HAVRUTA TASK:
1. Read the text out loud.
2. Translate it together, trying to understand what it is saying as you go.
Write your translation for each line when you think you have it.
Questioning each other to draw out the text's possible meaning(s).
3. Paraphrase the entire passage out loud.
4. Identify what you think the passage is trying to teach.
רב שימי בר אשי הוה שכיח קמיה דרב פפא.
הוה מקשי ליה טובא.
יומא חד, חזייה דנפל על אפיה;
שמעיה דאמר "רחמנא ליצלן מכיסופא דשימי!"
קביל עליה שתיקותא ותו לא אקשי ליה.
שכיח- frequently
מקשי- See Jastrow p. 1430 (right side), definition #2
חזייה- See Jastrow "חזא, חזי" definition #1
אף+י-ה -אפיה See Jastrow #2
שמע+י-ה -שמעיה
רחמ+אני- רחמנא
ליצלן- to rescue me
מ+ כיסופא- מכיסופא
הוא קיבל על עצמו- קביל עליה
ש.ק.ת.- שתיקותא
אקשי- see above (מקשי)
Rav Shimi bar Ashi used to attend Rav Papa's classes frequently.
He questioned/challenged him often.
One day, he saw Rav Papa "fall on his face" (he was praying the Tachanun prayer, where we put our head down and ask for God's help),
and he heard him say, "May God rescue me from the embarrassment of Shimi!"
He took it upon himself to remain silent and not to ask him any more questions.
Chavruta Questions:
1. How do you interpret Rav Pappa's prayer--what does it mean?
2. How do you interpret the last line? Who chose to remain silent, and why?
3. What does this text come to teach us about the experience of being a student?
4. What does this text come to teach us about the experience of being a teacher?
5. Why do you think this story merited a place in the Talmud? Why is it important?
6. When have you felt like Shimi? When have you felt like Rav Pappa?