Berakhot 54
מַתְנִי׳ הָרוֹאֶה מָקוֹם שֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּ בּוֹ נִסִּים לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, אוֹמֵר: ״בָּרוּךְ … שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה״. מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּעֶקְרָה מִמֶּנּוּ עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, אוֹמֵר: ״בָּרוּךְ … שֶׁעָקַר עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה מֵאַרְצֵנוּ״.
This mishna, which includes all of this chapter’s mishnayot, contains a series of blessings and halakhot that are not recited at specific times, but rather in response to various experiences and events.
MISHNA: One who sees a place where miracles occurred on Israel’s behalf recites: Blessed…Who performed miracles for our forefathers in this place. One who sees a place from which idolatry was eradicated recites: Blessed…Who eradicated idolatry from our land.
עַל הַזִּיקִין, וְעַל הַזְּוָעוֹת, וְעַל הָרְעָמִים, וְעַל הָרוּחוֹת, וְעַל הַבְּרָקִים אוֹמֵר: ״בָּרוּךְ … שֶׁכֹּחוֹ וּגְבוּרָתוֹ מָלֵא עוֹלָם״. עַל הֶהָרִים, וְעַל הַגְּבָעוֹת, וְעַל הַיַּמִּים, וְעַל הַנְּהָרוֹת, וְעַל הַמִּדְבָּרוֹת אוֹמֵר: ״בָּרוּךְ … עוֹשֵׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית״. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה, אוֹמֵר: הָרוֹאֶה אֶת הַיָּם הַגָּדוֹל, אוֹמֵר: ״בָּרוּךְ שֶׁעָשָׂה אֶת הַיָּם הַגָּדוֹל״ — בִּזְמַן שֶׁרוֹאֵהוּ לִפְרָקִים.
One who sees conspicuous natural occurrences recites a blessing. For zikin and zeva’ot, which the Gemara will discuss below, for thunder, gale force winds, and lightning, manifestations of the power of the Creator, one recites: Blessed…Whose strength and power fill the world. For extraordinary (Rambam) mountains, hills, seas, rivers, and deserts, one recites: Blessed…Author of creation. Consistent with his opinion that a separate blessing should be instituted for each individual species, Rabbi Yehuda says: One who sees the great sea recites a special blessing: Blessed…Who made the great sea. As with all blessings of this type, one only recites it when he sees the sea intermittently, not on a regular basis.
עַל הַגְּשָׁמִים, וְעַל בְּשׂוֹרוֹת טוֹבוֹת אוֹמֵר: ״בָּרוּךְ הַטּוֹב וְהַמֵּטִיב״. עַל בְּשׂוֹרוֹת רָעוֹת אוֹמֵר: ״בָּרוּךְ דַּיַּין הָאֱמֶת״. בָּנָה בַּיִת חָדָשׁ, וְקָנָה כֵּלִים חֲדָשִׁים, אוֹמֵר: ״בָּרוּךְ … שֶׁהֶחֱיָינוּ וְקִיְּימָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה״. מְבָרֵךְ עַל הָרָעָה מֵעֵין עַל הַטּוֹבָה, וְעַל הַטּוֹבָה מֵעֵין עַל הָרָעָה.
For rain and other good tidings, one recites the special blessing: Blessed…Who is good and Who does good. Even for bad tidings, one recites a special blessing: Blessed…the true Judge. Similarly, when one built a new house or purchased new vessels, he recites: Blessed…Who has given us life, sustained us, and brought us to this time. The mishna articulates a general principle: One recites a blessing for the bad that befalls him just as he does for the good. In other words, one recites the appropriate blessing for the trouble that he is experiencing at present despite the fact that it may conceal some positive element in the future. Similarly, one must recite a blessing for the good that befalls him just as for the bad.
וְהַצּוֹעֵק לְשֶׁעָבַר — הֲרֵי זוֹ תְּפִלַּת שָׁוְא. הָיְתָה אִשְׁתּוֹ מְעוּבֶּרֶת, וְאוֹמֵר: ״יְהִי רָצוֹן שֶׁתֵּלֵד אִשְׁתִּי זָכָר״ — הֲרֵי זוֹ תְּפִלַּת שָׁוְא. הָיָה בָּא בַּדֶּרֶךְ וְשָׁמַע קוֹל צְוָחָה בָּעִיר, וְאוֹמֵר: ״יְהִי רָצוֹן שֶׁלֹּא תְּהֵא בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתִי״ — הֲרֵי זוֹ תְּפִלַּת שָׁוְא.
The mishna states: And one who cries out over the past in an attempt to change that which has already occurred, it is a vain prayer. For example, one whose wife was pregnant and he says: May it be God’s will that my wife will give birth to a male child, it is a vain prayer. Or one who was walking on the path home and he heard the sound of a scream in the city, and he says: May it be God’s will that this scream will not be from my house, it is a vain prayer. In both cases, the event already occurred.
הַנִּכְנָס לִכְרַךְ מִתְפַּלֵּל שְׁתַּיִם, אַחַת בִּכְנִיסָתוֹ, וְאַחַת בִּיצִיאָתוֹ. בֶּן עַזַּאי אוֹמֵר: אַרְבַּע, שְׁתַּיִם בִּכְנִיסָתוֹ, וּשְׁתַּיִם בִּיצִיאָתוֹ. נוֹתֵן הוֹדָאָה עַל שֶׁעָבַר וְצוֹעֵק עַל הֶעָתִיד.
The Sages also said: One who enters a large city, the Gemara explains below that this is in a case where entering the city is dangerous, recites two prayers: One upon his entrance, that he may enter in peace, and one upon his exit, that he may leave in peace. Ben Azzai says: He recites four prayers, two upon his entrance and two upon his exit. In addition to praying that he may enter and depart in peace, he gives thanks for the past and cries out in prayer for the future.
חַיָּיב אָדָם לְבָרֵךְ עַל הָרָעָה כְּשֵׁם שֶׁמְּבָרֵךְ עַל הַטּוֹבָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּכׇל לְבָבְךָ וְגוֹ׳״. ״בְּכָל לְבָבְךָ״ — בִּשְׁנֵי יְצָרֶיךָ, בְּיֵצֶר טוֹב וּבְיֵצֶר הָרָע. ״וּבְכׇל נַפְשְׁךָ״ — אֲפִילּוּ הוּא נוֹטֵל אֶת נַפְשְׁךָ. ״וּבְכׇל מְאֹדֶךָ״ — בְּכָל מָמוֹנְךָ. דָּבָר אַחֵר: ״בְּכָל מְאֹדֶךָ״ — בְּכָל מִדָּה וּמִדָּה שֶׁהוּא מוֹדֵד לְךָ הֱוֵי מוֹדֶה לוֹ.
The mishna articulates a general principle: One is obligated to recite a blessing for the bad that befalls him just as he recites a blessing for the good that befalls him, as it is stated: “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5). The mishna explains this verse as follows: “With all your heart” means with your two inclinations, with your good inclination and your evil inclination, both of which must be subjugated to the love of God. “With all your soul” means even if God takes your soul. “And with all your might” means with all your money, as money is referred to in the Bible as might. Alternatively, it may be explained that “with all your might” means with every measure that He metes out to you; whether it is good or troublesome, thank Him.
לֹא יָקֵל אָדָם אֶת רֹאשׁוֹ כְּנֶגֶד שַׁעַר הַמִּזְרָח שֶׁהוּא מְכוּוָּן כְּנֶגֶד בֵּית קׇדְשֵׁי הַקֳּדָשִׁים. וְלֹא יִכָּנֵס לְהַר הַבַּיִת בְּמַקְלוֹ, וּבְמִנְעָלוֹ, וּבְפוּנְדָּתוֹ, וּבְאָבָק שֶׁעַל רַגְלָיו. וְלָא יַעֲשֶׂנּוּ קַפַּנְדַּרְיָא. וּרְקִיקָה — מִקַּל וָחוֹמֶר.
The mishna teaches several Temple-related halakhot. One may not act irreverently or conduct himself flippantly opposite the eastern gate of the Temple Mount, which is aligned opposite the Holy of Holies. In deference to the Temple, one may not enter the Temple Mount with his staff, his shoes, his money belt [punda], or even the dust on his feet. One may not make the Temple a shortcut to pass through it, and through an a fortiori inference, all the more so one may not spit on the Temple Mount.
כׇּל חוֹתְמֵי בְּרָכוֹת שֶׁבַּמִּקְדָּשׁ הָיוּ אוֹמְרִים ״עַד הָעוֹלָם״. מִשֶּׁקִּלְקְלוּ הַמִּינִין וְאָמְרוּ אֵין עוֹלָם אֶלָּא אֶחָד, הִתְקִינוּ שֶׁיְּהוּ אוֹמְרִים ״מִן הָעוֹלָם וְעַד הָעוֹלָם״.
The mishna relates: At the conclusion of all blessings recited in the Temple, those reciting the blessing would say: Blessed are You Lord, God of Israel, until everlasting [haolam], the world. But when the Sadducees strayed and declared that there is but one world and there is no World-to-Come, the Sages instituted that at the conclusion of the blessing one recites: From everlasting [haolam] to everlasting [haolam].
וְהִתְקִינוּ שֶׁיְּהֵא אָדָם שׁוֹאֵל אֶת שְׁלוֹם חֲבֵרוֹ בַּשֵּׁם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְהִנֵּה בֹעַז בָּא מִבֵּית לֶחֶם וַיֹּאמֶר לַקּוֹצְרִים ה׳ עִמָּכֶם וַיֹּאמְרוּ לוֹ יְבָרֶכְךָ ה׳״. וְאוֹמֵר: ״ה׳ עִמְּךָ גִּבּוֹר הֶחָיִל״. וְאוֹמֵר: ״אַל תָּבוּז כִּי זָקְנָה אִמֶּךָ״. וְאוֹמֵר: ״עֵת לַעֲשׂוֹת לַה׳ הֵפֵרוּ תּוֹרָתֶךָ״. רַבִּי נָתָן אוֹמֵר: ״הֵפֵרוּ תּוֹרָתֶךָ״ מִשּׁוּם ״עֵת לַעֲשׂוֹת לַה׳״.
The Sages also instituted that one should greet another in the name of God, i.e., one should mention God’s name in his greeting, as it is stated: “And presently Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the harvesters, The Lord is with you, and they said to him, May the Lord bless you” (Ruth 2:4). And it says: “And the angel of God appeared to him and said to him, God is with you, mighty man of valor” (Judges 6:12). And it says: “And despise not your mother when she is old” (Proverbs 23:22), i.e., one must not neglect customs which he inherits. And lest you say that mentioning God’s name is prohibited, it says: “It is time to work for the Lord; they have made void Your Torah” (Psalms 119:126), i.e., it is occasionally necessary to negate biblical precepts in order to perform God’s will, and greeting another is certainly God’s will. Rabbi Natan says another interpretation of the verse: “Make void Your Torah” because “it is the time to work for the Lord,” i.e., occasionally it is necessary to negate biblical precepts in order to bolster the Torah.
גְּמָ׳ מְנָא הָנֵי מִילֵּי? אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, דְּאָמַר קְרָא: ״וַיֹּאמֶר יִתְרוֹ בָּרוּךְ ה׳ אֲשֶׁר הִצִּיל וְגוֹ׳״.
GEMARA: With regard to the obligation to recite a blessing for a miracle, the Gemara asks: From where are these matters derived? Rabbi Yoḥanan said: The verse states: “And Jethro said: Blessed be the Lord, Who delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of Pharaoh; Who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians” (Exodus 18:10); a blessing is recited for a miracle.
אַנִּיסָּא דְרַבִּים מְבָרְכִינַן, אַנִּיסָּא דְיָחִיד לָא מְבָרְכִינַן?! וְהָא הָהוּא גַּבְרָא דַּהֲוָה קָא אָזֵיל בַּעֲבַר יַמִּינָא. נְפַל עֲלֵיהּ אַרְיָא, אִתְעֲבִיד לֵיהּ נִיסָּא וְאִיתַּצַּל מִינֵּיהּ. אֲתָא לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרָבָא, וַאֲמַר לֵיהּ: כׇּל אִימַּת דְּמָטֵית לְהָתָם — בָּרֵיךְ ״בָּרוּךְ שֶׁעָשָׂה לִי נֵס בַּמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה״.
The Gemara asks: For a miracle that occurs for the multitudes we recite a blessing, but for a miracle that befalls an individual person we do not recite a blessing? Wasn’t there an incident where a certain man was walking along the right side of the Euphrates River when a lion attacked him, a miracle was performed for him, and he was rescued? He came before Rava, who said to him: Every time that you arrive there, to the site of the miracle, recite the blessing, “Blessed…Who performed a miracle for me in this place.”
וּמָר בְּרֵיהּ דְּרָבִינָא הֲוָה קָאָזֵיל בְּפַקְתָּא דַעֲרָבוֹת וּצְחָא לְמַיָּא. אִתְעֲבִיד לֵיהּ נִיסָּא, אִיבְּרִי לֵיהּ עֵינָא דְמַיָּא, וְאִישְׁתִּי.
And once when Mar, son of Ravina, was walking in a valley of willows and was thirsty for water, a miracle was performed for him and a spring of water was created for him, and he drank.
וְתוּ, זִמְנָא חֲדָא הֲוָה קָאָזֵיל בְּרַסְתְּקָא דְמָחוֹזָא וּנְפַל עֲלֵיהּ גַּמְלָא פְּרִיצָא. אִיתְפָּרַקָא לֵיהּ אָשִׁיתָא, עָל לְגַוַּהּ. כִּי מְטָא לַעֲרָבוֹת בָּרֵיךְ: ״בָּרוּךְ … שֶׁעָשָׂה לִי נֵס בַּעֲרָבוֹת וּבְגָמָל״. כִּי מְטָא לְרַסְתְּקָא דְמָחוֹזָא בָּרֵיךְ: ״בָּרוּךְ … שֶׁעָשָׂה לִי נֵס בְּגָמָל וּבַעֲרָבוֹת״! אָמְרִי: אַנִּיסָּא דְרַבִּים — כּוּלֵּי עָלְמָא מִיחַיְּיבִי לְבָרוֹכֵי, אַנִּיסָּא דְיָחִיד — אִיהוּ חַיָּיב לְבָרוֹכֵי.
Furthermore, once when Mar, son of Ravina, was walking in the marketplace [risteka] of Meḥoza and a wild camel [gamla peritza] attacked him. The wall cracked open, he went inside it, and he was rescued. Ever since, when he came to the willows he recited: Blessed…Who performed a miracle for me in the willows and with the camel. And, when he came to the marketplace of Meḥoza he recited: Blessed…Who performed a miracle for me with the camel and in the willows, indicating that one recites a blessing even for a miracle that occurs to an individual. The Sages say: On a miracle performed on behalf of the multitudes, everyone is obligated to recite a blessing; on a miracle performed on behalf of an individual, only the individual is obligated to recite a blessing.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: הָרוֹאֶה מַעְבְּרוֹת הַיָּם, וּמַעְבְּרוֹת הַיַּרְדֵּן, מַעְבְּרוֹת נַחֲלֵי אַרְנוֹן, אַבְנֵי אֶלְגָּבִישׁ בְּמוֹרַד בֵּית חוֹרוֹן, וְאֶבֶן שֶׁבִּקֵּשׁ לִזְרוֹק עוֹג מֶלֶךְ הַבָּשָׁן עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאֶבֶן שֶׁיָּשַׁב עָלֶיהָ מֹשֶׁה בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁעָשָׂה יְהוֹשֻׁעַ מִלְחָמָה בַּעֲמָלֵק, וְאִשְׁתּוֹ שֶׁל לוֹט, וְחוֹמַת יְרִיחוֹ שֶׁנִּבְלְעָה בִּמְקוֹמָהּ — עַל כּוּלָּן צָרִיךְ שֶׁיִּתֵּן הוֹדָאָה וָשֶׁבַח לִפְנֵי הַמָּקוֹם.
The Sages taught in a baraita a list of places where one is required to recite a blessing due to miracles that were performed there: One who sees the crossings of the Red Sea, where Israel crossed; and the crossings of the Jordan; and the crossings of the streams of Arnon; the hailstones of Elgavish on the descent of Beit Ḥoron; the rock that Og, King of Bashan, sought to hurl upon Israel; and the rock upon which Moses sat when Joshua waged war against Amalek; and Lot’s wife; and the wall of Jericho that was swallowed up in its place. On all of these miracles one must give thanks and offer praise before God.
בִּשְׁלָמָא מַעְבְּרוֹת הַיָּם, דִּכְתִיב: ״וַיָּבֹאוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּתוֹךְ הַיָּם בַּיַּבָּשָׁה״. מַעְבְּרוֹת הַיַּרְדֵּן, דִּכְתִיב: ״וַיַּעַמְדוּ הַכֹּהֲנִים נֹשְׂאֵי הָאָרוֹן בְּרִית ה׳ בֶּחָרָבָה בְּתוֹךְ הַיַּרְדֵּן הָכֵן וְכׇל יִשְׂרָאֵל עֹבְרִים בֶּחָרָבָה עַד אֲשֶׁר תַּמּוּ כׇּל הַגּוֹי לַעֲבוֹר אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּן״.
The Gemara elaborates: Granted, the miracles at the crossings of the sea are recorded explicitly in the Torah, as it is stated: “And the Israelites went into the sea on dry ground and the water was a wall for them on their right and on their left” (Exodus 14:22). So too, the miracle at the crossings of the Jordan, as it is stated: “The priests who bore the ark of God’s covenant stood on dry land within the Jordan, while all Israel crossed on dry land until the entire nation finished crossing the Jordan” (Joshua 3:17).
אֶלָּא מַעְבְּרוֹת נַחֲלֵי אַרְנוֹן מְנָלַן? — דִּכְתִיב: ״עַל כֵּן יֵאָמַר בְּסֵפֶר מִלְחֲמֹת ה׳ אֶת וָהֵב בְּסוּפָה וְגוֹ׳״. תָּנָא: ״אֶת וָהֵב בְּסוּפָה״ — שְׁנֵי מְצוֹרָעִים הָיוּ, דַּהֲווֹ מְהַלְּכִין בְּסוֹף מַחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל. כִּי הֲווֹ קָא חָלְפִי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲתוֹ אֱמוֹרָאֵי
However, from where do we derive the miracle that occurred at the crossing of the streams of Arnon? As it is stated: “Wherefore it is said in the Book of the Wars of the Lord: Vahev in Sufa, and the valleys of Arnon. And the slope of the valleys that incline toward the seat of Ar, and lean upon the border of Moab” (Numbers 21:14–15). It was taught: “Vahev in Sufa”; there were two lepers, one named Et and the second named Hev, who were walking at the rear of the camp of Israel. As Israel passed, the Emorites came
עָבְדִי לְהוֹן נְקִירָתָא וּטְשׁוֹ בְּהוֹן. אָמְרִי: כִּי חָלְפִי יִשְׂרָאֵל הָכָא — נִקְטְלִינּוּן, וְלָא הֲווֹ יָדְעִי דְּאָרוֹן הֲוָה מְסַגֵּי קַמַּיְיהוּ דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וַהֲוָה מַמֵּיךְ לְהוּ טוּרֵי מִקַּמַּיְיהוּ. כֵּיוָן דַּאֲתָא אָרוֹן, אִדְּבַקוּ טוּרֵי בַּהֲדֵי הֲדָדֵי, וְקַטְלִינּוּן, וּנְחַת דְּמַיְיהוּ לְנַחֲלֵי אַרְנוֹן. כִּי אֲתוֹ אֶת וָהֵב, חֲזוֹ דְּמָא דְּקָא נָפֵיק מִבֵּינֵי טוּרֵי. אֲתוֹ וְאָמְרִי לְהוּ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל וַאֲמַרוּ שִׁירָה. הַיְינוּ דִּכְתִיב: ״וְאֶשֶׁד הַנְּחָלִים אֲשֶׁר נָטָה לְשֶׁבֶת עָר וְנִשְׁעַן לִגְבוּל מוֹאָב״.
and prepared caves for themselves and they hid in them. They said: When Israel passes here we will kill them. And they did not know that the Ark of the Covenant preceded the children of Israel and would flatten mountains before them. When the Ark came, the mountains adhered one to another and killed them; and their blood flowed down to the streams of Arnon. When Et and Hev, the lepers, arrived, they saw the blood that was emerging from between the mountains, and they came and told Israel what had happened. Israel recited a song of praise, as it is stated: “And at the cascade of the brooks that goes down to the dwelling of Ar, and lies upon the border of Moab” (Numbers 21:15). This refers to the cascade of the brooks where the mountain, which had once been a valley, spread out in the direction of the mountain in Ar, in Moab.
אַבְנֵי אֶלְגָּבִישׁ. מַאי אַבְנֵי אֶלְגָּבִישׁ?
Among the sites enumerated in the baraita where one is obligated to recite a blessing in recognition of the miracles that occurred there, was the site of the hailstones of Elgavish. The Gemara asks: What are the hailstones of Elgavish?
תָּנָא: אֲבָנִים שֶׁעָמְדוּ עַל גַּב אִישׁ, וְיָרְדוּ עַל גַּב אִישׁ. עָמְדוּ עַל גַּב אִישׁ — זֶה מֹשֶׁה, דִּכְתִיב: ״וְהָאִישׁ מֹשֶׁה עָנָו מְאֹד״, וּכְתִיב: ״וַיַּחְדְּלוּ הַקֹּלוֹת וְהַבָּרָד וּמָטָר לֹא נִתַּךְ אָרְצָה״. יָרְדוּ עַל גַּב אִישׁ — זֶה יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, דִּכְתִיב: ״קַח לְךָ אֶת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן נוּן אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר רוּחַ בּוֹ״, וּכְתִיב: ״וַיְהִי בְּנוּסָם מִפְּנֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הֵם בְּמוֹרַד בֵּית חוֹרֹן וַה׳ הִשְׁלִיךְ עֲלֵיהֶם אֲבָנִים גְּדֹלוֹת״.
It is taught in the midrash: They are the stones that remained suspended in the air and did not fall because of [al gav] a man [ish] and they fell down because of [al gav] a man [ish]. The Gemara explains: They remained suspended because of a man; that is Moses, whom the verse refers to as a man, as it is written: “And the man Moses was very modest” (Numbers 12:3), and it is written: “And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread forth his hands unto the Lord; the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth” (Exodus 9:33). Moses’ hailstones remained suspended. And the stones descended because of a man; that is Joshua, who was also called man, as it is written: “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is spirit” (Numbers 27:18). And it is written that when Joshua and his people waged war against the army of the Emorite kings, God told him not to fear them because God would deliver them into his hands; and indeed, they died by means of these stones: “As they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beit Ḥoron, that the Lord cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azeka, and they died; they were more who died with the hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew by sword” (Joshua 10:11).
אֶבֶן שֶׁבִּקֵּשׁ עוֹג מֶלֶךְ הַבָּשָׁן לִזְרוֹק עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל, גְּמָרָא גְּמִירִי לַהּ. אֲמַר מַחֲנֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל כַּמָּה הָוֵי — תְּלָתָא פַּרְסֵי, אֵיזֵיל וְאֶיעֱקַר טוּרָא בַּר תְּלָתָא פַּרְסֵי וְאִישְׁדֵּי עֲלַיְיהוּ, וְאִיקְטְלִינְהוּ. אֲזַל עֲקַר טוּרָא בַּר תְּלָתָא פַּרְסֵי וְאַיְיתִי עַל רֵישֵׁיהּ, וְאַיְיתִי קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא עֲלֵיהּ קַמְצֵי וְנַקְבוּהּ, וּנְחֵית בְּצַוְּארֵיהּ.
With regard to the rock that Og, King of Bashan, sought to throw upon Israel, there is no biblical reference, but rather a tradition was transmitted. The Gemara relates that Og said: How large is the camp of Israel? It is three parasangs. I will go and uproot a mountain three parasangs long and I will hurl it upon them and kill them. He went, uprooted a mountain three parasangs long, and brought it on his head. And The Holy One, Blessed be He, brought grasshoppers upon it and they pierced the peak of the mountain and it fell on his neck.
הֲוָה בָּעֵי לְמִשְׁלְפֵהּ, מָשְׁכִי שִׁינֵּיהּ לְהַאי גִּיסָא וּלְהַאי גִּיסָא וְלָא מָצֵי לְמִשְׁלְפֵהּ. וְהַיְינוּ דִּכְתִיב: ״שִׁנֵּי רְשָׁעִים שִׁבַּרְתָּ״. וְכִדְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ. דְּאָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ: מַאי דִּכְתִיב ״שִׁנֵּי רְשָׁעִים שִׁבַּרְתָּ״ — אַל תִּקְרֵי ״שִׁבַּרְתָּ״ אֶלָּא ״שִׁרְבַּבְתָּ״.
Og wanted to remove it from his head; his teeth were extended to one side of his head and to the other and he was unable to remove it. And that is what is written: “You break the teeth of the wicked” (Psalms 3:8). And this is in accordance with the homiletic interpretation of Rabbi Shimon Ben Lakish, as Rabbi Shimon Ben Lakish said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “You break the teeth of the wicked”? Do not read it as: You break [shibarta], but rather as: You lengthened [shirbavta].
מֹשֶׁה כַּמָּה הֲוָה — עֶשֶׂר אַמּוֹת, שְׁקֵיל נַרְגָּא בַּר עֲשַׂר אַמִּין, שְׁוַור עֲשַׂר אַמִּין, וּמַחְיֵיהּ בְּקַרְסוּלֵּיהּ וְקַטְלֵיהּ.
The story concludes: How tall was Moses? He was ten cubits tall. He took an axe ten cubits long, jumped up ten cubits, and struck Og in the ankle and killed him.
וְאֶבֶן שֶׁיָּשַׁב עָלֶיהָ מֹשֶׁה — דִּכְתִיב: ״וִידֵי מֹשֶׁה כְּבֵדִים וַיִּקְחוּ אֶבֶן וַיָּשִׂימוּ תַחְתָּיו וַיֵּשֶׁב עָלֶיהָ״.
One must recite a blessing when he sees the rock upon which Moses sat, as it is written: “But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat thereon” (Exodus 17:12).
וְאִשְׁתּוֹ שֶׁל לוֹט — שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַתַּבֵּט אִשְׁתּוֹ מֵאַחֲרָיו וַתְּהִי נְצִיב מֶלַח״. וְחוֹמַת יְרִיחוֹ שֶׁנִּבְלְעָה — דִּכְתִיב: ״וַתִּפֹּל הַחוֹמָה תַּחְתֶּיהָ״.
And one must recite a blessing upon seeing Lot’s wife, as it is stated: “But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt” (Genesis 19:26). And the wall of Jericho that was swallowed, as it is written: “And the wall fell down flat” (Joshua 6:20).
בִּשְׁלָמָא כּוּלְּהוּ — נִיסָּא, אֶלָּא אִשְׁתּוֹ שֶׁל לוֹט פּוּרְעָנוּתָא הוּא! — דְּאָמַר ״בָּרוּךְ … דַּיַּין הָאֱמֶת״.
The Gemara asks: Granted, that one recites a blessing on all of these. They are miracles; however, Lot’s wife is a tragedy. Why recite a blessing on a tragedy? The Gemara answers: One who sees that place recites: Blessed…the true Judge.
וְהָא ״הוֹדָאָה וָשֶׁבַח״ קָתָנֵי! תְּנִי: עַל לוֹט וְעַל אִשְׁתּוֹ מְבָרְכִים שְׁתַּיִם. עַל אִשְׁתּוֹ אוֹמֵר ״בָּרוּךְ … דַּיַּין הָאֱמֶת״, וְעַל לוֹט אוֹמֵר ״בָּרוּךְ … זוֹכֵר אֶת הַצַּדִּיקִים״. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: אֲפִילּוּ בִּשְׁעַת כַּעֲסוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, זוֹכֵר אֶת הַצַּדִּיקִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיְהִי בְּשַׁחֵת אֱלֹהִים אֶת עָרֵי הַכִּכָּר וַיִּזְכֹּר אֱלֹהִים אֶת אַבְרָהָם וַיְשַׁלַּח אֶת לוֹט מִתּוֹךְ הַהֲפֵכָה וְגוֹ׳״.
The Gemara asks: But the baraita teaches that for all of these one must give thanks and offer praise? The Gemara answers: The language of the baraita should be emended and teach: Over Lot and his wife one recites two blessings. Over his wife he recites: Blessed…the true Judge, and on Lot he recites: Blessed…Who remembers the righteous. As Rabbi Yoḥanan said: From the story of Lot it is possible to learn that even during a time of wrath of the Holy One, Blessed be He, He remembers the righteous, as it is stated: “And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot dwelt” (Genesis 19:29).
וְחוֹמַת יְרִיחוֹ שֶׁנִּבְלְעָה. וְחוֹמַת יְרִיחוֹ נִבְלְעָה? וְהָא נָפְלָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיְהִי כִשְׁמֹעַ הָעָם אֶת קוֹל הַשּׁוֹפָר וַיָּרִיעוּ הָעָם תְּרוּעָה גְדוֹלָה וַתִּפֹּל הַחוֹמָה תַּחְתֶּיהָ״! — כֵּיוָן דְּפוּתְיַהּ וְרוּמַהּ כִּי הֲדָדֵי נִינְהוּ, מִשּׁוּם הָכִי אִבַּלְעָה בְּלוֹעֵי.
The baraita also taught that we recite a blessing for the wall of Jericho that was swallowed up in its place. The Gemara asks: Were the walls of Jericho swallowed up into the ground? Didn’t they fall, as it is stated: “And it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the shofar, that the people shouted with a great shout, and the wall fell down flat” (Joshua 6:20)? The Gemara explains: Since the width and height of the walls were equal to one another, therefore, they were swallowed. Had they merely fallen it would have had no effect, as their width was equal to their height.
אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: אַרְבָּעָה צְרִיכִין לְהוֹדוֹת: יוֹרְדֵי הַיָּם, הוֹלְכֵי מִדְבָּרוֹת, וּמִי שֶׁהָיָה חוֹלֶה וְנִתְרַפֵּא, וּמִי שֶׁהָיָה חָבוּשׁ בְּבֵית הָאֲסוּרִים וְיָצָא.
Rav Yehuda said that Rav said: Four must offer thanks to God with a thanks-offering and a special blessing. They are: Seafarers, those who walk in the desert, and one who was ill and recovered, and one who was incarcerated in prison and went out. All of these appear in the verses of a psalm (Psalms 107).
יוֹרְדֵי הַיָּם מְנָלַן? — דִּכְתִיב: ״יוֹרְדֵי הַיָּם בָּאֳנִיּוֹת וְגוֹ׳ הֵמָּה רָאוּ מַעֲשֵׂי ה׳״. וְאוֹמֵר: ״וַיַּעֲמֵד רוּחַ סְעָרָה יַעֲלוּ שָׁמַיִם יֵרְדוּ תְהוֹמוֹת״, וְאוֹמֵר: ״יָחוֹגּוּ וְיָנוּעוּ כַּשִּׁכּוֹר״, וְאוֹמֵר: ״וַיִּצְעֲקוּ אֶל ה׳ בַּצַּר לָהֶם וּמִמְּצוּקֹתֵיהֶם יוֹצִיאֵם״, וְאוֹמֵר: ״יָקֵם סְעָרָה לִדְמָמָה״, וְאוֹמֵר: ״וַיִּשְׂמְחוּ כִי יִשְׁתֹּקוּ״, וְאוֹמֵר: ״יוֹדוּ לַה׳ חַסְדּוֹ וְנִפְלְאוֹתָיו לִבְנֵי אָדָם״.
The Gemara elaborates: From where do we derive that seafarers are required to thank God?
As it is written: “They who go down to the sea in ships, who do business in great waters; they see the works of the Lord” (Psalms 107:23–24).
And it says: “For He commands and raises the stormy wind which lifts up the waves thereof.
They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble” (Psalms 107:25–26).
And it says: “They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.”
And it says immediately thereafter: “Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distress” (Psalms 107:28).
And it says: “He makes the storm calm, so the waves thereof are still” (Psalms 107:29),
and it says: “Then are they glad because they be quiet; so He brings them unto their desired haven” (Psalms 107:30),
and it says: “They are grateful to God for His loving-kindness and His wonders for mankind” (Psalms 107:31).
הוֹלְכֵי מִדְבָּרוֹת מְנָלַן? דִּכְתִיב: ״תָּעוּ בַמִּדְבָּר בִּישִׁימוֹן דָּרֶךְ עִיר מוֹשָׁב לֹא מָצָאוּ … וַיִּצְעֲקוּ אֶל ה׳ … וַיַּדְרִיכֵם בְּדֶרֶךְ יְשָׁרָה … יוֹדוּ לַה׳ חַסְדּוֹ״.
The Gemara asks: From where do we derive that those who walk in the desert are required to thank God? The Gemara answers:
As it is written in the same psalm:
“They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city in which to dwell” (Psalms 107:4),
“And then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses.
And He led them forth by the right way” (Psalms 107:6–7).
After God guides them on the right way, it is said: “They are grateful to God for His goodness” (Psalms 107:8).
מִי שֶׁחָלָה וְנִתְרַפֵּא, דִּכְתִיב: ״אֱוִילִים מִדֶּרֶךְ פִּשְׁעָם וּמֵעֲוֹנֹתֵיהֶם יִתְעַנּוּ. כׇּל אֹכֶל תְּתַעֵב נַפְשָׁם וְגוֹ׳ וַיִּזְעֲקוּ אֶל ה׳ בַּצַּר לָהֶם וְגוֹ׳ יִשְׁלַח דְּבָרוֹ וְיִרְפָּאֵם וְגוֹ׳ יוֹדוּ לַה׳ חַסְדּוֹ״.
That one who was ill and recovered must offer thanks is derived, as it is written:
“Fools, because of their transgression and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
Their soul abhors all manner of food and they draw near unto the gates of death” (Psalms 107:17–18),
and: “Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and He saves them from their distress” (Psalms 107:19),
and then: “He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions” (Psalms 107:20).
After they are healed: “They are grateful to God for His goodness” (Psalms 107:21).
מִי שֶׁהָיָה חָבוּשׁ בְּבֵית הָאֲסוּרִין מְנָלַן? — דִּכְתִיב: ״יֹשְׁבֵי חֹשֶׁךְ וְצַלְמָוֶת וְגוֹ׳ כִּי הִמְרוּ אִמְרֵי אֵל וְגוֹ׳״. וְאוֹמֵר: ״וַיַּכְנַע בֶּעָמָל לִבָּם וְגוֹ׳״, וְאוֹמֵר: ״וַיִּזְעֲקוּ אֶל ה׳ בַּצַּר לָהֶם״, וְאוֹמֵר: ״יוֹצִיאֵם מֵחֹשֶׁךְ וְצַלְמָוֶת וְגוֹ׳״, וְאוֹמֵר: ״יוֹדוּ לַה׳ חַסְדּוֹ״.
From where do we derive that one who was incarcerated in prison must offer thanks?
As it is written: “Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, bound in affliction and iron.
Because they rebelled against the words of God and scorned the counsel of the most High” (Psalms 107:10–11).
And it says: “Therefore He brought down their heart with labor; they fell down, and there was none to help” (Psalms 107:12),
and it says: “Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distresses” (Psalms 107:13),
and it says: “He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
and broke their shackles” (Psalms 107:14).
And after God takes them out from that darkness and shadow of death, it says: “They are grateful to God for His goodness.”
מַאי מְבָרֵךְ? אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה: ״בָּרוּךְ גּוֹמֵל חֲסָדִים טוֹבִים״. אַבָּיֵי אָמַר: וְצָרִיךְ לְאוֹדוֹיֵי קַמֵּי עַשְׂרָה, דִּכְתִיב: ״וִירוֹמְמוּהוּ בִּקְהַל עָם וְגוֹ׳״. מָר זוּטְרָא אָמַר: וּתְרֵין מִינַּיְיהוּ רַבָּנַן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּבְמוֹשַׁב זְקֵנִים יְהַלְלוּהוּ״.
The Gemara asks: What blessing does he recite? Rav Yehuda said: Blessed is…Who bestows acts of loving-kindness. Abaye said: And he must offer thanks before ten people, as it is written in the same chapter: “Let them exalt Him also in the congregation of the people and praise Him in the assembly of the elders” (Psalms 107:32), and congregation indicates a group of at least ten. Mar Zutra said: Two of them must be Sages, as it is stated there: “And praise Him in the assembly of elders.” These elders are the Sages, and the use of the plural indicates a minimum of two.
מַתְקֵיף לַהּ רַב אָשֵׁי: וְאֵימָא כּוּלְּהוּ רַבָּנַן?! — מִי כְּתִיב ״בִּקְהַל זְקֵנִים״? ״בִּקְהַל עָם״ כְּתִיב. וְאֵימָא בֵּי עַשְׂרָה שְׁאָר עַמָּא, וּתְרֵי רַבָּנַן! קַשְׁיָא.
Rav Ashi strongly objects to this: Say that all of them must be Sages. The Gemara rejects this: Is it written: In the congregation of elders? In the congregation of the people is written; and the Sages are among them. Yet there is still room to object: Say that ten are from the rest of the people, and in addition there must be two Sages. No satisfactory answer was found, and the question remains difficult, although the halakha was not rejected.
רַב יְהוּדָה חֲלַשׁ וְאִתְּפַח. עָל לְגַבֵּיהּ רַב חָנָא בַּגְדָּתָאָה וְרַבָּנַן. אָמְרִי לֵיהּ: ״בְּרִיךְ רַחֲמָנָא דְּיַהֲבָךְ נִיהֲלַן וְלָא יַהֲבָךְ לְעַפְרָא״. אֲמַר לְהוּ: פְּטַרְתּוּן יָתִי מִלְּאוֹדוֹיֵי.
The Gemara relates: Rav Yehuda fell sick and recovered, Rav Ḥana of Baghdad and the Sages entered to visit him. They said to him: Blessed is God Who gave you to us and did not give you to the dust. He said to them: You have exempted me from offering thanks, as your statement fulfilled my obligation to recite a blessing.
וְהָא אָמַר אַבָּיֵי בָּעֵי אוֹדוֹיֵי בְּאַפֵּי עַשְׂרָה! — דַּהֲווֹ בֵּי עַשְׂרָה. וְהָא אִיהוּ לָא קָא מוֹדֵה! — לָא צְרִיךְ, דְּעָנֵי בָּתְרַיְיהוּ ״אָמֵן״.
The Gemara asks: But didn’t Abaye say that one must offer thanks before ten? The Gemara answers: There were ten people there when the Sages blessed God in Rav Yehuda’s presence. The Gemara raises another difficulty: But Rav Yehuda did not offer thanks himself; others offered thanks on his behalf. The Gemara answers: He did not need to recite it himself as he answered amen after their blessing. Answering amen after a blessing is tantamount to reciting the blessing himself.
אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה: שְׁלֹשָׁה צְרִיכִין שִׁימּוּר, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן — חוֹלֶה, חָתָן, וְכַלָּה. בְּמַתְנִיתָא תָּנָא: חוֹלֶה, חַיָּה, חָתָן, וְכַלָּה. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים: אַף אָבֵל. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים: אַף תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים בַּלַּיְלָה.
Incidental to Rav Yehuda’s earlier statement, which organized several cases into a single category, the Gemara cites similar statements of his. Rav Yehuda said: Three require protection from harm: A sick person, a bridegroom, and a bride. It was taught in a baraita: A sick person, a woman in childbirth, a bridegroom, and a bride require protection from harm. And some say: Even a mourner. And some say: Even Torah scholars at night. Those whose thoughts are focused elsewhere or are in a weakened physical state require protection.
וְאָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה: שְׁלֹשָׁה דְּבָרִים הַמַּאֲרִיךְ בָּהֶן מַאֲרִיכִין יָמָיו וּשְׁנוֹתָיו שֶׁל אָדָם. הַמַּאֲרִיךְ בִּתְפִלָּתוֹ, וְהַמַּאֲרִיךְ עַל שֻׁלְחָנוֹ, וְהַמַּאֲרִיךְ בְּבֵית הַכִּסֵּא.
And Rav Yehuda said: There are three matters which, when one who prolongs their duration, they extend a person’s days and years. They are: One who prolongs his prayer, one who prolongs his mealtime at the table, and one who prolongs his time in the bathroom.
וְהַמַּאֲרִיךְ בִּתְפִלָּתוֹ מְעַלְּיוּתָא הִיא? וְהָאָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן:
The Gemara asks: And one who prolongs his prayer; is that a virtue? Didn’t Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba say that Rabbi Yoḥanan said:
