
Bava Metzia 59
נוֹחַ לוֹ לְאָדָם שֶׁיָּבוֹא עַל סְפֵק אֵשֶׁת אִישׁ, וְאַל יַלְבִּין פְּנֵי חֲבֵירוֹ בָּרַבִּים. מְנָא לַן? מִדְּדָרֵשׁ רָבָא, דְּדָרֵשׁ רָבָא: מַאי דִּכְתִיב ״וּבְצַלְעִי שָׂמְחוּ וְנֶאֱסָפוּ… קָרְעוּ וְלֹא דָמּוּ״? אָמַר דָּוִד לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, גָּלוּי וְיָדוּעַ לְפָנֶיךָ, שֶׁאִם הָיוּ מְקָרְעִים בְּשָׂרִי, לֹא הָיָה דָּמִי שׁוֹתֵת לָאָרֶץ.
It is preferable for a person to engage in intercourse with a woman whose married status is uncertain and not humiliate another in public. The Gemara asks: From where do we derive this? The Gemara answers: It is from that which Rava interpreted, as Rava interpreted: What is the meaning of that which is written: “And when I limped they rejoiced and gathered…they tore and did not cease [damu]” (Psalms 35:15)? The term “damu” can also be understood as a reference to blood. Concerning the fasting he undertook to atone for his sin with Bathsheba (see II Samuel, chapters 11–12), David said before the Holy One, Blessed be He: Master of the Universe, it is revealed and known before You that if my tormenters were to tear my flesh, my blood [dami] would not flow to the ground, due to excessive fasting.
וְלֹא עוֹד אֶלָּא, אֲפִילּוּ בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁעוֹסְקִין בִּנְגָעִים וְאֹהָלוֹת, אוֹמְרִים לִי: דָּוִד, הַבָּא עַל אֵשֶׁת אִישׁ, מִיתָתוֹ בַּמֶּה? וַאֲנִי אוֹמֵר לָהֶם: מִיתָתוֹ בְּחֶנֶק, וְיֵשׁ לוֹ חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. אֲבָל הַמַּלְבִּין אֶת פְּנֵי חֲבֵירוֹ בָּרַבִּים, אֵין לוֹ חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא.
And moreover, they torment me to the extent that even at the time when they are engaged in the public study of the halakhot of leprous sores and tents in which there is a corpse, i.e., halakhic matters that have no connection to my sin, they say to me: David, one who engages in intercourse with a married woman, his death is effected with what form of execution? And I say to them: One who engages in intercourse with a married woman before witnesses and with forewarning, his death is by strangulation, but he still has a share in the World-to-Come. But one who humiliates another in public has no share in the World-to-Come. The transgression of you, who humiliate me, is more severe than my transgression.
וְאָמַר מָר זוּטְרָא בַּר טוֹבִיָּה אָמַר רַב, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ: אָמַר רַב חָנָא בַּר בִּיזְנָא אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן חֲסִידָא, וְאָמְרִי לָהּ: אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַאי: נוֹחַ לוֹ לְאָדָם שֶׁיַּפִּיל עַצְמוֹ לְכִבְשַׁן הָאֵשׁ וְאַל יַלְבִּין פְּנֵי חֲבֵירוֹ בָּרַבִּים. מְנָא לַן? מִתָּמָר, דִּכְתִיב: ״הִיא מוּצֵאת וְהִיא שָׁלְחָה אֶל חָמִיהָ״.
And Mar Zutra bar Toviyya says that Rav says; and some say Rav Ḥana bar Bizna says that Rabbi Shimon Ḥasida says; and some say Rabbi Yoḥanan says in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai: It is more comfortable for a person to cast himself into a fiery furnace, than to humiliate another in public to avoid being cast into the furnace. From where do we derive this? From Tamar, daughter-in-law of Judah. When she was taken out to be burned, she did not reveal that she was pregnant with Judah’s child. Rather, she left the decision to him, to avoid humiliating him in public, as it is written: “And Judah said: Bring her forth, and let her be burnt. When she was brought forth, she sent to her father-in-law, saying: I am pregnant by the man to whom these belong. And she said: Examine these, whose are these, the signet, and the cords, and the staff?” (Genesis 38:24–25).
אָמַר רַב חִנָּנָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַב אִידִי: מַאי דִּכְתִיב ״וְלֹא תוֹנוּ אִישׁ אֶת עֲמִיתוֹ״? עַם שֶׁאִתְּךָ בְּתוֹרָה וּבַמִּצְווֹת, אַל תּוֹנֵיהוּ. אָמַר רַב: לְעוֹלָם יְהֵא אָדָם זָהִיר בְּאוֹנָאַת אִשְׁתּוֹ, שֶׁמִּתּוֹךְ שֶׁדִּמְעָתָהּ מְצוּיָה, אוֹנָאָתָהּ קְרוֹבָה.
§ Rav Ḥinnana, son of Rav Idi, says: What is the meaning of that which is written: “And you shall not mistreat each man his colleague [amito]” (Leviticus 25:17)? The word amito is interpreted as a contraction of im ito, meaning: One who is with him. With one who is with you in observance of Torah and mitzvot, you shall not mistreat him. Rav says: A person must always be careful about mistreatment of his wife. Since her tear is easily elicited, punishment for her mistreatment is immediate.
אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: מִיּוֹם שֶׁנֶּחְרַב בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, נִנְעֲלוּ שַׁעֲרֵי תְפִילָּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״גַּם כִּי אֶזְעַק וַאֲשַׁוֵּעַ שָׂתַם תְּפִילָּתִי״. וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁשַּׁעֲרֵי תְפִילָּה נִנְעֲלוּ, שַׁעֲרֵי דְמָעוֹת לֹא נִנְעֲלוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״שִׁמְעָה תְפִלָּתִי ה׳ וְשַׁוְעָתִי הַאֲזִינָה, אֶל דִּמְעָתִי אַל תֶּחֱרַשׁ״.
Rabbi Elazar says: Since the day the Temple was destroyed the gates of prayer were locked, and prayer is not accepted as it once was, as it is stated in lament of the Temple’s destruction: “Though I plead and call out, He shuts out my prayer” (Lamentations 3:8). Yet, despite the fact that the gates of prayer were locked with the destruction of the Temple, the gates of tears were not locked, and one who cries before God may rest assured that his prayers will be answered, as it is stated: “Hear my prayer, Lord, and give ear to my pleading, keep not silence at my tears” (Psalms 39:13).
וְאָמַר רַב: כׇּל הַהוֹלֵךְ בַּעֲצַת אִשְׁתּוֹ נוֹפֵל בְּגֵיהִנָּם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״רַק לֹא הָיָה כְאַחְאָב וְגוֹ׳״. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב פָּפָּא לְאַבָּיֵי: וְהָא אָמְרִי אִינָשֵׁי, אִיתְּתָךְ גּוּצָא – גְּחֵין וְתִלְחוֹשׁ לָהּ! לָא קַשְׁיָא: הָא בְּמִילֵּי דְעָלְמָא, וְהָא בְּמִילֵּי דְבֵיתָא. לִישָּׁנָא אַחֲרִינָא: הָא בְּמִילֵּי דִשְׁמַיָּא, וְהָא בְּמִילֵּי דְעָלְמָא.
And Rav says: Nevertheless, anyone who follows the counsel of his wife descends into Gehenna, as it is stated: “But there was none like Ahab, who did give himself over to do that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel his wife incited” (I Kings 21:25). Rav Pappa said to Abaye: But don’t people say a popular proverb: If your wife is short, stoop and whisper to her and consult with her? The Gemara answers: This is not difficult, as this statement of Rav instructs that one not follow her counsel in general matters; and that proverb instructs that one follow her counsel in household matters. The Gemara presents another version of this distinction: This statement of Rav maintains that one should not follow her counsel in divine matters; and that proverb maintains that one should follow her counsel in general matters.
אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: כׇּל הַשְּׁעָרִים נִנְעָלִים, חוּץ מִשַּׁעֲרֵי אוֹנָאָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הִנֵּה ה׳ נִצָּב עַל חוֹמַת אֲנָךְ וּבְיָדוֹ אֲנָךְ״. אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: הַכֹּל נִפְרָע בִּידֵי שָׁלִיחַ, חוּץ מֵאוֹנָאָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּבְיָדוֹ אֲנָךְ״.
Rav Ḥisda says: All the gates of Heaven are apt to be locked, except for the gates of prayer for victims of verbal mistreatment, as it is stated: “And behold, the Lord stood upon a wall built with a plumb line, and a plumb line in His hand” (Amos 7:7). God stands with the scales of justice in His hand to determine if one has been subjected to injustice. Rabbi Elazar says: In response to all transgressions, God punishes the perpetrator by means of an agent, except for mistreatment [ona’a], as it is stated: “And a plumb line [anakh] in His hand.” The term for mistreatment and the term for plumb line are spelled in a similar manner, indicating that God Himself inflicts retribution.
אָמַר רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ: שְׁלֹשָׁה אֵין הַפַּרְגּוֹד נִנְעָל בִּפְנֵיהֶם: אוֹנָאָה, וְגָזֵל, וַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה. אוֹנָאָה, דִּכְתִיב: ״וּבְיָדוֹ אֲנָךְ״. גָּזֵל, דִּכְתִיב: ״חָמָס וָשֹׁד יִשָּׁמַע בָּהּ עַל פָּנַי תָּמִיד״. עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, דִּכְתִיב: ״הָעָם הַמַּכְעִיסִים אוֹתִי עַל פָּנַי תָּמִיד וְגוֹ׳״.
Rabbi Abbahu says: There are three sins before whose transgressors the curtain [hapargod] between the world and the Divine Presence is not locked; their sins reach the Divine Presence. They are: Verbal mistreatment, robbery, and idol worship. Mistreatment, as it is stated: “And a plumb line in His hand”; robbery, as it is stated: “Violence and robbery are heard in her, they are before Me continually” (Jeremiah 6:7); idol worship, as it is stated: “A people that angers Me before Me continually; that sacrifice in gardens, and burn incense upon bricks” (Isaiah 65:3).
אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה: לְעוֹלָם יְהֵא אָדָם זָהִיר בִּתְבוּאָה בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ, שֶׁאֵין מְרִיבָה מְצוּיָה בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם אֶלָּא עַל עִסְקֵי תְבוּאָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הַשָּׂם גְּבוּלֵךְ שָׁלוֹם חֵלֶב חִטִּים יַשְׂבִּיעֵךְ״. אָמַר רַב פָּפָּא, הַיְינוּ דְּאָמְרִי אִינָשֵׁי: כְּמִשְׁלַם שְׂעָרֵי מִכַּדָּא, נָקֵישׁ וְאָתֵי תִּגְרָא בְּבֵיתָא.
Apropos the topic of how a man should approach his household, Rav Yehuda says: A person must always be careful about ensuring that there is grain inside his house, as discord is found in a person’s house only over matters of grain, as it is stated: “He makes your borders peace; He gives you plenty with the finest wheat” (Psalms 147:14). If there is the finest wheat in your house, there will be peace there. Rav Pappa said: This is in accordance with the adage that people say: When the barley is emptied from the jug, quarrel knocks and enters the house.
וְאָמַר רַב חִינָּנָא בַּר פָּפָּא: לְעוֹלָם יְהֵא אָדָם זָהִיר בִּתְבוּאָה בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ, שֶׁלֹּא נִקְרְאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל דַּלִּים אֶלָּא עַל עִסְקֵי תְבוּאָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְהָיָה אִם זָרַע יִשְׂרָאֵל וְגוֹ׳״, וּכְתִיב: ״וַיַּחֲנוּ עֲלֵיהֶם וְגוֹ׳״, וּכְתִיב: ״וַיִּדַּל יִשְׂרָאֵל מְאֹד מִפְּנֵי מִדְיָן״.
And Rav Ḥinnana bar Pappa says: A person must always be careful about ensuring that there is grain inside his house, as the Jewish people were characterized as poor only over matters of grain, as it is stated: “And it was, if Israel sowed, and Midian and the children of the east ascended” (Judges 6:3); and it is written: “And they encamped against them and they destroyed the crops of the land” (Judges 6:4); and it is further written: “And Israel was greatly impoverished due to Midian” (Judges 6:6).
וְאָמַר רַבִּי חֶלְבּוֹ: לְעוֹלָם יְהֵא אָדָם זָהִיר בִּכְבוֹד אִשְׁתּוֹ, שֶׁאֵין בְּרָכָה מְצוּיָה בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל אִשְׁתּוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּלְאַבְרָם הֵטִיב בַּעֲבוּרָהּ״. וְהַיְינוּ דַּאֲמַר לְהוּ רָבָא לִבְנֵי מָחוֹזָא: אוֹקִירוּ לִנְשַׁיְיכוּ, כִּי הֵיכִי דְּתִתְעַתְּרוּ.
And Rabbi Ḥelbo says: A person must always be careful about sustaining the honor of his wife, as blessing is found in a person’s house only because of his wife, as it is stated in allusion to this: “And he dealt well with Abram for her sake, and he had sheep and oxen” (Genesis 12:16). And that is what Rava said to the residents of Meḥoza, where he lived: Honor your wives, so that you will become rich.
תְּנַן הָתָם: חֲתָכוֹ חוּלְיוֹת, וְנָתַן חוֹל בֵּין חוּלְיָא לְחוּלְיָא – רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר מְטַהֵר, וַחֲכָמִים מְטַמְּאִין.
§ Apropos the topic of verbal mistreatment, we learned in a mishna there (Kelim 5:10): If one cut an earthenware oven widthwise into segments, and placed sand between each and every segment, Rabbi Eliezer deems it ritually pure. Because of the sand, its legal status is not that of a complete vessel, and therefore it is not susceptible to ritual impurity. And the Rabbis deem it ritually impure, as it is functionally a complete oven.
וְזֶה הוּא תַּנּוּר שֶׁל עַכְנַאי. מַאי עַכְנַאי? אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: שֶׁהִקִּיפוּ[הוּ] דְּבָרִים כְּעַכְנָא זוֹ, וְטִמְּאוּהוּ. תָּנָא: בְּאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם הֵשִׁיב רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר כׇּל תְּשׁוּבוֹת שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, וְלֹא קִיבְּלוּ הֵימֶנּוּ.
And this is known as the oven of akhnai. The Gemara asks: What is the relevance of akhnai, a snake, in this context? Rav Yehuda said that Shmuel said: It is characterized in that manner due to the fact that the Rabbis surrounded it with their statements like this snake, which often forms a coil when at rest, and deemed it impure. The Sages taught: On that day, when they discussed this matter, Rabbi Eliezer answered all possible answers in the world to support his opinion, but the Rabbis did not accept his explanations from him.
אָמַר לָהֶם: אִם הֲלָכָה כְּמוֹתִי – חָרוּב זֶה יוֹכִיחַ. נֶעֱקַר חָרוּב מִמְּקוֹמוֹ מֵאָה אַמָּה, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ: אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת אַמָּה. אָמְרוּ לוֹ: אֵין מְבִיאִין רְאָיָה מִן הֶחָרוּב. חָזַר וְאָמַר לָהֶם: אִם הֲלָכָה כְּמוֹתִי – אַמַּת הַמַּיִם יוֹכִיחוּ. חָזְרוּ אַמַּת הַמַּיִם לַאֲחוֹרֵיהֶם. אָמְרוּ לוֹ: אֵין מְבִיאִין רְאָיָה מֵאַמַּת הַמַּיִם.
After failing to convince the Rabbis logically, Rabbi Eliezer said to them: If the halakha is in accordance with my opinion, this carob tree will prove it. The carob tree was uprooted from its place one hundred cubits, and some say four hundred cubits. The Rabbis said to him: One does not cite halakhic proof from the carob tree. Rabbi Eliezer then said to them: If the halakha is in accordance with my opinion, the stream will prove it. The water in the stream turned backward and began flowing in the opposite direction. They said to him: One does not cite halakhic proof from a stream.
חָזַר וְאָמַר לָהֶם: אִם הֲלָכָה כְּמוֹתִי – כּוֹתְלֵי בֵּית הַמִּדְרָשׁ יוֹכִיחוּ. הִטּוּ כּוֹתְלֵי בֵּית הַמִּדְרָשׁ לִיפּוֹל. גָּעַר בָּהֶם רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, אָמַר לָהֶם: אִם תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים מְנַצְּחִים זֶה אֶת זֶה בַּהֲלָכָה, אַתֶּם מָה טִיבְכֶם? לֹא נָפְלוּ מִפְּנֵי כְבוֹדוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, וְלֹא זָקְפוּ מִפְּנֵי כְבוֹדוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר, וַעֲדַיִן מַטִּין וְעוֹמְדִין.
Rabbi Eliezer then said to them: If the halakha is in accordance with my opinion, the walls of the study hall will prove it. The walls of the study hall leaned inward and began to fall. Rabbi Yehoshua scolded the walls and said to them: If Torah scholars are contending with each other in matters of halakha, what is the nature of your involvement in this dispute? The Gemara relates: The walls did not fall because of the deference due Rabbi Yehoshua, but they did not straighten because of the deference due Rabbi Eliezer, and they still remain leaning.
חָזַר וְאָמַר לָהֶם: אִם הֲלָכָה כְּמוֹתִי – מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם יוֹכִיחוּ. יָצָאתָה בַּת קוֹל וְאָמְרָה: מָה לָכֶם אֵצֶל רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר, שֶׁהֲלָכָה כְּמוֹתוֹ בְּכׇל מָקוֹם.
Rabbi Eliezer then said to them: If the halakha is in accordance with my opinion, Heaven will prove it. A Divine Voice emerged from Heaven and said: Why are you differing with Rabbi Eliezer, as the halakha is in accordance with his opinion in every place that he expresses an opinion?
עָמַד רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ עַל רַגְלָיו וְאָמַר: ״לֹא בַשָּׁמַיִם הִיא!״ מַאי ״לֹא בַּשָּׁמַיִם הִיא״? אָמַר רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה: שֶׁכְּבָר נִתְּנָה תּוֹרָה מֵהַר סִינַי, אֵין אָנוּ מַשְׁגִּיחִין בְּבַת קוֹל, שֶׁכְּבָר כָּתַבְתָּ בְּהַר סִינַי בַּתּוֹרָה ״אַחֲרֵי רַבִּים לְהַטֹּת״. אַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ רַבִּי נָתָן לְאֵלִיָּהוּ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מַאי עָבֵיד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּהַהִיא שַׁעְתָּא? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: קָא חָיֵיךְ וְאָמַר, ״נִצְּחוּנִי בָּנַי! נִצְּחוּנִי בָּנַי!״
Rabbi Yehoshua stood on his feet and said: It is written: “It is not in heaven” (Deuteronomy 30:12). The Gemara asks: What is the relevance of the phrase “It is not in heaven” in this context? Rabbi Yirmeya says: Since the Torah was already given at Mount Sinai, we do not regard a Divine Voice, as You already wrote at Mount Sinai, in the Torah: “After a majority to incline” (Exodus 23:2). Since the majority of Rabbis disagreed with Rabbi Eliezer’s opinion, the halakha is not ruled in accordance with his opinion. The Gemara relates: Years after, Rabbi Natan encountered Elijah the prophet and said to him: What did the Holy One, Blessed be He, do at that time, when Rabbi Yehoshua issued his declaration? Elijah said to him: The Holy One, Blessed be He, smiled and said: My children have triumphed over Me; My children have triumphed over Me.
אָמְרוּ: אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם הֵבִיאוּ כׇּל טְהָרוֹת שֶׁטִּיהֵר רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר וּשְׂרָפוּם בָּאֵשׁ. וְנִמְנוּ עָלָיו וּבֵרְכוּהוּ, וְאָמְרוּ: מִי יֵלֵךְ וְיוֹדִיעוֹ? אֲמַר לָהֶם רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא: אֲנִי אֵלֵךְ, שֶׁמָּא יֵלֵךְ אָדָם שֶׁאֵינוֹ הָגוּן וְיוֹדִיעוֹ, וְנִמְצָא מַחְרִיב אֶת כָּל הָעוֹלָם כּוּלּוֹ.
The Sages said: On that day, the Sages brought all the ritually pure items deemed pure by the ruling of Rabbi Eliezer with regard to the oven and burned them in fire, and the Sages reached a consensus in his regard and ostracized him. And the Sages said: Who will go and inform him of his ostracism? Rabbi Akiva, his beloved disciple, said to them: I will go, lest an unseemly person go and inform him in a callous and offensive manner, and he would thereby destroy the entire world.
מָה עָשָׂה רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא? לָבַשׁ שְׁחוֹרִים וְנִתְעַטֵּף שְׁחוֹרִים, וְיָשַׁב לְפָנָיו בְּרִיחוּק אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת. אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר: עֲקִיבָא, מָה יוֹם מִיָּמִים? אָמַר לוֹ: רַבִּי, כִּמְדוּמֶּה לִי שֶׁחֲבֵירִים בְּדֵילִים מִמֶּךָ. אַף הוּא קָרַע בְּגָדָיו וְחָלַץ מִנְעָלָיו, וְנִשְׁמַט וְיָשַׁב עַל גַּבֵּי קַרְקַע.
What did Rabbi Akiva do? He wore black and wrapped himself in black, as an expression of mourning and pain, and sat before Rabbi Eliezer at a distance of four cubits, which is the distance that one must maintain from an ostracized individual. Rabbi Eliezer said to him: Akiva, what is different about today from other days, that you comport yourself in this manner? Rabbi Akiva said to him: My teacher, it appears to me that your colleagues are distancing themselves from you. He employed euphemism, as actually they distanced Rabbi Eliezer from them. Rabbi Eliezer too, rent his garments and removed his shoes, as is the custom of an ostracized person, and he dropped from his seat and sat upon the ground.
זָלְגוּ עֵינָיו דְּמָעוֹת, לָקָה הָעוֹלָם: שְׁלִישׁ בְּזֵיתִים, וּשְׁלִישׁ בְּחִטִּים, וּשְׁלִישׁ בִּשְׂעוֹרִים. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים: אַף בָּצֵק שֶׁבִּידֵי אִשָּׁה טָפַח. תָּנָא: אַף גָּדוֹל הָיָה בְּאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם, שֶׁבְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁנָּתַן בּוֹ עֵינָיו רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר – נִשְׂרַף.
The Gemara relates: His eyes shed tears, and as a result the entire world was afflicted: One-third of its olives were afflicted, and one-third of its wheat, and one-third of its barley. And some say that even dough kneaded in a woman’s hands spoiled. The Sages taught: There was great anger on that day, as any place that Rabbi Eliezer fixed his gaze was burned.
וְאַף רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל הָיָה בָּא בִּסְפִינָה. עָמַד עָלָיו נַחְשׁוֹל לְטַבְּעוֹ. אָמַר: כִּמְדוּמֶּה לִי שֶׁאֵין זֶה אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן הוּרְקָנוֹס. עָמַד עַל רַגְלָיו וְאָמַר: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, גָּלוּי וְיָדוּעַ לְפָנֶיךָ שֶׁלֹּא לִכְבוֹדִי עָשִׂיתִי, וְלֹא לִכְבוֹד בֵּית אַבָּא עָשִׂיתִי, אֶלָּא לִכְבוֹדְךָ, שֶׁלֹּא יִרְבּוּ מַחְלוֹקוֹת בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל. נָח הַיָּם מִזַּעְפּוֹ.
And even Rabban Gamliel, the Nasi of the Sanhedrin at Yavne, the head of the Sages who were responsible for the decision to ostracize Rabbi Eliezer, was coming on a boat at the time, and a large wave swelled over him and threatened to drown him. Rabban Gamliel said: It seems to me that this is only for the sake of Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus, as God punishes those who mistreat others. Rabban Gamliel stood on his feet and said: Master of the Universe, it is revealed and known before You that neither was it for my honor that I acted when ostracizing him, nor was it for the honor of the house of my father that I acted; rather, it was for Your honor, so that disputes will not proliferate in Israel. In response, the sea calmed from its raging.
אִימָּא שָׁלוֹם, דְּבֵיתְהוּ דְּרַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר, אֲחָתֵיהּ דְּרַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל הֲוַאי. מֵהָהוּא מַעֲשֶׂה וְאֵילָךְ, לָא הֲוָה שָׁבְקָה לֵיהּ לְרַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר לְמִיפַּל עַל אַפֵּיהּ. הָהוּא יוֹמָא רֵישׁ יַרְחָא הֲוָה, וְאִיחַלַּף לַהּ בֵּין מָלֵא לְחָסֵר. אִיכָּא דְּאָמְרִי: אֲתָא עַנְיָא וְקָאֵי אַבָּבָא, אַפִּיקָא לֵיהּ רִיפְתָּא.
The Gemara further relates: Imma Shalom, the wife of Rabbi Eliezer, was the sister of Rabban Gamliel. From that incident forward, she would not allow Rabbi Eliezer to lower his head and recite the taḥanun prayer, which includes supplication and entreaties. She feared that were her husband to bemoan his fate and pray at that moment, her brother would be punished. A certain day was around the day of the New Moon, and she inadvertently substituted a full thirty-day month for a deficient twenty-nine-day month, i.e., she thought that it was the New Moon, when one does not lower his head in supplication, but it was not. Some say that a pauper came and stood at the door, and she took bread out to him. The result was that she left her husband momentarily unsupervised.
אַשְׁכַּחְתֵּיהּ דְּנָפֵל עַל אַנְפֵּיהּ. אֲמַרָה לֵיהּ: קוּם, (קטלית לאחי) [קְטַלְיתֵּהּ לְאָח]. אַדְּהָכִי נְפַק שִׁיפּוּרָא מִבֵּית רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל דִּשְׁכֵיב. אֲמַר לַהּ: מְנָא יְדַעְתְּ? אֲמַרָה לֵיהּ: כָּךְ מְקוּבְּלַנִי מִבֵּית אֲבִי אַבָּא: כׇּל הַשְּׁעָרִים נִנְעָלִים חוּץ מִשַּׁעֲרֵי אוֹנָאָה.
When she returned, she found him and saw that he had lowered his head in prayer. She said to him: Arise, you already killed my brother. Meanwhile, the sound of a shofar emerged from the house of Rabban Gamliel to announce that the Nasi had died. Rabbi Eliezer said to her: From where did you know that your brother would die? She said to him: This is the tradition that I received from the house of the father of my father: All the gates of Heaven are apt to be locked, except for the gates of prayer for victims of verbal mistreatment.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: הַמְאַנֶּה אֶת הַגֵּר, עוֹבֵר בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה לָאוִין. וְהַלּוֹחֲצוֹ, עוֹבֵר בִּשְׁנַיִם.
§ The Sages taught: One who verbally mistreats the convert violates three prohibitions, and one who oppresses him in other ways violates two.
מַאי שְׁנָא מְאַנֶּה, דִּכְתִיבִי שְׁלֹשָׁה לָאוִין: ״וְגֵר לֹא תוֹנֶה״, ״וְכִי יָגוּר אִתְּךָ גֵּר בְּאַרְצְכֶם לֹא תוֹנוּ אֹתוֹ״, ״וְלֹא תוֹנוּ אִישׁ אֶת עֲמִיתוֹ״, וְגֵר בִּכְלַל עֲמִיתוֹ הוּא. לוֹחֲצוֹ נָמֵי שְׁלֹשָׁה כְּתִיבִי: ״וְלֹא תִלְחָצֶנּוּ״, ״וְגֵר לֹא תִלְחָץ״, ״וְלֹא תִהְיֶה לוֹ כְּנֹשֶׁה״, וְגֵר בַּכְּלָל הוּא! אֶלָּא, אֶחָד זֶה וְאֶחָד זֶה בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה.
The Gemara asks: What is different with regard to verbal mistreatment, that three prohibitions are written concerning it: “And you shall neither mistreat a convert” (Exodus 22:20); “And when a convert lives in your land, you shall not mistreat him” (Leviticus 19:33); “And you shall not mistreat, each man his colleague” (Leviticus 25:17), and a convert is included in the category of colleague? With regard to one who also oppresses a convert as well, three prohibitions are written: “And you shall neither mistreat a convert, nor oppress him” (Exodus 22:20); “And you shall not oppress a convert (Exodus 23:9); “And you shall not be to him like a creditor” (Exodus 22:24). This last prohibition is a general prohibition, in which converts are included. Consequently, it is not correct that one who oppresses a convert violates only two prohibitions. Rather, both this one, who verbally mistreats a convert, and that one, who oppresses him, violate three prohibitions.
תַּנְיָא, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר הַגָּדוֹל אוֹמֵר: מִפְּנֵי מָה הִזְהִירָה תּוֹרָה בִּשְׁלֹשִׁים וְשִׁשָּׁה מְקוֹמוֹת, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ: בְּאַרְבָּעִים וְשִׁשָּׁה מְקוֹמוֹת, בְּגֵר? מִפְּנֵי שֶׁסּוֹרוֹ רַע.
It is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Eliezer the Great says: For what reason did the Torah issue warnings in thirty-six places, and some say in forty-six places, with regard to causing any distress to a convert? It is due to the fact that a convert’s inclination is evil, i.e., he is prone to return to his previous way of living.
מַאי דִּכְתִיב ״וְגֵר לֹא תוֹנֶה וְלֹא תִלְחָצֶנּוּ כִּי גֵרִים הֱיִיתֶם בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם״? תְּנֵינָא, רַבִּי נָתָן אוֹמֵר: מוּם שֶׁבְּךָ אַל תֹּאמַר לַחֲבֵרֶךָ. וְהַיְינוּ דְּאָמְרִי אִינָשֵׁי: דִּזְקִיף לֵיהּ זְקִיפָא בִּדְיוּתְקֵיהּ, לָא נֵימָא לֵיהּ לְחַבְרֵיהּ זְקֵיף בִּינִיתָא.
What is the meaning of that which is written: “And you shall not mistreat a convert nor oppress him, because you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 22:20)? We learned in a baraita that Rabbi Natan says: A defect that is in you, do not mention it in another. Since the Jewish people were themselves strangers, they are not in a position to demean a convert because he is a stranger in their midst. And this explains the adage that people say: One who has a person hanged in his family [bidyotkei], does not say to another member of his household: Hang a fish for me, as the mention of hanging is demeaning for that family.
מַתְנִי׳ אֵין מְעָרְבִין פֵּירוֹת בְּפֵירוֹת, אֲפִילּוּ חֲדָשִׁים בַּחֲדָשִׁים.
MISHNA: One may not intermingle produce bought from one supplier with other produce, even if he intermingles new produce with other new produce and ostensibly the buyer suffers no loss from his doing so.
