Yoma 19
גְּמָ׳ תָּנָא: לְלַמְּדוֹ חֲפִינָה. אָמַר רַב פָּפָּא: שְׁתֵּי לְשָׁכוֹת הָיוּ לוֹ לְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל, אַחַת לִשְׁכַּת פַּרְהֶדְרִין וְאַחַת לִשְׁכַּת בֵּית אַבְטִינָס. אַחַת בַּצָּפוֹן וְאַחַת בַּדָּרוֹם. אַחַת בַּצָּפוֹן, דִּתְנַן: שֵׁשׁ לְשָׁכוֹת הָיוּ בָּעֲזָרָה, שָׁלֹשׁ בַּצָּפוֹן וְשָׁלֹשׁ בַּדָּרוֹם,
GEMARA: A tanna taught: The Sages took the High Priest to the House of Avtinas, where the incense was prepared, to teach him the method of taking handfuls of incense, which is a difficult and complex skill. Rav Pappa said: The High Priest had two chambers. One was the Parhedrin chamber and one was the Chamber of the House of Avtinas. One of them was in the north of the courtyard, and one was in the south. The Gemara explains: One was in the north, as we learned in the mishna: There were six chambers in the Israelite courtyard, three in the north and three in the south.
שֶׁבַּדָּרוֹם: לִשְׁכַּת הַמֶּלַח, לִשְׁכַּת הַפַּרְוָה, לִשְׁכַּת הַמְּדִיחִין. לִשְׁכַּת הַמֶּלַח — שֶׁשָּׁם הָיוּ נוֹתְנִין מֶלַח לַקׇּרְבָּן, לִשְׁכַּת הַפַּרְוָה — שֶׁשָּׁם הָיוּ מוֹלְחִין עוֹרוֹת קָדָשִׁים. וְעַל גַּגָּהּ הָיְתָה בֵּית טְבִילָה לְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל בְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים. לִשְׁכַּת הַמְּדִיחִין — שָׁם הָיוּ מְדִיחִין קִרְבֵי קָדָשִׁים. וּמִשָּׁם מְסִיבָּה עוֹלֶה לְגַג בֵּית הַפַּרְוָה.
The chambers in the south were the Chamber of the Salt, the Chamber of the Parva, and the Chamber of the Rinsers. The Gemara explains the function performed in each chamber. The Chamber of the Salt was where the priests would place the salt for the offering in storage The Chamber of the Parva, the hides, was where they salted the consecrated hides that belonged to the priests, to prevent them from spoiling. And on the roof of that chamber was the Hall of Immersion for the High Priest for Yom Kippur. The Chamber of the Rinsers was where they would rinse the innards of consecrated animals, which were not taken up to the altar while dirty or with undigested food remaining in them. From there a circular staircase ascended to the roof of the Chamber of the Parva.
שָׁלֹשׁ שֶׁבַּצָּפוֹן: לִשְׁכַּת הָעֵץ, לִשְׁכַּת הַגּוֹלָה, לִשְׁכַּת הַגָּזִית. לִשְׁכַּת הָעֵץ, אָמַר רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן יַעֲקֹב: שָׁכַחְתִּי מֶה הָיְתָה מְשַׁמֶּשֶׁת. אַבָּא שָׁאוּל אוֹמֵר: לִשְׁכַּת כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל הָיְתָה אֲחוֹרֵי שְׁתֵּיהֶן, וְגַג שְׁלׇשְׁתָּן שָׁוֶה.
The three chambers in the north of the courtyard were the Chamber of the Wood, the Chamber of the Exile, and the Chamber of Hewn Stone. With regard to the Chamber of the Wood, Rabbi Eliezer ben Ya’akov, who is the tanna of the mishnayot in tractate Middot in which this mishna appears, said: I forgot what purpose that chamber would serve. Abba Shaul says: The High Priest’s chamber was behind the two chambers, the Chamber of the Exile and the Chamber of Hewn Stone, and the roofs of all three of them were level. As the three were attached, they shared a roof.
לִשְׁכַּת הַגּוֹלָה — שָׁם הָיָה בּוֹר הַגּוֹלָה, וְהַגַּלְגַּל נָתוּן עָלָיו, וּמִשָּׁם מַסְפִּיקִין מַיִם לְכׇל הָעֲזָרָה. לִשְׁכַּת הַגָּזִית — שָׁם הָיְתָה סַנְהֶדְרִין שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל יוֹשֶׁבֶת וְדָנָה אֶת הַכֹּהֲנִים, וּמִי שֶׁנִּמְצָא בּוֹ פְּסוּל, הָיָה לוֹבֵשׁ שְׁחוֹרִים וּמִתְעַטֵּף שְׁחוֹרִים וְיָצָא וְהָלַךְ לוֹ. וְשֶׁלֹּא נִמְצָא בּוֹ פְּסוּל, הָיָה לוֹבֵשׁ לְבָנִים וּמִתְעַטֵּף לְבָנִים וְנִכְנָס וּמְשַׁמֵּשׁ עִם אֶחָיו הַכֹּהֲנִים.
In the Chamber of the Exile there was the well excavated by those returning from exile, for which the chamber was named, and the wheel with which water was drawn was positioned over it. And from there, they would supply water for use in the entire Temple courtyard for washing and rinsing. In the Chamber of Hewn Stone, there the great Sanhedrin of Israel convened and judged whether the priests were fit for service. A priest in whom a disqualification was detected due to a blemish or lineage would wear black and would wrap himself in black in a display of sorrow and mourning and would emerge from the Temple and go on his way, because he was not fit for service as a priest. And any priest in whom a disqualification was not found would wear white and wrap himself in white in a display of joy and would enter and serve with his fellow priests.
אַחַת בַּדָּרוֹם, דִּתְנַן: שִׁבְעָה שְׁעָרִים הָיוּ בָּעֲזָרָה, שָׁלֹשׁ בַּצָּפוֹן וְשָׁלֹשׁ בַּדָּרוֹם וְאֶחָד בַּמִּזְרָח. שֶׁבַּדָּרוֹם: שַׁעַר הַדְלָקָה, שֵׁנִי לוֹ — שַׁעַר הַקָּרְבָּן, שְׁלִישִׁי לוֹ — שַׁעַר הַמַּיִם. שֶׁבַּמִּזְרָח: שַׁעַר נִקָּנוֹר, וּשְׁתֵּי לְשָׁכוֹת הָיוּ שָׁם אַחַת בִּימִינוֹ וְאַחַת בִּשְׂמֹאלוֹ, אַחַת לִשְׁכַּת פִּנְחָס הַמַּלְבִּישׁ, וְאַחַת לִשְׁכַּת עוֹשֵׂי חֲבִיתִּין.
In any event, it was taught that there was a chamber of the High Priest in the north of the courtyard, and there is proof that he also had one chamber in the south of the courtyard, as we learned in a mishna: Seven gates were in the Temple courtyard, three in the north and three in the south and one in the east. The gates in the south were the Gate of Fire; second to it was the Gate of the Offering; third to it was the Gate of the Water. The gate that was in the east was called the Gate of Nicanor, and two chambers were there next to the Gate of Nicanor, one to its right and one to its left. One was the Chamber of Pineḥas the Dresser, where the priestly vestments were stored, and one was the Chamber of the Preparers of the Griddle-Cake Offering, where the daily griddle-cake offering was prepared on behalf of the High Priest.
שֶׁבַּצָּפוֹן: שַׁעַר נִיצוֹץ, בִּנְיַן אַכְסַדְרָה הָיָה, וַעֲלִיָּיה בְּנוּיָה לוֹ עַל גַּבָּיו, וְשָׁם כֹּהֲנִים שׁוֹמְרִים מִלְמַעְלָה, וּלְוִיִּם מִלְּמַטָּה. וְשֶׁלִּפְנִים הֵימֶנּוּ הַחֵיל. שֵׁנִי לוֹ — שַׁעַר הַקָּרְבָּן, שְׁלִישִׁי לוֹ — שַׁעַר בֵּית הַמּוֹקֵד.
The gates that were in the north: The first was the Gate of the Spark, which was a portico building, meaning it had a roof but was not completely closed on every side. And there was a second story built atop it, and there the honor guard of the Temple stood, with the priests guarding from above and the Levites from below. Inside of this gate was the rampart, and an opening led from the gate to the rampart. Second to this gate was the Gate of the Offering; third to it was the Gate of the Hall of the Hearth.
וְתַנְיָא: חָמֵשׁ טְבִילוֹת וַעֲשָׂרָה קִדּוּשִׁין טוֹבֵל כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל וּמְקַדֵּשׁ בּוֹ בַּיּוֹם, וְכוּלָּן בַּקּוֹדֶשׁ, [עַל גַּג] בֵּית הַפַּרְוָה. חוּץ מִזּוֹ שֶׁהָיְתָה בַּחוֹל, עַל גַּבֵּי שַׁעַר הַמַּיִם, וּבְצַד לִשְׁכָּתוֹ הָיְתָה.
And it was taught in a baraita: The High Priest would perform five immersions and ten sanctifications of his hands and feet on that day, Yom Kippur. And each of these was performed in the sacred area of the courtyard, on the roof of the Hall of the Parva, except for this first immersion, which was performed in the non-sacred area outside the courtyard. The first immersion was not unique to Yom Kippur but was performed every day by any priest entering the Temple. That immersion was performed on the roof of the Gate of the Water, and that gate was alongside his chamber. Apparently, the High Priest had a chamber next to the Gate of the Water, which was in the south of the courtyard.
וְלָא יָדַעְנָא אִי לִשְׁכַּת פַּרְהֶדְרִין בַּצָּפוֹן וְלִשְׁכַּת בֵּית אַבְטִינָס בַּדָּרוֹם, אוֹ לִשְׁכַּת בֵּית אַבְטִינָס בַּצָּפוֹן וְלִשְׁכַּת פַּרְהֶדְרִין בַּדָּרוֹם. וּמִסְתַּבְּרָא דְּלִשְׁכַּת פַּרְהֶדְרִין בַּדָּרוֹם הֲוַאי.
The High Priest had use of two chambers, but we do not know whether the Parhedrin chamber was in the north and the Chamber of the House of Avtinas was in the south, or the Chamber of the House of Avtinas was in the north and the Parhedrin chamber was in the south. And, however, it is reasonable to say that the Parhedrin chamber was in the south and the High Priest slept there.
מַאי טַעְמָא? מַקְדֵּים קָאֵי וּמֵיסֵךְ אֶת רַגְלָיו וְטָבֵיל, וְאָזֵיל לַצָּפוֹן וְגָמַר חֲפִינָה וְאָתֵי לְבֵית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ וְעָבֵיד עֲבוֹדָה כּוּלֵּי יוֹמָא. לְבַהֲדֵי פַּנְיָא מַדּוּ עֲלֵיהּ, וַהֲדַר אָזֵיל לַדָּרוֹם וְטָבֵיל וְנָיַיח.
What is the reason for that assumption? Because if that is the case, the High Priest arises early every morning of the seven days of sequestering and he covers his legs, a euphemism for defecating, and immerses alongside his chamber, which was in the south. And then he walks to the north of the courtyard to the second chamber, which is the Chamber of the House of Avtinas, and learns there the method of taking handfuls. And then he comes to the Temple and performs the service for the entire day. Toward the evening they sprinkle purification water upon him, and he then walks back to the south and immerses again alongside his chamber and rests in his chamber.
דְּאִי אָמְרַתְּ לִשְׁכַּת פַּרְהֶדְרִין בַּצָּפוֹן. מַקְדֵּים קָאֵי וּמֵיסֵךְ רַגְלָיו, וְאָזֵיל לַדָּרוֹם וְטָבֵיל וְגָמַר חֲפִינָה וְאָתֵי לְבֵית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ וְעָבֵיד עֲבוֹדָה כּוּלֵּיהּ יוֹמָא, לַהֲדֵי פַּנְיָא מַדּוּ עֲלֵיהּ, וַהֲדַר אָזֵיל לַדָּרוֹם וְטָבֵיל, וּבָעֵי מֶהְדַּר וּמֵיזַל לַצָּפוֹן וּמֵינַח — וּמִי (טָרַח) מַטְרְחִינַן לֵיהּ כּוּלֵּי הַאי?
As, if you say that the Chamber of Parhedrin was in the north, this would mean that the High Priest would be forced to exert himself and walk significant distances. According to this understanding, he arises early, and he covers his legs. However, since it was taught in the baraita that the place of his immersion was in the south, he then walks to the south and immerses. And then he learns the method of taking handfuls. And then he comes to the Temple and performs the service for the entire day. Toward the evening they sprinkle purification water upon him, and he then walks back to the south and immerses, and then he needs to walk back to the north and rest. Do we impose upon him to that extent? Rather, it is reasonable to say that the Parhedrin chamber, the High Priest’s private chamber, was in the south, which would limit the distance that he needed to walk.
אַלְּמָה לָא? מַטְרְחִינַן לֵיהּ טְפֵי, דְּאִי צַדּוּקִי הוּא לִיפְרוֹשׁ.
The Gemara rejects this reasoning: Why not impose upon him? On the contrary, we impose upon him even more, so that if he is a Sadducee, he will retire. As he is not a God-fearing person, he would prefer to walk away rather than subject himself to that added exertion. That is a desirable result, ridding the High Priesthood of a Sadducee.
אִי נָמֵי, שֶׁלֹּא תָּזוּחַ דַּעְתּוֹ עָלָיו. דְּאִי לָא תֵּימָא הָכִי, נַעְבְּדִינְהוּ לְתַרְוַיְיהוּ בַּהֲדֵי הֲדָדֵי, אִי נָמֵי תִּסְגֵּי לֵיהּ בַּחֲדָא.
Or, alternatively, there is even value in imposing on a God-fearing Pharisee High Priest, in order that he will not become haughty in his lofty position. Since he is occupied in performing his task, he does not have leisure to be impressed with his elevated status. As, if you do not say that it is an intentional attempt to impose upon him, let us establish both of the chambers of the High Priest next to one another; or, alternatively, one chamber would be sufficient for him. From the fact that neither of these alternatives is adopted, it is apparently an intentional attempt to impose upon him, and there is no proof as to the location of either of the chambers of the High Priest.
וְאָמְרוּ לוֹ אִישִׁי כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל וְכוּ׳. לֵימָא תִּהְוֵי תְּיוּבְתָּא דְּרַב הוּנָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַב יְהוֹשֻׁעַ. דְּאָמַר רַב הוּנָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַב יְהוֹשֻׁעַ: הָנֵי כָּהֲנֵי — שְׁלוּחֵי דְרַחֲמָנָא נִינְהוּ, דְּאִי אָמְרַתְּ שְׁלוּחֵי דִידַן נִינְהוּ
§ It was taught in the mishna that the Elders said to him: My Master, High Priest. We are agents of the court, and you are our agent and the agent of the court. The Gemara suggests: Let us say that this is a conclusive refutation of the opinion of Rav Huna, son of Rav Yehoshua, as Rav Huna, son of Rav Yehoshua, said: These priests who sacrifice the offerings are the agents of the Merciful One. They are not agents representing the Jewish people but are agents representing God, as He commanded them to perform the service. Proof is cited for this opinion: As, if you say they are our agents,
מִי אִיכָּא מִידֵּי דַּאֲנַן לָא מָצֵינַן לְמֶעְבַּד, וּשְׁלוּחֵי דִידַן מָצוּ עָבְדִי? הָכִי קָאָמְרִי לֵיהּ: מַשְׁבִּיעִין אָנוּ עָלֶיךָ עַל דַּעְתֵּינוּ וְעַל דַּעַת בֵּית דִּין.
is there any matter that we are unable to perform and our agents are able to perform? The role of the agent is to perform a task on behalf of the one who commissioned him. The agent cannot perform a task that the one who commissioned him is unable to perform. Since it is prohibited for Israelites to enter the priests’ courtyard and to perform the sacrificial rites, clearly the priests are not agents representing the Israelites. The language of the mishna in which the court Elders address the High Priest as their agent apparently contradicts that understanding. The Gemara answers: This is what they say to him: We administer an oath to you according to our understanding and the understanding of the court, cautioning him that he cannot rationalize violating the oath by claiming that he took the oath based on his own interpretation. He is bound by the understanding of the court. The mishna does not address the nature of the High Priest’s agency.
הוּא פּוֹרֵשׁ וּבוֹכֶה וְהֵן פּוֹרְשִׁין וּבוֹכִין וְכוּ׳. הוּא פּוֹרֵשׁ וּבוֹכֶה — שֶׁחֲשָׁדוּהוּ צַדּוּקִי, וְהֵם פּוֹרְשִׁין וּבוֹכִין — דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי: כׇּל הַחוֹשֵׁד בִּכְשֵׁרִים לוֹקֶה בְּגוּפוֹ.
§ The mishna continues: After this oath, he would leave them and cry and they would leave him and cry. The Gemara explains: He turned aside and cried due to the indignity that they suspected him of being a Sadducee; and they turned aside and cried, as Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: One who suspects the innocent of indiscretion is afflicted in his body. The High Priest might in fact be beyond reproach and they may have suspected him falsely.
וְכׇל כָּךְ לָמָּה? שֶׁלֹּא יְתַקֵּן מִבַּחוּץ וְיַכְנִיס, כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁהַצַּדּוּקִין עוֹשִׂין.
The Gemara asks: And why were the Elders so insistent that the High Priest take an oath? The Gemara explains: So that he would not prepare the incense and light it outside in the Sanctuary, before entering the Holy of Holies, and bring the coal pan with the incense already burning on it into the Holy of Holies in the manner that the Sadducees did. Since the High Priest is alone inside the Sanctuary and there is no way to ascertain whether he is in fact performing the service in the proper manner, the Elders insisted that he take an oath to perform it according to their instructions.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: מַעֲשֶׂה בְּצַדּוּקִי אֶחָד שֶׁהִתְקִין מִבַּחוּץ וְהִכְנִיס. בִּיצִיאָתוֹ הָיָה שָׂמֵחַ שִׂמְחָה גְּדוֹלָה. פָּגַע בּוֹ אָבִיו, אָמַר לוֹ: בְּנִי, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁצַּדּוּקִין אָנוּ, מִתְיָרְאִין אָנוּ מִן הַפְּרוּשִׁים. אָמַר לוֹ: כׇּל יָמַי הָיִיתִי מִצְטַעֵר עַל הַמִּקְרָא הַזֶּה: ״כִּי בֶּעָנָן אֵרָאֶה עַל הַכַּפּוֹרֶת״, אָמַרְתִּי: מָתַי יָבוֹא לְיָדִי וַאֲקַיְּימֶנּוּ, עַכְשָׁיו שֶׁבָּא לְיָדִי — לֹא אֲקַיְּימֶנּוּ?!
The Sages taught in the Tosefta: There was an incident involving a certain Sadducee who was appointed as High Priest, who prepared the incense outside and then brought it into the Holy of Holies. Upon his emergence he was overjoyed that he had succeeded. The father of that Sadducee met him and said to him: My son, although we are Sadducees and you performed the service in accordance with our opinion, we fear the Pharisees and do not actually implement that procedure in practice. The son said to his father: All my days I have been troubled over this verse: “For I will appear in the cloud above the Ark cover” (Leviticus 16:2). The Sadducees interpreted this verse to mean that God will appear above the Ark cover, i.e., will enter the Holy of Holies, only after the incense cloud is already there. I said: When will the opportunity become available to me, and I will fulfill it according to the Sadducee interpretation? Now that the opportunity has become available to me, will I not fulfill it?
אָמְרוּ: לֹא הָיוּ יָמִים מוּעָטִין עַד שֶׁמֵּת וְהוּטַל בָּאַשְׁפָּה, וְהָיוּ תּוֹלָעִין יוֹצְאִין מֵחוֹטְמוֹ. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים: בִּיצִיאָתוֹ נִיגַּף, דְּתָנֵי רַבִּי חִיָּיא: כְּמִין קוֹל נִשְׁמַע בַּעֲזָרָה שֶׁבָּא מַלְאָךְ וַחֲבָטוֹ עַל פָּנָיו. וְנִכְנְסוּ אֶחָיו הַכֹּהֲנִים וּמָצְאוּ כְּכַף רֶגֶל עֵגֶל בֵּין כְּתֵפָיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְרַגְלֵיהֶם רֶגֶל יְשָׁרָה וְכַף רַגְלֵיהֶם כְּכַף רֶגֶל עֵגֶל״.
The Sages said: Not even a few days passed until he died and was laid out in the garbage dump, and worms were coming out of his nose in punishment for his actions. And some say that he was struck as soon as he emerged from the Holy of Holies, as Rabbi Ḥiyya taught: A type of sound was heard in the Temple courtyard, as an angel came and struck him in the face. And his fellow priests came in to remove him from there and they found the likeness of a footprint of a calf between his shoulders. That is the mark left by an angel striking, as it is stated with regard to angels: “And their feet were straight feet, and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot” (Ezekiel 1:7).
אָמַר רַבִּי זְכַרְיָה בֶּן קְבוּטָל וְכוּ׳. מַתְנֵי לֵיהּ רַב חָנָן בַּר רָבָא לְחִיָּיא בַּר רַב קַמֵּיהּ דְּרַב ״אָמַר רַבִּי זְכַרְיָה בֶּן קְפוּטָל״, וּמַחְוֵי לֵיהּ רַב בִּידֵיהּ ״קְבוּטָל״. וְנֵימָא לֵיהּ מֵימָר! קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע הֲוָה קָרֵי.
§ It was taught in the mishna that Rabbi Zekharya ben Kevutal says: Many times I read before the High Priest from the book of Daniel. Rav Ḥanan bar Rava taught this to Ḥiyya bar Rav before Rav in the following manner: Rabbi Zekharya bar Kefutal said, and Rav demonstrated with his hand that the name should be pronounced Kevutal. The Gemara asks: Why did Rav demonstrate his point with a gesture? Let him simply say it. The Gemara answers: Rav was reciting Shema at that moment and could not interrupt Shema by speaking.
וְכִי הַאי גַּוְונָא מִי שְׁרֵי? וְהָא אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק בַּר שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר מָרְתָּא: הַקּוֹרֵא אֶת שְׁמַע לֹא יִרְמוֹז בְּעֵינָיו, וְלֹא יִקְרוֹץ בְּשִׂפְתוֹתָיו, וְלֹא יוֹרֶה בְּאֶצְבְּעוֹתָיו. וְתַנְיָא, רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר חַסָּמָא אוֹמֵר: הַקּוֹרֵא אֶת שְׁמַע וּמְרַמֵּז בְּעֵינָיו, וּמְקָרֵץ בְּשִׂפְתוֹתָיו, וּמַרְאֶה בְּאֶצְבָּעוֹ — עָלָיו הַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר: ״וְלֹא אוֹתִי קָרָאתָ יַעֲקֹב״!
The Gemara asks: And is interrupting in a manner of that sort, by gesturing, permitted during Shema? Didn’t Rabbi Yitzḥak bar Shmuel bar Marta say: One who is reciting Shema should neither make allusions with his eyes, nor open and close his mouth with his lips to convey a message, nor gesture with his fingers? And it was taught in a baraita that Rabbi Elazar Ḥisma says: Concerning one who recites Shema and makes allusions with his eyes, or opens and closes his mouth with his lips, or gestures with his fingers, the verse says: “And you did not call out to Me, O Jacob” (Isaiah 43:22). By signaling while reciting Shema he behaves contemptuously toward God, and it is tantamount to not having recited Shema before Him. How, then, could Rav gesture while reading Shema?
לָא קַשְׁיָא: הָא בְּפֶרֶק רִאשׁוֹן, הָא בְּפֶרֶק שֵׁנִי.
The Gemara answers: This is not difficult. This prohibition to interrupt one’s recitation of Shema with a gesture applies in the course of reciting the first paragraph of Shema, which is more fundamental; that case where Rav gestured was in the course of reciting the second paragraph of Shema, where gesturing to convey a significant message is permitted.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: ״וְדִבַּרְתָּ בָּם״, בָּם — וְלֹא בִּתְפִלָּה. ״וְדִבַּרְתָּ בָּם״, בָּם יֵשׁ לְךָ רְשׁוּת לְדַבֵּר, וְלֹא בִּדְבָרִים אֲחֵרִים.
Apropos interruptions in the course of reciting Shema, the Gemara cites a baraita in which the Sages taught: “And these words, which I command you this day, shall be upon your heart; and you shall teach them diligently unto your children, and you shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you arise” (Deuteronomy 6:6–7). This means that in the course of reciting them, the study of Torah and the recitation of Shema, it is permitted to interrupt to state a significant matter, but not in the course of reciting the Amida prayer, which may not be interrupted for any kind of speech. Another interpretation of the verse is: And you shall talk of them is to emphasize that it is permitted to interrupt Shema to speak these matters of Torah, but not to speak other matters that may lead to levity.
רַבִּי אַחָא אוֹמֵר: ״וְדִבַּרְתָּ בָּם״, עֲשֵׂה אוֹתָן קֶבַע וְאַל תַּעֲשֵׂם עֲרַאי. אָמַר רָבָא: הַשָּׂח שִׂיחַת חוּלִּין — עוֹבֵר בַּעֲשֵׂה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְדִבַּרְתָּ בָּם״, בָּם — וְלֹא בִּדְבָרִים אֲחֵרִים. רַב אַחָא בַּר יַעֲקֹב אָמַר: עוֹבֵר בְּלָאו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כׇּל הַדְּבָרִים יְגֵעִים לֹא יוּכַל אִישׁ לְדַבֵּר״.
Rabbi Aḥa says: Talk of them means one must render them, the words of Torah, a permanent fixture, and not render them a temporary exercise. Rava said: One who engages in idle chatter without Torah or any particular purpose violates a positive commandment, as it is stated: And you shall talk of them; talk of them and not of other matters. Rav Aḥa bar Ya’akov said: Furthermore, one even violates a negative commandment, as it is stated: “All these matters are wearisome; no man can ever state them” (Ecclesiastes 1:8). The phrase: No man can ever state them, is understood as a prohibition against engaging in idle chatter.
מַתְנִי׳ בִּקֵּשׁ לְהִתְנַמְנֵם, פִּרְחֵי כְהוּנָּה מַכִּין לְפָנָיו בְּאֶצְבַּע צְרָדָא, וְאוֹמְרִים לוֹ: אִישִׁי כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל! עֲמוֹד וְהָפֵג אַחַת עַל הָרִצְפָּה. וּמַעֲסִיקִין אוֹתוֹ עַד שֶׁיַּגִּיעַ זְמַן הַשְּׁחִיטָה.
MISHNA: If the High Priest sought to sleep at night, the young priests would snap the middle [tzerada] finger against the thumb before him, and they would say to him every so often: My Master, High Priest. Stand from your bed and chill yourself once on the floor and overcome your drowsiness. And they would engage him in various ways until the time would arrive to slaughter the daily offering.
גְּמָ׳ מַאי צְרָדָא? אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה: צָרָתַהּ דְּדָא, מַאי הִיא — גּוּדָל. מַחְוֵי רַב הוּנָא וְאָזֵל קָלָא בְּכוּלֵּי בֵּי רַב.
GEMARA: The Gemara asks: What is the tzerada finger mentioned in the mishna? Rav Yehuda said: It is the rival [tzara] of that [da] one. Which finger is it? Tzerada is the rival of the thumb; it is the middle finger. The middle finger would be strongly positioned against the thumb, and when one separates them, the finger hits the palm, creating a sound. Rav Huna demonstrated the loud noise that could be achieved by snapping with the middle finger, and the sound traveled throughout Rav’s study hall. The sound created was loud enough to keep the High Priest awake.
וְאוֹמְרִים לוֹ אִישִׁי כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל הָפֵג אַחַת עַל הָרִצְפָּה וְכוּ׳. אָמַר רַב יִצְחָק: עַל חֲדַת. מַאי הִיא? אָמְרִי לֵיהּ: אַחְוִי קִידָּה.
It was taught in the mishna that they said to him: My Master, High Priest. Stand from your bed and chill yourself once on the floor and overcome your drowsiness. Rav Yitzḥak said that they said to the High Priest: Introduce something new. The Gemara asks: What is it that they asked him to introduce? They say to him: Demonstrate how to perform the ceremonial bowing [kidda]. This was a form of bowing that was difficult to perform, in which the High Priest was expert. The thought was that the exercise would keep him awake.
וּמַעֲסִיקִין אוֹתוֹ עַד שֶׁיַּגִּיעַ זְמַן שְׁחִיטָה (וְכוּ׳). תָּנָא: לֹא הָיוּ מַעֲסִיקִין אוֹתוֹ לֹא בְּנֵבֶל וְלֹא בְּכִנּוֹר, אֶלָּא בַּפֶּה. וּמָה הָיוּ אוֹמְרִין — ״אִם ה׳ לֹא יִבְנֶה בַיִת שָׁוְא עָמְלוּ בוֹנָיו בּוֹ״.
The mishna continues: And they would engage him in different ways until the time to slaughter the daily offering would arrive. It was taught: They would not occupy him with a harp or a lyre, which may not be played on a Festival, but would sing with their mouths. And what would they say? They would say this verse: “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain on it; unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman keeps vigil in vain” (Psalms 127:1). The message to the High Priest was that his service must be performed for the sake of Heaven for it to be accepted by God; otherwise his efforts would be in vain.
מִיַּקִּירֵי יְרוּשָׁלַיִם לֹא הָיוּ יְשֵׁנִין כׇּל הַלַּיְלָה, כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּשְׁמַע כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל קוֹל הֲבָרָה וְלֹא תְּהֵא שֵׁינָה חוֹטַפְתּוֹ. תַּנְיָא, אַבָּא שָׁאוּל אָמַר: אַף בִּגְבוּלִין הָיוּ עוֹשִׂין כֵּן זֵכֶר לַמִּקְדָּשׁ, אֶלָּא שֶׁהָיוּ חוֹטְאִין.
The Gemara relates that the prominent men of Jerusalem would not sleep the entire night but instead engaged in Torah study, so that the High Priest would hear the sound of noise in the city and sleep would not overcome him in the silence of the sleeping city. It was taught in a baraita that Abba Shaul said: They would do so even in the outlying areas and stay awake all night in acknowledgment of the Temple; however, the result was that they would sin, as the men and women would participate in games together to pass the time, leading to transgression.
אָמַר אַבָּיֵי וְאִיתֵּימָא רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק: תַּרְגּוּמָא, נְהַרְדְּעָא. דַּאֲמַר לֵיהּ אֵלִיָּהוּ לְרַב יְהוּדָה אֲחוּהּ דְּרַב סַלָּא חֲסִידָא, אָמְרִיתוּ: ״אַמַּאי לָא אָתֵי מָשִׁיחַ״? וְהָא הָאִידָּנָא יוֹמָא דְכִיפּוּרֵי הוּא וְאִבְּעוּל כַּמָּה בְּתוּלָתָא בִּנְהַרְדְּעָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַאי אָמַר? אֲמַר לֵיהּ:
Abaye said, and some say it was Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak who said: Interpret that statement as referring to Neharde’a, as Elijah the Prophet said to Rav Yehuda, brother of Rav Salla Ḥasida: You have said and wondered: Why has the Messiah not come? Why is that surprising? Isn’t today Yom Kippur, and relations were had with several virgins in Neharde’a, as the men and women stayed awake all night and that led to promiscuity? Rav Yehuda said to him: What did the Holy One, Blessed be He, say about those sins committed by the Jewish people? He said: This is what God said:
