Today's Daf Yomi
July 28, 2014 | ืืณ ืืื ืชืฉืขืดื
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This month's learning is sponsored by Sami Groff in honor of Shoshana Keats Jaskoll and Chochmat Nashim.
Megillah 17
Study Guide Megillah 17
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ืืื ื ืื ื ืฉื ืืชืื ืฉื ืืฉืืขืื ืืื ืืืืก ืืื ืฉื ืืชืื ืฉื ืืขืงื ืืืชืื ืืืื ืฉื ื ืืื ืืฉืืขืื ืืืช ืฉื ื ืืฉืืฉืื ืฉื ื ืืฉืืข ืฉื ืื ืืื ืงืฉืืฉ ืืฉืืขืื ืืืฆืืง ืืจืืืกืจ ืฉื ืื ืืืชืื ืืืืจื ืื ืฉืืื ืื ืฉื ื ืืฉืฉ ืฉื ืื ืืืืช ืืืจ ืืช ืืฉืืขืื ืืืืจื ืืืชืื ืืืืจืื ืื ืืืช ืฉื ื ืืืืื ืื ืืช ืืฆืืง ืื ื ืืืชืื ืืืฆืืง ืื ืฉืฉืื ืฉื ื ืืืืช ืืืชื ืืจ ืืื ืืื ืืฉืืขืื ืืืืชืืืื ืืขืงื ืืจ ืฉืืขืื ืืืจืืขื ืืื ืคืืืฉื ืืฉื ืื ืฉืชืื ืืชืืช
Why were the years of Ishmael mentioned in the Torah? For what purpose were we told the life span of that wicked man? In order to reckon through them the years of Jacob. As it is written: โAnd these are the years of the life of Ishmael, a hundred and thirty-seven yearsโ (Genesis 25:17). How much older was Ishmael than Isaac? Fourteen years. As it is written: โAnd Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abramโ (Genesis 16:16). And it is written: โAnd Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to himโ (Genesis 21:5). And it is written with regard to Jacob and Esau: โAnd Isaac was sixty years old when she bore themโ (Genesis 25:26). Based on these verses, how old was Ishmael when Jacob was born? Seventy-four. How many of his years remained then until his death? Sixty-three, as Ishmael died at the age of a hundred and thirty-seven.
ืืชื ืื ืืื ืืขืงื ืืืื ื ืืฉืขื ืฉื ืชืืจื ืืืืื ืื ืฉืฉืื ืืฉืืฉ ืฉื ื ืืื ืืคืจืง ืืช ืืฉืืขืื ืืืชืื ืืืจื ืขืฉื ืื ืืจื ืืืืณ ืืืื ืขืฉื ืื ืืฉืืขืื ืืืงื ืืช ืืืืช ืืช ืืฉืืขืื ืืืืช ื ืืืืช ืืืฉืืข ืฉื ืืืจ ืืช ืืฉืืขืื ืืื ื ืืืืข ืฉืืื ืืืืช ื ืืืืช ืืืื ืฉืงืืืฉื ืืฉืืขืื ืืืช ืืืฉืืื ื ืืืืช ืืืื
And it was taught in a baraita: Jacob our father was sixty-three years old at the time he was blessed by his father, and at that same time Ishmael died. How is it known that these two events occurred at the same time? As it is written: โWhen Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacobโฆthen Esau went to Ishmael and took for a wife Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael, Abrahamโs son, the sister of Nebaiothโ (Genesis 28:6โ9). From the fact that it is stated: โthe daughter of Ishmael,โ do I not know that she was the sister of Nebaioth? For what purpose then does the verse say this explicitly? This teaches that Ishmael betrothed her to Esau and in the meantime he died, and Nebaioth her brother married her off. Therefore, special mention is made of Nebaioth. Consequently, it is understood that Jacob was sixty-three years old when he received his blessing and left his fatherโs house.
ืฉืชืื ืืชืืช ืืืจืืืกืจ ืขื ืืืชืืืื ืืืกืฃ ืื ืฉืืขืื ืืฉืืขื ืืืชืื ืืืืกืฃ ืื ืฉืืฉืื ืฉื ื ืืขืืื ืืคื ื ืคืจืขื ืื ืืื ืืฉืืข ืฉื ืืฉืืขื ืืชืจืชื ืืืคื ื ืื ืืื ืืฉืืชืกืจ
If we calculate these sixty-three years and the fourteen until Joseph was born, this means that Jacob should have been seventy-seven at the time of Josephโs birth. And it is written: โAnd Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaohโ (Genesis 41:46). This indicates that Jacob should have then been at least a hundred and seven years old when Joseph was thirty. Add the seven years of plenty and the two of famine, and this would then indicate that Jacob should have been a hundred and sixteen years old when he arrived in Egypt in the second year of the famine.
ืืืชืื ืืืืืจ ืคืจืขื ืื ืืขืงื ืืื ืืื ืฉื ื ืืืื ืืืืืจ ืืขืงื ืื ืคืจืขื ืืื ืฉื ื ืืืืจื ืฉืืฉืื ืืืืช ืฉื ื ืืื ืืฉืืชืกืจ ืืืืื
But it is written: โAnd Pharaoh said to Jacob, How many are the days of the years of your life? And Jacob said to Pharaoh, The days of the years of my sojournings are a hundred and thirty yearsโ (Genesis 47:8โ9). Jacob indicated that he was a hundred and thirty-three when he arrived in Egypt, which is different from the hundred and sixteen years calculated previously. Where are the missing fourteen years from Jacobโs lifetime?
ืืื ืฉืืข ืืื ื ืืจืืข ืขืฉืจื ืฉื ืื ืืืื ืืืืช ืขืืจ ืื ืืฉืื ืืื ืืชื ืื ืืื ืืขืงื ืืืืช ืขืืจ ืืืืื ืืจืืข ืขืฉืจื ืฉื ื ืขืืจ ืืช ืืืืจ ืฉืืจื ืืขืงื ืืืื ื ืืืจื ื ืืจืื ืฉืชื ืฉื ืื ืืฆื ืืฉื ืืื ืื ืืืจื ื ืืจืื ื ืืฆื ืืฉืขืื ืขื ืืืืจ ืื ืฉืืขืื ืืฉืืข ืฉื ื
Rather, learn from here that the fourteen years that Jacob spent in the house of Eber are not counted here. As it is taught in a baraita: Jacob was studying in the house of Eber for fourteen years while in hiding from his brother Esau. If we were to calculate the life spans recorded in the Torah, we would find that Eber died when Jacob was seventy-nine years old, two years after Jacob our father went down to Aram-naharaim, to the house of Laban. When Jacob left after completing his studying there, he then went immediately to Aram-naharaim. Therefore, when Jacob stood at the well upon his arrival in Aram-naharaim, he was seventy-seven years old.
ืืื ืื ืืื ืืืขื ืฉ ืืชื ืื ื ืืฆื ืืืกืฃ ืฉืคืืจืฉ ืืืืื ืขืฉืจืื ืืฉืชืื ืฉื ื ืืฉื ืฉืคืืจืฉ ืืขืงื ืืืื ื ืืืืื ืืืขืงื ืชืืชืื ืืฉืืชื ืืืืื ืืื ืืจืืืกืจ ืืืื ืืืืช ืขืืจ ืื ืืฉืื ืืื
And from where do we derive that Jacob was not punished for the fourteen years that he was in the house of Eber, during which time he failed to fulfill the mitzva of honoring oneโs parents? As it is taught in a baraita: It turns out that Joseph was away from his father for twenty-two years, just as Jacob our father was away from his own father for that same period of time. According to the previous calculation, however, the baraita is difficult, as Jacob was absent for thirty-six years. Rather, conclude from here that the fourteen years that he was in the house of Eber are not counted, as he was not punished for them.
ืกืืฃ ืกืืฃ ืืืืช ืืื ืขืฉืจืื ืฉื ืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืฉืื ืืืฉืชืื ืืืืจืื ืชืจืชืื ืฉื ืื ืืชื ืื ืืฆื ืืืจื ื ืืจืื ืืื ืื ืืกืืืช ืืขืฉื ืฉื ืฉืืื ื ืขืฉืจ ืืืืฉ ืฉื ืืืจ ืืืขืงื ื ืกืข ืกืืืชื ืืืื ืื ืืืช ืืืืงื ืื ืขืฉื ืกืืืช ืืืืืช ืื ืขืฉื ืฉืฉื ืืืฉืื ืืืงืจืื ืืืืื
The Gemara raises an objection: But ultimately, Jacob was in Labanโs house for only twenty years. Why, then, is he faulted for being away from his father for twenty-two years? Rather, he was punished because on his journey back from Aram-naharaim he tarried another two years before returning home to his parents, as it is taught in a baraita: Jacob left Aram-naharaim and came to Sukkot, and spent eighteen months there, as it is stated: โAnd Jacob journeyed to Sukkot, built himself a house, and made booths [sukkot] for his cattleโ (Genesis 33:17). The Gemara understands this verse to mean that first he made booths [Sukkot], to live in during the summer, and then he built a house in the winter, and afterward he again made booths [sukkot] during the next summer, indicating that he must have been there for eighteen months. He then was in Bethel for six months, and he brought offerings, totaling two years in all. In this way, all the various calculations of years are reconciled.
ืืืจื ืขืื ืืืืื ื ืงืจืืช
ืืชื ืืณ ืืงืืจื ืืช ืืืืืื ืืืคืจืข ืื ืืฆื ืงืจืื ืขื ืคื ืงืจืื ืชืจืืื ืืื ืืฉืื ืื ืืฆื ืืื ืงืืจืื ืืืชื ืืืืขืืืช ืืืขื ืืืืืขื ืฉืฉืืข ืืฉืืจืืช ืืฆื
MISHNA: With regard to one who reads the Megilla out of order, reading a later section first, and then going back to the earlier section, he has not fulfilled his obligation. If he read it by heart, or if he read it in Aramaic translation or in any other language that he does not understand, he has not fulfilled his obligation. However, for those who speak a foreign language, one may read the Megilla in that foreign language. And one who speaks a foreign language who heard the Megilla read in Ashurit, i.e., in Hebrew, has fulfilled his obligation.
ืงืจืื ืกืืจืืืื ืืืชื ืื ื ืืฆื ืืื ืืืชืื ืืืจืฉื ืืืืืื ืื ืืืื ืืื ืืฆื ืืื ืืื ืื ืืฆื
If one read the Megilla at intervals, pausing and resuming, or while he is dozing off, he has fulfilled his obligation. If one was writing a Megilla, or expounding upon it, or correcting it, and he read all its words as he was doing so, the following distinction applies: If he had intent to fulfill his obligation with that reading he has fulfilled his obligation, but if not, he has not fulfilled his obligation.
ืืืชื ืืชืืื ืืกื ืืืกืืงืจื ืืืงืืืืก ืืืงื ืงื ืชืื ืขื ืื ืืืจ ืืขื ืืืคืชืจื ืื ืืฆื ืขื ืฉืชืื ืืชืืื ืืฉืืจืืช ืขื ืืกืคืจ ืืืืื
If one reads from a Megilla that was written not with ink but with sam or with sikra or with komos or with kankantom, or from a Megilla that was written not on parchment but on neyar or on diftera, a kind of unprocessed leather, he has not fulfilled his obligation. He does not fulfill his obligation unless he reads from a Megilla that is written in Ashurit, i.e., in the Hebrew language and using the Hebrew script, upon parchment and with ink.
ืืืณ ืื ื ืื ื ืืืื ืืืจ ืจืื ืืืืจ ืงืจื ืืืชืื ืืืืื ื ืื ืืื ื ืืืคืจืข ืื ืืฃ ืืชืื ืืืคืจืข ืื
GEMARA: It was taught in the mishna that one who reads the Megilla out of order has not fulfilled his obligation. The Gemara asks: From where are these matters derived? Rava said: The verse states concerning Purim: โThat they should unfailingly observe these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed times every yearโ (Esther 9:27), and the word โtimesโ is referring to the two days of Purim, the fourteenth and the fifteenth of Adar. And we learn by way of analogy: Just as their appointed times cannot be out of order, as the fifteenth of Adar cannot possibly come before the fourteenth, so too, their writing must not be out of order.
ืืืื ืงืจืืื ืืชืืื ืืื ืขืฉืืื ืืชืืื ืืืชืื ืืืืืช ืขืืฉืื ืืช ืฉื ื ืืืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืชืื ืืืืืื ืืืื ื ืืืจืื ืื ืขืฉืื ืืืชืงืฉ ืืืืจื ืืขืฉืืื ืื ืขืฉืืื ืืืคืจืข ืื ืืฃ ืืืืจื ืืืคืจืข ืื
The Gemara rejects this derivation: Is reading written here at all? It is โobservingโ that is written here in this verse, not reading, as it is written: โThat they should unfailingly observe these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed times.โ Rather, the proof is from here, as it is written: โAnd that these days should be remembered and observed throughout every generationโ (Esther 9:28). Remembering is juxtaposed to observing, indicating: Just as observing cannot be out of order, as was derived from the words โThat they should unfailingly observe these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed times,โ so too, remembering, by reading the Megilla, may not be out of order.
ืชื ื ืืื ืืืื ืืื ืืงืจืืืช ืฉืืข ืืืชืคืื
ยง The Sages taught in a baraita: This halakha of not reading out of order applies also to hallel, and also to the recitation of Shema, and also to the Amida prayer, meaning that to fulfill oneโs obligation he must recite the text of each of these in order.
ืืื ืื ืื ืจืื ืืืจ ืืืชืื ืืืืจื ืฉืืฉ ืขื ืืืืื ืจื ืืืกืฃ ืืืจ ืื ืืืื ืขืฉื ืืณ
The Gemara asks: From where do we derive that hallel may not be recited out of order? Rabba said: As it is written in hallel: โFrom the rising of the sun until its setting the Lordโs name is to be praisedโ (Psalms 113:3). Just as the sunrise and sunset cannot be reversed, so too, hallel may not be recited out of order. Rav Yosef said: It is derived from the verse in hallel that states: โThis is the day that the Lord has madeโ (Psalms 118:24); just as the day follows a certain order, so too, hallel must be recited in its proper order.
ืจื ืืืื ืืืจ ืืื ืฉื ืืณ ืืืืจื ืืจื ื ืืื ืืจ ืืฆืืง ืืืืชืืื ืจื ืืื ืืจ ืืขืงื ืืืจ ืืืื ืืขืชื ืืขื ืขืืื
Rav Avya said: It is derived from the verse in hallel: โBlessed be the name of the Lordโ (Psalms 113:2), indicating that the blessing of God must โbeโ just as it is written. Rav Naแธฅman bar Yitzแธฅak said, and some say that it was Rav Aแธฅa bar Yaโakov who said: It is derived from here, the end of the aforementioned verse: โFrom now and for evermoreโ (Psalms 113:2), i.e., it should be like time, which cannot be reversed.
ืงืจืืืช ืฉืืข ืืชื ืื ืงืจืืืช ืฉืืข ืืืชืื ืืืจื ืจืื ืืืืืื ืืืืจืื ืืื ืืฉืื ืืื ืืขืื ืืจืื ืืืจ ืงืจื
From where do we know one has not fulfilled his obligation of reciting the Shema if he recited it out of order? As it is taught in a baraita: The recital of the Shema must be as it is written, i.e., in Hebrew; this is the statement of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi. But the Rabbis say: It may be recited in any language. The Gemara asks: What is the reason of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi? The verse states:
ืืืื ืืืืืชื ืืื ืืจืื ื ืืื ืืขืื ืืืจ ืงืจื ืฉืืข ืืื ืืฉืื ืฉืืชื ืฉืืืข
โAnd these wordsโฆshall beโ (Deuteronomy 6:6), teaching that these words, the words of the Shema, always โshall beโ as they are, i.e., in the Hebrew language. The Gemara asks: And as for the Sages, what is the reason for their opinion? The verse states: โHear, O Israelโ (Deuteronomy 6:4), which could also be translated, โUnderstand, O Israel,โ indicating that you may recite these words in any language that you hear, i.e., understand.
ืืจืื ื ืื ืื ืืชืื ืฉืืข ืืืื ืืืืขื ืืื ืืฉืืข ืืืื ืื ืื ืฉืืชื ืืืฆืื ืืคืื ืืจืื ื ืกืืจื ืืืื ืืืืจ ืืงืืจื ืืช ืฉืืข ืืื ืืฉืืืข ืืืื ื ืืฆื
The Gemara asks: And according to Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi as well, isnโt it indeed written, โhearโ? What does he learn from this word, if not that the Shema may be recited in any language? The Gemara answers: This word is necessary to teach something else: Make heard to your ears what your mouth is saying, i.e., the Shema must be recited audibly, not merely thought in oneโs heart. The Gemara asks: And how do the Sages know this? The Gemara explains: They hold like the one who said that if one recites the Shema but does not make it audible to his ears, he has nevertheless fulfilled his obligation.
ืืจืื ื ื ืื ืืืชืื ืืืื ืืืื ืืืืขื ืืื ืฉืื ืืงืจื ืืืคืจืข ืืจืื ืฉืื ืืงืจื ืืืคืจืข ืื ื ืืื ืืืืจืื ืืืืจืื ืืจืื ื ืืืจืื ืืืืจืื ืื ืืฉืืข ืืื
The Gemara asks: And according to the Sages as well, isnโt it indeed written, โAnd these words shall beโ? What do they learn from this, if not that the Shema must be recited in Hebrew? The Gemara answers: That word is necessary to teach that one must not recite the words of the Shema out of order, but they โshall beโ as they are, in the proper order. The Gemara asks: And from where does Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi learn that one must not recite the Shema out of order? The Gemara answers: He derives it from the fact that the verse does not say just: Words, but โthe words,โ referring to specific words, which teaches that they must be recited in their proper order without any variation. The Gemara asks: And what do the Sages learn from the phrase โthe wordsโ? The difference between words and โthe wordsโ is inconsequential according to them.
ืืืื ืงืกืืจ ืจืื ืื ืืชืืจื ืืืื ืืื ืืฉืื ื ืืืจื ืืื ืกืืงื ืืขืชื ืืืฉืื ืืงืืืฉ ื ืืืจื ืืื ืื ืืืืชื ืืืื
The Gemara analyzes the dispute: Shall we say that Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi maintains that the entire Torah may be recited in any language? As, if it enters your mind to say that the entire Torah may be recited only in the sacred tongue, Hebrew, and not in any other language, why do I need the Torah to write โand these words shall beโ with respect to the Shema? Why would I think that the Shema is different from the rest of the Torah?
ืืฆืืจืื ืกืืงื ืืขืชื ืฉืืข ืืจืื ื ืืชื ืจืืื ื ืืืื
The Gemara rejects this argument: There is no proof from here, as even if the Torah must generally be recited in Hebrew it is nevertheless necessary to specify the matter here, since without such specification it might have entered your mind to say that in this context โhearโ means understand, as maintained by the Sages, and that the Shema may be recited in any language. Therefore the Merciful One writes in the Torah, โand these words shall be,โ to teach us that the Shema may be recited only in the original Hebrew.
ืืืื ืงืกืืจื ืจืื ื ืื ืืชืืจื ืืืฉืื ืืงืืืฉ ื ืืืจื ืืื ืกืืงื ืืขืชื ืืื ืืฉืื ื ืืืจื ืืื ืื ืืืืชื ืฉืืข
The Gemara suggests: Shall we say then that the Sages maintain that the entire Torah must be recited specifically in the sacred tongue, Hebrew? As, if it enters your mind to say that the entire Torah may be recited in any language, why do I need the Torah to write โhearโ with respect to the Shema? Why would one think that the Shema is different from the rest of the Torah?
ืืืฆืืจืื ืกืืงื ืืขืชื ืืืื ื ืืืื ืืจืื ืืชื ืจืืื ื ืฉืืข
The Gemara rejects this argument: Even if the Torah may generally be recited in any language, it was nevertheless necessary to specify the matter here. Without such specification it could enter your mind to say that the words โand these words shall beโ teach that the Shema may be recited only in Hebrew, as asserted by Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi. Therefore the Merciful One writes the word โhearโ in the Torah, to teach us that the Shema may be recited in any language.
ืชืคืื ืื ื ืื ืืชื ืื ืฉืืขืื ืืคืงืืื ืืกืืืจ ืฉืืื ื ืขืฉืจื ืืจืืืช ืืคื ื ืจืื ืืืืืื ืขื ืืกืืจ ืืืื ื ืืืจ ืจืื ืืืื ื ืืืืจื ืื ืืืชื ืืชื ืชื ื ืืื ืืขืฉืจืื ืืงื ืื ืืืื ืืื ื ืืืืื ืชืืงื ื ืฉืืื ื ืขืฉืจื ืืจืืืช ืขื ืืกืืจ
ยง The baraita cited previously taught that the halakha against reciting a text out of order applies to the Amida prayer as well. The Gemara asks: From where do we derive this? As it is taught in a baraita: Shimon HaPakuli arranged the eighteen blessings of the Amida prayer before Rabban Gamliel in their fixed order in Yavne, which indicates that there is a specific order to these blessings that must not be changed. Rabbi Yoแธฅanan said, and some say that it was taught in a baraita: A hundred and twenty Elders, i.e., the Men of the Great Assembly, and among them several prophets, established the eighteen blessings of the Amida in their fixed order, which also shows that the order of these blessings may not be changed.
ืชื ื ืจืื ื ืื ืื ืฉืืืืจืื ืืืืช ืฉื ืืืจ ืืื ืืืณ ืื ื ืืืื ืืื ืื ืฉืืืืจืื ืืืืจืืช ืฉื ืืืจ ืืื ืืืณ ืืืื ืืขืื ืืื ืื ืฉืืืืจืื ืงืืืฉืืช ืฉื ืืืจ ืืื ืืืณ ืืืื ืฉืื ืืฉืชืืื ืืืณ ืืืืจืช ืงืืฉ
The Gemara proceeds to explain this order: The Sages taught in a baraita: From where is it derived that one says the blessing of the Patriarchs, the first blessing of the Amida? As it is stated: โAscribe to the Lord, mighty onesโ (Psalms 29:1), which means that one should mention before the Lord the mighty ones of the world, i.e., the Patriarchs. And from where is it derived that one then says the blessing of mighty deeds? As it is stated in the continuation of that verse: โAscribe to the Lord glory and strengthโ (Psalms 29:1). And from where is it derived that one then says the blessing of holiness? As it is stated in the next verse: โGive to the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holinessโ (Psalms 29:2).
ืืื ืจืื ืืืืจ ืืื ื ืืืจ ืงืืืฉื ืฉื ืืืจ ืืืงืืืฉื ืืช ืงืืืฉ ืืขืงื ืืืช ืืืื ืืฉืจืื ืืขืจืืฆื ืืกืืื ืืื ืืืืขื ืชืืขื ืจืื ืืื ื ืืื ืจืื ืืืืจ ืชืฉืืื ืืืจ ืืื ื ืืืชืื ืืืืื ืืืื ืืฉื ืืจืคื ืื
The Gemara continues: And why did they see fit to institute to say the blessing of understanding after the blessing of holiness? As it is stated: โThey shall sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall revere the God of Israelโ (Isaiah 29:23), and adjacent to that verse it is written: โThey also that erred in spirit shall come to understandingโ (Isaiah 29:24). This shows that it is proper for the theme of understanding to follow the theme of Godโs holiness. And why did they see fit to institute to say the blessing of repentance after the blessing of understanding? As it is written: โAnd they will understand with their heart, repent, and be healedโ (Isaiah 6:10), showing that the theme of repentance properly follows the theme of understanding.
ืื ืืื ืืืื ืจืคืืื ืืชืจื ืืชืฉืืื ืื ืกืืงื ืืขืชื ืืืชืื ืืืฉืื ืื ืืณ ืืืจืืืื ืืื ืืืืื ื ืื ืืจืื ืืกืืื
The Gemara asks: If so, that the sequence of blessings is based on this verse, let us say that the blessing of healing should be said after the blessing of repentance. Why, then, is the next blessing in the Amida the blessing of forgiveness and not the blessing of healing? The Gemara explains: This cannot enter your mind, as it is written: โAnd let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardonโ (Isaiah 55:7), which shows that the theme of repentance should be followed by that of forgiveness.
ืืืื ืืืืช ืืกืืืช ืืื ืกืืื ืืื ืืชื ืงืจื ืืืจืื ื ืืกืืื ืืื ืขืื ืืื ืืจืืคื ืืื ืชืืืืืืื ืืืืื ืืฉืืช ืืืืื ืืืืืจื ืืืืืื ืืจืคืืื ืืชืจ ืกืืืื ืืื ืืืืชืื ืืฉื ืืจืคื ืื ืืืื ืืื ืจืคืืื ืืชืืืืืื ืืื ืืื ืจืคืืื ืืกืืืื ืืื
The Gemara poses a question: But what did you see to rely on this verse? Rely on the other verse, which juxtaposes repentance to healing. The Gemara answers: Another verse, in which it is written: โWho forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the pitโ (Psalms 103:3โ4), proves that the theme of healing should follow that of forgiveness. The Gemara asks: Is that verse coming to say that the blessings of redemption and healing should be placed following the blessing of forgiveness? But isnโt it written: โRepent, and be healedโ (Isaiah 6:10), which suggests that repentance should be followed by healing? The Gemara answers: That verse is referring not to the literal healing from illness, but rather to the figurative healing of forgiveness, and therefore this verse too supports the sequence of forgiveness following repentance.
ืืื ืจืื ืืืืจ ืืืืื ืืฉืืืขืืช ืืืจ ืจืื ืืชืื ืฉืขืชืืืื ืืืืื ืืฉืืืขืืช ืืคืืื ืงืืขืื ืืฉืืืขืืช ืืืืืจ ืืจ ืืฉืฉืืช ืงืืืืช ืืฉืืืขืืช ืืืืืืช ืืืืฆืื ืฉืืืขืืช ืื ืืื ืื ืืืืื ื ืื ืืชืืืชื ืืืืืื ืืื
The Gemara continues: And why did they see fit to institute to say the blessing of redemption as the seventh blessing? Rava said: Since there is a tradition that the Jewish people are destined to be redeemed in the seventh year of the Sabbatical cycle, consequently, they fixed redemption as the seventh blessing. But didnโt the Master say in a baraita: In the sixth year of the Sabbatical cycle in the days of the arrival of the Messiah, heavenly sounds will be heard; in the seventh year there will be wars; and upon the conclusion of the seventh year, in the eighth year, the son of David, the Messiah, will come? The redemption will take place not during the seventh year but after it. The Gemara answers: Nevertheless, the war that takes place during the seventh year is also the beginning of the redemption process, and it is therefore correct to say that Israel will be redeemed in the seventh year.
ืืื ืจืื ืืืืจ ืจืคืืื ืืฉืืื ืืช ืืืจ ืจืื ืืื ืืชืื ืฉื ืชื ื ืืืื ืืฉืืื ืืช ืฉืฆืจืืื ืจืคืืื ืืคืืื ืงืืขืื ืืฉืืื ืืช
The Gemara continues: And why did they see fit to institute that one says the blessing of healing as the eighth blessing? Rabbi Aแธฅa said: Since circumcision was assigned to the eighth day of life, and circumcision requires healing, consequently, they established healing as the eighth blessing.
ืืื ืจืื ืืืืจ ืืจืืช ืืฉื ืื ืืชืฉืืขืืช ืืืจ ืจืื ืืืืกื ืืจื ืื ืื ืืคืงืืขื ืฉืขืจืื ืืืชืื ืฉืืืจ ืืจืืข ืจืฉืข ืืืื ืื ืืืจื ืืชืฉืืขืืช ืืืจื
And why did they see fit to institute that one says the blessing of bountiful years as the ninth blessing? Rabbi Alexandri said: This blessing was instituted in reference to those who raise the prices of food. We pray for rain so that the price of produce will not rise as a result of shortages, as it is written: โBreak the arm of the wickedโ (Psalms 10:15), referring to the wicked, who practice deception and extort the poor. And when David expressed this request, he expressed it in the ninth psalm. Although today it is considered the tenth psalm, the first and second psalms are actually counted as one, and therefore this is the ninth psalm. Therefore, the blessing of the years was fixed as the ninth blessing.
ืืื ืจืื ืืืืจ ืงืืืืฅ ืืืืืช ืืืืจ ืืจืืช ืืฉื ืื ืืืชืื ืืืชื ืืจื ืืฉืจืื ืขื ืคืื ืชืชื ื ืืคืจืืื ืชืฉืื ืืขืื ืืฉืจืื ืื ืงืจืื ืืืื ืืืืื ืฉื ืชืงืืฆื ืืืืืช ื ืขืฉื ืืื ืืจืฉืขืื ืฉื ืืืจ ืืืฉืืื ืืื ืขืืื ืืืฆืจืืฃ ืืืืจ ืกืืืื ืืืชืื ืืืฉืืื ืฉืืคืืื ืืืจืืฉืื ื
The Gemara asks: And why did they see fit to institute that one says the blessing of the ingathering of the exiles after the blessing of the years? As it is written: โAnd you, O mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to My people Israel; for they will soon be comingโ (Ezekiel 36:8), which indicates that the ingathering of the exiles will follow after Eretz Yisrael is blessed with bountiful produce. And once the exiles have been gathered, judgment will be meted out to the wicked, as it is stated: โAnd I will turn my hand against you and purge away your dross as with lyeโ (Isaiah 1:25), and immediately after it is written: โAnd I will restore your judges as at firstโ (Isaiah 1:26). For this reason the blessing of the restoration of judges comes after the blessing of the ingathering of the exiles.
ืืืืื ืฉื ืขืฉื ืืื ืื ืืจืฉืขืื ืืื ืืคืืฉืขืื ืืืืื ืืืื ืขืืื ืฉื ืืืจ ืืฉืืจ ืคืืฉืขืื ืืืืืื ืืืืื (ืืืื)
And once judgment is meted out to the wicked, the transgressors, i.e., the heretics and sectarians, will cease to be. Consequently, the next blessing is that of the heretics, and one includes evildoers with them, as it is stated: โAnd the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the Lord shall cease to beโ (Isaiah 1:28). The โtransgressors and sinnersโ are the evildoers, and โthey that forsake the Lordโ are the heretics.
ืืืืื ืฉืืื ืืคืืฉืขืื ืืชืจืืืืช ืงืจื ืฆืืืงืื ืืืชืื ืืื ืงืจื ื ืจืฉืขืื ืืืืข ืชืจืืืื ื ืงืจื ืืช ืฆืืืง ืืืืื ืืืจื ืืฆืืง ืขื ืืฆืืืงืื ืฉื ืืืจ ืืคื ื ืฉืืื ืชืงืื ืืืืจืช ืคื ื ืืงื ืืกืืื ืืื ืืื ืืืืจ ืืชืื ืืจ
And once the heretics cease to be, the horn, i.e., the glory, of the righteous will be exalted, as it is written: โAll the horns of the wicked will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exaltedโ (Psalms 75:11). Therefore, after the blessing of the heretics, one says the blessing about the righteous. And he includes the righteous converts along with the righteous, as it is stated: โYou shall rise up before the hoary head, and honor the face of the elderโ (Leviticus 19:32), and adjacent to this it is stated: โAnd if a stranger sojourns with youโ (Leviticus 19:33). An โelderโ is one with Torah wisdom and a โstrangerโ is one who has converted to Judaism.
ืืืืื ืืชืจืืืืช ืงืจื ื ืืืจืืฉืืื ืฉื ืืืจ ืฉืืื ืฉืืื ืืจืืฉืื ืืฉืืื ืืืืืื
And where will the horns of the righteous be exalted? In Jerusalem, as it is stated: โPray for the peace of Jerusalem; they who love you shall prosperโ (Psalms 122:6). โThey who love youโ are the righteous. Therefore, the blessing of the rebuilding of Jerusalem is placed after the blessing of the righteous.
ืืืืื ืฉื ืื ืืช ืืจืืฉืืื ืื ืืื ืฉื ืืืจ
And once Jerusalem is rebuilt, the Messiah, scion of the house of David, will come, as it is stated:
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This month's learning is sponsored by Sami Groff in honor of Shoshana Keats Jaskoll and Chochmat Nashim.
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Megillah 17
The William Davidson Talmud | Powered by Sefaria
ืืื ื ืื ื ืฉื ืืชืื ืฉื ืืฉืืขืื ืืื ืืืืก ืืื ืฉื ืืชืื ืฉื ืืขืงื ืืืชืื ืืืื ืฉื ื ืืื ืืฉืืขืื ืืืช ืฉื ื ืืฉืืฉืื ืฉื ื ืืฉืืข ืฉื ืื ืืื ืงืฉืืฉ ืืฉืืขืื ืืืฆืืง ืืจืืืกืจ ืฉื ืื ืืืชืื ืืืืจื ืื ืฉืืื ืื ืฉื ื ืืฉืฉ ืฉื ืื ืืืืช ืืืจ ืืช ืืฉืืขืื ืืืืจื ืืืชืื ืืืืจืื ืื ืืืช ืฉื ื ืืืืื ืื ืืช ืืฆืืง ืื ื ืืืชืื ืืืฆืืง ืื ืฉืฉืื ืฉื ื ืืืืช ืืืชื ืืจ ืืื ืืื ืืฉืืขืื ืืืืชืืืื ืืขืงื ืืจ ืฉืืขืื ืืืจืืขื ืืื ืคืืืฉื ืืฉื ืื ืฉืชืื ืืชืืช
Why were the years of Ishmael mentioned in the Torah? For what purpose were we told the life span of that wicked man? In order to reckon through them the years of Jacob. As it is written: โAnd these are the years of the life of Ishmael, a hundred and thirty-seven yearsโ (Genesis 25:17). How much older was Ishmael than Isaac? Fourteen years. As it is written: โAnd Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abramโ (Genesis 16:16). And it is written: โAnd Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to himโ (Genesis 21:5). And it is written with regard to Jacob and Esau: โAnd Isaac was sixty years old when she bore themโ (Genesis 25:26). Based on these verses, how old was Ishmael when Jacob was born? Seventy-four. How many of his years remained then until his death? Sixty-three, as Ishmael died at the age of a hundred and thirty-seven.
ืืชื ืื ืืื ืืขืงื ืืืื ื ืืฉืขื ืฉื ืชืืจื ืืืืื ืื ืฉืฉืื ืืฉืืฉ ืฉื ื ืืื ืืคืจืง ืืช ืืฉืืขืื ืืืชืื ืืืจื ืขืฉื ืื ืืจื ืืืืณ ืืืื ืขืฉื ืื ืืฉืืขืื ืืืงื ืืช ืืืืช ืืช ืืฉืืขืื ืืืืช ื ืืืืช ืืืฉืืข ืฉื ืืืจ ืืช ืืฉืืขืื ืืื ื ืืืืข ืฉืืื ืืืืช ื ืืืืช ืืืื ืฉืงืืืฉื ืืฉืืขืื ืืืช ืืืฉืืื ื ืืืืช ืืืื
And it was taught in a baraita: Jacob our father was sixty-three years old at the time he was blessed by his father, and at that same time Ishmael died. How is it known that these two events occurred at the same time? As it is written: โWhen Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacobโฆthen Esau went to Ishmael and took for a wife Mahalath, the daughter of Ishmael, Abrahamโs son, the sister of Nebaiothโ (Genesis 28:6โ9). From the fact that it is stated: โthe daughter of Ishmael,โ do I not know that she was the sister of Nebaioth? For what purpose then does the verse say this explicitly? This teaches that Ishmael betrothed her to Esau and in the meantime he died, and Nebaioth her brother married her off. Therefore, special mention is made of Nebaioth. Consequently, it is understood that Jacob was sixty-three years old when he received his blessing and left his fatherโs house.
ืฉืชืื ืืชืืช ืืืจืืืกืจ ืขื ืืืชืืืื ืืืกืฃ ืื ืฉืืขืื ืืฉืืขื ืืืชืื ืืืืกืฃ ืื ืฉืืฉืื ืฉื ื ืืขืืื ืืคื ื ืคืจืขื ืื ืืื ืืฉืืข ืฉื ืืฉืืขื ืืชืจืชื ืืืคื ื ืื ืืื ืืฉืืชืกืจ
If we calculate these sixty-three years and the fourteen until Joseph was born, this means that Jacob should have been seventy-seven at the time of Josephโs birth. And it is written: โAnd Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaohโ (Genesis 41:46). This indicates that Jacob should have then been at least a hundred and seven years old when Joseph was thirty. Add the seven years of plenty and the two of famine, and this would then indicate that Jacob should have been a hundred and sixteen years old when he arrived in Egypt in the second year of the famine.
ืืืชืื ืืืืืจ ืคืจืขื ืื ืืขืงื ืืื ืืื ืฉื ื ืืืื ืืืืืจ ืืขืงื ืื ืคืจืขื ืืื ืฉื ื ืืืืจื ืฉืืฉืื ืืืืช ืฉื ื ืืื ืืฉืืชืกืจ ืืืืื
But it is written: โAnd Pharaoh said to Jacob, How many are the days of the years of your life? And Jacob said to Pharaoh, The days of the years of my sojournings are a hundred and thirty yearsโ (Genesis 47:8โ9). Jacob indicated that he was a hundred and thirty-three when he arrived in Egypt, which is different from the hundred and sixteen years calculated previously. Where are the missing fourteen years from Jacobโs lifetime?
ืืื ืฉืืข ืืื ื ืืจืืข ืขืฉืจื ืฉื ืื ืืืื ืืืืช ืขืืจ ืื ืืฉืื ืืื ืืชื ืื ืืื ืืขืงื ืืืืช ืขืืจ ืืืืื ืืจืืข ืขืฉืจื ืฉื ื ืขืืจ ืืช ืืืืจ ืฉืืจื ืืขืงื ืืืื ื ืืืจื ื ืืจืื ืฉืชื ืฉื ืื ืืฆื ืืฉื ืืื ืื ืืืจื ื ืืจืื ื ืืฆื ืืฉืขืื ืขื ืืืืจ ืื ืฉืืขืื ืืฉืืข ืฉื ื
Rather, learn from here that the fourteen years that Jacob spent in the house of Eber are not counted here. As it is taught in a baraita: Jacob was studying in the house of Eber for fourteen years while in hiding from his brother Esau. If we were to calculate the life spans recorded in the Torah, we would find that Eber died when Jacob was seventy-nine years old, two years after Jacob our father went down to Aram-naharaim, to the house of Laban. When Jacob left after completing his studying there, he then went immediately to Aram-naharaim. Therefore, when Jacob stood at the well upon his arrival in Aram-naharaim, he was seventy-seven years old.
ืืื ืื ืืื ืืืขื ืฉ ืืชื ืื ื ืืฆื ืืืกืฃ ืฉืคืืจืฉ ืืืืื ืขืฉืจืื ืืฉืชืื ืฉื ื ืืฉื ืฉืคืืจืฉ ืืขืงื ืืืื ื ืืืืื ืืืขืงื ืชืืชืื ืืฉืืชื ืืืืื ืืื ืืจืืืกืจ ืืืื ืืืืช ืขืืจ ืื ืืฉืื ืืื
And from where do we derive that Jacob was not punished for the fourteen years that he was in the house of Eber, during which time he failed to fulfill the mitzva of honoring oneโs parents? As it is taught in a baraita: It turns out that Joseph was away from his father for twenty-two years, just as Jacob our father was away from his own father for that same period of time. According to the previous calculation, however, the baraita is difficult, as Jacob was absent for thirty-six years. Rather, conclude from here that the fourteen years that he was in the house of Eber are not counted, as he was not punished for them.
ืกืืฃ ืกืืฃ ืืืืช ืืื ืขืฉืจืื ืฉื ืื ืืืืื ืืื ืืฉืื ืืืฉืชืื ืืืืจืื ืชืจืชืื ืฉื ืื ืืชื ืื ืืฆื ืืืจื ื ืืจืื ืืื ืื ืืกืืืช ืืขืฉื ืฉื ืฉืืื ื ืขืฉืจ ืืืืฉ ืฉื ืืืจ ืืืขืงื ื ืกืข ืกืืืชื ืืืื ืื ืืืช ืืืืงื ืื ืขืฉื ืกืืืช ืืืืืช ืื ืขืฉื ืฉืฉื ืืืฉืื ืืืงืจืื ืืืืื
The Gemara raises an objection: But ultimately, Jacob was in Labanโs house for only twenty years. Why, then, is he faulted for being away from his father for twenty-two years? Rather, he was punished because on his journey back from Aram-naharaim he tarried another two years before returning home to his parents, as it is taught in a baraita: Jacob left Aram-naharaim and came to Sukkot, and spent eighteen months there, as it is stated: โAnd Jacob journeyed to Sukkot, built himself a house, and made booths [sukkot] for his cattleโ (Genesis 33:17). The Gemara understands this verse to mean that first he made booths [Sukkot], to live in during the summer, and then he built a house in the winter, and afterward he again made booths [sukkot] during the next summer, indicating that he must have been there for eighteen months. He then was in Bethel for six months, and he brought offerings, totaling two years in all. In this way, all the various calculations of years are reconciled.
ืืืจื ืขืื ืืืืื ื ืงืจืืช
ืืชื ืืณ ืืงืืจื ืืช ืืืืืื ืืืคืจืข ืื ืืฆื ืงืจืื ืขื ืคื ืงืจืื ืชืจืืื ืืื ืืฉืื ืื ืืฆื ืืื ืงืืจืื ืืืชื ืืืืขืืืช ืืืขื ืืืืืขื ืฉืฉืืข ืืฉืืจืืช ืืฆื
MISHNA: With regard to one who reads the Megilla out of order, reading a later section first, and then going back to the earlier section, he has not fulfilled his obligation. If he read it by heart, or if he read it in Aramaic translation or in any other language that he does not understand, he has not fulfilled his obligation. However, for those who speak a foreign language, one may read the Megilla in that foreign language. And one who speaks a foreign language who heard the Megilla read in Ashurit, i.e., in Hebrew, has fulfilled his obligation.
ืงืจืื ืกืืจืืืื ืืืชื ืื ื ืืฆื ืืื ืืืชืื ืืืจืฉื ืืืืืื ืื ืืืื ืืื ืืฆื ืืื ืืื ืื ืืฆื
If one read the Megilla at intervals, pausing and resuming, or while he is dozing off, he has fulfilled his obligation. If one was writing a Megilla, or expounding upon it, or correcting it, and he read all its words as he was doing so, the following distinction applies: If he had intent to fulfill his obligation with that reading he has fulfilled his obligation, but if not, he has not fulfilled his obligation.
ืืืชื ืืชืืื ืืกื ืืืกืืงืจื ืืืงืืืืก ืืืงื ืงื ืชืื ืขื ืื ืืืจ ืืขื ืืืคืชืจื ืื ืืฆื ืขื ืฉืชืื ืืชืืื ืืฉืืจืืช ืขื ืืกืคืจ ืืืืื
If one reads from a Megilla that was written not with ink but with sam or with sikra or with komos or with kankantom, or from a Megilla that was written not on parchment but on neyar or on diftera, a kind of unprocessed leather, he has not fulfilled his obligation. He does not fulfill his obligation unless he reads from a Megilla that is written in Ashurit, i.e., in the Hebrew language and using the Hebrew script, upon parchment and with ink.
ืืืณ ืื ื ืื ื ืืืื ืืืจ ืจืื ืืืืจ ืงืจื ืืืชืื ืืืืื ื ืื ืืื ื ืืืคืจืข ืื ืืฃ ืืชืื ืืืคืจืข ืื
GEMARA: It was taught in the mishna that one who reads the Megilla out of order has not fulfilled his obligation. The Gemara asks: From where are these matters derived? Rava said: The verse states concerning Purim: โThat they should unfailingly observe these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed times every yearโ (Esther 9:27), and the word โtimesโ is referring to the two days of Purim, the fourteenth and the fifteenth of Adar. And we learn by way of analogy: Just as their appointed times cannot be out of order, as the fifteenth of Adar cannot possibly come before the fourteenth, so too, their writing must not be out of order.
ืืืื ืงืจืืื ืืชืืื ืืื ืขืฉืืื ืืชืืื ืืืชืื ืืืืืช ืขืืฉืื ืืช ืฉื ื ืืืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืชืื ืืืืืื ืืืื ื ืืืจืื ืื ืขืฉืื ืืืชืงืฉ ืืืืจื ืืขืฉืืื ืื ืขืฉืืื ืืืคืจืข ืื ืืฃ ืืืืจื ืืืคืจืข ืื
The Gemara rejects this derivation: Is reading written here at all? It is โobservingโ that is written here in this verse, not reading, as it is written: โThat they should unfailingly observe these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed times.โ Rather, the proof is from here, as it is written: โAnd that these days should be remembered and observed throughout every generationโ (Esther 9:28). Remembering is juxtaposed to observing, indicating: Just as observing cannot be out of order, as was derived from the words โThat they should unfailingly observe these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed times,โ so too, remembering, by reading the Megilla, may not be out of order.
ืชื ื ืืื ืืืื ืืื ืืงืจืืืช ืฉืืข ืืืชืคืื
ยง The Sages taught in a baraita: This halakha of not reading out of order applies also to hallel, and also to the recitation of Shema, and also to the Amida prayer, meaning that to fulfill oneโs obligation he must recite the text of each of these in order.
ืืื ืื ืื ืจืื ืืืจ ืืืชืื ืืืืจื ืฉืืฉ ืขื ืืืืื ืจื ืืืกืฃ ืืืจ ืื ืืืื ืขืฉื ืืณ
The Gemara asks: From where do we derive that hallel may not be recited out of order? Rabba said: As it is written in hallel: โFrom the rising of the sun until its setting the Lordโs name is to be praisedโ (Psalms 113:3). Just as the sunrise and sunset cannot be reversed, so too, hallel may not be recited out of order. Rav Yosef said: It is derived from the verse in hallel that states: โThis is the day that the Lord has madeโ (Psalms 118:24); just as the day follows a certain order, so too, hallel must be recited in its proper order.
ืจื ืืืื ืืืจ ืืื ืฉื ืืณ ืืืืจื ืืจื ื ืืื ืืจ ืืฆืืง ืืืืชืืื ืจื ืืื ืืจ ืืขืงื ืืืจ ืืืื ืืขืชื ืืขื ืขืืื
Rav Avya said: It is derived from the verse in hallel: โBlessed be the name of the Lordโ (Psalms 113:2), indicating that the blessing of God must โbeโ just as it is written. Rav Naแธฅman bar Yitzแธฅak said, and some say that it was Rav Aแธฅa bar Yaโakov who said: It is derived from here, the end of the aforementioned verse: โFrom now and for evermoreโ (Psalms 113:2), i.e., it should be like time, which cannot be reversed.
ืงืจืืืช ืฉืืข ืืชื ืื ืงืจืืืช ืฉืืข ืืืชืื ืืืจื ืจืื ืืืืืื ืืืืจืื ืืื ืืฉืื ืืื ืืขืื ืืจืื ืืืจ ืงืจื
From where do we know one has not fulfilled his obligation of reciting the Shema if he recited it out of order? As it is taught in a baraita: The recital of the Shema must be as it is written, i.e., in Hebrew; this is the statement of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi. But the Rabbis say: It may be recited in any language. The Gemara asks: What is the reason of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi? The verse states:
ืืืื ืืืืืชื ืืื ืืจืื ื ืืื ืืขืื ืืืจ ืงืจื ืฉืืข ืืื ืืฉืื ืฉืืชื ืฉืืืข
โAnd these wordsโฆshall beโ (Deuteronomy 6:6), teaching that these words, the words of the Shema, always โshall beโ as they are, i.e., in the Hebrew language. The Gemara asks: And as for the Sages, what is the reason for their opinion? The verse states: โHear, O Israelโ (Deuteronomy 6:4), which could also be translated, โUnderstand, O Israel,โ indicating that you may recite these words in any language that you hear, i.e., understand.
ืืจืื ื ืื ืื ืืชืื ืฉืืข ืืืื ืืืืขื ืืื ืืฉืืข ืืืื ืื ืื ืฉืืชื ืืืฆืื ืืคืื ืืจืื ื ืกืืจื ืืืื ืืืืจ ืืงืืจื ืืช ืฉืืข ืืื ืืฉืืืข ืืืื ื ืืฆื
The Gemara asks: And according to Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi as well, isnโt it indeed written, โhearโ? What does he learn from this word, if not that the Shema may be recited in any language? The Gemara answers: This word is necessary to teach something else: Make heard to your ears what your mouth is saying, i.e., the Shema must be recited audibly, not merely thought in oneโs heart. The Gemara asks: And how do the Sages know this? The Gemara explains: They hold like the one who said that if one recites the Shema but does not make it audible to his ears, he has nevertheless fulfilled his obligation.
ืืจืื ื ื ืื ืืืชืื ืืืื ืืืื ืืืืขื ืืื ืฉืื ืืงืจื ืืืคืจืข ืืจืื ืฉืื ืืงืจื ืืืคืจืข ืื ื ืืื ืืืืจืื ืืืืจืื ืืจืื ื ืืืจืื ืืืืจืื ืื ืืฉืืข ืืื
The Gemara asks: And according to the Sages as well, isnโt it indeed written, โAnd these words shall beโ? What do they learn from this, if not that the Shema must be recited in Hebrew? The Gemara answers: That word is necessary to teach that one must not recite the words of the Shema out of order, but they โshall beโ as they are, in the proper order. The Gemara asks: And from where does Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi learn that one must not recite the Shema out of order? The Gemara answers: He derives it from the fact that the verse does not say just: Words, but โthe words,โ referring to specific words, which teaches that they must be recited in their proper order without any variation. The Gemara asks: And what do the Sages learn from the phrase โthe wordsโ? The difference between words and โthe wordsโ is inconsequential according to them.
ืืืื ืงืกืืจ ืจืื ืื ืืชืืจื ืืืื ืืื ืืฉืื ื ืืืจื ืืื ืกืืงื ืืขืชื ืืืฉืื ืืงืืืฉ ื ืืืจื ืืื ืื ืืืืชื ืืืื
The Gemara analyzes the dispute: Shall we say that Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi maintains that the entire Torah may be recited in any language? As, if it enters your mind to say that the entire Torah may be recited only in the sacred tongue, Hebrew, and not in any other language, why do I need the Torah to write โand these words shall beโ with respect to the Shema? Why would I think that the Shema is different from the rest of the Torah?
ืืฆืืจืื ืกืืงื ืืขืชื ืฉืืข ืืจืื ื ืืชื ืจืืื ื ืืืื
The Gemara rejects this argument: There is no proof from here, as even if the Torah must generally be recited in Hebrew it is nevertheless necessary to specify the matter here, since without such specification it might have entered your mind to say that in this context โhearโ means understand, as maintained by the Sages, and that the Shema may be recited in any language. Therefore the Merciful One writes in the Torah, โand these words shall be,โ to teach us that the Shema may be recited only in the original Hebrew.
ืืืื ืงืกืืจื ืจืื ื ืื ืืชืืจื ืืืฉืื ืืงืืืฉ ื ืืืจื ืืื ืกืืงื ืืขืชื ืืื ืืฉืื ื ืืืจื ืืื ืื ืืืืชื ืฉืืข
The Gemara suggests: Shall we say then that the Sages maintain that the entire Torah must be recited specifically in the sacred tongue, Hebrew? As, if it enters your mind to say that the entire Torah may be recited in any language, why do I need the Torah to write โhearโ with respect to the Shema? Why would one think that the Shema is different from the rest of the Torah?
ืืืฆืืจืื ืกืืงื ืืขืชื ืืืื ื ืืืื ืืจืื ืืชื ืจืืื ื ืฉืืข
The Gemara rejects this argument: Even if the Torah may generally be recited in any language, it was nevertheless necessary to specify the matter here. Without such specification it could enter your mind to say that the words โand these words shall beโ teach that the Shema may be recited only in Hebrew, as asserted by Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi. Therefore the Merciful One writes the word โhearโ in the Torah, to teach us that the Shema may be recited in any language.
ืชืคืื ืื ื ืื ืืชื ืื ืฉืืขืื ืืคืงืืื ืืกืืืจ ืฉืืื ื ืขืฉืจื ืืจืืืช ืืคื ื ืจืื ืืืืืื ืขื ืืกืืจ ืืืื ื ืืืจ ืจืื ืืืื ื ืืืืจื ืื ืืืชื ืืชื ืชื ื ืืื ืืขืฉืจืื ืืงื ืื ืืืื ืืื ื ืืืืื ืชืืงื ื ืฉืืื ื ืขืฉืจื ืืจืืืช ืขื ืืกืืจ
ยง The baraita cited previously taught that the halakha against reciting a text out of order applies to the Amida prayer as well. The Gemara asks: From where do we derive this? As it is taught in a baraita: Shimon HaPakuli arranged the eighteen blessings of the Amida prayer before Rabban Gamliel in their fixed order in Yavne, which indicates that there is a specific order to these blessings that must not be changed. Rabbi Yoแธฅanan said, and some say that it was taught in a baraita: A hundred and twenty Elders, i.e., the Men of the Great Assembly, and among them several prophets, established the eighteen blessings of the Amida in their fixed order, which also shows that the order of these blessings may not be changed.
ืชื ื ืจืื ื ืื ืื ืฉืืืืจืื ืืืืช ืฉื ืืืจ ืืื ืืืณ ืื ื ืืืื ืืื ืื ืฉืืืืจืื ืืืืจืืช ืฉื ืืืจ ืืื ืืืณ ืืืื ืืขืื ืืื ืื ืฉืืืืจืื ืงืืืฉืืช ืฉื ืืืจ ืืื ืืืณ ืืืื ืฉืื ืืฉืชืืื ืืืณ ืืืืจืช ืงืืฉ
The Gemara proceeds to explain this order: The Sages taught in a baraita: From where is it derived that one says the blessing of the Patriarchs, the first blessing of the Amida? As it is stated: โAscribe to the Lord, mighty onesโ (Psalms 29:1), which means that one should mention before the Lord the mighty ones of the world, i.e., the Patriarchs. And from where is it derived that one then says the blessing of mighty deeds? As it is stated in the continuation of that verse: โAscribe to the Lord glory and strengthโ (Psalms 29:1). And from where is it derived that one then says the blessing of holiness? As it is stated in the next verse: โGive to the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holinessโ (Psalms 29:2).
ืืื ืจืื ืืืืจ ืืื ื ืืืจ ืงืืืฉื ืฉื ืืืจ ืืืงืืืฉื ืืช ืงืืืฉ ืืขืงื ืืืช ืืืื ืืฉืจืื ืืขืจืืฆื ืืกืืื ืืื ืืืืขื ืชืืขื ืจืื ืืื ื ืืื ืจืื ืืืืจ ืชืฉืืื ืืืจ ืืื ื ืืืชืื ืืืืื ืืืื ืืฉื ืืจืคื ืื
The Gemara continues: And why did they see fit to institute to say the blessing of understanding after the blessing of holiness? As it is stated: โThey shall sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall revere the God of Israelโ (Isaiah 29:23), and adjacent to that verse it is written: โThey also that erred in spirit shall come to understandingโ (Isaiah 29:24). This shows that it is proper for the theme of understanding to follow the theme of Godโs holiness. And why did they see fit to institute to say the blessing of repentance after the blessing of understanding? As it is written: โAnd they will understand with their heart, repent, and be healedโ (Isaiah 6:10), showing that the theme of repentance properly follows the theme of understanding.
ืื ืืื ืืืื ืจืคืืื ืืชืจื ืืชืฉืืื ืื ืกืืงื ืืขืชื ืืืชืื ืืืฉืื ืื ืืณ ืืืจืืืื ืืื ืืืืื ื ืื ืืจืื ืืกืืื
The Gemara asks: If so, that the sequence of blessings is based on this verse, let us say that the blessing of healing should be said after the blessing of repentance. Why, then, is the next blessing in the Amida the blessing of forgiveness and not the blessing of healing? The Gemara explains: This cannot enter your mind, as it is written: โAnd let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardonโ (Isaiah 55:7), which shows that the theme of repentance should be followed by that of forgiveness.
ืืืื ืืืืช ืืกืืืช ืืื ืกืืื ืืื ืืชื ืงืจื ืืืจืื ื ืืกืืื ืืื ืขืื ืืื ืืจืืคื ืืื ืชืืืืืืื ืืืืื ืืฉืืช ืืืืื ืืืืืจื ืืืืืื ืืจืคืืื ืืชืจ ืกืืืื ืืื ืืืืชืื ืืฉื ืืจืคื ืื ืืืื ืืื ืจืคืืื ืืชืืืืืื ืืื ืืื ืจืคืืื ืืกืืืื ืืื
The Gemara poses a question: But what did you see to rely on this verse? Rely on the other verse, which juxtaposes repentance to healing. The Gemara answers: Another verse, in which it is written: โWho forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the pitโ (Psalms 103:3โ4), proves that the theme of healing should follow that of forgiveness. The Gemara asks: Is that verse coming to say that the blessings of redemption and healing should be placed following the blessing of forgiveness? But isnโt it written: โRepent, and be healedโ (Isaiah 6:10), which suggests that repentance should be followed by healing? The Gemara answers: That verse is referring not to the literal healing from illness, but rather to the figurative healing of forgiveness, and therefore this verse too supports the sequence of forgiveness following repentance.
ืืื ืจืื ืืืืจ ืืืืื ืืฉืืืขืืช ืืืจ ืจืื ืืชืื ืฉืขืชืืืื ืืืืื ืืฉืืืขืืช ืืคืืื ืงืืขืื ืืฉืืืขืืช ืืืืืจ ืืจ ืืฉืฉืืช ืงืืืืช ืืฉืืืขืืช ืืืืืืช ืืืืฆืื ืฉืืืขืืช ืื ืืื ืื ืืืืื ื ืื ืืชืืืชื ืืืืืื ืืื
The Gemara continues: And why did they see fit to institute to say the blessing of redemption as the seventh blessing? Rava said: Since there is a tradition that the Jewish people are destined to be redeemed in the seventh year of the Sabbatical cycle, consequently, they fixed redemption as the seventh blessing. But didnโt the Master say in a baraita: In the sixth year of the Sabbatical cycle in the days of the arrival of the Messiah, heavenly sounds will be heard; in the seventh year there will be wars; and upon the conclusion of the seventh year, in the eighth year, the son of David, the Messiah, will come? The redemption will take place not during the seventh year but after it. The Gemara answers: Nevertheless, the war that takes place during the seventh year is also the beginning of the redemption process, and it is therefore correct to say that Israel will be redeemed in the seventh year.
ืืื ืจืื ืืืืจ ืจืคืืื ืืฉืืื ืืช ืืืจ ืจืื ืืื ืืชืื ืฉื ืชื ื ืืืื ืืฉืืื ืืช ืฉืฆืจืืื ืจืคืืื ืืคืืื ืงืืขืื ืืฉืืื ืืช
The Gemara continues: And why did they see fit to institute that one says the blessing of healing as the eighth blessing? Rabbi Aแธฅa said: Since circumcision was assigned to the eighth day of life, and circumcision requires healing, consequently, they established healing as the eighth blessing.
ืืื ืจืื ืืืืจ ืืจืืช ืืฉื ืื ืืชืฉืืขืืช ืืืจ ืจืื ืืืืกื ืืจื ืื ืื ืืคืงืืขื ืฉืขืจืื ืืืชืื ืฉืืืจ ืืจืืข ืจืฉืข ืืืื ืื ืืืจื ืืชืฉืืขืืช ืืืจื
And why did they see fit to institute that one says the blessing of bountiful years as the ninth blessing? Rabbi Alexandri said: This blessing was instituted in reference to those who raise the prices of food. We pray for rain so that the price of produce will not rise as a result of shortages, as it is written: โBreak the arm of the wickedโ (Psalms 10:15), referring to the wicked, who practice deception and extort the poor. And when David expressed this request, he expressed it in the ninth psalm. Although today it is considered the tenth psalm, the first and second psalms are actually counted as one, and therefore this is the ninth psalm. Therefore, the blessing of the years was fixed as the ninth blessing.
ืืื ืจืื ืืืืจ ืงืืืืฅ ืืืืืช ืืืืจ ืืจืืช ืืฉื ืื ืืืชืื ืืืชื ืืจื ืืฉืจืื ืขื ืคืื ืชืชื ื ืืคืจืืื ืชืฉืื ืืขืื ืืฉืจืื ืื ืงืจืื ืืืื ืืืืื ืฉื ืชืงืืฆื ืืืืืช ื ืขืฉื ืืื ืืจืฉืขืื ืฉื ืืืจ ืืืฉืืื ืืื ืขืืื ืืืฆืจืืฃ ืืืืจ ืกืืืื ืืืชืื ืืืฉืืื ืฉืืคืืื ืืืจืืฉืื ื
The Gemara asks: And why did they see fit to institute that one says the blessing of the ingathering of the exiles after the blessing of the years? As it is written: โAnd you, O mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to My people Israel; for they will soon be comingโ (Ezekiel 36:8), which indicates that the ingathering of the exiles will follow after Eretz Yisrael is blessed with bountiful produce. And once the exiles have been gathered, judgment will be meted out to the wicked, as it is stated: โAnd I will turn my hand against you and purge away your dross as with lyeโ (Isaiah 1:25), and immediately after it is written: โAnd I will restore your judges as at firstโ (Isaiah 1:26). For this reason the blessing of the restoration of judges comes after the blessing of the ingathering of the exiles.
ืืืืื ืฉื ืขืฉื ืืื ืื ืืจืฉืขืื ืืื ืืคืืฉืขืื ืืืืื ืืืื ืขืืื ืฉื ืืืจ ืืฉืืจ ืคืืฉืขืื ืืืืืื ืืืืื (ืืืื)
And once judgment is meted out to the wicked, the transgressors, i.e., the heretics and sectarians, will cease to be. Consequently, the next blessing is that of the heretics, and one includes evildoers with them, as it is stated: โAnd the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the Lord shall cease to beโ (Isaiah 1:28). The โtransgressors and sinnersโ are the evildoers, and โthey that forsake the Lordโ are the heretics.
ืืืืื ืฉืืื ืืคืืฉืขืื ืืชืจืืืืช ืงืจื ืฆืืืงืื ืืืชืื ืืื ืงืจื ื ืจืฉืขืื ืืืืข ืชืจืืืื ื ืงืจื ืืช ืฆืืืง ืืืืื ืืืจื ืืฆืืง ืขื ืืฆืืืงืื ืฉื ืืืจ ืืคื ื ืฉืืื ืชืงืื ืืืืจืช ืคื ื ืืงื ืืกืืื ืืื ืืื ืืืืจ ืืชืื ืืจ
And once the heretics cease to be, the horn, i.e., the glory, of the righteous will be exalted, as it is written: โAll the horns of the wicked will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exaltedโ (Psalms 75:11). Therefore, after the blessing of the heretics, one says the blessing about the righteous. And he includes the righteous converts along with the righteous, as it is stated: โYou shall rise up before the hoary head, and honor the face of the elderโ (Leviticus 19:32), and adjacent to this it is stated: โAnd if a stranger sojourns with youโ (Leviticus 19:33). An โelderโ is one with Torah wisdom and a โstrangerโ is one who has converted to Judaism.
ืืืืื ืืชืจืืืืช ืงืจื ื ืืืจืืฉืืื ืฉื ืืืจ ืฉืืื ืฉืืื ืืจืืฉืื ืืฉืืื ืืืืืื
And where will the horns of the righteous be exalted? In Jerusalem, as it is stated: โPray for the peace of Jerusalem; they who love you shall prosperโ (Psalms 122:6). โThey who love youโ are the righteous. Therefore, the blessing of the rebuilding of Jerusalem is placed after the blessing of the righteous.
ืืืืื ืฉื ืื ืืช ืืจืืฉืืื ืื ืืื ืฉื ืืืจ
And once Jerusalem is rebuilt, the Messiah, scion of the house of David, will come, as it is stated: