Source 2 · Chazal
VerifiedPesachim 102b
פסחים ק״ב ב — ד"ה גָּמְרוּ
Pesachim 102b:1-2
Chachmei Bavel state that after the meal, Grace after Meals is recited over one cup and kiddush over a second, because two sanctifications are not recited over one cup and mitzvot should not be performed in bundles.
גָּמְרוּ, כּוֹס רִאשׁוֹן מְבָרֵךְ עָלָיו בִּרְכַּת הַמָּזוֹן וְהַשֵּׁנִי אוֹמֵר עָלָיו קְדוּשַּׁת הַיּוֹם. אַמַּאי? וְנֵימְרִינְהוּ לְתַרְוַיְיהוּ אַחֲדָא כָּסָא! אָמַר רַב הוּנָא אָמַר רַב שֵׁשֶׁת: אֵין אוֹמְרִים שְׁתֵּי קְדוּשּׁוֹת עַל כּוֹס אֶחָד. מַאי טַעְמָא? אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק: לְפִי שֶׁאֵין עוֹשִׂין מִצְוֹת חֲבִילוֹת חֲבִילוֹת.
Rabbi Yosei maintains that once they have finished their meal, they bring out two cups; over the first cup one recites the Grace after Meals, and over the second cup he recites the sanctification of the day. The Gemara asks: Why do they need two cups? And let them say both of them, Grace after Meals and kiddush, over one cup. Rav Huna said that Rav Sheshet said: One does not recite two sanctifications, i.e., for two mitzvot such as Grace after Meals and kiddush, over one cup. What is the reason for this halakha? Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said: Because one does not perform mitzvot in bundles. If someone performs multiple mitzvot all in one go, he gives the impression that they are a burdensome obligation that he wants to complete as fast as possible.
Source 3 · Chazal
VerifiedPesachim 106a
פסחים ק״ו א — ד"ה בְּיוֹם מַאי מְבָרֵךְ
Pesachim 106a:8-9
Chachmei Bavel state that on Shabbat day one recites only the blessing “Who creates the fruit of the vine” before the meal, as illustrated by Rav Ashi’s realization that this was the entirety of the “great kiddush” expected in Meḥoza.
בְּיוֹם מַאי מְבָרֵךְ? אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה: ״בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגֶּפֶן״. רַב אָשֵׁי אִיקְּלַע לְמָחוֹזָא, אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: לִיקַדֵּישׁ לַן מָר קִידּוּשָׁא רַבָּה (הַבוּ לֵיהּ). סְבַר: מַאי נִיהוּ ״קִידּוּשָׁא רַבָּה״? אָמַר, מִכְּדֵי כׇּל הַבְּרָכוֹת כּוּלָּן ״בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגֶּפֶן״ אָמְרִי בְּרֵישָׁא, אֲמַר ״בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגֶּפֶן״ וְאַגֵּיד בֵּיהּ. חַזְיֵיהּ לְהָהוּא סָבָא דְּגָחֵין וְשָׁתֵי, קָרֵי אַנַּפְשֵׁיהּ ״הֶחָכָם עֵינָיו בְּרֹאשׁוֹ״.
The Gemara asks: During the day, when one does not recite the same kiddush as at night, what blessing does one recite? Rav Yehuda said: Before the meal, one brings a cup of wine and simply recites the usual blessing over wine: Who creates the fruit of the vine. The Gemara relates that Rav Ashi happened to come to the city of Meḥoza. The Sages of Meḥoza said to him on Shabbat day: Will the Master recite for us the great kiddush? And they immediately brought him a cup of wine. Rav Ashi was unsure what they meant by the term great kiddush and wondered if the residents of Meḥoza included other matters in their kiddush. He thought: What is this great kiddush to which they refer? He said to himself: Since with regard to all the blessings that require a cup of wine, one first recites the blessing: Who creates the fruit of the vine, I will start with that blessing. He recited: Who creates the fruit of the vine, and lengthened it to see if they were expecting an additional blessing. He saw a particular elder bending over his cup and drinking, and he realized that this was the end of the great kiddush. He read the following verse about himself: “The wise man, his eyes are in his head” (Ecclesiastes 2:14), as he was alert enough to discern the expectations of the local residents.
Source 4 · Chazal
VerifiedBerakhot 27b
ברכות כ״ז ב — ד"ה אָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אָבִין
Berakhot 27b:9
The passage reports that Rav prayed the Shabbat evening prayer before nightfall and concludes that one may do so while also reciting kiddush over a cup of wine, in accordance with Shmuel’s ruling.
אָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אָבִין: רַב צַלִּי שֶׁל שַׁבָּת בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת, רַבִּי יֹאשִׁיָּה מְצַלֵּי שֶׁל מוֹצָאֵי שַׁבָּת בְּשַׁבָּת. רַב צַלִּי שֶׁל שַׁבָּת בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת: אוֹמֵר קְדוּשָּׁה עַל הַכּוֹס, אוֹ אֵינוֹ אוֹמֵר קְדוּשָּׁה עַל הַכּוֹס? תָּא שְׁמַע דְּאָמַר רַב נַחְמָן אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: מִתְפַּלֵּל אָדָם שֶׁל שַׁבָּת בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת וְאוֹמֵר קְדוּשָּׁה עַל הַכּוֹס. וְהִלְכְתָא כְּווֹתֵיהּ.
The Gemara continues to discuss the possibility of reciting the evening prayer early, even on Shabbat. Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Avin said: Rav prayed the Shabbat prayer on the eve of Shabbat before nightfall. Rabbi Yoshiya would pray the evening prayer of the conclusion of Shabbat on Shabbat. With regard to the fact that Rav prayed the Shabbat prayer on the eve of Shabbat before nightfall, the dilemma is raised: In those cases, did he recite kiddush over the cup of wine, or did he not recite kiddush over the cup of wine before the stars emerged? Come and hear a resolution to this, as Rav Naḥman said that Shmuel said: One prays the Shabbat prayer on the eve of Shabbat before nightfall and recites kiddush over the cup of wine. And the halakha is in accordance with his ruling.
Source 5 · Chazal
VerifiedPesachim 106b
פסחים ק״ו ב — ד"ה הַנּוֹטֵל יָדָיו לֹא יְקַדֵּשׁ
Pesachim 106b:1
The passage states that one who has washed his hands should not recite kiddush before eating, but should hear it from someone else to avoid an interruption; Rav Yitzḥak bar Shmuel bar Marta counters from Rav’s practice that kiddush over bread or wine is not considered an interruption between washing and eating.
הַנּוֹטֵל יָדָיו לֹא יְקַדֵּשׁ. אֲמַר לְהוּ רַב יִצְחָק בַּר שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר מָרְתָא: אַכַּתִּי לָא נָח נַפְשֵׁיהּ דְּרַב שְׁכַחְנִינְהוּ לִשְׁמַעְתְּתֵיהּ. זִמְנִין סַגִּיאִין הֲוָה קָאֵימְנָא קַמֵּיהּ דְּרַב, זִימְנִין דַּחֲבִיבָא עֲלֵיהּ רִיפְתָּא — מְקַדֵּשׁ אַרִיפְתָּא. זִימְנִין דַּחֲבִיבָא לֵיהּ חַמְרָא — מְקַדֵּשׁ אַחַמְרָא.
One who washes his hands should not recite kiddush after washing, as this would constitute an interruption between washing and eating, and he will have to wash again. Instead, he should hear kiddush from someone else. Rav Yitzḥak bar Shmuel bar Marta said to them: Not a lot of time has yet passed since Rav died, and we have already forgotten his halakhic rulings. Many times I stood before Rav and saw that sometimes he preferred bread, and he would recite kiddush over bread. On those occasions Rav would wash his hands, recite kiddush over the bread, and eat it. At other times he preferred wine and would recite kiddush over wine. This shows that kiddush is not considered an interruption between washing one’s hands and eating bread.
Source 6 · Chazal
VerifiedBerakhot 40b
ברכות מ׳ ב — ד"ה נֵימָא כְּתַנָּאֵי
Berakhot 40b:3-5
Chachmei Bavel compare differing rulings about blessing formulas with a tannaitic dispute: Rabbi Meir validates a blessing that praises the food and its Creator, while Rabbi Yosei requires the Sages’ established formula, and each ruling is explained as potentially consistent with either view under different circumstances.
נֵימָא כְּתַנָּאֵי: רָאָה פַּת וְאָמַר: ״כַּמָּה נָאָה פַּת זוֹ, בָּרוּךְ הַמָּקוֹם שֶׁבְּרָאָהּ״ — יָצָא. רָאָה תְּאֵנָה וְאָמַר ״כַּמָּה נָאָה תְּאֵנָה זוֹ, בָּרוּךְ הַמָּקוֹם שֶׁבְּרָאָהּ״ — יָצָא, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: כׇּל הַמְשַׁנֶּה מִמַּטְבֵּעַ שֶׁטָּבְעוּ חֲכָמִים בִּבְרָכוֹת — לֹא יָצָא יְדֵי חוֹבָתוֹ. נֵימָא רַב הוּנָא דְּאָמַר כְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי, וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן דְּאָמַר כְּרַבִּי מֵאִיר?! אָמַר לָךְ רַב הוּנָא: אֲנָא דַּאֲמַרִי אֲפִילּוּ לְרַבִּי מֵאִיר, עַד כָּאן לָא קָאָמַר רַבִּי מֵאִיר הָתָם, אֶלָּא הֵיכָא דְּקָא מַדְכַּר שְׁמֵיהּ דְּפַת, אֲבָל הֵיכָא דְּלָא קָא מַדְכַּר שְׁמֵיהּ דְּפַת אֲפִילּוּ רַבִּי מֵאִיר מוֹדֶה. וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר לָךְ: אֲנָא דַּאֲמַרִי אֲפִילּוּ לְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי, עַד כָּאן לָא קָאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי הָתָם אֶלָּא מִשּׁוּם דְּקָאָמַר בְּרָכָה דְּלָא תַּקִּינוּ רַבָּנַן, אֲבָל אָמַר ״שֶׁהַכֹּל נִהְיֶה בִּדְבָרוֹ״ דְּתַקִּינוּ רַבָּנַן, אֲפִילּוּ רַבִּי יוֹסֵי מוֹדֶה.
The Gemara remarks: Let us say that this dispute is parallel to a tannaitic dispute found elsewhere, as it was taught in a Tosefta: One who saw bread and said: How pleasant is this bread, blessed is the Omnipresent Who created it, fulfilled his obligation to recite a blessing. One who saw a fig and said: How pleasant is this fig, blessed is the Omnipresent Who created it, fulfilled his obligation. This is the statement of Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Yosei says: One who deviates from the formula coined by the Sages in blessings, did not fulfill his obligation. If so, let us say that Rav Huna, who said that one who recites: By whose word all things came to be, over bread or wine, did not fulfill his obligation, holds in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yosei; and Rabbi Yoḥanan, who said that one who recites: By whose word all things came to be, over bread or wine fulfills his obligation, holds in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Meir. The Gemara rejects this: Rav Huna could have said to you: I said my statement, even in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Meir, as Rabbi Meir only stated his opinion, that one who alters the formula of the blessing fulfills his obligation, there, where the individual explicitly mentions the term bread in his blessing, but where he does not mention the term bread, even Rabbi Meir agrees that he did not fulfill his obligation. And Rabbi Yoḥanan could have said to you: I said my statement, even in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yosei, as Rabbi Yosei only stated his opinion, that one who alters the formula of the blessing does not fulfill his obligation, there, because he recited a blessing that was not instituted by the Sages; however, if he recited: By whose word all things came to be, which was instituted by the Sages, even Rabbi Yosei agrees that, after the fact, he fulfilled his obligation to recite a blessing.
Source 7 · Chazal
VerifiedBerakhot 50a
ברכות נ׳ א — ד"ה אַף ״בָּרְכוּ״
Berakhot 50a:1-2
Chachmei Bavel conclude that “Let us bless” is preferable to “Bless,” since a group of six to ten may divide for zimmun, whereas a group of ten may not divide because doing so would forfeit the invocation of God’s name.
אַף ״בָּרְכוּ״, וּמִכׇּל מָקוֹם ״נְבָרֵךְ״ עֲדִיף, דְּאָמַר רַב אַדָּא בַּר אַהֲבָה, אָמְרִי בֵּי רַב, תְּנֵינָא: שִׁשָּׁה נֶחְלָקִין עַד עֲשָׂרָה. אִי אָמְרַתְּ בִּשְׁלָמָא ״נְבָרֵךְ״ עֲדִיף — מִשּׁוּם הָכִי נֶחְלָקִין, אֶלָּא אִי אָמְרַתְּ ״בָּרְכוּ״ עֲדִיף — אַמַּאי נֶחְלָקִין! אֶלָּא לָאו שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ ״נְבָרֵךְ״ עֲדִיף. שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ.
He may even say: Bless; nevertheless: Let us bless, is preferable as Rav Adda bar Ahava said that they said in the school of Rav: We learned: A group of six to ten people may divide into two groups, each forming its own zimmun. However, a group of ten, which invokes God’s name in the zimmun, may not divide into two groups as that would negate the opportunity to invoke God’s name. The Gemara proceeds: Granted, if you say: Let us bless is preferable, that is why six people who ate together may divide into two groups. However, if you say: Bless is preferable, why are they permitted to divide into two groups? Neither group would be able to say: Bless. Rather, mustn’t one conclude from this: Let us bless is preferable as the one reciting the zimmun does not exclude himself from the group? The Gemara sums up the discussion: Indeed, conclude from this that that is the case.
Source 8 · Chazal
VerifiedBerakhot 50b
ברכות נ׳ ב — ד"ה אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא
Berakhot 50b:7
Chachmei Bavel state that the Rabbis agree with Rabbi Eliezer that wine for a cup of blessing requires adding water before reciting the blessing, because a mitzvah should be performed in the best possible manner.
אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא: מוֹדִים חֲכָמִים לְרַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בְּכוֹס שֶׁל בְּרָכָה שֶׁאֵין מְבָרְכִין עָלָיו עַד שֶׁיִּתֵּן לְתוֹכוֹ מַיִם. מַאי טַעְמָא? אָמַר רַב אוֹשַׁעְיָא: בָּעֵינַן מִצְוָה מִן הַמּוּבְחָר.
Rabbi Yosei bar Rabbi Ḥanina said: The Rabbis agree with Rabbi Eliezer with regard to a cup of blessing, e.g., the cup of wine over which Grace after Meals is recited, that one does not recite a blessing over it until he adds water to it. What is the reason? Rav Oshaya said: We require that a mitzva be performed in the best possible manner.
Source 9 · Chazal
VerifiedBerakhot 27a
ברכות כ״ז א — ד"ה תְּפִלַּת הַמִּנְחָה עַד הָעֶרֶב וְכוּ׳
Berakhot 27a:13-14
Chachmei Bavel record that the ruling on whether the afternoon prayer may be recited until evening or only until midday afternoon was left unresolved, so one who follows either practice has acted legitimately.
תְּפִלַּת הַמִּנְחָה עַד הָעֶרֶב וְכוּ׳. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב חִסְדָּא לְרַב יִצְחָק: הָתָם אָמַר רַב כָּהֲנָא הֲלָכָה כְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה, הוֹאִיל וּתְנַן בִּבְחִירָתָא כְּווֹתֵיהּ, הָכָא מַאי? אִישְׁתִּיק וְלָא אֲמַר לֵיהּ וְלָא מִידֵּי. אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: נֶחְזֵי אֲנַן, מִדְּרַב מְצַלֵּי שֶׁל שַׁבָּת בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת מִבְּעוֹד יוֹם, שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ הֲלָכָה כְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה. אַדְּרַבָּה מִדְּרַב הוּנָא וְרַבָּנַן לָא הֲווֹ מְצַלּוּ עַד אוּרְתָּא, שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ אֵין הֲלָכָה כְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה. הַשְׁתָּא דְּלָא אִתְּמַר הִלְכְתָא לָא כְּמָר וְלָא כְּמָר, דַּעֲבַד כְּמָר — עֲבַד, וְדַעֲבַד כְּמָר — עֲבַד.
We learned in the mishna: The Rabbis hold that the afternoon prayer may be recited until the evening. Rabbi Yehuda says: It may be recited only until the midpoint of the afternoon. Rav Ḥisda said to Rav Yitzḥak: There, with regard to the morning prayer, Rav Kahana said: The halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda, since we learned in a mishna in the preferred tractate, Eduyyot, in accordance with his opinion. Here, what is the ruling? He was silent and said nothing to him, as he was familiar with no established ruling in this matter. Rav Ḥisda said: Let us see and try to resolve this ourselves from the fact that Rav prayed the Shabbat prayers on the eve of Shabbat while it was still day. Learn from this that the halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda, and the time for the afternoon prayer ends at the midpoint of the afternoon, after which time one may recite the evening prayer. The Gemara immediately rejects the proof based on Rav’s practice: On the contrary, from the fact that Rav Huna and the Sages, students of Rav, would not pray until evening, learn from that that the halakha is not in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda. The Gemara concludes: Now that the halakha was stated neither in accordance with the opinion of this Sage nor in accordance with the opinion of that Sage, one who acted in accordance with the opinion of this Sage has acted legitimately, and one who acted in accordance with the opinion of that Sage has acted legitimately, as this halakha is left to the decision of each individual.
Source 10 · Chazal
VerifiedPesachim 54a
פסחים נ״ד א — ד"ה וְאִישׁ תְּבוּנָה יִדְלֶנָּה״
Pesachim 54a:1-3
The passage explains that Ulla and Rabba bar bar Ḥana follow Rabbi Yoḥanan’s view that one recites the blessing over fire at the conclusion of both Shabbat and Yom Kippur, distinguishing fire that rested on Yom Kippur from newly kindled fire.
וְאִישׁ תְּבוּנָה יִדְלֶנָּה״. ״מַיִם עֲמוּקִּים עֵצָה בְלֶב אִישׁ״ — זֶה עוּלָּא. ״וְאִישׁ תְּבוּנָה יִדְלֶנָּה״ — זֶה רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה. וְאִינְהוּ כְּמַאן סַבְרוּהָ? כִּי הָא דְּאָמַר רַבִּי בִּנְיָמִין בַּר יֶפֶת אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: מְבָרְכִין עַל הָאוּר בֵּין בְּמוֹצָאֵי שַׁבָּת בֵּין בְּמוֹצָאֵי יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים. וְכֵן עַמָּא דָּבַר. מֵיתִיבִי: אֵין מְבָרְכִין עַל הָאוּר אֶלָּא בְּמוֹצָאֵי שַׁבָּת, הוֹאִיל וּתְחִילַּת בְּרִיָּיתוֹ הוּא. וְכֵיוָן שֶׁרוֹאֶה — מְבָרֵךְ מִיָּד. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, סוֹדְרָן עַל הַכּוֹס. וְאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: הֲלָכָה כְּרַבִּי יְהוּדָה! לָא קַשְׁיָא: כָּאן בְּאוּר שֶׁשָּׁבַת, כָּאן בְּאוּר הַיּוֹצֵא מִן הָעֵצִים וּמִן הָאֲבָנִים.
but a man of understanding will draw it out” (Proverbs 20:5). Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; that is a reference to Ulla, who had a thought but did not articulate it. But a man of understanding will draw it out; that is a reference to Rabba bar bar Ḥana, who understood the allusion even though it was not articulated. The Gemara asks: And in accordance with whose opinion do Ulla and Rabba bar bar Ḥana hold, leading them to reject Rabbi Abba’s statement of Rabbi Yoḥanan’s opinion? The Gemara answers: They hold in accordance with that which Rabbi Binyamin bar Yefet said that Rabbi Yoḥanan said: One recites the blessing over fire both at the conclusion of Shabbat and at the conclusion of Yom Kippur. And that is how the people act. The Gemara raises an objection from that which was previously taught: One recites a blessing over fire only at the conclusion of Shabbat and not at the conclusion of Festivals or Yom Kippur, since the conclusion of Shabbat is the time of its original creation. And once he sees it, he recites the blessing immediately. Rabbi Yehuda says: One does not recite the blessing immediately; rather, he waits and arranges and recites the blessings over fire and spices over the cup of wine that accompanies the recitation of havdala. And Rabbi Yoḥanan said: The halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda. How does Rabbi Yoḥanan explain the baraita? The Gemara answers: This is not difficult. Here, where Rabbi Yoḥanan said that one recites the blessing at the conclusion of Yom Kippur, it is referring to fire that rested on Yom Kippur, i.e., fire for which no prohibition was involved in its kindling, either because it was kindled before Yom Kippur or because it was kindled in a permitted manner, e.g., for a dangerously ill person. There, where Rabbi Yoḥanan said that the blessing is recited only at the conclusion of Shabbat, it is referring to fire generated from wood and from stones after Shabbat, similar to the primordial fire, which was created at the conclusion of Shabbat.
Source 11 · Chazal
VerifiedPesachim 109a
פסחים ק״ט א — ד"ה קְלָיוֹת וֶאֱגוֹזִין בְּעֶרֶב פֶּסַח כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא
Pesachim 109a:1
Chachmei Bavel describe giving children roasted grains and nuts on Passover eve, and quickly eating or “grabbing” matzot on the Passover nights, so that the children would stay awake and ask about the unusual practices.
קְלָיוֹת וֶאֱגוֹזִין בְּעֶרֶב פֶּסַח כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִשְׁנוּ, וְיִשְׁאֲלוּ. אָמְרוּ עָלָיו עַל רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא שֶׁהָיָה מְחַלֵּק קְלָיוֹת וֶאֱגוֹזִין לְתִינוֹקוֹת בְּעֶרֶב פֶּסַח כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִשְׁנוּ, וְיִשְׁאֲלוּ. תַּנְיָא, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: חוֹטְפִין מַצּוֹת בְּלֵילֵי פְּסָחִים בִּשְׁבִיל תִּינוֹקוֹת שֶׁלֹּא יִשְׁנוּ.
roasted grains and nuts on Passover eve, so that they will not sleep and also so they will ask the four questions at night. They said about Rabbi Akiva that he would distribute roasted grains and nuts to children on Passover eve, so that they would not sleep and so they would ask. It was taught in a baraita that Rabbi Eliezer says: One grabs the matzot on the nights of Passover. One should eat them very quickly on account of the children, so that, due to the hasty consumption of the meal, they will not sleep and they will inquire into the meaning of this unusual practice.
Source 12 · Chazal
VerifiedPesachim 109b
פסחים ק״ט ב — ד"ה וְלֹא יִפְחֲתוּ לוֹ מֵאַרְבָּעָה
Pesachim 109b:4-6
Chachmei Bavel explain that although drinking pairs was considered dangerous, the Sages required four cups on Passover because the night is protected from harmful forces, the cup of blessing counts favorably but not adversely, and each cup is an independent expression of freedom.
וְלֹא יִפְחֲתוּ לוֹ מֵאַרְבָּעָה. הֵיכִי מְתַקְּנִי רַבָּנַן מִידֵּי דְּאָתֵי בֵּהּ לִידֵי סַכָּנָה, וְהָתַנְיָא: לֹא יֹאכַל אָדָם תְּרֵי, וְלֹא יִשְׁתֶּה תְּרֵי, וְלֹא יְקַנַּח תְּרֵי, וְלֹא יַעֲשֶׂה צְרָכָיו תְּרֵי? אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן, אָמַר קְרָא: ״לֵיל שִׁמּוּרִים״ — לַיִל הַמְשׁוּמָּר וּבָא מִן הַמַּזִּיקִין. רָבָא אָמַר: כּוֹס שֶׁל בְּרָכָה מִצְטָרֵף לְטוֹבָה, וְאֵינוֹ מִצְטָרֵף לְרָעָה. רָבִינָא אָמַר: אַרְבָּעָה כָּסֵי תַּקִּינוּ רַבָּנַן דֶּרֶךְ חֵירוּת, כׇּל חַד וְחַד
We learned in the mishna that even with regard to the poorest of Jews, the charity distributors should not give him less than four cups of wine. The Gemara asks: How could the Sages establish a matter through which one will come to expose himself to danger? But wasn’t it taught in a baraita: A person should not eat pairs, i.e., an even number of food items; and he should not drink pairs of cups; and he should not wipe himself with pairs; and he should not attend to his sexual needs in pairs. The concern was that one who uses pairs exposes himself to sorcery or demons. Why would the Sages require one to drink an even number of cups and thereby place himself in a position of danger? Rav Naḥman said that the verse said: “It was a night of watching to the Lord” (Exodus 12:42), which indicates that Passover night is a night that remains guarded from demons and harmful spirits of all kinds. Therefore, there is no cause for concern about this form of danger on this particular night. Rava said a different answer: The cup of blessing for Grace after Meals on Passover night is used in the performance of an additional mitzva and is not simply an expression of freedom. Therefore, it combines with the other cups for the good, i.e., to fulfill the mitzva to drink four cups, and it does not combine for the bad. With regard to the danger of drinking pairs of cups, it is as though one drinks only three cups. Ravina said: The Sages instituted four separate cups, each of which is consumed in a manner that demonstrates freedom. Therefore, each and every one
Source 13 · Chazal
VerifiedAvot DeRabbi Natan 11:1
אבות דרבי נתן, פרק יא א
Avot DeRabbi Natan 11:1
The passage teaches that one should love work rather than despise it, stating that just as Torah was given through a covenant, work was also given through a covenant, as indicated by the command to labor for six days and rest on the seventh.
אהוב את המלאכה כיצד מלמד שיהא אדם אוהב את המלאכה ואל יהיה שונא את המלאכה כשם שהתורה נתנה בברית כך המלאכה נתנה בברית שנא׳ (שמות כ׳:ט׳-י׳) ששת ימים תעבוד ועשית כל מלאכתך ויום השביעי שבת לה׳ אלהיך. אהוב את המלאכה כיצד מלמד שיהא אדם אוהב את המלאכה ואל יהיה שונא את המלאכה כשם שהתורה נתנה בברית כך המלאכה נתנה בברית שנא׳ (שמות כ׳:ט׳-י׳) ששת ימים תעבוד ועשית כל מלאכתך ויום השביעי שבת לה׳ אלהיך.
Source 14 · Chazal
VerifiedTaanit 30b
תענית ל׳ ב — ד"ה תְּנַן הָתָם
Taanit 30b:2-3
Chachmei Bavel state that practices regarding work on Tishah BeAv follow local custom, though Torah scholars refrain and everyone should conduct himself as a Torah scholar to feel the fast; they add that eating and drinking then is like doing so on Yom Kippur, and that work performed then will never bring a sign of blessing.
תְּנַן הָתָם: מָקוֹם שֶׁנָּהֲגוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת מְלָאכָה בְּתִשְׁעָה בְּאָב — עוֹשִׂין, מָקוֹם שֶׁנָּהֲגוּ שֶׁלֹּא לַעֲשׂוֹת — אֵין עוֹשִׂין. וּבְכׇל מָקוֹם, תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים בְּטֵלִים. רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר: לְעוֹלָם יַעֲשֶׂה כָּל אָדָם עַצְמוֹ כְּתַלְמִיד חָכָם. תַּנְיָא נָמֵי הָכִי, רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר: לְעוֹלָם יַעֲשֶׂה אָדָם עַצְמוֹ כְּתַלְמִיד חָכָם, כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּתְעַנֶּה. תַּנְיָא אִידַּךְ, רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר: כׇּל הָאוֹכֵל וְשׁוֹתֶה בְּתִשְׁעָה בְּאָב — כְּאִילּוּ אוֹכֵל וְשׁוֹתֶה בְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים. רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אוֹמֵר: כׇּל הָעוֹשֶׂה מְלָאכָה בְּתִשְׁעָה בְּאָב — אֵינוֹ רוֹאֶה סִימַן בְּרָכָה לְעוֹלָם.
§ We learned in a mishna there: In a place where people were accustomed to perform labor on the Ninth of Av, one performs labor. In a place where people were accustomed not to perform labor, one does not perform labor. And in all places, Torah scholars are idle and do not perform labor on the Ninth of Av. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: With regard to the Ninth of Av, a person should always conduct himself as a Torah scholar and refrain from performing labor. This is also taught in a baraita: Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: A person should always conduct himself as a Torah scholar, so that he will feel the hardship of the fast. It is taught in another baraita that Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: Whoever eats and drinks on the Ninth of Av, although the prohibition was instituted by the Prophets, it is as though he eats and drinks on Yom Kippur. Rabbi Akiva says: Whoever performs labor on the Ninth of Av never sees a sign of a blessing from that work.
Source 15 · Chazal
VerifiedAvodah Zarah 50b
עבודה זרה נ׳ ב — ד"ה אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב
Avodah Zarah 50b:12-13
Chachmei Bavel discuss a case of idol worship involving a stick: breaking it before the idol incurs liability because it resembles slaughtering, while throwing it does not because it lacks the scattering characteristic required to resemble blood sprinkling, and Abaye challenges this distinction from a baraita about offering excrement or urine.
אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה שֶׁעוֹבְדִין אוֹתָהּ בְּמַקֵּל, שָׁבַר מַקֵּל בְּפָנֶיהָ — חַיָּיב, זָרַק מַקֵּל בְּפָנֶיהָ — פָּטוּר. אֲמַר לֵיהּ אַבָּיֵי לְרָבָא: מַאי שְׁנָא שָׁבַר דַּהֲוָה לֵיהּ כְּעֵין זְבִיחָה, זָרַק נָמֵי הֲוָה לֵיהּ כְּעֵין זְרִיקָה! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: בָּעֵינָא זְרִיקָה מִשְׁתַּבֶּרֶת, וְלֵיכָּא. אֵיתִיבֵיהּ: סָפַת לָהּ צוֹאָה, אוֹ שֶׁנִּסֵּךְ לְפָנֶיהָ עָבִיט שֶׁל מֵימֵי רַגְלַיִם —
§ Rav Yehuda says that Rav says: In the case of an object of idol worship that is worshipped by means of a stick, e.g., by beating a stick on another object in order to produce noise, if one broke a stick before it, he is liable. If he threw a stick before it, he is exempt. Abaye said to Rava: What is different about the case where one broke a stick? In this case one is liable because it is similar to slaughtering an offering, which is a rite performed in the Temple; so too, in the case where one threw a stick, it is similar to the sprinkling of the blood on the altar. Rava said to Abaye: In order for a sacrificial rite to be similar to the sprinkling of blood, I require a form of throwing that scatters the offering, and that is not the case here. Abaye raised an objection to Rava’s explanation from a baraita: One who fed [safat] an idol excrement, or who poured a chamber pot of urine before it as a libation,
Source 16 · Chazal
VerifiedSifra, Behar, Chapter 1:4
ספרא, בהר הקדמה פרק א, וראה שם עוד
Sifra, Behar, Chapter 1:4
The passage states that after the seventh year ends, work on the tree itself is permitted even though its fruit is subject to shemitah restrictions, while the fruit remains forbidden until Tu BiShvat.
[ד] "שנת שבתון יהיה לארץ" – כיון שיצאת שביעית, אף על פי שפירותיו שמיטה, מותר אתה לעשות מלאכה בגופו של אילן. אבל פירותיו אסורים עד טו' בשבט.
Source 17 · Chazal
attestedTosefta
תוספתא, שבת פרק טו
Tosefta
The passage derives that pikuach nefesh, including doubtful danger to life, overrides Shabbat, while discussing circumcision and Temple service as related cases and arguments.
אמר ר' יוסי מנין לפיקוח נפש שדוחה את השבת, שנאמר את שבתתי תשמרו, יכול אפילו במילה ובעבודה ובפיקוח נפש, תלמוד לומר אך, פעמים שאתה שובת פעמים שאין אתה שובת. ר' אליעזר אומר מילה דוחה את השבת מפני מה, מפני שחייבין עליה כרת לאחר זמן. והלא דברים קל וחומר, על אבר אחד ממנו דוחה את השבת, וכולו לא ידחה את השבת. אמרו לו ממקום שבאתה מה להלן ודאי ולא ספק אף כאן ודאי ולא ספק. וכי במה החמירה התורה בעבודה או בשבת, החמירה עבודה משבת, שעבודה דוחה את השבת ואין שבת דוחה את העבודה, והלא דברים קל וחומר ומה עבודה דוחה את השבת, ספק נפשות דוחה אותה, שבת שעבודה דוחה אותה דין הוא שיהא ספק נפשות דוחה אותה. הא למדת לספק נפשות שדוחה את השבת.