Why is the Ark taken out to the streets? Several answers are given. Why are ashes placed on the heads of the leaders and on the heads of the people? If there is no elder, who makes the speech to encourage people to repent? Does an elder mean someone who is also a scholar? The speech includes mention of the people of Ninveh who repented. How did they repent? If someone repents without changing one’s actions, it is like going to the mikveh with a sheretz in one’s hand. What exactly are the criteria for the leader of the prayers? A discussion ensues about the exact text of the six additional blessings and also an addition is made to the blessing before the additions (‘the redeemer of Israel’). What was done in the Temple differently?
This month’s learning is sponsored by Beth Balkany in honor of their granddaughter, Devorah Chana Serach Eichel. “May she grow up to be a lifelong learner.”
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This month’s learning is sponsored by Beth Balkany in honor of their granddaughter, Devorah Chana Serach Eichel. “May she grow up to be a lifelong learner.”
Taanit 16
לְמִתְבַּיֵּישׁ מֵאֲחֵרִים. וְהֵיכָא מַנַּח לְהוּ? אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: בִּמְקוֹם תְּפִילִּין. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״לָשׂוּם לַאֲבֵלֵי צִיּוֹן לָתֵת לָהֶם פְּאֵר תַּחַת אֵפֶר״.
one who is humiliated by others. Accordingly, ashes are placed on the heads of the leaders of the community by others, to increase the appearance of their suffering. The Gemara asks: And where exactly are the ashes placed upon their heads? Rabbi Yitzḥak said: On the place of the phylacteries of the head, as it is stated: “To appoint to those who mourn in Zion, to give to them an ornament [pe’er] instead of ashes” (Isaiah 61:3). This verse likens the placement of ashes on one’s head to an ornament, and the term pe’er is traditionally interpreted as a reference to phylacteries.
רְחוֹב, תֵּיבָה, וְשַׂקִּים, אֵפֶר, אֵפֶר, קְבוּרָה, וּמוֹרִיָּה סִימָן. לָמָּה יוֹצְאִין לָרְחוֹב? רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא אָמַר: לוֹמַר — זָעַקְנוּ בְּצִנְעָא וְלֹא נַעֲנֵינוּ, נְבַזֶּה עַצְמֵנוּ בְּפַרְהֶסְיָא.
§ The Gemara provides a mnemonic device for the forthcoming statements. Square; ark; and sackcloth; ashes; ashes; cemetery; and Moriah. The Gemara asks: Why do they go out to the square? Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said: This is a symbolic action, as though to say: We cried out in private inside the synagogue and we were not answered. We will therefore disgrace ourselves in public, so that our prayers will be heard.
רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ אָמַר: גָּלִינוּ, גָּלוּתֵינוּ מְכַפֶּרֶת עָלֵינוּ. מַאי בֵּינַיְיהוּ? אִיכָּא בֵּינַיְיהוּ, דְּגָלוּ מִבֵּי כְנִישְׁתָּא לְבֵי כְנִישְׁתָּא.
Reish Lakish said that the move into the square symbolizes exile, as though they are saying: We have been exiled; may our exile atone for us. The Gemara asks: What is the practical difference between these two explanations? The Gemara answers that the practical difference between them is in a case where they are exiled, i.e., they move, from one synagogue to another synagogue. According to the opinion of Reish Lakish, they have exiled themselves, and therefore this ceremony is adequate. Conversely, Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba maintains that as the ritual is performed in private, it is insufficient.
וְלָמָּה מוֹצִיאִין אֶת הַתֵּיבָה לִרְחוֹבָהּ שֶׁל עִיר? אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי, לוֹמַר: כְּלִי צָנוּעַ הָיָה לָנוּ, וְנִתְבַּזָּה בַּעֲווֹנֵינוּ.
The Gemara asks another question concerning the meaning of the ritual. And why do they remove the ark to the city square? Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: This is done as though to say: We had a modest vessel, which was always kept concealed, but it has been publicly exposed due to our transgressions.
וְלָמָּה מִתְכַּסִּין בְּשַׂקִּים? אָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא: לוֹמַר — הֲרֵי אָנוּ חֲשׁוּבִין כִּבְהֵמָה. וְלָמָּה נוֹתְנִין אֵפֶר מִקְלֶה עַל גַּבֵּי תֵּיבָה? אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בֶּן פַּזִּי: כְּלוֹמַר — ״עִמּוֹ אָנֹכִי בְּצָרָה״. רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ אָמַר: ״בְּכׇל צָרָתָם לוֹ צָר״. אָמַר רַבִּי זֵירָא: מֵרֵישׁ כִּי הֲוָה חֲזֵינָא לְהוּ לְרַבָּנַן דְּיָהֲבִי אֵפֶר מִקְלֶה עַל גַּבֵּי תֵּיבָה — מִזְדַּעְזַע לִי כּוּלֵּיהּ גּוּפַאי.
The Gemara further asks: And why do they cover themselves in sackcloth? Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said: This is as though to say: We are considered before You like animals, which are likewise covered with hide. And why do they place burnt ashes on top of the ark? Rabbi Yehuda ben Pazi said: This is as though to say in God’s name: “I will be with him in trouble” (Psalms 91:15). Reish Lakish said that the same idea can be derived from a different verse: “In all their affliction, He was afflicted” (Isaiah 63:9). By placing burnt ash on the ark, which is the symbol of the Divine Presence, it is as though God Himself joins the Jews in their pain. Rabbi Zeira said: At first, when I saw the Sages place burnt ashes upon the ark, my entire body trembled from the intensity of the event.
וְלָמָּה נוֹתְנִין אֵפֶר בְּרֹאשׁ כׇּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד? פְּלִיגִי בַּהּ רַבִּי לֵוִי בַּר חָמָא וְרַבִּי חֲנִינָא. חַד אָמַר: הֲרֵי אָנוּ חֲשׁוּבִין לְפָנֶיךָ כְּאֵפֶר, וְחַד אָמַר: כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּזְכּוֹר לָנוּ אֶפְרוֹ שֶׁל יִצְחָק. מַאי בֵּינַיְיהוּ? אִיכָּא בֵּינַיְיהוּ עָפָר סְתָם.
And why do they place ashes upon the head of each and every individual? Rabbi Levi bar Ḥama and Rabbi Ḥanina disagree with regard to this matter. One said that this is as though to say: We are considered like ashes before You. And one said that these ashes are placed in order to remind God of the ashes of our forefather Isaac, on our behalf. The Gemara asks: What is the practical difference between these two explanations? The Gemara answers that the practical difference between them is in a case where one placed ordinary earth upon the heads of the individuals instead of ashes. Although earth does symbolize self-nullification and may be used according to the first explanation, it has no connection to the sacrifice of Isaac, and therefore it does not satisfy the second explanation.
לָמָּה יוֹצְאִין לְבֵית הַקְּבָרוֹת? פְּלִיגִי בַּהּ רַבִּי לֵוִי בַּר חָמָא וְרַבִּי חֲנִינָא. חַד אָמַר: הֲרֵי אָנוּ חֲשׁוּבִין לְפָנֶיךָ כְּמֵתִים, וְחַד אָמַר: כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּבַקְּשׁוּ עָלֵינוּ מֵתִים רַחֲמִים. מַאי בֵּינַיְיהוּ? אִיכָּא בֵּינַיְיהוּ קִבְרֵי נׇכְרִים.
The Gemara further asks: And why do they go out to the cemetery on a fast day? Again, Rabbi Levi bar Ḥama and Rabbi Ḥanina disagree with regard to this matter. One said this is as though to say: We are like the dead before You. And one said that one goes out to the cemetery in order that the deceased will request mercy on our behalf. The Gemara asks: What is the practical difference between them? The Gemara answers that the practical difference between them concerns graves of gentiles. If the purpose of going to graves is to say that they stand before God like the dead, graves of gentiles would suffice. However, if they go to the cemetery for the deceased to ask for mercy on their behalf, they should visit specifically Jewish graves.
מַאי הַר הַמּוֹרִיָּה? פְּלִיגִי בַּהּ רַבִּי לֵוִי בַּר חָמָא וְרַבִּי חֲנִינָא. חַד אָמַר: הַר שֶׁיָּצָא מִמֶּנּוּ הוֹרָאָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, וְחַד אָמַר: הַר שֶׁיָּצָא מִמֶּנּוּ מוֹרָא לְאוּמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם.
§ Apropos disputes between Rabbi Levi bar Ḥama and Rabbi Ḥanina, the Gemara mentions another dispute between them. What is the meaning of the name Mount [Har] Moriah, the Temple Mount? Rabbi Levi bar Ḥama and Rabbi Ḥanina disagree with regard to this matter. One said that the name alludes to the Great Sanhedrin that convened there, as it is the mountain from which instruction [hora’a] went out to the Jewish people. And one said that it is the mountain from which fear [mora] went out to the nations of the world, as this place signifies God’s choice of the Jewish people.
הַזָּקֵן שֶׁבָּהֶן אוֹמֵר לִפְנֵיהֶן דִּבְרֵי כִבּוּשִׁין. תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אִם יֵשׁ זָקֵן — אוֹמֵר זָקֵן. וְאִם לָאו — אוֹמֵר חָכָם, וְאִם לָאו — אוֹמֵר אָדָם שֶׁל צוּרָה. אַטּוּ זָקֵן דְּקָאָמְרִי, אַף עַל גַּב דְּלָאו חָכָם הוּא? אָמַר אַבָּיֵי, הָכִי קָאָמַר: אִם יֵשׁ זָקֵן וְהוּא חָכָם — אוֹמֵר זָקֵן וְהוּא חָכָם, וְאִם לָאו — אוֹמֵר חָכָם, וְאִם לָאו — אוֹמֵר אָדָם שֶׁל צוּרָה.
§ The mishna taught: The eldest of the community says to them statements of reproof. The Sages taught in a baraita: If there is an elder, then the elder says the admonition, and if not, a Sage says the admonition. And if not, a person of imposing appearance says it. The Gemara asks: Is that to say that the elder of whom we spoke is preferred to a scholar simply by virtue of his age, even though he is not a scholar? Abaye said that this is what the mishna is saying: If there is an elder, and he is also a scholar, this elder scholar says the admonition. And if not, even a young scholar says the reproof. And if there is no scholar of any kind available, a person of imposing appearance says it.
אַחֵינוּ, לֹא שַׂק וְתַעֲנִית גּוֹרְמִים, אֶלָּא תְּשׁוּבָה וּמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים גּוֹרְמִים. שֶׁכֵּן מָצִינוּ בְּאַנְשֵׁי נִינְוֵה, שֶׁלֹּא נֶאֱמַר בָּהֶם ״וַיַּרְא הָאֱלֹהִים אֶת שַׂקָּם וְאֶת תַּעֲנִיתָם״, אֶלָּא: ״וַיַּרְא הָאֱלֹהִים אֶת מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם כִּי שָׁבוּ מִדַּרְכָּם הָרָעָה״.
What does he say? Our brothers, it is not sackcloth and fasting that cause atonement for our sins. Rather, repentance and good deeds will cause our atonement. This is as we find with regard to the people of Nineveh, that it is not stated about them: And God saw their sackcloth and their fasting. Rather, the verse states: “And God saw their deeds, that they had turned from their evil way” (Jonah 3:10).
״וְיִתְכַּסּוּ שַׂקִּים הָאָדָם וְהַבְּהֵמָה״, מַאי הֲווֹ עָבְדִי? אָסְרוּ הַבְּהֵמוֹת לְחוּד, וְאֶת הַוְּולָדוֹת לְחוּד. אָמְרוּ לְפָנָיו: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם! אִם אֵין אַתָּה מְרַחֵם עָלֵינוּ — אֵין אָנוּ מְרַחֲמִים עַל אֵלּוּ.
§ Apropos the repentance of the inhabitants of Nineveh, the Gemara discusses their behavior further. The verse states: “But let them be covered with sackcloth, both man and beast” (Jonah 3:8). What did they do? They confined the female animals alone, and their young alone, in a different place. They then said before God: Master of the Universe, if You do not have mercy on us, we will not have mercy on these animals. Even if we are not worthy of Your mercy, these animals have not sinned.
״וְיִקְרְאוּ אֶל אֱלֹהִים בְּחׇזְקָה״, מַאי אֲמוּר? אָמְרוּ לְפָנָיו: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם! עָלוּב וְשֶׁאֵינוֹ עָלוּב, צַדִּיק וְרָשָׁע — מִי נִדְחֶה מִפְּנֵי מִי?
It is further stated with regard to the people of Nineveh: “And let them cry mightily to God” (Jonah 3:8). The Gemara asks: What did they say that could be described as calling out “mightily”? The Gemara explains that they said before God: Master of the Universe, if there is a dispute between a submissive one and an intractable one, or between a righteous one and a wicked one, who must yield before whom? Certainly the righteous forgives the wicked. Likewise, You must have mercy on us.
״וְיָשֻׁבוּ אִישׁ מִדַּרְכּוֹ הָרָעָה וּמִן הֶחָמָס אֲשֶׁר בְּכַפֵּיהֶם״, מַאי ״וּמִן הֶחָמָס אֲשֶׁר בְּכַפֵּיהֶם״? אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: אֲפִילּוּ גָּזַל מָרִישׁ וּבְנָאוֹ בְּבִירָה — מְקַעְקֵעַ כׇּל הַבִּירָה כּוּלָּהּ וּמַחְזִיר מָרִישׁ לִבְעָלָיו.
The verse states: “And let them turn, every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands” (Jonah 3:8). What is the meaning of the phrase “and from the violence that is in their hands”? Shmuel said that the king of Nineveh proclaimed: Even if one stole a beam and built it into his building, he must tear down the entire building and return the beam to its owner. Although the Sages decreed that one need only pay financial compensation in a case of this kind, these people wanted to repent completely by removing any remnant of stolen property from their possession.
אָמַר רַב אַדָּא בַּר אַהֲבָה: אָדָם שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּיָדוֹ עֲבֵירָה, וּמִתְוַדֶּה וְאֵינוֹ חוֹזֵר בָּהּ, לְמָה הוּא דּוֹמֶה? לְאָדָם שֶׁתּוֹפֵס שֶׁרֶץ בְּיָדוֹ, שֶׁאֲפִילּוּ טוֹבֵל בְּכׇל מֵימוֹת שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם — לֹא עָלְתָה לוֹ טְבִילָה. זְרָקוֹ מִיָּדוֹ, כֵּיוָן שֶׁטָּבַל בְּאַרְבָּעִים סְאָה — מִיָּד עָלְתָה לוֹ טְבִילָה,
§ Similarly, Rav Adda bar Ahava said: A person who has a transgression in his hand, and he confesses but does not repent for his sin, to what is he comparable? To a person who holds in his hand a dead creeping animal, which renders one ritually impure by contact. As in this situation, even if he immerses in all the waters of the world, his immersion is ineffective for him, as long as the source of ritual impurity remains in his hand. However, if he has thrown the animal from his hand, once he has immersed in a ritual bath of forty se’a, the immersion is immediately effective for him.
שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּמוֹדֶה וְעֹזֵב יְרֻחָם״, וְאוֹמֵר: ״נִשָּׂא לְבָבֵנוּ אֶל כַּפָּיִם אֶל אֵל בַּשָּׁמָיִם״.
As it is stated: “He who covers his transgressions shall not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them shall obtain mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). That is, confession alone is futile, but one who also abandons his transgressions will receive mercy. And it states elsewhere: “Let us lift up our heart with our hands to God in Heaven” (Lamentations 3:41), which likewise indicates that it is not enough to lift one’s hands in prayer; rather, one must also raise his heart and return to God.
עָמְדוּ בִּתְפִלָּה, מוֹרִידִין לִפְנֵי הַתֵּיבָה זָקֵן כּוּ׳. תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: עָמְדוּ בִּתְפִלָּה, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁיֵּשׁ שָׁם זָקֵן וְחָכָם — אֵין מוֹרִידִין לִפְנֵי הַתֵּיבָה אֶלָּא אָדָם הָרָגִיל. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: מְטוּפָּל וְאֵין לוֹ, וְיֵשׁ לוֹ יְגִיעָה בַּשָּׂדֶה, וּבֵיתוֹ רֵיקָם,
§ The mishna teaches: They stood for prayer, and the congregation appoints an elder. The Sages taught in a baraita: They stood for prayer, and even if there is a man there who is elderly and a scholar, they appoint to descend before the ark as prayer leader only a person who is accustomed to lead in prayer. Who is considered an accustomed prayer leader in this sense? Rabbi Yehuda says: One who has financially dependent children but he does not have the means to support them, and he has no choice but to toil in the field, and whose house is empty, and who will therefore pray for rain with great devotion.
וּפִרְקוֹ נָאֶה, וּשְׁפַל בֶּרֶךְ, וּמְרוּצֶּה לָעָם, וְיֵשׁ לוֹ נְעִימָה, וְקוֹלוֹ עָרֵב, וּבָקִי לִקְרוֹת בַּתּוֹרָה וּבַנְּבִיאִים וּבַכְּתוּבִים, וְלִשְׁנוֹת בַּמִּדְרָשׁ בַּהֲלָכוֹת וּבָאַגָּדוֹת, וּבָקִי בְּכׇל הַבְּרָכוֹת כּוּלָּן. וִיהַבוּ בֵּיהּ רַבָּנַן עֵינַיְיהוּ בְּרַב יִצְחָק בַּר אַמֵּי.
Rabbi Yehuda continues with his depiction of the worthy prayer leader. And his youth was becoming, and he is humble and accepted by the people, as he is likable. And furthermore, he must be familiar with songs and his voice pleasant, and he is expert in reading the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings, and he knows how to study midrash, halakha, and aggada. And finally, he must be expert in all of the blessings. Clearly, it is hard to find someone with all these qualities. And the Gemara relates that when this worthy person was described, those Sages present turned their eyes toward Rav Yitzḥak bar Ami, who possessed all of these virtues.
הַיְינוּ ״מְטוּפָּל וְאֵין לוֹ״, הַיְינוּ ״בֵּיתוֹ רֵיקָם״? אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: זֶהוּ שֶׁבֵּיתוֹ רֵיקָם מִן הָעֲבֵירָה. ״וּפִרְקוֹ נָאֶה״, אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: זֶה שֶׁלֹּא יָצָא עָלָיו שֵׁם רַע בְּיַלְדוּתוֹ.
The Gemara asks a question concerning the explanation of Rabbi Yehuda: One who has dependent children and does not have anything with which to support them is apparently the same as one whose house is empty. Why does Rabbi Yehuda list both descriptions? Rav Ḥisda said: This expression means that his house is empty of transgression. And Rabbi Yehuda further said that the prayer leader must be one whose youth was becoming. In explanation of this phrase, Abaye said: This is one who did not have a bad reputation at any time during his youth.
״הָיְתָה לִּי נַחֲלָתִי כְּאַרְיֵה בַיָּעַר נָתְנָה עָלַי בְּקוֹלָהּ עַל כֵּן שְׂנֵאתִיהָ״, מַאי ״נָתְנָה עָלַי בְּקוֹלָהּ״? אָמַר מָר זוּטְרָא בַּר טוֹבִיָּה אָמַר רַב, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ אָמַר רַבִּי חָמָא אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: זֶה שְׁלִיחַ צִבּוּר שֶׁאֵינוֹ הָגוּן הַיּוֹרֵד לִפְנֵי הַתֵּיבָה.
The Gemara cites a verse in relation to the prayer leader: “My heritage has become to me as a lion in the forest. She has uttered her voice against me; therefore I have hated her” (Jeremiah 12:8). What is the meaning of the phrase: “She has uttered her voice against me”? Mar Zutra bar Toviyya said that Rav said, and some say Rabbi Ḥama said that Rabbi Elazar said: This is an unworthy prayer leader who descends before the ark. When this person calls out to God, He thinks, so to speak: I hate the sound of his prayer.
וְאוֹמֵר לִפְנֵיהֶם עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבַּע בְּרָכוֹת, שְׁמוֹנֶה עֶשְׂרֵה שֶׁבְּכָל יוֹם וּמוֹסִיף עֲלֵיהֶן עוֹד שֵׁשׁ. הָנֵי שֵׁשׁ, שֶׁבַע הָוְויָין! כְּדִתְנַן: עַל הַשְּׁבִיעִית הוּא אוֹמֵר ״בָּרוּךְ מְרַחֵם עַל הָאָרֶץ״! אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק: מַאי ״שְׁבִיעִית״ — שְׁבִיעִית לָאֲרוּכָּה.
§ The mishna teaches: And the prayer leader recites twenty-four blessings before them: The eighteen blessings of the everyday Amida prayer, to which he adds another six blessings. The Gemara asks: Are these six blessings? In fact, they are seven, as we learned in a mishna: For the seventh he recites, Blessed are You, Lord, Who has mercy on the Land. Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said: What is the meaning of the seventh blessing? This is referring to the seventh for length, i.e., there were actually six new blessings, but as the prayer leader lengthens the sixth weekday blessing it is considered an additional blessing.
כִּדְתַנְיָא: בְּ״גוֹאֵל יִשְׂרָאֵל״ מַאֲרִיךְ, וּבְחוֹתָמָהּ הוּא אוֹמֵר: ״מִי שֶׁעָנָה אֶת אַבְרָהָם בְּהַר הַמּוֹרִיָּה, הוּא יַעֲנֶה אֶתְכֶם וְיִשְׁמַע בְּקוֹל צַעֲקַתְכֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה. בָּרוּךְ גּוֹאֵל יִשְׂרָאֵל״, וְהֵן עוֹנִין אַחֲרָיו ״אָמֵן״, וְחַזַּן הַכְּנֶסֶת אוֹמֵר לָהֶם: ״תִּקְעוּ בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן תִּקְעוּ״.
As it is taught in a baraita: In the blessing of: Redeemer of Israel, the prayer leader lengthens the blessing, and for its conclusion he recites: He Who answered Abraham on Mount Moriah, He will answer you and hear the sound of your cry on this day. Blessed are You, Lord, Redeemer of Israel. And the community answers amen after him. And the sexton says to them: Blow a long, unwavering sound, sons of Aaron, blow.
וְחוֹזֵר וְאוֹמֵר: ״מִי שֶׁעָנָה אֶת אֲבוֹתֵינוּ עַל יַם סוּף, הוּא יַעֲנֶה אֶתְכֶם וְיִשְׁמַע בְּקוֹל צַעֲקַתְכֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה, בָּרוּךְ זוֹכֵר הַנִּשְׁכָּחוֹת״, וְהֵן עוֹנִין אַחֲרָיו ״אָמֵן״, וְחַזַּן הַכְּנֶסֶת אוֹמֵר לָהֶם: ״הָרִיעוּ בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן הָרִיעוּ״. וְכֵן בְּכׇל בְּרָכָה וּבְרָכָה, בְּאַחַת אוֹמֵר: ״תִּקְעוּ״, וּבְאַחַת אוֹמֵר: ״הָרִיעוּ״.
And the prayer leader resumes and recites the second blessing, concluding: He Who answered our forefathers by the Red Sea, He will answer you and hear the sound of your cry on this day. Blessed are You, Lord, Who remembers the forgotten. And the community answers amen after him. And the sexton says to them: Blast a wavering sound, sons of Aaron, blast. And similarly, this is the procedure for each and every additional blessing: After one blessing he says: Blow a long, unwavering sound, and after the next one he says: Blast a wavering sound.
בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים — בִּגְבוּלִין, אֲבָל בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ אֵינוֹ כֵּן, לְפִי שֶׁאֵין עוֹנִין ״אָמֵן״ בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ. וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁאֵין עוֹנִין ״אָמֵן״ בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ —
The Gemara asks: In what case is this statement said? This method applies in the outlying areas, i.e., everywhere except in the Temple. However, in the Temple itself this is not the correct procedure, as one does not answer amen in the Temple. Instead, one responds with a long blessing. The Gemara inquires: And from where is it derived that one does not answer amen in the Temple?
שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״קוּמוּ בָּרְכוּ אֶת ה׳ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם מִן הָעוֹלָם עַד הָעוֹלָם וִיבָרְכוּ שֵׁם כְּבֹדֶךָ וּמְרוֹמַם עַל כׇּל בְּרָכָה וּתְהִלָּה״. יָכוֹל עַל כׇּל בְּרָכוֹת כּוּלָּן לֹא תְּהֵא אֶלָּא תְּהִלָּה אַחַת — תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״וּמְרוֹמַם עַל כׇּל בְּרָכָה וּתְהִלָּה״ — עַל כׇּל בְּרָכָה תֵּן לוֹ תְּהִלָּה.
The Gemara answers: As it is stated: “Stand up and bless the Lord, your God, from everlasting to everlasting, and let them say: Blessed be Your glorious name, that is exalted above all blessing and praise” (Nehemiah 9:5). One might have thought that for all blessings there should be only one praise, i.e., all blessings are answered with amen. Therefore, the verse states: “That is exalted above all [al kol] blessing and praise,” which indicates that for every [al kol] blessing, you should give it its own praise.
וְאֶלָּא בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ מַהוּ אוֹמֵר? ״בָּרוּךְ ה׳ אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִן הָעוֹלָם וְעַד הָעוֹלָם. בָּרוּךְ גּוֹאֵל יִשְׂרָאֵל״. וְהֵן עוֹנִין אַחֲרָיו: ״בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד״. וְחַזַּן הַכְּנֶסֶת אוֹמֵר לָהֶם: ״תִּקְעוּ הַכֹּהֲנִים בְּנֵי אַהֲרוֹן תִּקְעוּ״,
But if so, in the Temple, what would the prayer leader recite? He would conclude the blessing: Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed are You, Lord, Redeemer of Israel. And instead of amen, they answer after him: Blessed be the name of His glorious kingdom forever and all time. And the sexton says to them: Blow, priests, sons of Aaron, blow.
וְחוֹזֵר וְאוֹמֵר: ״מִי שֶׁעָנָה אֶת אַבְרָהָם בְּהַר הַמּוֹרִיָּה, הוּא יַעֲנֶה אֶתְכֶם וְיִשְׁמַע בְּקוֹל צַעֲקַתְכֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה. בָּרוּךְ ה׳ אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל זוֹכֵר הַנִּשְׁכָּחוֹת״, וְהֵם עוֹנִים אַחֲרָיו: ״בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד״, וְחַזַּן הַכְּנֶסֶת אוֹמֵר לָהֶם: ״הָרִיעוּ, הַכֹּהֲנִים בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן, הָרִיעוּ וְכוּ׳״, וְכֵן בְּכׇל בְּרָכָה וּבְרָכָה, בְּאַחַת אוֹמֵר ״תִּקְעוּ״ וּבְאַחַת אוֹמֵר ״הָרִיעוּ״, עַד שֶׁגּוֹמֵר אֶת כּוּלָּן.
And the prayer leader resumes and recites the second blessing, concluding: He Who answered Abraham on Mount Moriah, He will answer you and hear the sound of your cry on this day. Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel, Who remembers the forgotten. And the community answers after him: Blessed be the name of His glorious kingdom forever and all time. And the sexton says to them: Blast, priests, sons of Aaron, blast, etc. And similarly, this is the procedure for each and every additional blessing: After one blessing he says: Blow a long, unwavering sound, and after the next one he says: Blast a wavering sound, until he concludes all the blessings.
וְכָךְ הִנְהִיג רַבִּי חֲלַפְתָּא בְּצִפּוֹרִי, וְרַבִּי חֲנַנְיָה בֶּן תְּרַדְיוֹן בְּסִיכְנִי, וּכְשֶׁבָּא דָּבָר לִפְנֵי חֲכָמִים, אָמְרוּ: לֹא הָיוּ נוֹהֲגִין כֵּן אֶלָּא בְּשַׁעֲרֵי מִזְרָח וּבְהַר הַבַּיִת.
§ The Gemara relates: And this was the custom Rabbi Ḥalafta established in the city of Tzippori, and Rabbi Ḥananya ben Teradyon in the city of Sikhni. And when this matter came before the Sages, they said: They would act in accordance with this custom only at the Eastern Gate of the Temple and on the Temple Mount, but not outside the Temple.
וְאִית דְּאָמְרִי, כִּדְתַנְיָא: אוֹמֵר לִפְנֵיהֶן עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבַּע בְּרָכוֹת, שְׁמוֹנֶה עֶשְׂרֵה שֶׁבְּכָל יוֹם, וּמוֹסִיף עֲלֵיהֶן עוֹד שֵׁשׁ. וְאוֹתָן שֵׁשׁ הֵיכָן אוֹמְרָן? בֵּין ״גּוֹאֵל״ לְ״רוֹפֵא חוֹלֵי״, וּמַאֲרִיךְ בַּגְּאוּלָּה, וְהֵן עוֹנִין אַחֲרָיו ״אָמֵן״ עַל כׇּל בְּרָכָה וּבְרָכָה. וְכָךְ הָיוּ נוֹהֲגִין בִּגְבוּלִין.
And some say that they acted as it is taught in a baraita: And he recites twenty-four blessings before them: The eighteen blessings of the everyday Amida prayer, to which he adds another six blessings. And those extra six, where does he recite them? Between the blessings: Redeemer of Israel, and: Healer of the sick. And he lengthens the earlier prayer of redemption, and the congregation answers amen after him, for each and every blessing. And this was the custom in the outlying areas, outside the Temple.
אֲבָל בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ, הָיוּ אוֹמְרִים: ״בָּרוּךְ ה׳ אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִן הָעוֹלָם וָעֶד הָעוֹלָם. בָּרוּךְ גּוֹאֵל יִשְׂרָאֵל.״ וְלֹא הָיוּ עוֹנִין אַחֲרָיו ״אָמֵן״. וְכׇל כָּךְ לָמָּה? לְפִי שֶׁאֵין עוֹנִין ״אָמֵן״ בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ, וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁאֵין עוֹנִין ״אָמֵן״ בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״קוּמוּ בָּרְכוּ אֶת ה׳ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם מִן הָעוֹלָם עַד הָעוֹלָם וִיבָרְכוּ שֵׁם כְּבוֹדֶךָ וּמְרוֹמַם עַל כׇּל בְּרָכָה וּתְהִלָּה״ — עַל כׇּל בְּרָכָה וּבְרָכָה תֵּן לוֹ תְּהִלָּה.
However, in the Temple they would recite: Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed are You, Lord, Redeemer of Israel, and they would not answer amen after him. And why did the practice differ so much? Because one does not answer amen in the Temple. And from where is it derived that one does not answer amen in the Temple? As it is stated: “Stand up and bless the Lord, your God, from everlasting to everlasting, and let them say: Blessed be Your glorious Name, that is exalted above all blessing and praise” (Nehemiah 9:5). As stated above, this verse indicates that for every blessing, you should give it its own praise.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: עַל הָרִאשׁוֹנוֹת הוּא אוֹמֵר ״בָּרוּךְ ה׳ אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִן הָעוֹלָם וָעֶד הָעוֹלָם. בָּרוּךְ גּוֹאֵל יִשְׂרָאֵל״. וְהֵן עוֹנִין אַחֲרָיו: ״בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד״. וְחַזַּן הַכְּנֶסֶת אוֹמֵר: ״תִּקְעוּ כֹּהֲנִים תִּקְעוּ״. וְחוֹזֵר וְאוֹמֵר: ״מִי שֶׁעָנָה אֶת אַבְרָהָם בְּהַר הַמּוֹרִיָּה, הוּא יַעֲנֶה אֶתְכֶם וְיִשְׁמַע בְּקוֹל צַעֲקַתְכֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה״, וְהֵן תּוֹקְעִין וּמְרִיעִין וְתוֹקְעִין, וְעַל הַשְּׁנִיָּה הוּא אוֹמֵר: ״בָּרוּךְ ה׳ אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִן הָעוֹלָם וָעֶד הָעוֹלָם. בָּרוּךְ זוֹכֵר הַנִּשְׁכָּחוֹת״. וְהֵן עוֹנִין אַחֲרָיו: ״בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד״,
The Sages taught: In concluding the first blessing he recites: Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed are You, Lord, Redeemer of Israel, and they would answer after him: Blessed be the name of His glorious kingdom forever and all time. And the sexton says: Blow, priests, blow. And he resumes the blessings and recites: He Who answered Abraham on Mount Moriah, He will answer you and hear the sound of your cry on this day. And they blow a long, unwavering sound, and blast a wavering sound, and blow. And for the second blessing he recites: Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting, who remembers the forgotten, and they would answer after him: Blessed be the name of His glorious kingdom forever and all time.
וְחַזַּן הַכְּנֶסֶת אוֹמֵר: ״הָרִיעוּ בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן הָרִיעוּ״. וְאוֹמֵר: ״מִי שֶׁעָנָה אֶת אֲבוֹתֵינוּ עַל יַם סוּף, הוּא יַעֲנֶה אֶתְכֶם וְיִשְׁמַע בְּקוֹל צַעֲקַתְכֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה״, וְהֵם מְרִיעִין וְתוֹקְעִין וּמְרִיעִין, וְכֵן בְּכׇל בְּרָכָה וּבְרָכָה. בְּאַחַת אוֹמֵר ״תִּקְעוּ״, וּבְאַחַת אוֹמֵר ״הָרִיעוּ״, עַד שֶׁיִּגְמוֹר אֶת הַבְּרָכוֹת כּוּלָּן. וְכָךְ הִנְהִיג רַבִּי חֲלַפְתָּא בְּצִיפּוֹרִי וְרַבִּי חֲנַנְיָה בֶּן תְּרַדְיוֹן בְּסִיכְנִי. וּכְשֶׁבָּא דָּבָר אֵצֶל חֲכָמִים, אָמְרוּ: לֹא הָיוּ נוֹהֲגִין כֵּן אֶלָּא בְּשַׁעֲרֵי מִזְרָח וּבְהַר הַבַּיִת.
And the sexton says: Blast, sons of Aaron, blast. And he recites: He Who answered our forefathers by the Red Sea, He will answer you and hear the sound of your cry on this day. And they blow, and blast, and blow. And similarly, for each and every blessing: After one he says: Blow, and after the next one he says: Blast, until he concludes all of them. And this was the custom Rabbi Ḥalafta established in Tzippori, and Rabbi Ḥananya ben Teradyon in Sikhni. And when this matter came before the Sages, they said: They would act in accordance with this custom only at the Eastern Gate and on the Temple Mount.
רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: לֹא הָיָה צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר זִכְרוֹנוֹת כּוּ׳. אָמַר רַבִּי אַדָּא דְּמִן יָפוֹ: מַאי טַעְמָא דְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה — לְפִי שֶׁאֵין אוֹמְרִים זִכְרוֹנוֹת וְשׁוֹפָרוֹת
§ The mishna taught: Rabbi Yehuda says: The prayer leader did not need to recite the Remembrances and Shofarot passages. Instead, he recited verses dealing with famine and suffering. Rabbi Adda from Jaffa said: What is Rabbi Yehuda’s reason? Rabbi Yehuda maintains that one recites Remembrances and Shofarot
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Meet the diverse women learning Gemara at Hadran and hear their stories.
I started learning Daf Yomi in January 2020 after watching my grandfather, Mayer Penstein z”l, finish shas with the previous cycle. My grandfather made learning so much fun was so proud that his grandchildren wanted to join him. I was also inspired by Ilana Kurshan’s book, If All the Seas Were Ink. Two years in, I can say that it has enriched my life in so many ways.
Leeza Hirt Wilner
New York, United States
After experiences over the years of asking to join gemara shiurim for men and either being refused by the maggid shiur or being the only women there, sometimes behind a mechitza, I found out about Hadran sometime during the tail end of Masechet Shabbat, I think. Life has been much better since then.
Madeline Cohen
London, United Kingdom
In January 2020, my chevruta suggested that we “up our game. Let’s do Daf Yomi” – and she sent me the Hadran link. I lost my job (and went freelance), there was a pandemic, and I am still opening the podcast with my breakfast coffee, or after Shabbat with popcorn. My Aramaic is improving. I will need a new bookcase, though.
Rhondda May
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
I graduated college in December 2019 and received a set of shas as a present from my husband. With my long time dream of learning daf yomi, I had no idea that a new cycle was beginning just one month later, in January 2020. I have been learning the daf ever since with Michelle Farber… Through grad school, my first job, my first baby, and all the other incredible journeys over the past few years!
Sigal Spitzer Flamholz
Bronx, United States
Geri Goldstein got me started learning daf yomi when I was in Israel 2 years ago. It’s been a challenge and I’ve learned a lot though I’m sure I miss a lot. I quilt as I listen and I want to share what I’ve been working on.
Rebecca Stulberg
Ottawa, Canada
I LOVE learning the Daf. I started with Shabbat. I join the morning Zoom with Reb Michelle and it totally grounds my day. When Corona hit us in Israel, I decided that I would use the Daf to keep myself sane, especially during the days when we could not venture out more than 300 m from our home. Now my husband and I have so much new material to talk about! It really is the best part of my day!
Batsheva Pava
Hashmonaim, Israel
3 years ago, I joined Rabbanit Michelle to organize the unprecedented Siyum HaShas event in Jerusalem for thousands of women. The whole experience was so inspiring that I decided then to start learning the daf and see how I would go…. and I’m still at it. I often listen to the Daf on my bike in mornings, surrounded by both the external & the internal beauty of Eretz Yisrael & Am Yisrael!
Lisa Kolodny
Raanana, Israel
I started learning Jan 2020 when I heard the new cycle was starting. I had tried during the last cycle and didn’t make it past a few weeks. Learning online from old men didn’t speak to my soul and I knew Talmud had to be a soul journey for me. Enter Hadran! Talmud from Rabbanit Michelle Farber from a woman’s perspective, a mother’s perspective and a modern perspective. Motivated to continue!
Keren Carter
Brentwood, California, United States
I started learning at the start of this cycle, and quickly fell in love. It has become such an important part of my day, enriching every part of my life.
Naomi Niederhoffer
Toronto, Canada
It’s hard to believe it has been over two years. Daf yomi has changed my life in so many ways and has been sustaining during this global sea change. Each day means learning something new, digging a little deeper, adding another lens, seeing worlds with new eyes. Daf has also fostered new friendships and deepened childhood connections, as long time friends have unexpectedly become havruta.
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Northwest Washington, United States
I started Daf during the pandemic. I listened to a number of podcasts by various Rebbeim until one day, I discovered Rabbanit Farbers podcast. Subsequently I joined the Hadran family in Eruvin. Not the easiest place to begin, Rabbanit Farber made it all understandable and fun. The online live group has bonded together and have really become a supportive, encouraging family.
Leah Goldford
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
With Rabbanit Dr. Naomi Cohen in the Women’s Talmud class, over 30 years ago. It was a “known” class and it was accepted, because of who taught. Since then I have also studied with Avigail Gross-Gelman and Dr. Gabriel Hazut for about a year). Years ago, in a shiur in my shul, I did know about Persians doing 3 things with their clothes on. They opened the shiur to woman after that!
Sharon Mink
Haifa, Israel
I had tried to start after being inspired by the hadran siyum, but did not manage to stick to it. However, just before masechet taanit, our rav wrote a message to the shul WhatsApp encouraging people to start with masechet taanit, so I did! And this time, I’m hooked! I listen to the shiur every day , and am also trying to improve my skills.
Laura Major
Yad Binyamin, Israel
Ive been learning Gmara since 5th grade and always loved it. Have always wanted to do Daf Yomi and now with Michelle Farber’s online classes it made it much easier to do! Really enjoying the experience thank you!!
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Neve Daniel, Israel
I began my journey two years ago at the beginning of this cycle of the daf yomi. It has been an incredible, challenging experience and has given me a new perspective of Torah Sh’baal Peh and the role it plays in our lives
linda kalish-marcus
Efrat, Israel
I started learning Daf Yomi in January 2020 after watching my grandfather, Mayer Penstein z”l, finish shas with the previous cycle. My grandfather made learning so much fun was so proud that his grandchildren wanted to join him. I was also inspired by Ilana Kurshan’s book, If All the Seas Were Ink. Two years in, I can say that it has enriched my life in so many ways.
Leeza Hirt Wilner
New York, United States
Last cycle, I listened to parts of various מסכתות. When the הדרן סיום was advertised, I listened to Michelle on נידה. I knew that בע”ה with the next cycle I was in (ב”נ). As I entered the סיום (early), I saw the signs and was overcome with emotion. I was randomly seated in the front row, and I cried many times that night. My choice to learn דף יומי was affirmed. It is one of the best I have made!
Miriam Tannenbaum
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About a year into learning more about Judaism on a path to potential conversion, I saw an article about the upcoming Siyum HaShas in January of 2020. My curiosity was piqued and I immediately started investigating what learning the Daf actually meant. Daily learning? Just what I wanted. Seven and a half years? I love a challenge! So I dove in head first and I’ve enjoyed every moment!!
Nickie Matthews
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I started with Ze Kollel in Berlin, directed by Jeremy Borowitz for Hillel Deutschland. We read Masechet Megillah chapter 4 and each participant wrote his commentary on a Sugia that particularly impressed him. I wrote six poems about different Sugiot!
Fascinated by the discussions on Talmud I continued to learn with Rabanit Michelle Farber and am currently taking part in the Tikun Olam course.
Yael Merlini
Berlin, Germany
I decided to give daf yomi a try when I heard about the siyum hashas in 2020. Once the pandemic hit, the daily commitment gave my days some much-needed structure. There have been times when I’ve felt like quitting- especially when encountering very technical details in the text. But then I tell myself, “Look how much you’ve done. You can’t stop now!” So I keep going & my Koren bookshelf grows…
Miriam Eckstein-Koas
Huntington, United States
Taanit 16
לְמִתְבַּיֵּישׁ מֵאֲחֵרִים. וְהֵיכָא מַנַּח לְהוּ? אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: בִּמְקוֹם תְּפִילִּין. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״לָשׂוּם לַאֲבֵלֵי צִיּוֹן לָתֵת לָהֶם פְּאֵר תַּחַת אֵפֶר״.
one who is humiliated by others. Accordingly, ashes are placed on the heads of the leaders of the community by others, to increase the appearance of their suffering. The Gemara asks: And where exactly are the ashes placed upon their heads? Rabbi Yitzḥak said: On the place of the phylacteries of the head, as it is stated: “To appoint to those who mourn in Zion, to give to them an ornament [pe’er] instead of ashes” (Isaiah 61:3). This verse likens the placement of ashes on one’s head to an ornament, and the term pe’er is traditionally interpreted as a reference to phylacteries.
רְחוֹב, תֵּיבָה, וְשַׂקִּים, אֵפֶר, אֵפֶר, קְבוּרָה, וּמוֹרִיָּה סִימָן. לָמָּה יוֹצְאִין לָרְחוֹב? רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא אָמַר: לוֹמַר — זָעַקְנוּ בְּצִנְעָא וְלֹא נַעֲנֵינוּ, נְבַזֶּה עַצְמֵנוּ בְּפַרְהֶסְיָא.
§ The Gemara provides a mnemonic device for the forthcoming statements. Square; ark; and sackcloth; ashes; ashes; cemetery; and Moriah. The Gemara asks: Why do they go out to the square? Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said: This is a symbolic action, as though to say: We cried out in private inside the synagogue and we were not answered. We will therefore disgrace ourselves in public, so that our prayers will be heard.
רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ אָמַר: גָּלִינוּ, גָּלוּתֵינוּ מְכַפֶּרֶת עָלֵינוּ. מַאי בֵּינַיְיהוּ? אִיכָּא בֵּינַיְיהוּ, דְּגָלוּ מִבֵּי כְנִישְׁתָּא לְבֵי כְנִישְׁתָּא.
Reish Lakish said that the move into the square symbolizes exile, as though they are saying: We have been exiled; may our exile atone for us. The Gemara asks: What is the practical difference between these two explanations? The Gemara answers that the practical difference between them is in a case where they are exiled, i.e., they move, from one synagogue to another synagogue. According to the opinion of Reish Lakish, they have exiled themselves, and therefore this ceremony is adequate. Conversely, Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba maintains that as the ritual is performed in private, it is insufficient.
וְלָמָּה מוֹצִיאִין אֶת הַתֵּיבָה לִרְחוֹבָהּ שֶׁל עִיר? אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי, לוֹמַר: כְּלִי צָנוּעַ הָיָה לָנוּ, וְנִתְבַּזָּה בַּעֲווֹנֵינוּ.
The Gemara asks another question concerning the meaning of the ritual. And why do they remove the ark to the city square? Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: This is done as though to say: We had a modest vessel, which was always kept concealed, but it has been publicly exposed due to our transgressions.
וְלָמָּה מִתְכַּסִּין בְּשַׂקִּים? אָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא: לוֹמַר — הֲרֵי אָנוּ חֲשׁוּבִין כִּבְהֵמָה. וְלָמָּה נוֹתְנִין אֵפֶר מִקְלֶה עַל גַּבֵּי תֵּיבָה? אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בֶּן פַּזִּי: כְּלוֹמַר — ״עִמּוֹ אָנֹכִי בְּצָרָה״. רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ אָמַר: ״בְּכׇל צָרָתָם לוֹ צָר״. אָמַר רַבִּי זֵירָא: מֵרֵישׁ כִּי הֲוָה חֲזֵינָא לְהוּ לְרַבָּנַן דְּיָהֲבִי אֵפֶר מִקְלֶה עַל גַּבֵּי תֵּיבָה — מִזְדַּעְזַע לִי כּוּלֵּיהּ גּוּפַאי.
The Gemara further asks: And why do they cover themselves in sackcloth? Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said: This is as though to say: We are considered before You like animals, which are likewise covered with hide. And why do they place burnt ashes on top of the ark? Rabbi Yehuda ben Pazi said: This is as though to say in God’s name: “I will be with him in trouble” (Psalms 91:15). Reish Lakish said that the same idea can be derived from a different verse: “In all their affliction, He was afflicted” (Isaiah 63:9). By placing burnt ash on the ark, which is the symbol of the Divine Presence, it is as though God Himself joins the Jews in their pain. Rabbi Zeira said: At first, when I saw the Sages place burnt ashes upon the ark, my entire body trembled from the intensity of the event.
וְלָמָּה נוֹתְנִין אֵפֶר בְּרֹאשׁ כׇּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד? פְּלִיגִי בַּהּ רַבִּי לֵוִי בַּר חָמָא וְרַבִּי חֲנִינָא. חַד אָמַר: הֲרֵי אָנוּ חֲשׁוּבִין לְפָנֶיךָ כְּאֵפֶר, וְחַד אָמַר: כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּזְכּוֹר לָנוּ אֶפְרוֹ שֶׁל יִצְחָק. מַאי בֵּינַיְיהוּ? אִיכָּא בֵּינַיְיהוּ עָפָר סְתָם.
And why do they place ashes upon the head of each and every individual? Rabbi Levi bar Ḥama and Rabbi Ḥanina disagree with regard to this matter. One said that this is as though to say: We are considered like ashes before You. And one said that these ashes are placed in order to remind God of the ashes of our forefather Isaac, on our behalf. The Gemara asks: What is the practical difference between these two explanations? The Gemara answers that the practical difference between them is in a case where one placed ordinary earth upon the heads of the individuals instead of ashes. Although earth does symbolize self-nullification and may be used according to the first explanation, it has no connection to the sacrifice of Isaac, and therefore it does not satisfy the second explanation.
לָמָּה יוֹצְאִין לְבֵית הַקְּבָרוֹת? פְּלִיגִי בַּהּ רַבִּי לֵוִי בַּר חָמָא וְרַבִּי חֲנִינָא. חַד אָמַר: הֲרֵי אָנוּ חֲשׁוּבִין לְפָנֶיךָ כְּמֵתִים, וְחַד אָמַר: כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּבַקְּשׁוּ עָלֵינוּ מֵתִים רַחֲמִים. מַאי בֵּינַיְיהוּ? אִיכָּא בֵּינַיְיהוּ קִבְרֵי נׇכְרִים.
The Gemara further asks: And why do they go out to the cemetery on a fast day? Again, Rabbi Levi bar Ḥama and Rabbi Ḥanina disagree with regard to this matter. One said this is as though to say: We are like the dead before You. And one said that one goes out to the cemetery in order that the deceased will request mercy on our behalf. The Gemara asks: What is the practical difference between them? The Gemara answers that the practical difference between them concerns graves of gentiles. If the purpose of going to graves is to say that they stand before God like the dead, graves of gentiles would suffice. However, if they go to the cemetery for the deceased to ask for mercy on their behalf, they should visit specifically Jewish graves.
מַאי הַר הַמּוֹרִיָּה? פְּלִיגִי בַּהּ רַבִּי לֵוִי בַּר חָמָא וְרַבִּי חֲנִינָא. חַד אָמַר: הַר שֶׁיָּצָא מִמֶּנּוּ הוֹרָאָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, וְחַד אָמַר: הַר שֶׁיָּצָא מִמֶּנּוּ מוֹרָא לְאוּמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם.
§ Apropos disputes between Rabbi Levi bar Ḥama and Rabbi Ḥanina, the Gemara mentions another dispute between them. What is the meaning of the name Mount [Har] Moriah, the Temple Mount? Rabbi Levi bar Ḥama and Rabbi Ḥanina disagree with regard to this matter. One said that the name alludes to the Great Sanhedrin that convened there, as it is the mountain from which instruction [hora’a] went out to the Jewish people. And one said that it is the mountain from which fear [mora] went out to the nations of the world, as this place signifies God’s choice of the Jewish people.
הַזָּקֵן שֶׁבָּהֶן אוֹמֵר לִפְנֵיהֶן דִּבְרֵי כִבּוּשִׁין. תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אִם יֵשׁ זָקֵן — אוֹמֵר זָקֵן. וְאִם לָאו — אוֹמֵר חָכָם, וְאִם לָאו — אוֹמֵר אָדָם שֶׁל צוּרָה. אַטּוּ זָקֵן דְּקָאָמְרִי, אַף עַל גַּב דְּלָאו חָכָם הוּא? אָמַר אַבָּיֵי, הָכִי קָאָמַר: אִם יֵשׁ זָקֵן וְהוּא חָכָם — אוֹמֵר זָקֵן וְהוּא חָכָם, וְאִם לָאו — אוֹמֵר חָכָם, וְאִם לָאו — אוֹמֵר אָדָם שֶׁל צוּרָה.
§ The mishna taught: The eldest of the community says to them statements of reproof. The Sages taught in a baraita: If there is an elder, then the elder says the admonition, and if not, a Sage says the admonition. And if not, a person of imposing appearance says it. The Gemara asks: Is that to say that the elder of whom we spoke is preferred to a scholar simply by virtue of his age, even though he is not a scholar? Abaye said that this is what the mishna is saying: If there is an elder, and he is also a scholar, this elder scholar says the admonition. And if not, even a young scholar says the reproof. And if there is no scholar of any kind available, a person of imposing appearance says it.
אַחֵינוּ, לֹא שַׂק וְתַעֲנִית גּוֹרְמִים, אֶלָּא תְּשׁוּבָה וּמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים גּוֹרְמִים. שֶׁכֵּן מָצִינוּ בְּאַנְשֵׁי נִינְוֵה, שֶׁלֹּא נֶאֱמַר בָּהֶם ״וַיַּרְא הָאֱלֹהִים אֶת שַׂקָּם וְאֶת תַּעֲנִיתָם״, אֶלָּא: ״וַיַּרְא הָאֱלֹהִים אֶת מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם כִּי שָׁבוּ מִדַּרְכָּם הָרָעָה״.
What does he say? Our brothers, it is not sackcloth and fasting that cause atonement for our sins. Rather, repentance and good deeds will cause our atonement. This is as we find with regard to the people of Nineveh, that it is not stated about them: And God saw their sackcloth and their fasting. Rather, the verse states: “And God saw their deeds, that they had turned from their evil way” (Jonah 3:10).
״וְיִתְכַּסּוּ שַׂקִּים הָאָדָם וְהַבְּהֵמָה״, מַאי הֲווֹ עָבְדִי? אָסְרוּ הַבְּהֵמוֹת לְחוּד, וְאֶת הַוְּולָדוֹת לְחוּד. אָמְרוּ לְפָנָיו: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם! אִם אֵין אַתָּה מְרַחֵם עָלֵינוּ — אֵין אָנוּ מְרַחֲמִים עַל אֵלּוּ.
§ Apropos the repentance of the inhabitants of Nineveh, the Gemara discusses their behavior further. The verse states: “But let them be covered with sackcloth, both man and beast” (Jonah 3:8). What did they do? They confined the female animals alone, and their young alone, in a different place. They then said before God: Master of the Universe, if You do not have mercy on us, we will not have mercy on these animals. Even if we are not worthy of Your mercy, these animals have not sinned.
״וְיִקְרְאוּ אֶל אֱלֹהִים בְּחׇזְקָה״, מַאי אֲמוּר? אָמְרוּ לְפָנָיו: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם! עָלוּב וְשֶׁאֵינוֹ עָלוּב, צַדִּיק וְרָשָׁע — מִי נִדְחֶה מִפְּנֵי מִי?
It is further stated with regard to the people of Nineveh: “And let them cry mightily to God” (Jonah 3:8). The Gemara asks: What did they say that could be described as calling out “mightily”? The Gemara explains that they said before God: Master of the Universe, if there is a dispute between a submissive one and an intractable one, or between a righteous one and a wicked one, who must yield before whom? Certainly the righteous forgives the wicked. Likewise, You must have mercy on us.
״וְיָשֻׁבוּ אִישׁ מִדַּרְכּוֹ הָרָעָה וּמִן הֶחָמָס אֲשֶׁר בְּכַפֵּיהֶם״, מַאי ״וּמִן הֶחָמָס אֲשֶׁר בְּכַפֵּיהֶם״? אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: אֲפִילּוּ גָּזַל מָרִישׁ וּבְנָאוֹ בְּבִירָה — מְקַעְקֵעַ כׇּל הַבִּירָה כּוּלָּהּ וּמַחְזִיר מָרִישׁ לִבְעָלָיו.
The verse states: “And let them turn, every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands” (Jonah 3:8). What is the meaning of the phrase “and from the violence that is in their hands”? Shmuel said that the king of Nineveh proclaimed: Even if one stole a beam and built it into his building, he must tear down the entire building and return the beam to its owner. Although the Sages decreed that one need only pay financial compensation in a case of this kind, these people wanted to repent completely by removing any remnant of stolen property from their possession.
אָמַר רַב אַדָּא בַּר אַהֲבָה: אָדָם שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּיָדוֹ עֲבֵירָה, וּמִתְוַדֶּה וְאֵינוֹ חוֹזֵר בָּהּ, לְמָה הוּא דּוֹמֶה? לְאָדָם שֶׁתּוֹפֵס שֶׁרֶץ בְּיָדוֹ, שֶׁאֲפִילּוּ טוֹבֵל בְּכׇל מֵימוֹת שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם — לֹא עָלְתָה לוֹ טְבִילָה. זְרָקוֹ מִיָּדוֹ, כֵּיוָן שֶׁטָּבַל בְּאַרְבָּעִים סְאָה — מִיָּד עָלְתָה לוֹ טְבִילָה,
§ Similarly, Rav Adda bar Ahava said: A person who has a transgression in his hand, and he confesses but does not repent for his sin, to what is he comparable? To a person who holds in his hand a dead creeping animal, which renders one ritually impure by contact. As in this situation, even if he immerses in all the waters of the world, his immersion is ineffective for him, as long as the source of ritual impurity remains in his hand. However, if he has thrown the animal from his hand, once he has immersed in a ritual bath of forty se’a, the immersion is immediately effective for him.
שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּמוֹדֶה וְעֹזֵב יְרֻחָם״, וְאוֹמֵר: ״נִשָּׂא לְבָבֵנוּ אֶל כַּפָּיִם אֶל אֵל בַּשָּׁמָיִם״.
As it is stated: “He who covers his transgressions shall not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them shall obtain mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). That is, confession alone is futile, but one who also abandons his transgressions will receive mercy. And it states elsewhere: “Let us lift up our heart with our hands to God in Heaven” (Lamentations 3:41), which likewise indicates that it is not enough to lift one’s hands in prayer; rather, one must also raise his heart and return to God.
עָמְדוּ בִּתְפִלָּה, מוֹרִידִין לִפְנֵי הַתֵּיבָה זָקֵן כּוּ׳. תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: עָמְדוּ בִּתְפִלָּה, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁיֵּשׁ שָׁם זָקֵן וְחָכָם — אֵין מוֹרִידִין לִפְנֵי הַתֵּיבָה אֶלָּא אָדָם הָרָגִיל. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: מְטוּפָּל וְאֵין לוֹ, וְיֵשׁ לוֹ יְגִיעָה בַּשָּׂדֶה, וּבֵיתוֹ רֵיקָם,
§ The mishna teaches: They stood for prayer, and the congregation appoints an elder. The Sages taught in a baraita: They stood for prayer, and even if there is a man there who is elderly and a scholar, they appoint to descend before the ark as prayer leader only a person who is accustomed to lead in prayer. Who is considered an accustomed prayer leader in this sense? Rabbi Yehuda says: One who has financially dependent children but he does not have the means to support them, and he has no choice but to toil in the field, and whose house is empty, and who will therefore pray for rain with great devotion.
וּפִרְקוֹ נָאֶה, וּשְׁפַל בֶּרֶךְ, וּמְרוּצֶּה לָעָם, וְיֵשׁ לוֹ נְעִימָה, וְקוֹלוֹ עָרֵב, וּבָקִי לִקְרוֹת בַּתּוֹרָה וּבַנְּבִיאִים וּבַכְּתוּבִים, וְלִשְׁנוֹת בַּמִּדְרָשׁ בַּהֲלָכוֹת וּבָאַגָּדוֹת, וּבָקִי בְּכׇל הַבְּרָכוֹת כּוּלָּן. וִיהַבוּ בֵּיהּ רַבָּנַן עֵינַיְיהוּ בְּרַב יִצְחָק בַּר אַמֵּי.
Rabbi Yehuda continues with his depiction of the worthy prayer leader. And his youth was becoming, and he is humble and accepted by the people, as he is likable. And furthermore, he must be familiar with songs and his voice pleasant, and he is expert in reading the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings, and he knows how to study midrash, halakha, and aggada. And finally, he must be expert in all of the blessings. Clearly, it is hard to find someone with all these qualities. And the Gemara relates that when this worthy person was described, those Sages present turned their eyes toward Rav Yitzḥak bar Ami, who possessed all of these virtues.
הַיְינוּ ״מְטוּפָּל וְאֵין לוֹ״, הַיְינוּ ״בֵּיתוֹ רֵיקָם״? אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: זֶהוּ שֶׁבֵּיתוֹ רֵיקָם מִן הָעֲבֵירָה. ״וּפִרְקוֹ נָאֶה״, אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: זֶה שֶׁלֹּא יָצָא עָלָיו שֵׁם רַע בְּיַלְדוּתוֹ.
The Gemara asks a question concerning the explanation of Rabbi Yehuda: One who has dependent children and does not have anything with which to support them is apparently the same as one whose house is empty. Why does Rabbi Yehuda list both descriptions? Rav Ḥisda said: This expression means that his house is empty of transgression. And Rabbi Yehuda further said that the prayer leader must be one whose youth was becoming. In explanation of this phrase, Abaye said: This is one who did not have a bad reputation at any time during his youth.
״הָיְתָה לִּי נַחֲלָתִי כְּאַרְיֵה בַיָּעַר נָתְנָה עָלַי בְּקוֹלָהּ עַל כֵּן שְׂנֵאתִיהָ״, מַאי ״נָתְנָה עָלַי בְּקוֹלָהּ״? אָמַר מָר זוּטְרָא בַּר טוֹבִיָּה אָמַר רַב, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ אָמַר רַבִּי חָמָא אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: זֶה שְׁלִיחַ צִבּוּר שֶׁאֵינוֹ הָגוּן הַיּוֹרֵד לִפְנֵי הַתֵּיבָה.
The Gemara cites a verse in relation to the prayer leader: “My heritage has become to me as a lion in the forest. She has uttered her voice against me; therefore I have hated her” (Jeremiah 12:8). What is the meaning of the phrase: “She has uttered her voice against me”? Mar Zutra bar Toviyya said that Rav said, and some say Rabbi Ḥama said that Rabbi Elazar said: This is an unworthy prayer leader who descends before the ark. When this person calls out to God, He thinks, so to speak: I hate the sound of his prayer.
וְאוֹמֵר לִפְנֵיהֶם עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבַּע בְּרָכוֹת, שְׁמוֹנֶה עֶשְׂרֵה שֶׁבְּכָל יוֹם וּמוֹסִיף עֲלֵיהֶן עוֹד שֵׁשׁ. הָנֵי שֵׁשׁ, שֶׁבַע הָוְויָין! כְּדִתְנַן: עַל הַשְּׁבִיעִית הוּא אוֹמֵר ״בָּרוּךְ מְרַחֵם עַל הָאָרֶץ״! אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק: מַאי ״שְׁבִיעִית״ — שְׁבִיעִית לָאֲרוּכָּה.
§ The mishna teaches: And the prayer leader recites twenty-four blessings before them: The eighteen blessings of the everyday Amida prayer, to which he adds another six blessings. The Gemara asks: Are these six blessings? In fact, they are seven, as we learned in a mishna: For the seventh he recites, Blessed are You, Lord, Who has mercy on the Land. Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said: What is the meaning of the seventh blessing? This is referring to the seventh for length, i.e., there were actually six new blessings, but as the prayer leader lengthens the sixth weekday blessing it is considered an additional blessing.
כִּדְתַנְיָא: בְּ״גוֹאֵל יִשְׂרָאֵל״ מַאֲרִיךְ, וּבְחוֹתָמָהּ הוּא אוֹמֵר: ״מִי שֶׁעָנָה אֶת אַבְרָהָם בְּהַר הַמּוֹרִיָּה, הוּא יַעֲנֶה אֶתְכֶם וְיִשְׁמַע בְּקוֹל צַעֲקַתְכֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה. בָּרוּךְ גּוֹאֵל יִשְׂרָאֵל״, וְהֵן עוֹנִין אַחֲרָיו ״אָמֵן״, וְחַזַּן הַכְּנֶסֶת אוֹמֵר לָהֶם: ״תִּקְעוּ בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן תִּקְעוּ״.
As it is taught in a baraita: In the blessing of: Redeemer of Israel, the prayer leader lengthens the blessing, and for its conclusion he recites: He Who answered Abraham on Mount Moriah, He will answer you and hear the sound of your cry on this day. Blessed are You, Lord, Redeemer of Israel. And the community answers amen after him. And the sexton says to them: Blow a long, unwavering sound, sons of Aaron, blow.
וְחוֹזֵר וְאוֹמֵר: ״מִי שֶׁעָנָה אֶת אֲבוֹתֵינוּ עַל יַם סוּף, הוּא יַעֲנֶה אֶתְכֶם וְיִשְׁמַע בְּקוֹל צַעֲקַתְכֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה, בָּרוּךְ זוֹכֵר הַנִּשְׁכָּחוֹת״, וְהֵן עוֹנִין אַחֲרָיו ״אָמֵן״, וְחַזַּן הַכְּנֶסֶת אוֹמֵר לָהֶם: ״הָרִיעוּ בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן הָרִיעוּ״. וְכֵן בְּכׇל בְּרָכָה וּבְרָכָה, בְּאַחַת אוֹמֵר: ״תִּקְעוּ״, וּבְאַחַת אוֹמֵר: ״הָרִיעוּ״.
And the prayer leader resumes and recites the second blessing, concluding: He Who answered our forefathers by the Red Sea, He will answer you and hear the sound of your cry on this day. Blessed are You, Lord, Who remembers the forgotten. And the community answers amen after him. And the sexton says to them: Blast a wavering sound, sons of Aaron, blast. And similarly, this is the procedure for each and every additional blessing: After one blessing he says: Blow a long, unwavering sound, and after the next one he says: Blast a wavering sound.
בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים — בִּגְבוּלִין, אֲבָל בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ אֵינוֹ כֵּן, לְפִי שֶׁאֵין עוֹנִין ״אָמֵן״ בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ. וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁאֵין עוֹנִין ״אָמֵן״ בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ —
The Gemara asks: In what case is this statement said? This method applies in the outlying areas, i.e., everywhere except in the Temple. However, in the Temple itself this is not the correct procedure, as one does not answer amen in the Temple. Instead, one responds with a long blessing. The Gemara inquires: And from where is it derived that one does not answer amen in the Temple?
שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״קוּמוּ בָּרְכוּ אֶת ה׳ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם מִן הָעוֹלָם עַד הָעוֹלָם וִיבָרְכוּ שֵׁם כְּבֹדֶךָ וּמְרוֹמַם עַל כׇּל בְּרָכָה וּתְהִלָּה״. יָכוֹל עַל כׇּל בְּרָכוֹת כּוּלָּן לֹא תְּהֵא אֶלָּא תְּהִלָּה אַחַת — תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״וּמְרוֹמַם עַל כׇּל בְּרָכָה וּתְהִלָּה״ — עַל כׇּל בְּרָכָה תֵּן לוֹ תְּהִלָּה.
The Gemara answers: As it is stated: “Stand up and bless the Lord, your God, from everlasting to everlasting, and let them say: Blessed be Your glorious name, that is exalted above all blessing and praise” (Nehemiah 9:5). One might have thought that for all blessings there should be only one praise, i.e., all blessings are answered with amen. Therefore, the verse states: “That is exalted above all [al kol] blessing and praise,” which indicates that for every [al kol] blessing, you should give it its own praise.
וְאֶלָּא בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ מַהוּ אוֹמֵר? ״בָּרוּךְ ה׳ אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִן הָעוֹלָם וְעַד הָעוֹלָם. בָּרוּךְ גּוֹאֵל יִשְׂרָאֵל״. וְהֵן עוֹנִין אַחֲרָיו: ״בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד״. וְחַזַּן הַכְּנֶסֶת אוֹמֵר לָהֶם: ״תִּקְעוּ הַכֹּהֲנִים בְּנֵי אַהֲרוֹן תִּקְעוּ״,
But if so, in the Temple, what would the prayer leader recite? He would conclude the blessing: Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed are You, Lord, Redeemer of Israel. And instead of amen, they answer after him: Blessed be the name of His glorious kingdom forever and all time. And the sexton says to them: Blow, priests, sons of Aaron, blow.
וְחוֹזֵר וְאוֹמֵר: ״מִי שֶׁעָנָה אֶת אַבְרָהָם בְּהַר הַמּוֹרִיָּה, הוּא יַעֲנֶה אֶתְכֶם וְיִשְׁמַע בְּקוֹל צַעֲקַתְכֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה. בָּרוּךְ ה׳ אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל זוֹכֵר הַנִּשְׁכָּחוֹת״, וְהֵם עוֹנִים אַחֲרָיו: ״בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד״, וְחַזַּן הַכְּנֶסֶת אוֹמֵר לָהֶם: ״הָרִיעוּ, הַכֹּהֲנִים בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן, הָרִיעוּ וְכוּ׳״, וְכֵן בְּכׇל בְּרָכָה וּבְרָכָה, בְּאַחַת אוֹמֵר ״תִּקְעוּ״ וּבְאַחַת אוֹמֵר ״הָרִיעוּ״, עַד שֶׁגּוֹמֵר אֶת כּוּלָּן.
And the prayer leader resumes and recites the second blessing, concluding: He Who answered Abraham on Mount Moriah, He will answer you and hear the sound of your cry on this day. Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel, Who remembers the forgotten. And the community answers after him: Blessed be the name of His glorious kingdom forever and all time. And the sexton says to them: Blast, priests, sons of Aaron, blast, etc. And similarly, this is the procedure for each and every additional blessing: After one blessing he says: Blow a long, unwavering sound, and after the next one he says: Blast a wavering sound, until he concludes all the blessings.
וְכָךְ הִנְהִיג רַבִּי חֲלַפְתָּא בְּצִפּוֹרִי, וְרַבִּי חֲנַנְיָה בֶּן תְּרַדְיוֹן בְּסִיכְנִי, וּכְשֶׁבָּא דָּבָר לִפְנֵי חֲכָמִים, אָמְרוּ: לֹא הָיוּ נוֹהֲגִין כֵּן אֶלָּא בְּשַׁעֲרֵי מִזְרָח וּבְהַר הַבַּיִת.
§ The Gemara relates: And this was the custom Rabbi Ḥalafta established in the city of Tzippori, and Rabbi Ḥananya ben Teradyon in the city of Sikhni. And when this matter came before the Sages, they said: They would act in accordance with this custom only at the Eastern Gate of the Temple and on the Temple Mount, but not outside the Temple.
וְאִית דְּאָמְרִי, כִּדְתַנְיָא: אוֹמֵר לִפְנֵיהֶן עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבַּע בְּרָכוֹת, שְׁמוֹנֶה עֶשְׂרֵה שֶׁבְּכָל יוֹם, וּמוֹסִיף עֲלֵיהֶן עוֹד שֵׁשׁ. וְאוֹתָן שֵׁשׁ הֵיכָן אוֹמְרָן? בֵּין ״גּוֹאֵל״ לְ״רוֹפֵא חוֹלֵי״, וּמַאֲרִיךְ בַּגְּאוּלָּה, וְהֵן עוֹנִין אַחֲרָיו ״אָמֵן״ עַל כׇּל בְּרָכָה וּבְרָכָה. וְכָךְ הָיוּ נוֹהֲגִין בִּגְבוּלִין.
And some say that they acted as it is taught in a baraita: And he recites twenty-four blessings before them: The eighteen blessings of the everyday Amida prayer, to which he adds another six blessings. And those extra six, where does he recite them? Between the blessings: Redeemer of Israel, and: Healer of the sick. And he lengthens the earlier prayer of redemption, and the congregation answers amen after him, for each and every blessing. And this was the custom in the outlying areas, outside the Temple.
אֲבָל בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ, הָיוּ אוֹמְרִים: ״בָּרוּךְ ה׳ אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִן הָעוֹלָם וָעֶד הָעוֹלָם. בָּרוּךְ גּוֹאֵל יִשְׂרָאֵל.״ וְלֹא הָיוּ עוֹנִין אַחֲרָיו ״אָמֵן״. וְכׇל כָּךְ לָמָּה? לְפִי שֶׁאֵין עוֹנִין ״אָמֵן״ בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ, וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁאֵין עוֹנִין ״אָמֵן״ בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״קוּמוּ בָּרְכוּ אֶת ה׳ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם מִן הָעוֹלָם עַד הָעוֹלָם וִיבָרְכוּ שֵׁם כְּבוֹדֶךָ וּמְרוֹמַם עַל כׇּל בְּרָכָה וּתְהִלָּה״ — עַל כׇּל בְּרָכָה וּבְרָכָה תֵּן לוֹ תְּהִלָּה.
However, in the Temple they would recite: Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed are You, Lord, Redeemer of Israel, and they would not answer amen after him. And why did the practice differ so much? Because one does not answer amen in the Temple. And from where is it derived that one does not answer amen in the Temple? As it is stated: “Stand up and bless the Lord, your God, from everlasting to everlasting, and let them say: Blessed be Your glorious Name, that is exalted above all blessing and praise” (Nehemiah 9:5). As stated above, this verse indicates that for every blessing, you should give it its own praise.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: עַל הָרִאשׁוֹנוֹת הוּא אוֹמֵר ״בָּרוּךְ ה׳ אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִן הָעוֹלָם וָעֶד הָעוֹלָם. בָּרוּךְ גּוֹאֵל יִשְׂרָאֵל״. וְהֵן עוֹנִין אַחֲרָיו: ״בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד״. וְחַזַּן הַכְּנֶסֶת אוֹמֵר: ״תִּקְעוּ כֹּהֲנִים תִּקְעוּ״. וְחוֹזֵר וְאוֹמֵר: ״מִי שֶׁעָנָה אֶת אַבְרָהָם בְּהַר הַמּוֹרִיָּה, הוּא יַעֲנֶה אֶתְכֶם וְיִשְׁמַע בְּקוֹל צַעֲקַתְכֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה״, וְהֵן תּוֹקְעִין וּמְרִיעִין וְתוֹקְעִין, וְעַל הַשְּׁנִיָּה הוּא אוֹמֵר: ״בָּרוּךְ ה׳ אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִן הָעוֹלָם וָעֶד הָעוֹלָם. בָּרוּךְ זוֹכֵר הַנִּשְׁכָּחוֹת״. וְהֵן עוֹנִין אַחֲרָיו: ״בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד״,
The Sages taught: In concluding the first blessing he recites: Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed are You, Lord, Redeemer of Israel, and they would answer after him: Blessed be the name of His glorious kingdom forever and all time. And the sexton says: Blow, priests, blow. And he resumes the blessings and recites: He Who answered Abraham on Mount Moriah, He will answer you and hear the sound of your cry on this day. And they blow a long, unwavering sound, and blast a wavering sound, and blow. And for the second blessing he recites: Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting, who remembers the forgotten, and they would answer after him: Blessed be the name of His glorious kingdom forever and all time.
וְחַזַּן הַכְּנֶסֶת אוֹמֵר: ״הָרִיעוּ בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן הָרִיעוּ״. וְאוֹמֵר: ״מִי שֶׁעָנָה אֶת אֲבוֹתֵינוּ עַל יַם סוּף, הוּא יַעֲנֶה אֶתְכֶם וְיִשְׁמַע בְּקוֹל צַעֲקַתְכֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה״, וְהֵם מְרִיעִין וְתוֹקְעִין וּמְרִיעִין, וְכֵן בְּכׇל בְּרָכָה וּבְרָכָה. בְּאַחַת אוֹמֵר ״תִּקְעוּ״, וּבְאַחַת אוֹמֵר ״הָרִיעוּ״, עַד שֶׁיִּגְמוֹר אֶת הַבְּרָכוֹת כּוּלָּן. וְכָךְ הִנְהִיג רַבִּי חֲלַפְתָּא בְּצִיפּוֹרִי וְרַבִּי חֲנַנְיָה בֶּן תְּרַדְיוֹן בְּסִיכְנִי. וּכְשֶׁבָּא דָּבָר אֵצֶל חֲכָמִים, אָמְרוּ: לֹא הָיוּ נוֹהֲגִין כֵּן אֶלָּא בְּשַׁעֲרֵי מִזְרָח וּבְהַר הַבַּיִת.
And the sexton says: Blast, sons of Aaron, blast. And he recites: He Who answered our forefathers by the Red Sea, He will answer you and hear the sound of your cry on this day. And they blow, and blast, and blow. And similarly, for each and every blessing: After one he says: Blow, and after the next one he says: Blast, until he concludes all of them. And this was the custom Rabbi Ḥalafta established in Tzippori, and Rabbi Ḥananya ben Teradyon in Sikhni. And when this matter came before the Sages, they said: They would act in accordance with this custom only at the Eastern Gate and on the Temple Mount.
רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: לֹא הָיָה צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר זִכְרוֹנוֹת כּוּ׳. אָמַר רַבִּי אַדָּא דְּמִן יָפוֹ: מַאי טַעְמָא דְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה — לְפִי שֶׁאֵין אוֹמְרִים זִכְרוֹנוֹת וְשׁוֹפָרוֹת
§ The mishna taught: Rabbi Yehuda says: The prayer leader did not need to recite the Remembrances and Shofarot passages. Instead, he recited verses dealing with famine and suffering. Rabbi Adda from Jaffa said: What is Rabbi Yehuda’s reason? Rabbi Yehuda maintains that one recites Remembrances and Shofarot
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