Shabbat 118
מַצִּילִין מְזוֹן שָׁלֹשׁ סְעוּדוֹת, מַאי לָאו — דְּלָא אֲכַל! לָא, דַּאֲכַל. שַׁחֲרִית מַצִּילִין מְזוֹן שְׁתֵּי סְעוּדוֹת, מַאי לָאו — דְּלָא אֲכַל? לָא, דַּאֲכַל. בְּמִנְחָה מַצִּילִין מְזוֹן סְעוּדָה אַחַת, מַאי לָאו — דְּלָא אֲכַל? לָא, דַּאֲכַל!
one rescues food for three meals. What, is this not referring to a situation where he has not yet eaten any meals? Apparently, one is obligated to eat only three meals on Shabbat. The Gemara rejects this: No, it is referring to a situation where one already ate one meal. Three meals still remain, in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Ḥidka, who requires four meals. The Gemara challenges this from the continuation of the mishna: If a fire ignited in the morning, one may only rescue food for two meals. What, is it not referring to a situation where one has not yet eaten one’s morning meal and the obligation is to eat only three meals, one at night and two during the day? The Gemara rejects this: No, it is referring to a situation where one has already eaten the morning meal. The Gemara challenges this from the continuation of the mishna: If a fire ignited in the afternoon, one may rescue food for one meal. What, is it not referring to a situation where one has not yet eaten the afternoon meal and the obligation is to eat only three meals? The Gemara rejects this: No, it is referring to a situation where one has already eaten.
וְהָא מִדְּקָתָנֵי סֵיפָא: רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר לְעוֹלָם מַצִּילִין מְזוֹן שָׁלֹשׁ סְעוּדוֹת — מִכְּלָל דְּתַנָּא קַמָּא שָׁלֹשׁ סְבִירָא לֵיהּ! אֶלָּא מְחַוַּורְתָּא, מַתְנִיתִין דְּלָא כְּרַבִּי חִידְקָא.
The Gemara challenges this: From the fact that it is taught in the latter clause of the mishna: Rabbi Yosei says: One may always rescue food for three meals, by inference, even the first tanna holds that the obligation is to eat three meals, as there is no dispute with regard to the number of meals on Shabbat. Rather, it is clear that the mishna is not in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Ḥidka. According to the tanna’im in the mishna, one is obligated to eat three meals on Shabbat.
וְהָא דִּתְנַן: מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ מְזוֹן שְׁתֵּי סְעוּדוֹת — לֹא יִטּוֹל מִן הַתַּמְחוּי, מְזוֹן אַרְבַּע עֶשְׂרֵה — לֹא יִטּוֹל מִן הַקּוּפָּה. מַנִּי? לָא רַבָּנַן, וְלָא רַבִּי חִידְקָא. אִי רַבָּנַן — חַמְסְרֵי הָוְיָין. אִי רַבִּי חִידְקָא — שֵׁית סְרֵי הָוְיָין! לְעוֹלָם רַבָּנַן, דְּאָמְרִינַן לֵיהּ: מַאי דְּבָעֵית לְמֵיכַל בְּאַפּוֹקֵי שַׁבְּתָא, אִכְלֵיהּ בְּשַׁבְּתָא.
And that which we learned in another mishna: One who has sufficient food for two meals in his possession may not take food from the charity plate that is distributed to the poor. He is not considered needy and would be taking food at the expense of people who are worse off than he. And one who has food for fourteen meals, enough meals for an entire week, may not take money from the charity fund. The Gemara asks: In accordance with whose opinion is this mishna? Apparently, it is neither in accordance with the opinion of the Rabbis nor in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Ḥidka. If it were in accordance with the opinion of the Rabbis, they maintain that they are fifteen meals that are eaten in a week, two each day, evening and morning, and three on Shabbat. If it were in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Ḥidka, they are sixteen meals that are eaten in a week, twelve during the six days of the week and four on Shabbat. The Gemara rejects this: Actually, the mishna is in accordance with the opinion of the Rabbis, but we say to him: That which you want to eat at the conclusion of Shabbat, Saturday night, eat it as the third meal on Shabbat.
לֵימָא רַבָּנַן הִיא, וְלָא רַבִּי חִידְקָא. אֲפִילּוּ תֵּימָא רַבִּי חִידְקָא, דְּאָמְרִינַן לֵיהּ: מַאי דְּבָעֵית לְמֵיכַל בְּמַעֲלֵי שַׁבְּתָא, אִכְלֵיהּ לְאוּרְתָּא. וְכוּלֵּי יוֹמָא דְמַעֲלֵי שַׁבְּתָא בְּתַעֲנִיתָא מוֹתְבִינַן לֵיהּ?! אֶלָּא הָא מַנִּי — רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא הִיא, דְּאָמַר: עֲשֵׂה שַׁבַּתְּךָ חוֹל וְאַל תִּצְטָרֵךְ לַבְּרִיּוֹת.
The Gemara asks: Let us say that this mishna is in accordance with the opinion of the Rabbis and not in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Ḥidka. The Gemara rejects that approach: Even if you say that it is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Ḥidka, the mishna can be understood, as we can say to him: That which you want to eat on Shabbat eve, Friday afternoon, eat at night on Shabbat instead. The Gemara asks: And do we have a person sit and fast all day on Shabbat eve? According to this suggestion, he would not eat at all on Friday. Rather, we must say: In accordance with whose opinion is this mishna? It is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Akiva, who said: Make your Shabbat like a weekday and do not be beholden to other beings. It is preferable to eat two meals on Shabbat as he does during the week if he can thereby avoid taking charity.
וְהָא דִּתְנַן: אֵין פּוֹחֲתִין לְעָנִי הָעוֹבֵר מִמָּקוֹם לְמָקוֹם מִכִּכָּר בְּפוּנְדְּיוֹן מֵאַרְבַּע סְאִין בְּסֶלַע. לָן — נוֹתְנִין לוֹ פַּרְנָסַת לִינָה, וְאִם שָׁבַת — נוֹתְנִין לוֹ מְזוֹן שָׁלֹשׁ סְעוּדוֹת. לֵימָא רַבָּנַן הִיא, וְלָא רַבִּי חִידְקָא? לְעוֹלָם רַבִּי חִידְקָא — כְּגוֹן דְּאִיכָּא סְעוּדָה בַּהֲדֵיהּ, דְּאָמְרִינַן לֵיהּ: הָא דְּאִיכָּא בַּהֲדָךְ — אִכְלֵיהּ. וְכִי אָזֵיל בְּרֵיקָן אָזֵיל?! דִּמְלַוִּוינַן לֵיהּ סְעוּדָה בַּהֲדֵיהּ. מַאי פַּרְנָסַת לִינָה? אָמַר רַב פָּפָּא: פּוּרְיָא וּבֵי סַדְיָא.
And that which we learned in another mishna: One gives no less charity to a poor person who is traveling from place to place than a loaf worth a pundeyon, one forty-eighth of a sela, when the standard price of grain is four se’a for a sela. If he sleeps there, one gives him money for sleeping; and if he spends Shabbat in that city, one gives him food for three meals. Let us say that is in accordance with the opinion of the Rabbis and not the opinion of Rabbi Ḥidka. The Gemara rejects this: Actually, it is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Ḥidka. When it says that if the poor traveler spends Shabbat there one gives him food for three meals, it is referring to a case where there is one meal that he brought with him, for we say to him: This meal that you have with you, eat it. The Gemara is surprised at this: And when he goes, does he go empty-handed, with no food. The Gemara answers: We provide him a meal to accompany him when he leaves. The Gemara asks: What is the meaning of money for sleeping? Rav Pappa said: It means that one provides his sleeping needs, i.e., a bed and cushions.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: קְעָרוֹת שֶׁאָכַל בָּהֶן עַרְבִית — מַדִּיחָן לֶאֱכוֹל בָּהֶן שַׁחֲרִית. שַׁחֲרִית — מַדִּיחָן לֶאֱכוֹל בָּהֶן בַּצׇּהֳרַיִם. בַּצׇּהֳרַיִם — מַדִּיחָן לֶאֱכוֹל בָּהֶן בַּמִּנְחָה. מִן הַמִּנְחָה וְאֵילָךְ — שׁוּב אֵינוֹ מַדִּיחַ. אֲבָל כּוֹסוֹת וְקִיתוֹנִיּוֹת וּצְלוֹחִיּוֹת — מַדִּיחַ וְהוֹלֵךְ כׇּל הַיּוֹם כּוּלּוֹ, לְפִי שֶׁאֵין קֶבַע לִשְׁתִיָּה.
The Sages taught in a baraita: With regard to bowls from which one ate in the evening on Shabbat, he may rinse them in order to eat from them in the morning. Bowls from which one ate in the morning, he may rinse them to eat from them in the afternoon. Bowls from which one ate in the afternoon, he may rinse them to eat from them in the afternoon. However, from the afternoon onward, one may no longer rinse them because there is no further need for these bowls on Shabbat, and it is prohibited to make preparations on Shabbat for a weekday. However, with regard to cups, and ladles, and flasks, which are vessels used for drinking, one rinses them all day long because there is no fixed time for drinking, and one does not know when he will drink again.
אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן פַּזִּי אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי מִשּׁוּם בַּר קַפָּרָא: כָּל הַמְקַיֵּים שָׁלֹשׁ סְעוּדוֹת בְּשַׁבָּת נִיצּוֹל מִשָּׁלֹשׁ פּוּרְעָנִיּוֹת: מֵחֶבְלוֹ שֶׁל מָשִׁיחַ, וּמִדִּינָהּ שֶׁל גֵּיהִנָּם, וּמִמִּלְחֶמֶת גּוֹג וּמָגוֹג. מֵחֶבְלוֹ שֶׁל מָשִׁיחַ — כְּתִיב הָכָא ״יוֹם״, וּכְתִיב הָתָם: ״הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי שׁוֹלֵחַ לָכֶם אֵת אֵלִיָּה הַנָּבִיא לִפְנֵי בּוֹא יוֹם וְגוֹ׳״. מִדִּינָהּ שֶׁל גֵּיהִנָּם — כְּתִיב הָכָא ״יוֹם״, וּכְתִיב הָתָם: ״יוֹם עֶבְרָה הַיּוֹם הַהוּא״. מִמִּלְחֶמֶת גּוֹג וּמָגוֹג — כְּתִיב הָכָא ״יוֹם״, וּכְתִיב הָתָם: ״בְּיוֹם בֹּא גּוֹג״.
Rabbi Shimon ben Pazi said that Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said in the name of bar Kappara: Anyone who fulfills the obligation to eat three meals on Shabbat is rescued from three punishments: From the pangs of the Messiah, i.e., the suffering that precedes the advent of Messiah, and from the judgment of Gehenna, and from the war of Gog and Magog. The Gemara derives that one is rescued from the pangs of Messiah by means of a verbal analogy. It is written here, with regard to Shabbat, day: “Eat it today” (Exodus 16:25). And it is written there, with regard to Messiah, day: “Behold, I am sending you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome day of God” (Malachi 3:23). The Gemara derives that one is rescued from the judgment of Gehenna by means of a verbal analogy. It is written here, with regard to Shabbat, day, as cited above. And it is written there, day: “That day will be a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and blackness, a day of cloud and thick fog” (Zephaniah 1:15), which is interpreted as referring to the punishment of Gehenna. The Gemara derives that one is rescued from the war of Gog and Magog by means of a verbal analogy. It is written here, with regard to Shabbat, day. And it is written there, with regard to the War of Gog and Magog, day: “And it shall be on that day, on the day that Gog arrives on the land of Israel” (Ezekiel 38:18).
אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי יוֹסֵי: כָּל הַמְעַנֵּג אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת נוֹתְנִין לוֹ נַחֲלָה בְּלִי מְצָרִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אָז תִּתְעַנַּג עַל ה׳ וְהִרְכַּבְתִּיךָ עַל בׇּמֳתֵי אָרֶץ וְהַאֲכַלְתִּיךָ
Rabbi Yoḥanan said in the name of Rabbi Yosei: With regard to anyone who delights in the Shabbat, God gives him a boundless portion, i.e., a very large reward, as it is stated: “If you keep your feet from violating Shabbat, from pursuing your affairs on My holy day, and you call Shabbat a delight, the Lord’s holy day honored, and you honor it by not going your own way, or attending to your own matters or speaking idle words. Then you shall delight in the Lord and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the world, and to feast
נַחֲלַת יַעֲקֹב אָבִיךָ וְגוֹ׳״. לֹא כְּאַבְרָהָם, שֶׁכָּתוּב בּוֹ ״קוּם הִתְהַלֵּךְ בָּאָרֶץ לְאׇרְכָּהּ וְגוֹ׳״. וְלֹא כְּיִצְחָק, שֶׁכָּתוּב בּוֹ ״כִּי לְךָ וּלְזַרְעֲךָ אֶתֵּן אֶת כׇּל הָאֲרָצוֹת הָאֵל״. אֶלָּא כְּיַעֲקֹב, שֶׁכָּתוּב בּוֹ ״וּפָרַצְתָּ יָמָּה וָקֵדְמָה וְצָפוֹנָה וָנֶגְבָּה״.
on the inheritance of Jacob your father, as the mouth of God has spoken” (Isaiah 58:13–14). The reward for delighting in Shabbat is specifically the portion of Jacob. Not that of Abraham, about whom it is written, “Rise, walk through the land through its length and its width because I have given it to you” (Genesis 13:17), i.e., only this land alone in its borders. And not that of Isaac, about whom it is written, “Dwell in this land and I will be with you and I will bless you because I will give all of these lands to you and your offspring” (Genesis 26:3), meaning these lands and no others. Rather, that of Jacob, about whom it is written, “And your offspring will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and all of the families of the land will be blessed through you and your offspring” (Genesis 28:14). There are no boundaries for Jacob’s portion.
רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק אָמַר: נִיצּוֹל מִשִּׁעְבּוּד גָּלִיּוֹת. כְּתִיב הָכָא: ״וְהִרְכַּבְתִּיךְ עַל בׇּמֳתֵי אָרֶץ״, וּכְתִיב הָתָם: ״וְאַתָּה עַל בָּמוֹתֵימוֹ תִדְרוֹךְ״. אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: כׇּל הַמְעַנֵּג אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת נוֹתְנִין לוֹ מִשְׁאֲלוֹת לִבּוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְהִתְעַנַּג עַל ה׳ וְיִתֶּן לְךָ מִשְׁאֲלוֹת לִבֶּךָ״. עוֹנֶג זֶה אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ מַהוּ. כְּשֶׁהוּא אוֹמֵר ״וְקָרָאתָ לַשַּׁבָּת עוֹנֶג״ — הֱוֵי אוֹמֵר זֶה עוֹנֶג שַׁבָּת. בַּמֶּה מְעַנְּגוֹ? רַב יְהוּדָה בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַב שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר שִׁילַת מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּרַב אָמַר: בְּתַבְשִׁיל שֶׁל תְּרָדִין וְדָגִים גְּדוֹלִים וְרָאשֵׁי שׁוּמִין. רַב חִיָּיא בַּר אָשֵׁי אָמַר רַב: אֲפִילּוּ דָּבָר מוּעָט, וְלִכְבוֹד שַׁבָּת עֲשָׂאוֹ — הֲרֵי זֶה עוֹנֶג. מַאי הִיא? אָמַר רַב פָּפָּא: כָּסָא דְהַרְסָנָא.
Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said: One who delights in Shabbat is rescued from the oppression of exile. He derives it by means of a verbal analogy. It is written here, with regard to Shabbat: “And I will cause you to ride on the heights [bamotei] of the world” (Isaiah 58:14), and it is written there: “You are fortunate Israel, who is like you? A nation redeemed by God, the shield that aids you and the sword of your triumph. Your enemies will try to defeat you and you will trample their high places [bamoteimo]” (Deuteronomy 33:29). Rav Yehuda said that Rav said: With regard to anyone who delights in the Shabbat, God grants him his heart’s desires, as it is stated: “And you shall delight in God and He will grant you your heart’s desires” (Psalms 37:4). This delight in God, which is mentioned in the verse, I do not know what it is. When it says: “And you shall call the Shabbat delight,” one must say: It is the delight of Shabbat. The Gemara asks: With what does one delight in the day of Shabbat? Rav Yehuda, son of Rav Shmuel bar Sheilat, said in the name of Rav: With a dish of beets, and large fish, and heads of garlic. Rav Ḥiyya bar Ashi said that Rav said: Even with regard to a small item and one prepared it in deference to Shabbat, it is a delight. The Gemara asks: What is the small item mentioned? Rav Pappa said: Small fried fish.
אָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: כׇּל הַמְשַׁמֵּר שַׁבָּת כְּהִלְכָתוֹ, אֲפִילּוּ עוֹבֵד עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה [כְּדוֹר] אֱנוֹשׁ — מוֹחֲלִין לוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אַשְׁרֵי אֱנוֹשׁ יַעֲשֶׂה זֹּאת וְגוֹ׳ מֵחַלְּלוֹ״. אַל תִּקְרֵי ״מֵחַלְּלוֹ״ אֶלָּא: ״מָחוּל לוֹ״.
Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said that Rabbi Yoḥanan said: With regard to anyone who observes Shabbat in accordance with its halakhot, even if he worships idolatry as in the generation of Enosh, God forgives him his sins, as it is stated: “Fortunate is the man [enosh] who does this and the person who holds strong to it, one who guards the Shabbat from desecrating it [meḥallelo], and guards his hand from doing any evil” (Isaiah 56:2). Do not read it as: From desecrating it [meḥallelo], but rather: He is forgiven [maḥul lo]. With regard to the generation of Enosh it is written: “And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enosh. Then they began [huḥal] to call upon the Name of God” (Genesis 4:26), meaning to desecrate [leḥallel] His name.
אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: אִלְמָלֵי שָׁמְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל שַׁבָּת רִאשׁוֹנָה לֹא שָׁלְטָה בָּהֶן אוּמָּה וְלָשׁוֹן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיְהִי בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי יָצְאוּ מִן הָעָם לִלְקוֹט״, וּכְתִיב בָּתְרֵיהּ: ״וַיָּבֹא עֲמָלֵק״. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַי: אִלְמָלֵי מְשַׁמְּרִין יִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁתֵּי שַׁבָּתוֹת כְּהִלְכָתָן — מִיָּד נִגְאָלִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כֹה אָמַר ה׳ לַסָּרִיסִים אֲשֶׁר יִשְׁמְרוּ אֶת שַׁבְּתוֹתַי״, וּכְתִיב בָּתְרֵיהּ: ״וַהֲבִיאוֹתִים אֶל הַר קׇדְשִׁי וְגוֹ׳״.
Rav Yehuda said that Rav said: Had the Jewish people properly observed the first Shabbat that was commanded them, no nation or tongue would have ever ruled them, as it is stated: “And it happened on the seventh day, some people went out from the nation to collect and they did not find” (Exodus 16:27). And it is written after they went out to collect manna: “And Amalek came and fought with Israel in Refidim” (Exodus 17:8). Rabbi Yoḥanan said in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai: If only the Jewish people would keep two Shabbatot in accordance with their halakhot, they would be immediately redeemed, as it is stated: “So said God to the eunuchs who will keep My Shabbatot” (Isaiah 56:4), and it is written after that: “And I will bring them to My holy mountain and will let them rejoice in My house of prayer” (Isaiah 56:7).
אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי: יְהֵא חֶלְקִי מֵאוֹכְלֵי שָׁלֹשׁ סְעוּדוֹת בַּשַּׁבָּת. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי: יְהֵא חֶלְקִי מִגּוֹמְרֵי הַלֵּל בְּכׇל יוֹם. אִינִי?! וְהָאָמַר מָר: הַקּוֹרֵא הַלֵּל בְּכׇל יוֹם הֲרֵי זֶה מְחָרֵף וּמְגַדֵּף! כִּי קָאָמְרִינַן — בִּפְסוּקֵי דְזִמְרָא.
Rabbi Yosei said: May my portion be among those who eat three meals on Shabbat. Apropos this statement of Rabbi Yosei, the Gemara cites additional declarations. Rabbi Yosei said: May my portion be among those who complete hallel every day. The Gemara is surprised at this: Is that so? Didn’t the Master say: One who reads hallel every day is tantamount to one who curses and blasphemes God. He displays contempt for hallel by not reserving it for days on which miracles occurred. The Gemara answers: When we say this statement of Rabbi Yosei, we are referring to the verses of praise [pesukei dezimra], recited during the morning service, not to hallel (Psalms 113–118) recited on special days.
אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי: יְהֵא חֶלְקִי מִמִּתְפַּלְּלִים עִם דִּמְדּוּמֵי חַמָּה. אָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: מִצְוָה לְהִתְפַּלֵּל עִם דִּמְדּוּמֵי חַמָּה. אָמַר רַבִּי זֵירָא, מַאי קְרָא: ״יִירָאוּךָ עִם שָׁמֶשׁ וְלִפְנֵי יָרֵחַ דּוֹר דּוֹרִים״.
And furthermore, Rabbi Yosei said: May my portion be among those who pray the morning and afternoon prayers with the reddening of the sun, i.e., the morning prayer at sunrise and the afternoon prayer adjacent to nightfall. Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said that Rabbi Yoḥanan said: It is a mitzva to pray with the reddening of the sun. Rabbi Zeira said: What verse alludes to this? “They will fear You with the sun and before the moon, generation upon generation” (Psalms 72:5). Fear of God, prayer, should be with the sun and before the moon.
וְאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי: יְהֵא חֶלְקִי מִמֵּתֵי בְּחוֹלִי מֵעַיִים, דַּאֲמַר מָר: רוּבָּן שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים מֵתִים בְּחוֹלִי מֵעַיִים. וְאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי: יְהֵא חֶלְקִי מִמֵּתֵי בְּדֶרֶךְ מִצְוָה. וְאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי: יְהֵא חֶלְקִי מִמַּכְנִיסֵי שַׁבָּת בִּטְבֶרְיָא, וּמִמּוֹצִיאֵי שַׁבָּת בְּצִפּוֹרִי. וְאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי: יְהֵא חֶלְקִי מִמּוֹשִׁיבֵי בֵּית הַמִּדְרָשׁ, וְלֹא מִמַּעֲמִידֵי בֵּית הַמִּדְרָשׁ.
And Rabbi Yosei said: May my portion be among those who die from intestinal disease, as the Master said: Most righteous people die of intestinal disease. It is a very harsh disease through which the sins of righteous people are cleansed before their death and also, as a result, they die with a clean body. And Rabbi Yosei said: May my portion be among those who die on the path to perform a mitzva. And Rabbi Yosei said: May my portion be among those who accept Shabbat in Tiberias, which is in a valley where day turns to evening earlier, and among those who see Shabbat out in Tzippori, which is located on a mountain top where the sun is visible for longer, and Shabbat ends later. And Rabbi Yosei said: May my portion be among those who seat others in the study hall, i.e., who cause others to come sit and study, and not among those who cause others to stand in the study hall, i.e., who announce that it is time to leave the study hall and go to eat.
וְאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי: יְהֵא חֶלְקִי מִגַּבַּאי צְדָקָה וְלָא מִמְּחַלְּקֵי צְדָקָה. וְאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי: יְהֵא חֶלְקִי מִמִּי שֶׁחוֹשְׁדִין אוֹתוֹ וְאֵין בּוֹ. אָמַר רַב פָּפָּא: לְדִידִי חַשְׁדֻן וְלָא הֲוָה בִּי.
And Rabbi Yosei said: May my portion be among the collectors of charity and not the distributors of charity. One who collects charity collects fixed amounts, whereas distributors may inadvertently fail to give the poor person enough to cover his needs. And Rabbi Yosei said: May my portion be with one whom others suspect of sin and there is no basis for suspecting him. Rav Pappa said: They suspected me, and there was no basis for suspecting me.
אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי: חָמֵשׁ בְּעִילוֹת בָּעַלְתִּי, וְנָטַעְתִּי חֲמִשָּׁה אֲרָזִים בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל. וּמַאן אִינּוּן — רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי, וְרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי, וְרַבִּי חֲלַפְתָּא בְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי, וְרַבִּי אַבְטִילָס בְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי, וְרַבִּי מְנַחֵם בְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי. וְהָאִיכָּא וַרְדִּימָס! הַיְינוּ וַרְדִּימָס הַיְינוּ מְנַחֵם, וְאַמַּאי קָרֵי לֵיהּ ״וַרְדִּימָס״? — שֶׁפָּנָיו דּוֹמִין לְוֶרֶד. לְמֵימְרָא דְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי מִצְוַת עוֹנָה לֹא קִיֵּים?! אֶלָּא אֵימָא: חָמֵשׁ בְּעִילוֹת בָּעַלְתִּי וְשָׁנִיתִי.
Furthermore, Rabbi Yosei said: I engaged in relations five times, and I planted five cedars in Eretz Yisrael. And who are these cedars? The sons of Rabbi Yosei, who were great Sages of Israel: Rabbi Yishmael, son of Rabbi Yosei, and Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Yosei, and Rabbi Ḥalafta, son of Rabbi Yosei, and Rabbi Avtilas, son of Rabbi Yosei, and Rabbi Menaḥem, son of Rabbi Yosei. The Gemara asks: Isn’t there Vardimas, who was also Rabbi Yosei’s son? The Gemara answers: Vardimas is the same as Menaḥem. And why did they call him Vardimas? Because his face was as beautiful as a rose [vered]. The Gemara asks: Is that to say based on this statement that Rabbi Yosei did not fulfill the mitzva of his wife’s conjugal rights, but only had relations with her five times? Rather, say it this way: I engaged in relations five times and I did so again, and the Sages said that one who seeks to father male offspring should engage in relations and do so again.
אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי: מִיָּמַי לֹא קָרִיתִי לְאִשְׁתִּי ״אִשְׁתִּי״ וּלְשׁוֹרִי ״שׁוֹרִי״, אֶלָּא לְאִשְׁתִּי — ״בֵּיתִי״, וּלְשׁוֹרִי — ״שָׂדִי״.
Furthermore, Rabbi Yosei said that he always spoke euphemistically: In all my days, I did not call my wife, my wife, nor my ox, my ox. Rather, I called my wife, my home, because she is the essence of the home, and my ox, my field, because it is the primary force in the fields.
אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי: מִיָּמַי לֹא נִסְתַּכַּלְתִּי בַּמִּילָּה שֶׁלִּי. אִינִי? וְהָאֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ לְרַבִּי: מַאי טַעְמָא קָרוּ לָךְ רַבֵּינוּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ? אֲמַר לְהוּ: מִיָּמַי לֹא נִסְתַּכַּלְתִּי בַּמִּילָּה שֶׁלִּי. בְּרַבִּי מִילְּתָא אַחֲרִיתִי הֲוָה בֵּיהּ, שֶׁלֹּא הִכְנִיס יָדוֹ תַּחַת אַבְנֵטוֹ. וְאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי: מִיָּמַי לֹא רָאוּ קוֹרוֹת בֵּיתִי אִימְרֵי חֲלוּקִי.
Rabbi Yosei said: In all my days, due to modesty, I never looked at my circumcision. The Gemara asks: Is that so? Didn’t they say to Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi: Why did they call you our holy Rabbi? He said to them: It is because in all my days I never looked at my circumcision. If so, why wasn’t Rabbi Yosei also called our holy Rabbi? The Gemara replies: In the case of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, another matter of modesty was present in him, as he did not insert his hand below his belt due to his great modesty. And Rabbi Yosei said: In all my days, the walls of my house never saw the seams of my robe due to modesty, as he would only undress under his bed sheets.
וְאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי: מִיָּמַי לֹא עָבַרְתִּי עַל דִּבְרֵי חֲבֵרַי. יוֹדֵעַ אֲנִי בְּעַצְמִי שֶׁאֵינִי כֹּהֵן, אִם אוֹמְרִים לִי חֲבֵירַי: עֲלֵה לַדּוּכָן — אֲנִי עוֹלֶה. וְאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי: מִיָּמַי לֹא אָמַרְתִּי דָּבָר וְחָזַרְתִּי לַאֲחוֹרַי.
And Rabbi Yosei said: In all my days I never violated the words of my friends. I know about myself that I am not a priest, and nevertheless, if my friends say to me: Go up to the platform with the priests, I go up. And Rabbi Yosei said: In all my days I never said something and then retreated from it. Rabbi Yosei never said something positive or negative about a specific person and then denied it.
אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן: תֵּיתֵי לִי, דְּקַיֵּימִית שָׁלֹשׁ סְעוּדוֹת בְּשַׁבָּת. אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה: תֵּיתֵי לִי, דְּקַיֵּימִית עִיּוּן תְּפִלָּה. אָמַר רַב הוּנָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַב יְהוֹשֻׁעַ: תֵּיתֵי לִי, דְּלָא סָגֵינָא אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת בְּגִילּוּי הָרֹאשׁ. אָמַר רַב שֵׁשֶׁת: תֵּיתֵי לִי, דְּקַיֵּימִית מִצְוַת תְּפִילִּין. וְאָמַר רַב נַחְמָן: תֵּיתֵי לִי, דְּקַיֵּימִית מִצְוַת צִיצִית.
Rav Naḥman said: May I receive my reward because I fulfilled the obligation to eat three meals on Shabbat magnificently. Rav Yehuda said: May I receive my reward because I fulfilled the obligation of consideration during prayer. Rav Huna, son of Rav Yehoshua, said: May I receive my reward because I never walked four cubits with my head uncovered. Rav Sheshet said: May I receive my reward because I fulfilled the mitzva of phylacteries magnificently. And Rav Naḥman said: May I receive my reward because I fulfilled the mitzva of ritual fringes magnificently.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב יוֹסֵף לְרַב יוֹסֵף בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַבָּה: אֲבוּךְ, בְּמַאי זְהִיר טְפֵי? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: בְּצִיצִית. יוֹמָא חַד הֲוָה קָא סָלֵיק בְּדַרְגָּא. אִיפְּסִיק לֵיהּ חוּטָא, וְלָא נְחֵית וַאֲתָא, כַּמָּה דְּלָא רַמְיַהּ. וְאָמַר אַבָּיֵי: תֵּיתֵי לִי, דְּכִי חָזֵינָא צוּרְבָּא מֵרַבָּנַן דִּשְׁלִים מַסֶּכְתֵּיהּ
Rav Yosef said to Rav Yosef, son of Rabba: In what area was your father, Rabba, especially vigilant? He said to him: It was in the mitzva of ritual fringes. The Gemara relates: One day he was climbing the stairs when a string from his ritual fringes was severed, and he would not descend until he placed a new string on the garment. And Abaye said: May I receive my reward because when I see a young Torah scholar who has completed a tractate that he studied
