(ואמר ליה) רב לרב אסי לא תדור במתא דלא צניף בה סוסיא ולא נבח בה כלבא ואל תדור בעיר דריש מתא אסיא ולא תנסיב תרתי אי נסבת תרתי נסיב תלת
And Rav said to Rav Asi: Do not live in a city where horses do not neigh and where dogs do not bark, as the these animals provide security and protection. And do not live in a city where the mayor is a doctor, as he will be too busy working to govern properly. And do not marry two women, as they will likely join forces against you. And if you do marry two, marry a third as well. If two of your wives plot against you, the third will inform you of their plans.
כֹּל שֶׁבַּיָּם טָהוֹר, חוּץ מִכֶּלֶב הַמַּיִם, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא בוֹרֵחַ לַיַּבָּשָׁה, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא. הָעוֹשֶׂה כֵלִים מִן הַגָּדֵל בַּיָּם וְחִבֵּר לָהֶם מִן הַגָּדֵל בָּאָרֶץ, אֲפִלּוּ חוּט, אֲפִלּוּ מְשִׁיחָה, דָּבָר שֶׁהוּא מְקַבֵּל טֻמְאָה, טָמֵא:
All that live in the sea are clean, except the sea-dog because it seeks refuge on dry land, the words of Rabbi Akiba. If one made vessels from what grows in the sea and joined to them anything that grows on land, even if only a thread or a cord, if it is susceptible to uncleanness, they are unclean.
אמר רב יוסף שדי שמתא אגנובתא דכלבא ואיהי דידה עבדה דההוא כלבא דהוה אכיל מסאני דרבנן ולא הוו קא ידעי מנו ושמתו ליה איתלי ביה נורא בגנובתיה ואכלתיה
The Gemara continues discussing the power of a ban. Rav Yosef said: Cast an excommunication on the tail of a dog and it, the excommunication, will do its work and harm the dog. It was related that there was a certain dog that would eat the shoes of the Sages, and they did not know who it was causing this damage. They thought that it was a person, and so they excommunicated whoever was doing it. Soon thereafter, the dog’s tail caught fire and got burnt. This shows that excommunication can have a harmful effect even on a dog.
מי שנשכו כלב שוטה וכו' ת"ר חמשה דברים נאמרו בכלב שוטה פיו פתוח ורירו נוטף ואזניו סרוחות וזנבו מונח על ירכותיו ומהלך בצידי דרכים וי"א אף נובח ואין קולו נשמע ממאי הוי רב אמר נשים כשפניות משחקות בו ושמואל אמר רוח רעה שורה עליו
§ It was taught that in the case of one whom a mad dog bit, one does not feed him the lobe of its liver. The Gemara clarifies the concept of the mad dog. The Sages taught in a baraita: Five signs were said about a mad dog: Its mouth is always open; and its saliva drips; and its ears are floppy and do not stand up; and its tail rests on its legs; and it walks on the edges of roads. And some say it also barks and its voice is not heard. The Gemara asks: From where did the dog become mad? Rav said: Witches play with it and practice their magic on it, causing it to become mad. And Shmuel said: An evil spirit rests upon it.
ואמר רב ששת משום רבי אלעזר בן עזריה כל המספר לשון הרע וכל המקבל לשון הרע וכל המעיד עדות שקר בחבירו ראוי להשליכו לכלבים שנאמר לכלב תשליכון אותו וכתיב בתריה לא תשא שמע שוא וקרי ביה לא תשיא
And Rav Sheshet further said, citing Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya: Anyone who speaks slander, and anyone who accepts and believes the slander he hears, and anyone who testifies falsely about another, it is fitting to throw him to the dogs, as it is stated: “And you shall not eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field, you shall cast it to the dogs” (Exodus 22:30), and afterward it is written: “You shall not utter [tisa] a false report; put not your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness” (Exodus 23:1). Uttering rumors is here equated to delivering false testimony. Furthermore, read into the verse as though it stated: Do not cause a false report to be accepted [tasi], i.e., do not lead others to accept your false reports.
אותו אתה משליך לכלב ואי אתה משליך לכלב כל איסורין שבתורה ורבי מאיר אותו אתה משליך לכלב ואי אתה משליך לכלב חולין שנשחטו בעזרה
The Gemara concludes: It, i.e., a tereifa, you may throw to a dog, but you may not throw all other items prohibited by Torah law to a dog, as both eating and deriving benefit are prohibited. The Gemara asks: And what halakha does Rabbi Meir learn from this verse? The Gemara answers that Rabbi Meir draws the following inference: It, you may throw to a dog, but you may not throw the meat of a non-sacred animal that was slaughtered in the Temple courtyard to a dog, as it is prohibited to benefit from it.
וַיּ֥וֹרֶד אֶת־הָעָ֖ם אֶל־הַמָּ֑יִם (ס) וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־גִּדְע֗וֹן כֹּ֣ל אֲשֶׁר־יָלֹק֩ בִּלְשׁוֹנ֨וֹ מִן־הַמַּ֜יִם כַּאֲשֶׁ֧ר יָלֹ֣ק הַכֶּ֗לֶב תַּצִּ֤יג אוֹתוֹ֙ לְבָ֔ד וְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־יִכְרַ֥ע עַל־בִּרְכָּ֖יו לִשְׁתּֽוֹת׃
So he took the troops down to the water. Then the LORD said to Gideon, “Set apart all those who lap up the water with their tongues like dogs from all those who get down on their knees to drink.”
ת"ר כלבים בוכים מלאך המות בא לעיר כלבים משחקים אליהו הנביא בא לעיר וה"מ דלית בהו נקבה:
The Sages taught: If the dogs in a certain place are crying for no reason, it is a sign that they feel the Angel of Death has come to the city. If the dogs are playing, it is a sign that they feel that Elijah the prophet has come to the city. These matters apply only if there is no female dog among them. If there is a female dog nearby, their crying or playing is likely due to her presence.
כי אזלי להתם נמי מטטרגי להו כלבא בלא מתיה שב שנין לא נבח
The Gemara asks: When the residents of Geder go to Ḥamtan, they will assault the residents there; of what use, then, is this ordinance? The Gemara answers, citing a popular saying: A dog that is not in its place will not bark for seven years. On its own turf, a dog barks readily, but it becomes scared in unfamiliar surroundings and remains silent. Similarly, the people of Geder are not nearly as bold when they visit Ḥamtan as they are in their own town.
תנו רבנן שלשה חייהן אינם חיים הרחמנין והרתחנין ואניני הדעת ואמר רב יוסף כולהו איתנהו בי תנו רבנן שלשה שונאין זה את זה אלו הן הכלבים והתרנגולין והחברין ויש אומרים אף הזונות ויש אומרים אף תלמידי חכמים שבבבל תנו רבנן שלשה אוהבין זה את זה אלו הן הגרים ועבדים ועורבין
The Sages taught: There are three types of people whose lives are not lives, due to their constant suffering: The compassionate, the hot tempered, and the delicate. Rav Yosef said: All of these attributes are found in me. Furthermore, the Sages taught: Members of three groups hate other members of the same group: Dogs, roosters, and the Persian priests. And some say: Also prostitutes. And some say: Also Torah scholars in Babylonia. Likewise, the Sages taught: Members of three groups love one another: Converts, slaves, and ravens.
אָמַר רַב חִיָּיא בַּר אָבִין אָמַר רַב: מְעָרְבִין בְּפַת עֲדָשִׁים. אִינִי?! וְהָא הָהִיא דַּהֲוַאי בִּשְׁנֵי דְּמָר שְׁמוּאֵל, וְשַׁדְיַיהּ לְכַלְבֵּיהּ וְלָא אַכְלַהּ! הָהִיא דִּשְׁאָר מִינִים הָוְיָא, דִּכְתִיב: ״וְאַתָּה קַח לְךָ חִטִּין וּשְׂעוֹרִים וּפוֹל וַעֲדָשִׁים וְדוֹחַן וְכוּסְּמִים וְגוֹ׳״. רַב פָּפָּא אָמַר: הָהִיא צְלוּיָה בְּצוֹאַת הָאָדָם הֲוַאי, דִּכְתִיב: ״וְהִיא בְּגֶלְלֵי צֵאַת הָאָדָם תְּעֻגֶנָה לְעֵינֵיהֶם״.
Rav Ḥiyya bar Avin said that Rav said: One may establish an eiruv with lentil bread. The Gemara raises a difficulty: Is that so? Is such bread edible? But there was that lentil bread in the days of Mar Shmuel, which he threw to his dog, and even it would not eat it. Clearly, lentil bread is not fit for human consumption. The Gemara answers: That bread which the dog refused to eat was a mixture of various types of grain. It was baked in order to discover the taste of a bread of mixed ingredients and was similar to that which the prophet Ezekiel was commanded to eat, as it is written: “Take you for yourself wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentils, and millet, and spelt, and put them in one vessel, and make them for yourself into bread” (Ezekiel 4:9). This bread is unfit for human consumption, as even a dog at times will not eat it. However, bread prepared from lentils alone is edible. Rav Pappa said: That bread of Ezekiel’s was roasted in human excrement, as it is written: “And you shall eat it as barley cakes, and you shall bake it with human excrement, in their sight” (Ezekiel 4:12).
לגירא ליתי גירא דלילתא וניפכיה ונשדי מיא עלויה ונשתי ואי לא ליתי ממיא דאישתי מינייהו כלבא בליליא וניזדהר מגילויא לגילויא אנפקא דחמרא חייא
With regard to a remedy for a stinging pain [gira], let him bring a stone called an arrow of Lilith, and let him turn it upside down. And let him pour water on it and drink it. And if he is not able to do that, let him bring water from which a dog drank at night, and let him be careful about leaving the water uncovered at night, in case a snake drank from it and left its venom in the water. A remedy for drinking uncovered water is to drink a quarter-log [anpaka] of undiluted wine.
מַתְנִי׳ חָמֵץ שֶׁנָּפְלָה עָלָיו מַפּוֹלֶת הֲרֵי הוּא כִּמְבוֹעָר. רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר: כׇּל שֶׁאֵין הַכֶּלֶב יָכוֹל לְחַפֵּשׂ אַחֲרָיו. גְּמָ׳ אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: וְצָרִיךְ שֶׁיְּבַטֵּל בְּלִבּוֹ. תָּנָא: כַּמָּה חֲפִישַׂת הַכֶּלֶב — שְׁלֹשָׁה טְפָחִים. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב אַחָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַב יוֹסֵף לְרַב אָשֵׁי: הָא דְּאָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל כְּסָפִים אֵין לָהֶם שְׁמִירָה אֶלָּא בַּקַּרְקַע, מִי בָּעֵינַן שְׁלֹשָׁה טְפָחִים אוֹ לָא? אֲמַר לֵיהּ הָכָא מִשּׁוּם רֵיחָא בָּעֵינַן שְׁלֹשָׁה טְפָחִים. הָתָם מִשּׁוּם אִיכַּסּוֹיֵי מֵעֵינָא הוּא, וְלָא בָּעֵי שְׁלֹשָׁה. וְכַמָּה? אָמַר רַפְרָם בַּר פָּפָּא מִסִּיכְרָא: טֶפַח.
MISHNA: Leavened bread upon which a rockslide has fallen is considered as though it has been eliminated, and it is not necessary to dig it up in order to burn it. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: Any leavened bread that has been covered to such an extent that a dog cannot search after it is considered to have been eliminated. GEMARA: Rav Ḥisda said: Although it is not necessary to dig up the leavened bread, one is nevertheless required to nullify the leavened bread in his heart lest it become exposed during Passover. Although it may not be visible at the moment, this leavened bread may be uncovered during Passover, and he will transgress a prohibition by its being seen. It was taught in the Tosefta: How much, how deep, will a dog search? It will search three handbreadths deep. Rav Aḥa, son of Rav Yosef, said to Rav Ashi: With regard to that which Shmuel said, that deposited money is considered to be guarded securely by an unpaid bailee, who would nonetheless not be responsible if it were stolen, only when it is buried in the ground, is it necessary to bury this deposited money three handbreadths deep, comparable to leavened bread, or not? He said to him: Here, with regard to Passover, the concern is that the dog will find the food due to its smell, and therefore three handbreadths are required. There, in the case of money, it is necessary to bury the money in order to conceal it from view. Therefore, it is not required to bury it three handbreadths deep, as animals will not search for it and people will not see it. The Gemara asks: If this is the case, then how deep is one required to bury it? Rafram bar Pappa from the city of Sikhra said: One handbreadth is sufficient for the money to be considered concealed.
תַּנְיָא כְּווֹתֵיהּ דִּשְׁמוּאֵל כְּשֶׁהוֹרְגִין אוֹתוֹ אֵין הוֹרְגִין אוֹתוֹ אֶלָּא בְּדָבָר הַנִּזְרָק דְּחָיֵיף בֵּיהּ מִסְתַּכַּן דְּנָכֵית לֵיהּ מָיֵית דְּחָיֵיף בֵּיהּ מִסְתַּכַּן מַאי תַּקַּנְתֵּיהּ נִישַׁלַּח מָאנֵיהּ וְנִירְהַיט רַב הוּנָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַב יְהוֹשֻׁעַ חַף בֵּיהּ חַד מִינַּיְיהוּ בְּשׁוּקָא שַׁלְּחִינְהוּ לְמָאנֵיהּ וְרָהֵיט אֲמַר קִיַּימְתִּי בְּעַצְמִי הַחׇכְמָה תְּחַיֶּה בְעָלֶיהָ
The Gemara comments: This was taught in a baraita in accordance with the opinion of Shmuel: When one kills a mad dog, he should kill it only with a thrown object. Furthermore, one who is rubbed by mad dog will become dangerously ill, while one bitten by the dog will die. The Gemara asks: What is the remedy for one who is rubbed by mad dog and becomes dangerously ill? The Gemara answers: Let him take off his clothing and run. The Gemara relates: Rav Huna, son of Rav Yehoshua, was rubbed by one of these mad dogs in the market, whereupon he took off his clothing and ran. He said: I have fulfilled the verse: “Wisdom preserves the lives of those who have it” (Ecclesiastes 7:12).
מיתיבי רבי שמעון בן אלעזר אומר מגדלין כלבים כופרין וחתולין וקופין וחולדות סנאים מפני שעשויין לנקר את הבית לא קשיא הא באוכמא הא בחיורא
The Gemara raises an objection from a baraita against Rav’s ruling that it is prohibited to keep a cat. Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar says: One may raise village dogs, cats, monkeys, and genets, because they serve to clean the house of mice and other vermin. The Gemara resolves the apparent contradiction: It is not difficult. This ruling in the baraita is stated with regard to a black cat, which is harmless, whereas that ruling of Rav is stated with regard to a white cat, which is dangerous.
הָרוֹאֶה כֶּלֶב בַּחֲלוֹם, יַשְׁכִּים וְיֹאמַר ״וּלְכֹל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֹא יֶחֱרַץ כֶּלֶב לְשֹׁנוֹ״, קוֹדֶם שֶׁיִּקְדְּמֶנּוּ פָּסוּק אַחֵר — ״וְהַכְּלָבִים עַזֵּי נֶפֶשׁ״. הָרוֹאֶה אֲרִי בַּחֲלוֹם, יַשְׁכִּים וְיֹאמַר ״אַרְיֵה שָׁאָג מִי לֹא יִירָא״, קוֹדֶם שֶׁיִּקְדְּמֶנּוּ פָּסוּק אַחֵר — ״עָלָה אַרְיֵה מִסֻּבְּכוֹ״.
One who sees a dog in a dream should rise early and recite: “But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog whet his tongue” (Exodus 11:7), before a different verse, with a negative connotation, can precede it in becoming reality: “Yea, the dogs are greedy” (Isaiah 56:11). One who sees a lion in a dream should rise early and recite: “The lion has roared, who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken, who can but prophesy?” (Amos 3:8), before a different verse, with a negative connotation, can precede it in becoming reality: “A lion is gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations is set out, gone forth from his place” (Jeremiah 4:7).
אָמַר רַבִּי אֲלֶכְּסַנְדְּרִי אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי: הַמִּתְפַּלֵּל, צָרִיךְ שֶׁיַּפְסִיעַ שָׁלֹשׁ פְּסִיעוֹת לַאֲחוֹרָיו, וְאַחַר כָּךְ יִתֵּן שָׁלוֹם. אָמַר לֵיהּ רַב מָרְדֳּכַי: כֵּיוָן שֶׁפָּסַע שָׁלֹשׁ פְּסִיעוֹת לַאֲחוֹרָיו — הָתָם אִיבַּעְיָא לֵיהּ לְמֵיקַם. מָשָׁל לְתַלְמִיד הַנִּפְטָר מֵרַבּוֹ, אִם חוֹזֵר לְאַלְתַּר, דּוֹמֶה לְכֶלֶב שֶׁשָּׁב עַל קִיאוֹ.
§ Apropos the obligation of a student to walk backward when taking leave of his teacher, the Gemara discusses a similar topic. Rabbi Alexandri said that Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: One who prays must take three steps backward upon concluding his prayer and then recite: Peace, in a manner befitting one who departs from before the Holy One, Blessed be He. Rav Mordekhai said to him: Since he has taken three steps backward, he should stand there and not return to his place immediately. This is analogous to a student who takes leave of his teacher. If he returns immediately to the place where was first standing, he is similar to a dog who returns to its vomit, and his previous action is spoiled.
הֲדַר ch. (preced.) to go around, come back, return. Targ. Y. Gen. III, 19; a. fr.—B. Mets. 14ᵃ what thou takest from him, עלי דידי ה׳ comes back on my property (I am responsible for it). Ib. 69ᵇ הַדְרָא בעינא is returned bodily. Pes. 29ᵇ, a. fr. ה׳ ביה went back on himself, changed his opinion. B. Mets. 65ᵃ הַדְרִי בי I take it back. B. Bath. 84ᵃ לא מצית הַדְרַת בך וכ׳ thou wouldst not have been at liberty to retract (the transaction), and now thou shouldst &c.?; a. fr. [Frequ. used adverbially.] B. Mets. 6ᵃ שתיק מעיקרא וה׳ צוח first he kept silence and then (reconsidering) he protested. Gitt. 8ᵇ ה׳ אמר אביי another time A. said. Ḥull. 76ᵇ (הדר) הֲדוּר שלחו another time they sent word; a. fr.
Pa. - הַדּר (v. preced.Pi.) 1) to honor, distinguish. Dan. IV, 31.—Targ. O. Lev. XIX, 15 (ed. Berl. תַהְדּר Af.).—B. Bath. 3ᵇ הַדְּרֵי, v. הוּדְרָא. —2) to go around searching, be zealous, anxious. Ḥull. 76ᵇ; Nidd. 65ᵇ הַדּוּרֵי אפירכא what need is there to go around searching for an argument (why do you resort to unknown authorities)? Sabb. 23ᵃ הוה מְהַדֵּר מר וכ׳ my teacher used to be anxious for puppy-oil. Ib. מהדרא אמשחא (read: מהדר אמ׳); a. fr. —3) to restore; 4) to review; v. Af.
Af. - אַהֲדַר l) to return, restore; to lead back; to turn around. Targ. Y. Deut. XXXII, 3 (some ed. Pa.). Targ. Cant. VII, 5; a. fr.—B. Mets. 26ᵃ אי … לאַהֲדוּרָהּ אַהַדְרוּהָ ניהלי if they had had the intention of returning it, they would have returned it to me. Ib. אמרי קמייהו … לִיהַדְּרוּ לי ולא הַדְּרוּ לי וכ׳ (differ. in Mss., v. Rabb. D. S. a. l. note) I spoke in their presence several times (of my loss); they might have returned it to me, but did not; will they now return it?—Ḥull. 20ᵃ בדלא א׳ when he did not turn round (the windpipe &c.). Ḥag. 5ᵇ עמא דַאֲהַדְרִינְהוּ … מיניה a people from which its master has turned away his face; a. fr.—2) to repeat, review. M. Kat. 28ᵃ אֲהַדְרִי לתלמודאי that I may review my studies. Ber. 38ᵇ מַהֲדַר תלמודיה (or מְהַדֵּר); a. fr.—3) to reply. Ḥull. 34ᵃ מאי אהדרי וכ׳ what did … reply to one another?; a. e.—4) to carry around in procession. Yeb. 110ᵃ Ar., v. כּוּרְסַיָּא; v. אֲדוּרֵי.
Ithpa. - אִיהַדַּר,
Ithpe. - אִיהֲדַר 1) to go around begging. Sabb. 151ᵇ אַהֲדוּרֵי אפיתחא לא מִיהֲדַר he will not be forced to go around begging. —2) to go back. Ned. 50ᵃ איהדר לאחורי I will go back again.
Pa. - הַדּר (v. preced.Pi.) 1) to honor, distinguish. Dan. IV, 31.—Targ. O. Lev. XIX, 15 (ed. Berl. תַהְדּר Af.).—B. Bath. 3ᵇ הַדְּרֵי, v. הוּדְרָא. —2) to go around searching, be zealous, anxious. Ḥull. 76ᵇ; Nidd. 65ᵇ הַדּוּרֵי אפירכא what need is there to go around searching for an argument (why do you resort to unknown authorities)? Sabb. 23ᵃ הוה מְהַדֵּר מר וכ׳ my teacher used to be anxious for puppy-oil. Ib. מהדרא אמשחא (read: מהדר אמ׳); a. fr. —3) to restore; 4) to review; v. Af.
Af. - אַהֲדַר l) to return, restore; to lead back; to turn around. Targ. Y. Deut. XXXII, 3 (some ed. Pa.). Targ. Cant. VII, 5; a. fr.—B. Mets. 26ᵃ אי … לאַהֲדוּרָהּ אַהַדְרוּהָ ניהלי if they had had the intention of returning it, they would have returned it to me. Ib. אמרי קמייהו … לִיהַדְּרוּ לי ולא הַדְּרוּ לי וכ׳ (differ. in Mss., v. Rabb. D. S. a. l. note) I spoke in their presence several times (of my loss); they might have returned it to me, but did not; will they now return it?—Ḥull. 20ᵃ בדלא א׳ when he did not turn round (the windpipe &c.). Ḥag. 5ᵇ עמא דַאֲהַדְרִינְהוּ … מיניה a people from which its master has turned away his face; a. fr.—2) to repeat, review. M. Kat. 28ᵃ אֲהַדְרִי לתלמודאי that I may review my studies. Ber. 38ᵇ מַהֲדַר תלמודיה (or מְהַדֵּר); a. fr.—3) to reply. Ḥull. 34ᵃ מאי אהדרי וכ׳ what did … reply to one another?; a. e.—4) to carry around in procession. Yeb. 110ᵃ Ar., v. כּוּרְסַיָּא; v. אֲדוּרֵי.
Ithpa. - אִיהַדַּר,
Ithpe. - אִיהֲדַר 1) to go around begging. Sabb. 151ᵇ אַהֲדוּרֵי אפיתחא לא מִיהֲדַר he will not be forced to go around begging. —2) to go back. Ned. 50ᵃ איהדר לאחורי I will go back again.
תניא ר' נהוראי אומר דור שבן דוד בא בו נערים ילבינו פני זקנים וזקנים יעמדו לפני נערים ובת קמה באמה וכלה בחמותה ופני הדור כפני כלב ואין הבן מתבייש מאביו
The Gemara resumes its discussion of the messianic period. It is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Nehorai says: During the generation in which the son of David comes, youths will humiliate elders and elders will stand in deference before youths, and a daughter will rebel against her mother, and a bride against her mother-in-law, and the face of the generation will be like the face of a dog, and a son will not be ashamed before his father.
אָמַר רַב כָּהֲנָא אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ אָמַר רַב אַסִּי אָמַר רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ: כׇּל הַמְגַדֵּל כֶּלֶב רַע בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ מוֹנֵעַ חֶסֶד מִתּוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״לַמָּס מֵרֵעֵהוּ חָסֶד״ — שֶׁכֵּן בְּלָשׁוֹן יְוָנִית קוֹרִין לְכֶלֶב ״לַמָּס״. רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק אָמַר: אַף פּוֹרֵק מִמֶּנּוּ יִרְאַת שָׁמַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וְיִרְאַת שַׁדַּי יַעֲזוֹב״. הַהִיא אִיתְּתָא דַּעֲיַילָא לְהָהוּא בֵּיתָא לְמֵיפָא. נְבַח בָּהּ כַּלְבָּא, אִיתְעֲקַר וַלְדַּהּ. אֲמַר לַהּ מָרֵי דְבֵיתָא לָא תִּידְחֲלִי, דִּשְׁקִילִי נִיבֵיהּ וּשְׁקִילִין טוּפְרֵיהּ. אֲמַרָה לֵיהּ: שְׁקִילָא טֵיבוּתָיךְ וְשַׁדְיָא אַחִיזְרֵי, כְּבָר נָד וָלָד.
Rav Kahana said that Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said, and some say Rav Asi said that Reish Lakish said, and some say Rabbi Abba said that Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: Anyone who raises an evil dog within his home prevents kindness from entering into his home, since poor people will hesitate to enter his house. As it is alluded to in the verse: “To him that is afflicted [lamas], kindness from his friend and awe of the Almighty will leave” (Job 6:14), since in the Greek language they call a dog lamas. Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said: One who keeps an evil dog in his home even divests himself of fear of Heaven, as it is stated at the end of that verse: “And awe of the Almighty will leave.” The Gemara relates: A certain pregnant woman who entered to use the oven in a certain house to bake, the dog in that house barked at her, and her fetus was displaced. The owner of the house said to her: Do not be afraid because his teeth have been removed and his claws have been removed. She said to him: Take your goodness and throw it on the thorns. Your encouragement is useless as the fetus has already been displaced and will certainly die.
כִּי־מִי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר (יבחר) [יְחֻבַּ֔ר] אֶ֥ל כׇּל־הַחַיִּ֖ים יֵ֣שׁ בִּטָּח֑וֹן כִּֽי־לְכֶ֤לֶב חַי֙ ה֣וּא ט֔וֹב מִן־הָאַרְיֵ֖ה הַמֵּֽת׃
For he who is reckoned among-g the living has something to look forward to—even a live dog is better than a dead lion—
ברוריא דביתהו דר' מאיר ברתיה דר' חנינא בן תרדיון הואי אמרה לו זילא בי מלתא דיתבא אחתאי בקובה של זונות שקל תרקבא דדינרי ואזל אמר אי לא איתעביד בה איסורא מיתעביד ניסא אי עבדה איסורא לא איתעביד לה ניסא אזל נקט נפשיה כחד פרשא אמר לה השמיעני לי אמרה ליה דשתנא אנא אמר לה מתרחנא מרתח אמרה לו נפישין טובא (ואיכא טובא הכא) דשפירן מינאי אמר ש"מ לא עבדה איסורא כל דאתי אמרה ליה הכי אזל לגבי שומר דידה א"ל הבה ניהלה אמר ליה מיסתפינא ממלכותא אמר ליה שקול תרקבא דדינרא פלגא פלח ופלגא להוי לך א"ל וכי שלמי מאי איעביד א"ל אימא אלהא דמאיר ענני ומתצלת א"ל ומי יימר דהכי איכא [א"ל השתא חזית] הוו הנהו כלבי דהוו קא אכלי אינשי שקל קלא שדא בהו הוו קאתו למיכליה אמר אלהא דמאיר ענני שבקוה ויהבה ליה
§ The Gemara relates: Berurya, the wife of Rabbi Meir, was a daughter of Rabbi Ḥanina ben Teradyon. She said to Rabbi Meir: It is a disrespectful matter for me that my sister is sitting in a brothel; you must do something to save her. Rabbi Meir took a vessel [tarkeva] full of dinars and went. He said to himself: If no transgression was committed with her, a miracle will be performed for her; if she committed a transgression, no miracle will be performed for her. Rabbi Meir went and dressed as a Roman knight, and said to her: Accede to my wishes, i.e., engage in intercourse with me. She said to him: I am menstruating [dashtana] and cannot. He said to her: I will wait. She said to him: There are many women in the brothel, and there are many women here who are more beautiful than I. He said to himself: I can conclude from her responses that she did not commit a transgression, as she presumably said this to all who come. Rabbi Meir went over to her guard, and said to him: Give her to me. The guard said to him: I fear that if I do so, I will be punished by the government. Rabbi Meir said to him: Take this vessel full of dinars; give half to the government as a bribe, and half will be for you. The guard said to him: But when the money is finished, what shall I do? Rabbi Meir said to him: Say: God of Meir answer me! And you will be saved. The guard said to him: And who can say that this is the case, that I will be saved by this utterance? Rabbi Meir said to him: You will now see. There were these carnivorous dogs that would devour people; Rabbi Meir took a clod of earth, threw it at them, and when they came to devour him, he said: God of Meir answer me! The dogs then left him alone, and after seeing this the guard gave the daughter of Rabbi Ḥanina ben Teradyon to Rabbi Meir.
מדרבי נתן דתניא רבי נתן אומר מניין שלא יגדל אדם כלב רע בתוך ביתו ואל יעמיד סולם רעוע בתוך ביתו ת"ל (דברים כב, ח) לא תשים דמים בביתך
The justification for this is from the ruling of Rabbi Natan, as it is taught in a baraita: Rabbi Natan says: From where is it derived that one may not raise a vicious dog in his house, and one may not set up an unstable ladder in his house? The verse states: “You shall not bring blood into your house” (Deuteronomy 22:8), i.e., one may not allow a hazardous situation or item to remain in one’s house. As long as the hazard remains, the owner is in violation of this verse and therefore the court may excommunicate him for failing to remove the danger.
וְהָאוּמָּן מַכְלִיב. מַאי מַכְלִיב? רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר: מַפְסִיעַ. רַבָּה בַּר שְׁמוּאֵל אֲמַר: שִׁינֵּי כַלְבְּתָא.
§ It was further taught in the mishna: A craftsman, however, may form only temporary stitches [makhliv]. The Gemara asks: What is meant by forming temporary stitches? Rabbi Yoḥanan said: He does not sew all the stitches that are necessary, but rather he skips certain stitches in the middle (Rabbeinu Hananel). Rabba bar Shmuel said: He sews stitches that are like the teeth of a dog. He does not sew all the stitches in a straight line, so that they resemble the teeth of a dog, which also are not straight.