Jerusalem Talmud Megillah 4:1:2-4

משנה: הַקּוֹרֵא אֶת הַמְּגִילָּה עוֹמֵד וְיוֹשֵׁב. קְרָאָהּ אֶחָד קְרָאוּהָ שְׁנַיִם יָצָא. מָקוֹם שֶׁנָּהֲגוּ לְבָרֵךְ יְבָרֵךְ. שֶׁלֹּא לְבָרֵךְ לֹא יְבָרֵךְ. בַּשֵּׁנִי וּבַחֲמִישִׁי וּבַשַׁבָּת בַּמִּנְחָה קוֹרִין שְׁלֹשָׁה. אֵין פּוֹחֲתִין מֵהֶן וְאֵין מוֹסִיפִין עֲלֵיהֶן. וְאֵין מַפְטִירִין בַּנָּבִיא. הַפּוֹתֵחַ וְהַחוֹתֵם בַּתּוֹרָה מְבָרֵךְ לְפָנֶיהָ וּלְאַחֲרֶיהָ׃ MISHNAH: One who reads the scroll either stands or sits. If one read it or two read it¹Simultaneously., one²The hearer. has fulfilled his obligation. On a place where one is used to recite a benediction, he has to recite the benediction³At the conclusion of the reading.; where one is used not to recite a benediction, he does not recite the benediction. On Monday, Thursday and Sabbath afternoon three are reading⁴Three different readers read from the Torah scroll one after the other., no less and no more, and one does not conclude with a Prophet⁵In contrast to Sabbath and holiday mornings when a reading from the prophets is obligatory.. The one who starts and the one who ends in the Torah recites the benediction, before or after⁵In contrast to Sabbath and holiday mornings when a reading from the prophets is obligatory..

רִבִּי חַגַּיי בְּשֵׁם רִבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן. נֶאֶמְרוּ דְבָרִים בְּפֶה וְנֶאֶמְרוּ דְבָרִים בִּכְתָב וְאֵין אָנוּ יוֹדְעִין (אֵילּוּ) [אֵיזֶה מֵהֶן] חָבִיבִים. אֶלָּא מִן מָה דִכְתִיב כִּ֞י עַל־פִּ֣י ׀ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֗לֶּה כָּרַ֧תִּי אִתְּךָ֛ בְּרִ֖ית וְאֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ הָדָא אָֽמְרָה. אוֹתָן שֶׁבַּפֶּה חָבִיבִין. רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן וְרִבִּי יוּדָן בֵּירִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן. חַד אָמַר. אִם שִׁימַּרְתָּ מַה שֶׁבַּפֶּה וְשִׁימַּרְתָּ מַה שְׁבִּכְתָב אֲנִי כוֹרֵת אִתְּךָ בְרִית. וְאִם לָאו אֵינִי כוֹרֵת אִתְּךָ בְרִית. וְחוֹרָנָה אָמַר. אִם שִׁימַּרְתָּ מַה שֶׁבַּפֶּה וְשִׁימַּרְתָּ מַה שְׁבִּכְתָר אַתְּ נוֹטֵל שָׂכָר. וְאִם לָאו אֵין אַתְּ נוֹטֵל שָׂכָר. אָמַר רִבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לִֵוי. עֲלֵיהֶם וַֽעֲלֵיהֶ֗ם דְּבָרִים הַדְּבָרִים כָּל כְּֽכָל. מִקְרָא מִשְׁנָה וְתַלְמוּד וָאֲגָדָה. וַאֲפִילוּ מַה שֶׁתַּלְמִיד ווָתִיק עָתִיד לְהוֹרוֹת לִפְנֵי רַבּוֹ כְּבָר נֶאֱמַר לְמֹשֶׁה מִסִּינַי. הָדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב יֵ֥שׁ דָּבָ֛ר שֶׁיֹּאמַ֥ר רְאֵה־זֶה֭ חָדָ֣שׁ ה֑וּא. וַחֲבֵירוֹ מֵשִׁיבוֹ. כְּבָר֙ הָיָ֣ה לְעוֹלָמִים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָיוּ מִלְּפָנֵינוּ׃ ¹⁶The same text appears in Peah 1:6 (Notes 104–109,פ) and Ḥagigah 1:8 (Note 189,ח). Rebbi Ḥaggai in the name of Rebbi Samuel bar Naḥman: Things have been said orally and things have been said in writing, and we do not know which ones are preferred. From what is written¹⁷Ex. 34:27.: by the mouth of these words I concluded a covenant with you and Israel, it follows that the oral traditions are preferred¹⁸This argument is somewhat specious since the full verse reads: The Eternal said to Moses, write down these words for yourself, because by the mouth of these words I concluded a covenant with you and Israel. In Babli Giṭtin 60b, R. Simeon ben Laqish explains the verse as part of the covenant and states that written verses may not be recited by heart and oral traditions not written down as declared here at the end of the previous paragraph.. Rebbi Joḥanan and Rebbi Yudan bar Rebbi Simeon. One said that if you kept what is oral tradition and kept what is written I will conclude a covenant with you, otherwise I shall not conclude a covenant with you. The other one said, if you watched all that is oral tradition and kept all that is written you will receive your reward, otherwise you will not receive any reward. Rebbi Joshua ben Levi said¹⁹The reference is to Deut. 9:10: The Eternal gave to me the two stone tablets, written by the Divine Finger, and on them like all the words that the Eternal spoke to you on the mountain on the day of assembly. The three underlined expressions are all unnecessary for the understanding of the sentence; these are interpreted as referring to the three divisions of oral law contained in the complete Torah. Babli 19b.: On them, and on them; words, the words all, like all;; Bible, Mishnah, Talmud, and Aggadah. Even what a competent student²⁰Arabic ות֗יק “strong, safe, secure, dependable, reliable”. The interpretations of the untrained and incompetent are worthless. will discover²¹Since a student may not rule, or teach, before his teacher, the root of the word להורות must be “to become pregnant,” in this case, with an idea. before his teacher was said to Moses on Sinai. What is the reason? There is something about which one would say, look, this is new! His colleague will answer, it already has been forever²²Eccl. 1:10..

תַּנִּי. לֹא יְהוּ שְׁנַיִם קוֹרִין בַּתּוֹרָה וְאֶחָד מְתַרְגֵּם. אָמַר רִבִּי זְעוּרָה. מִפְּנֵי הַבְּרָכָה. וְהָא תַנֵּי. לֹא יְהוּ שְׁנַיִם מְתַרְגְּמִין וְאֶחָד קוֹרֵא. אִית לָךְ מֵימַר. מִפְּנֵי הַבְּרָכָה. אֶלָּא מִשֵּׁם [שֶׁאֵין] שְׁנֵי קוֹלוֹת נִכְנָסִין בְּאוֹזֶן אַחַת. תַּנֵּי. שְׁנַיִם קוֹרְאִין בַּתּוֹרָה. אֵין שְׁנַיִם קוֹרְאִין בַּנָּבִיא. אָמַר רִבִּי עוּלָּא. קְרָאוֹת בַּתּוֹרָה. אֵין קְרָאוֹת בַּנָּבִיא. ²³Berakhot 5:4 (Notes 143–148,ב); Tosephta 3:20 (Babli Roš Haššanah 27a). It was stated: Two should not read in the Torah²⁴Simultaneously. and one translate. Rebbi Ze`ira said, because of the benediction. But was it not stated, not two shall translate and one read. Could you say, because of the benediction? But because [not] two voices enter one ear. It was stated: Two read in the Torah, but not two read in Prophets. Rebbi Ulla said, there are readers for the Torah, there are no readers in Prophets²⁵The second baraita does not contradict the first; it refers to consecutive readers, not simultaneous ones. Readings from Prophets never are split among different readers..

תַּנֵּי. אֶחָד קוֹרֵא בַתּוֹרָה וְאֶחָד מְתַרְגֵּם. לֹא אֶחָד קוֹרֵא וּשְׁנַיִם מְתַרְגְּמִין. לֹא שְׁנַיִם מְתַרְגְּמִין וְאֶחָד קוֹרֵא. לֹא שְׁנַיִם. קוֹרְאִין וּשְׁנַיִם מְתַרְגְּמִין. וּבְנָבִיא אֶחָד קוֹרֵא וְאֶחָד מְתַרְגֵּם [וְאֶחָד קוֹרֵא] וּשְׁנַיִם מְתַרְגְּמִין. לֹא שְׁנַיִם קוֹרִין וְאֶחָד מְתַרְגֵּם וְלֹא שְׁנַיִם קוֹרִין וּשְׁנַיִם מְתַרְגְּמִין. וּבַמְּגִילָּה אֶחָד קוֹרֵא וְאֶחָד מְתַרְגֵּם. אֶחָד קוֹרֵא וּשְׁנַיִם מְתַרְגְּמִין. שְׁנַיִם קוֹרִין וְאֶחָד מְתַרְגֵּם. שְׁנַיִם קוֹרִין וּשְׁנַיִם מְתַרְגְּמִין. וְהַתַּרְגּוּם מְעַכֵּב. אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵה. מִן מַה דַאֲנָן חַמְייָן רַבָּנִן נָֽפְקִין לְתַעֲנִיתָא וּקְרָאֵיי וְלָא מְתַרְגְּמִין הָדָא אָֽמְרָה שֶׁאֵין הַתַּרְגִּוּם מְעַכֵּב. אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹנָה. אַף עַל גַּו דְּאַתְּ אָמַר. אֵין הַתַּרְגּוּם מְעַכֵּב. טָעָה מַחֲזִירִין אוֹתוֹ. It was stated: One reads in the Torah and one translates. Not one reads and two translate nor two read and one translates, nor two read and two translate. But in a Prophet, one reads and one translates, [or one reads] and two translate; not two read and two translate nor two read²⁶Only one person may read, but two may translate for different sections of the public since Prophets are not a source of law. and two translate. In the Esther scroll, one reads and one translates, one reads and two translate; two read and one translates, or two read and two translate²⁷Since the reading of the Esther scroll always is a noisy affair.. Does translation obstruct²⁸Is reading without translation legitimate?? Rebbi Yose said, since we are seeing that rabbis come on fast-days and read but do not translate, this implies that the translation is not obstructing. Rebbi Jonah said, even though you are saying that the translation is not obstructing, if he makes an error one corrects him.

רִבִּי יוֹנָה רִבִּי יִרְמְיָה. חַד מְחַזֵּר. מָנָא. וְחוֹרָנָה מְחַזֵּר. פַּטִּירִין עִם יַרְקוֹנִין. נֹאמַר פַּטִּירִין עִם מְרוֹרִין. וְלָא יָֽדְעִין מָאן אָמַר דָּא וּמָאן אָמַר דָּא. מִן מַה דָאָמַר רִבִּי [יוֹנָה]. מָהוּ לַהֲבִיאָן בְּתַמְחוּיִין שֶׁלְכֶּסֶף. הֲוִי דְהוּא מְחַזֵּר. מָנָא. וְיֹאמַר. סַלָּא. רִבִּי פִינְחָס מְחַזֵּר. פַּטִּימִין בְּנֵי תוֹרִין. וְיֹאמַר תּוֹרִין בְּנֵי תוֹרִין. ²⁹Bikkurim 3:5 (Notes 85–87,א). Rebbi Jonah and Rebbi Jeremiah. One says, one repeats “vessels”³⁰While in principle the translator may choose his own words (since he is forbidden to read from a prepared text), in a few places rabbinic authorities insist that certain expressions are too imprecise. The first one is the translation of טנא (Deut. 26:2) by “vessel” instead of “basket”, the second one that of מצות ומרורים (Num. 9:11) by “unleavened bread and vegetables.”. The other one says, one repeats “unleavened with vegetables” because you have to say “unleavened with bitter herbs”. We do not know who said what. Since Rebbi [Jonah] said³¹Bikkurim 3:5, Note 84, referring to the presentation of First Fruits in the Temple., may one bring in large silver baskets, it shows that he must have said that one repeats “vessels”. One has to say “basket”. Rebbi Phineas said, one must repeat “fattened ones and young bulls” because one must say “bulls and young bulls.³²Lev. 4:3, in both Onkelos and Pseudo-Jonathan.”

מְנַיִין לְתַרְגּוּם. רִבִּי זְעוּרָא בְשֵׁם רַב חֲנַנְאֵל. וַיִּקְרְא֥וּ בַסֵּ֛פֶר תּוֹרַת. זֶה הַמִּקְרָא. מְפֹרָ֑שׁ זֶה תַרְגּוּם. וְשׂ֣וֹם שֶׂ֔כֶל אֵילּוּ הַטְּעָמִים. וַיָּבִ֖ינוּ בַּמִּקְרָֽא זֶה הַמְּסוֹרֶת. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים. אֵילּוּ הַהַכְרִיעִים. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים. אֵילּוּ רָאשֵׁי פְסוּקִים. רִבִּי זְעוּרָה בְשֵׁם רַב חֲנַנְאֵל. אֲפִילוּ רָגִיל בַּתּוֹרָה כְעֶזְרָה לֹא יְהֵא הוֹגֶה מִפִּיו וְקוֹרֵא (כְּמוֹת) [כְּמוֹ] שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בְּבָרוּךְ. וַמִפִּיו֙ יִקְרָ֣א אֵלַ֔י כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וַֽאֲנִ֛י כּוֹתֵב עַל־הַסֵּפֶ֭ר בַּדְּיֽוֹ׃ וְהָא תַנֵּי. מַעֲשֶׂה בְרִבִּי מֵאִיר שֶׁהָיָה בְאַסְייָא וְלֹא הָיָה שָׁם מְגִילָּה כְתוֹבָה עִבְרִית וּכְתָבָהּ מיִפִּיו וּקְרָייָהּ. אֵין לְמֵידִין מִשְּׁעַת הַדְּחָק. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים. שְׁתַּיִם כָּתַב. כָּתַב אֶת הָרִאשׁוֹנָה מִתּוֹךְ פִּיו וְכָתַב אֶת הַשְּׁנִייָה מִתּוֹךְ הָרִאשׁוֹנָה וְגָנַז הָרִאשׁוֹנָה וְקָרא בַשְּׁנִייָה. רִבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בֵּירִבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר. יְכִיל אֲנָא כְתַב כָּל־קִרְייָא מִן פִּימִי. רִבִּי חִייָה רַבָּה אָמַר. יְכִיל אֲנָא כְתַב כָּל־קִרְייָא בִּתְּרֵין מָנָיי. הֵיךְ עֲבִידָא. זְבַן בִּתְּרֵין מָנָיי זֶרַע דְּכִיתַּן וּזִרַע לֵיהּ וַחֲצַד לֵיהּ וַעֲבַד חַבְלִין וְתָפַשׂ טָבֵיי וְכָתַב כָּל־קִרְייָה עִל מַשְׁכֵיהוֹן. שָׁמַע רִבִּי וְאָמַר. אַשְׁרֵי (הַגּוֹי) [הַדּוֹר] שֶׁאַתֶּם בְּתוֹכוֹ. From where the translation? Rebbi Ze`ira in the name of Rav Ḥananel: They read in the Scroll of the Torah<sup>33</sup>Neh. 8:8., that is the reading. Explained, that is the translation<sup>34</sup>Since this is proved from a text in Hagiographs, the Targum has the status of an institution of the Men of the Great Assembly.. Making sense, these are the accents<sup>35</sup>Which indicate the divisions of sentences into logical units.. And understood the reading, this is the Masora, and some say, these are the decisions<sup>36</sup>The sentences where the caesura and therefore the meaning is not obvious. Avodah zarah 2:8, Notes 325 ff., and some say, these are the starts of verses<sup>37</sup>The division of the text into verses is oral tradition since no punctuation is permitted in the text. The last three options are variants of the theme that the text is intelligible only on the basis of traditional pronunciation. Babli 3a, Nedarim 37b.. Rebbi Ze`ira in the name of Rav Ḥananel: Even an expert in the Torah like Ezra should not pronounce with his mouth³⁸One may not recite a Torah text by heart (nor, as pointed out in the sequel, write the text by heart.) Babli 18b. and read as it is said about Baruch: And from his mouth he would read all these words to me and I was writing on a scroll with ink³⁹Jer. 36:18.. But was it not stated⁴⁰Babli 18b, Tosephta 2:5., “it happened that Rebbi Meïr was in Essia where there was no Esther scroll written in Hebrew, when he wrote it by heart and read it. One does not infer from emergency situations. But there are those who say that he wrote two. He wrote the first by heart, and copied the second one from the first one, put away the first and read from the second.” Rebbi Ismael ben Rebbi Yose says, I can write the entire Torah from memory. The Elder Rebbi Ḥiyya said, I can write the entire Torah for two minas⁴¹Babli Bava meṣia` 85b.. How would he do it? He buys flax seed for two minas, sowed and harvested it, made ropes to catch deer and wrote the entire Torah on their hides. Rebbi heard it and said, happy is (the people) [the generation]⁴²The corrector’s change is unnecessary since Rebbi is known as proponent of correct use of Hebrew; for him גוי means “people”, not “Gentile”. to which you belong.

כֵּיצַד הוּא מְבָרֵךְ עָלֶיהָ. זַכַּיי טַבְּחָא בְשֵׁם רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן. הַרָב אֶת רִיבָךְ וְהַנּוֹקֵם אֶת נִקְמָתָךְ הַגּוֹאֲלָךְ וְהַמּוֹשִׁיעָךְ מִכַּףְ עָרִצֶיךָ. עַד כְּדוֹן בַּסּוֹף. בַּתְּחִילָּה. הֲרֵי הִיא כְּכָל־שְׁאָר מִצְוֹתֶיהָ שֶׁלְתּוֹרָה. מַה שְׁאָר כָּל־מִצְוֹתֶיהָ שֶׁלְתּוֹרָה טְעוּנוֹת בְּרָכָה אַף זוֹ טְעוּנָה בְרָכָה. How does one make the benediction for it⁴³The reading of the Esther scroll. The Babylonian version of the text given here is in the Babli 21b.? Zakkai the butcher in the name of Rebbi Joḥanan: “He Who fights your fight, and Who avenges your vengeance, your Savior, and your Redeemer from all your oppressors.” So far at the end; at the start? It is like all other commandments of the Torah. Just as all other commandments of the Torah require a benediction at the start, so this one also requires a benediction at the start⁴⁴While this text only prescribes a single benediction, “Who sanctified us by His commandments and commanded us about reading the Scroll”, the Babli (also on testimony of a person not otherwise mentioned in the Talmudim) adds another two, “Who performed wonders for our fathers in those days at this time” and “Who let us live, supported us, and let us reach this time.”.

כָּתוּב בַּתּוֹרָה בְרָכָה לְפָנֶיהָ וְאֵין כָּתוּב בָּהּ בְּרָכָה לְאַחֲרֶיהָ. מַה כָתוּב בָּהּ לְפָנֶיהָ. כִּ֛י שֵׁ֥ם ײ֨ אֶקְרָ֑א הָב֥וּ גוֹדֶל לֵֽאלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ וְכָתוּב בַּמָּזוֹן בְּרָכָה לְאַחֲרָיו וְאֵין כָּתוּב בָּהּ בְּרָכָה לְפָנָיו. מַה כָתוּב בּוֹ לְאַחֲרָיו. וְאָֽכַלְתָּ֖ וְשָׂבָ֑עְתָּ וּבֵֽרַכְתָּ֙ וגו׳. מְנַיִין לִיתֵּן אֶת הָאָמוּר בָּזֶה בָזֶה וְאֶת הָאָמוּר בָּזֶה בָזֶה. רִבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן בְּשֵׁם רִבִּי יוֹנָתָן. שֵׁם שֵׁם לִגְזֵירָה שָׁוָה. מַה שֵׁם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בַּתּוֹרָה [בְּרָכָה] לְפָנֶיהָ אַף שֵׁם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בַּמָּזוֹן בְּרָכָה לְפָנָיו. וּמַה שֵׁם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בַּמָּזוֹן בְּרָכָה לְאַחֲרָיו אַף שֵׁם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בַּתּוֹרָה בְּרָכָה לְאַחֲרֶיהָ. עַד כְּדוֹן כְּרִבִּי עֲקִיבָה. כְּרִבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל. רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן בְּשֵׁם רִבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל קַל וָחוֹמֶר. מָה אִם מָזוֹן שֶׁאֵין טָעוּן בְּרָכָה לְפָנָיו טָעוּן לְאַחֲרָיו. תּוֹרָה שֶׁהִיא טְעוּנָה בְּרָכָה לְפָנֶיהָ אֵין דִּין שֶׁתְּהֵא טְעוּנָה בְרָכָה לְאַחֲרֶיהָ. עַד כְּדוֹן תּוֹרָה. מָזוֹן. מָה אִם תּוֹרָה שֶׁאֵינָהּ טְעוּנָה בְרָכָה לְאַחֲרֶיהָ טְעוּנָה לְפָנֶיהָ. מָזוֹן שֶׁהוּא טָעוּן לְאַחֲרָיו אֵינוֹ דִין שֶׁיְּהֵא טָעוּן לְפָנָיו. רִבִּי יִצְחָק וְרִבִּי נָתָן. רִבִּי יִצְחָק אָמַר. כִּי־הוּא֙ יְבָרֵ֣ךְ הַזֶּ֔בַח וְאַֽחֲרֵיכֵן יֹֽאכְל֣וּ הַקְּרוּאִים. רִבִּי נָתָן אוֹמֵר. וַֽעֲבַדְתֶּ֗ם אֵ֚ת ײ֨ אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם וּבֵרַ֥ךְ אֶֽת־לַחְמְךָ֖ וְאֶת־מֵימֶ֑יךָ. אֵימָתַי הוּא קָרוּי לַחְמְךָ. עַד שֶׁלֹּא אָכַלְתּוֹ. רִבִּי אוֹמֵר. מָה אִם בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאָכַל וְשָׂבַע אַתְּ אָמַר. צָרִיךְ לְבָרֵךְ. בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהוּא תָאֵב לֹא כָל־שֶׁכֵּן. עַד כְּדוֹן מָזוֹן. תּוֹרָה. מָה אִם מָזוֹן שֶׁאֵינוֹ אֶלָּא חַיֵּי שָׁעָה טָעוּן בְּרָכָה לְפָנָיו וּלְאַחֲרָיו. תּוֹרָה שֶׁהִיא חַיֵּי עֲדֵי עַד לֹא כָל־שֶׁכֵּן. ⁴⁵The following is quoted from Berakhot 7:1, Notes 40–52 (ב). For Torah⁴⁶Torah study, including Torah reading. there is written a benediction before, but no benediction is written after. What is written before it? For I am invoking the name of the Eternal, attribute greatness to our God⁴⁷Deut. 32:3.. For food there is written a benediction after, but no benediction is written before. What is written after it? You will eat and be satiated, then you must praise⁴⁸Deut. 8:10.. From where that which is said about one on the other and vice-versa? Rebbi Samuel bar Naḥman in the name of Rebbi Jonathan: The Name is mentioned in both verses as parallel expressions⁴⁹In general, it is assumed in the system of Rebbi Aqiba that a word can have only one meaning in the Pentateuch. A stronger implication, agreed to by all tannaitic authorities, is a “parallel expression”. The technical term is equal cut. The formal definition of the school of R. Ismael is that if one has a tradition that two equal or synonymous expressions are written in the Torah for purposes of comparison and if these two words are not used for any other inference, then all laws connected with one word apply to the other and vice-versa. The derivation here does not fulfill these conditions; hence, it is labelled to follow the rules of R. Aqiba who is not known to require too much formality in case the verse is used to give a biblical base to an old tradition.. Just as the Name that is mentioned concerning Torah implies a benediction before, so the Name that is mentioned concerning food implies a benediction before. And just as the Name that is mentioned concerning food implies a benediction after, so the Name that is mentioned concerning Torah implies a benediction after. That follows Rebbi Aqiba. How following Rebbi Ismael⁵⁰The rules of R. Ismael are systematized in his 13 hermeneutical rules given in the introduction to Sifra on Leviticus.? Rebbi Joḥanan in the name of Rebbi Ismael, an inference de minore ad majus⁵¹The first rule of R. Ismael. If there are two commandments, A and B, and if every rule for A is no more stringent than the corresponding rule for B, then a rule expressed for A that has no equivalent for B is valid also for B. The Babli (Berakhot 21a) quotes the following in the name of R. Joḥanan only and points out that the application here is not justified since it is self-contradictory. The Yerushalmi seems to be of the opinion that in the formulation given here, with “not more stringent” instead of “less stringent”, the argument is logically admissible.. If food that needs no explicit benediction before, needs a benediction afterwards, regarding Torah which needs a benediction before, it is only logical that it should need a benediction afterwards. That works for Torah; what about food? If Torah which needs no benediction afterwards, needs a benediction before, regarding food which needs a benediction afterwards, it is only logical that it should need a benediction before. Rebbi Isaac and Rebbi Nathan say, For he will recite the benediction over the sacrifice and after that the invited guests will eat⁵²1S. 9:13. In the Babli (Berakhot 48b) and in the Mekhilta dR. Ismael (Ba 16, ed. Horovitz-Rabin p. 61) this is given in the name of R. Nathan only. A verse from Samuel (Biblical but not Pentateuchal) cannot prove a commandment but can prove a practice.. Rebbi Nathan said, you shall serve the Eternal, your God, and give praise for your bread and your water⁵³Ex. 23:25. In the Babli and the Mekhilta, this appears in the name of Rebbi Isaac.; when is it called your bread and your water, before you eat⁵⁴The full verse seems to read: You shall serve the Eternal, your God, then He will bless your bread and your water and I will remove sickness from your midst. The switch from third to first person is awkward in any case. In the Babli (in particular, in the Sephardic incunabula print) it is spelled out: Do not read וּבֵרַךְ He will bless but וּבָרֵךְ “and praise”. The Bible Concordance of G. Lisowsky (Stuttgart 1958) takes the verse, as it stands, to mean You shall serve the Eternal, your God, and praise for your bread and your water, then I will remove sickness from your midst. One may recite a benediction on one’s bread and one’s water only before it is consumed; afterwards one may speak only of nourishment and sustenance.. Rebbi said, if he has to give praise when he ate and is satiated, so much more at a time when he is hungry for food. That is for food, what about Torah? If food, which sustains only temporary life, needs a benediction before and after, Torah, which sustains eternal life, so much more⁵⁵In the Babli and the Mekhilta this is an argument of Rebbi Ismael..

רִבִּי זְעוּרָה בָעֵי. אִילֵּין שְׁלֹשָׁה קְרוּיוֹת מָה אַתְּ עֲבַד לוֹן. כִּשְׁלֹשָׁה שֶׁאָֽכְלוּ כְאַחַת אוֹ כִשְׁלֹשָׁה שֶׁאָֽכְלוּ זֶה בִפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ וְזֶה בִפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ. אִין תַּעַבְדִּינוֹן כִּשְׁלֹשָׁה שֶׁאָֽכְלוּ כְאַחַת. הָרִאשׁוֹן מְבָרֵךְ בְּרָכָה רִאשׁוֹנָה וְהָאַחֲרוֹן מְבָרֵךְ בְּרָכָה הָאַחֲרוֹנָה וְהָאֶמְצָעִי אֵינוֹ מְבָרֵךְ כָּל־עִיקָּר. אִין תַּעַבְדִּינוֹן כִּשְׁלֹשָׁה שֶׁאָֽכְלוּ זֶה בִפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ וְזֶה בִפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ. אֲפִילוּ הָאֶמְצָעִי מְבָרֵךְ לְפָנֶיהָ וּלְאַחֲרֶיהָ. אָמַר רִבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר אֶבְדַּוּמָא. לָֽמְדוּ בִּרְכַת הַתּוֹרָה מִבִּרְכַּת הַמָּזוֹן אֶלָּא לָרַבִּים. אִם לָרַבִּים אֲפִילוּ בֵינוֹ לְבֵין עַצְמוֹ אֵינוֹ מְבָרֵךְ. אָמַר רִבִּי אַבָּא מָרִי אַחוֹי דְרִבִּי יוֹסֵה. עֲשָׂאוּהָ כִשְׁאָר כָּל־הַמִּצְוֹת שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה. מַה שְׁאָר כָּל־הַמִּצְוֹת טְעוּנוֹת בְּרָכָה אַף זוֹ טְעוּנָה בְרָכָה. Rebbi Ze`ira asked: These three that are called<sup>56</sup>The minimum number of people called to read the Torah in public. Since the preceding arguments tied benedictions over Torah reading to Grace, one has to ask in which way they are comparable. In the Babli 21b there is a baraita: “(In reading the Torah) he who starts recites the benediction before and he who finishes recites the benediction after.” On that, the Gemara notes: But today, all recite benedictions before and after. Tthe baraita seems to represent early Babylonian practice; we do not know of any direct Yerushalmi source that let people read the Torah without benediction. Rebbi Ze`ira, the Galilean head of academy who had come from Babylonia, is the right person to ask for the reasons and the correct practice. Since his questions remain without answers, both practices might be acceptable., how are you treating them? As three who ate together or as three who ate each one for himself? If you treat them as three who ate together then the first one recites the benediction before, the last one recites the benediction after, and the middle one does not recite any benediction at all. If you treat them as three who ate each one for himself then even the middle one recites benedictions before and after. Rebbi Samuel ben Eudaimon said, they did learn the benedictions for the Torah from Grace only in public⁵⁷R. Samuel ben Eudaimon seems to object to reciting a benediction after Torah study. Also, since Torah study is a permanent obligation (Jos. 1:8) one benediction in the morning is enough to cover all Torah study during the day and evening; one does not have to recite a new benediction for study after an interruption.. If in public, then in private one should not recite any benediction! Rebbi Abba Mari, the brother of Rebbi Yose, said: They made it equal to other commandments of the Torah. Just as other commandments of the Torah need benedictions, this also needs a benediction⁵⁸Most commandments need only a benediction before, not after their execution. Thus, the benediction for the Torah in private study follows the general rule of benedictions over commandments. The quote for benediction for the Torah before the reading, Deut. 32:3, is clearly addressed to the public and, therefore, not applicable to private study..

אָמַר רִבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן. רִבִּי יוֹנָתָן עֲבַר קוֹמֵי סִידְרָא. שְׁמַע קָלוֹן קְרוּיֵי וְלָא הֲוָה מְבָֽרְכִין. אֶמַר לוֹן. עַד מָתַי אַתֶּם עוֹשִׂין אֶת הַתּוֹרָה קְרָחוֹת קְרָחוֹת. מֹשֶׁה הִתְקִין אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁיְּהוּ קוֹרִין בַּתּוֹרָה בַּשַּׁבָּתוֹת וּבְיָמִים טוֹבִים וּבִרָאשֵׁי חֳדָשִׁים וּבְחוֹלוֹ שֶׁלְמוֹעֵד. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֶת־מוֹעֲדֵי ײ֨ אֶל־בְּנֵי֭ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ עֶזְרָה הִתְקִין לְיִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁיְּהוּ קוֹרִין בַּתּוֹרָה בַּשֵּׁינִי וּבַחֲמִישִּׁי וּבַשַּׁבָּת בַּמִּנְחָה. הוּא הִתְקִין טְבִילָה לְבַעֲלֵי קֶרִיִּין. הוּא הִתְקִין שֶׁיְּהוּ בָתֵּי דִינִין יוֹשְׁבִין בָּעֲייָרוֹת בַּשֵּׁינִי וּבַחֲמִישִּׁי. הוּא הִתְקִין שֶׁיְּהוּ הָרוֹכְלִין מְחַזְּרִין בָּעֲייָרוֹת מִפְּנֵי כְבוֹדָן שֶׁלְבְּנוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל. הוּא הִתְקִין שֶׁיְּהוּ מְכַבְּסִין בַּחֲמִישִּׁי מִפְּנֵי כְבוֹד הַשַּׁבָּת. הוּא הִתְקִין שֶׁיְּהוּ אוֹפִין פַּת בְּעַרְבֵי שַׁבָּתוֹת. שֶׁתְּהֵא פְרוּסָה מְצוּיָה לֶעָנִי. הוּא הִתְקִין שֶׁיְּהוּ אוֹכְלִין שׁוּם בְּלֵילֵי שַׁבָּתוֹת. שֶׁהוּא מַכְנִיס אַהֲבָה וּמוֹצִיא תַאֲוָה. הוּא הִתְקִין שֶׁיְּהוּ הַנָּשִׁים מְדַבְּרוֹת זוֹ עִם זוֹ בְּבֵית הַכִּסֵּא. הוּא הִתְקִין שֶׁתְּהֵא אִשָּׁה חוֹגֶרֶת בַּסִּינָר בֵּין מִלְּפָנֶיהָ בֵּין מִלְּאַחֲרֶיהָ. אָמַר רִבִּי תַנְחוּם בַּר חִייָה. מִפְּנֵי מַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁאִירָע. מַעֲשֶׂה בְאִשָּׁה שֶׁבָּעֲלָהּ קוֹף מִכְּדַרְכָּהּ וּשְׁלֹא כְדַרְכָּהּ. הוּא הִתְקִין שֶׁתְּהֵא אִשָּׁה חוֹפֶפֶת וְסוֹרֶקֶת קוֹדֶם לְטַהֲרָתָהּ שְׁלֹשָׁה יָמִים. רִבִּי יוֹסֵה בְשֵׁם דְּבֵית רִבִּי יַנַּאי רִבִּי בָּא בַּר כֹּהֵן בְּשֵׁם רַב חוּנָה. כְּדֵי לַשַּׁבָּת וְלִשְׁנֵי יָמִים טוֹבִים שֶׁלְגָּלִיּוֹת. רִבִּי זְעוּרָה בְשֵׁם רַב יְהוּדָה. וְהוּא שֶׁהִגִּיעַ זְמַנָּהּ לִטְבוֹל בֵּנְתַּיִים. רִבִּי בָּא בְשֵׁם רַב יְהוּדָה. וַאֲפִילוּ הִגִּיעַ זְמַנָּהּ לִטְבוֹל בַּסּוֹף. וַהֲוָה רִבִּי זְעוּרָה מִסְתַּכֵּל בֵּיהּ. אָמַר לֵיהּ. מָה אַתְּ מִסְתַּכֵּל בִּי. מַה־יָּ֭דַעְתָּ וְלֹ֣א נֵדָ֑ע תָּ֝בִ֗ין וְֽלֹא־עִמָּ֥נוּ הֽוּא׃ אֲתַא רִבִּי אָחָא בְשֵׁם רִבִּי תַנְחוּם בֵּירִבִּי חִייָה וְאָמַר טַעֲמָא. וַאֲפִילוּ הִגִּיעַ זְמַנָּהּ לִטְבוֹל בַּסּוֹף. אֲנִי אוֹמֵר. שֶׁמָּא מַעֲייָנָהּ רָחוֹק וְהִיא מַתְעַצֶלֶת וְאֵינָהּ טְהוֹרָה. Rebbi Samuel bar Naḥman said, Rebbi Jonathan passed by the synagogue. He heard their voices reading without benedictions. He said to them, how long are you making the Torah out of bald spots⁵⁹He required that every one reading in the Torah pronounce the benedictions before and after. This implies that in practical terms the question was resolved already in the first generation of Amoraim and benedictions required from everybody.! Moses instituted that the Torah should be read on Sabbath, holidays, New Moons, and on the intermediate days of holidays. Ezra instituted that the Torah should be read on Mondays and Thursdays, and on Sabbath afternoon⁶⁰Differently in the Babli, Bava qamma 82a.. He instituted immersion for people with emissions of semen⁶¹He forbade Torah study and prayer before immersion in a miqweh, Berakhot 3:4.. He instituted that law courts should sit in large villages on Mondays and Thursdays⁶²It is presumed that in walled cities one has access to courts every day.. He instituted that peddlars make the circuit of villages because of the honor of the daughters of Israel⁶³That every woman have access to cosmetics and perfumes.. He instituted that one should wash on Thursdays for the honor of the Sabbath. He instituted that one should bake bread on Fridays so that a piece be available for the poor. He instituted that one eat garlic on Friday Night, because it brings love and removes desire⁶⁴Since marital relations are a religious duty for the husband on Friday nights, it seems that garlic increases virility but is not an aphrodisiac and therefore improves the moral qualities of the children to be conceived.. He instituted that women should talk with one another in the toilet⁶⁵To warn away men. In the Babli, Sanhedrin 19a, this is a late institution of R. Yose (the Tanna) in Sepphoris.. He instituted that a woman wear an apron⁶⁶This is Maimonides’s explanation. Rashi (Šabbat 92a) explains as underpants. front and back. Rebbi Tanḥum bar Ḥiyya said, because of what had happened. It happened that a woman was raped by an ape, both regular and irregular intercourse⁶⁷The technical term irregular intercourse is used for absence of penetration.. He instituted that a woman may wash and comb her hair up to three days before her purity⁶⁸If she immerses herself after her period, the water has to touch “all of her body”; this is interpreted to mean that no dirt may be either on her body or her hair. Since the combing is forbidden on Sabbath and holiday, if she has to immerse herself on one of these days she is told to cleanse her hair before the Sabbath or holiday.. Rebbi Yose in the name of the House of Rebbi Yannai, Rebbi Abba bar Cohen in the name of Rav Ḥuna: Corresponding to the Sabbath and the two days of holiday in the Diaspora. Rebbi Ze`ira in the name of Rav Jehudah: only if the time of her immersion is in the meantime. Rebbi Abba in the name of Rav Jehudah: even if the time of her immersion is at the end<sup>69</sup>The dispute between R. Ze`ira and R. Abba is if the holiday in the Diaspora is Thursday-Friday and she has to immerse herself after the end of the Sabbath. R. Ze`ira holds that since she may both cleanse and immerse herself after the end of the Sabbath, there is no reason to permit the cleansing on Wednesday. R. Abba disagrees for the reason given in the text.. Then Rebbi Ze`ira was looking at him. He said to him, what are you looking at me? What do you know that we do not know, you understand what is not with us⁷⁰Job 15:9.? There came Rebbi Aḥa in the name of Rebbi Tanḥum ben Rebbi Ḥiyya and reported the reason: even if the time of her immersion is at the end; I am saying that maybe her spring is far away and she is lazy and not pure.