Dec 6, 2009

Gelilah not for Kids

Megillah 32a



Soncino Translation:
R. Shefatiah further said in the name of R. Johanan: If ten have had a reading of the Torah, the senior among them rolls up the sefer torah. He who rolls it up receives the reward of all of them, since R. Joshua b. Levi said: If ten have had a reading of the Torah, the one who rolls it up receives the reward of all of them. The reward of all of them, think you? No; say rather, he receives a reward equal to that of all of them.

On the Seam

Megillah 32a



Soncino Translation:
R. Shefatiah said in the name of R. Johanan: When one rolls up a scroll of the Torah, he should make it close at a seam. (So that if it is accidentally pulled, it should come asunder easily without being torn.)

Korbonos

Megillah 31b



Soncino Translation:
Said Abraham before the Holy One, blessed be He: Sovereign of the Universe, perhaps God forbid, Israel will sin before Thee and Thou wilt do to them as Thou didst to the generation of the Flood and the generation of the Division? He answered, Not so. He then said before Him: Sovereign of the Universe, by what shall I know this? He said: Take me a heifer of three years old etc. He then said before Him: Sovereign of the Universe, This is very well for the time when the Temple will be standing, but in the time when there will be no Temple what will befall them? He replied to him: I have already fixed for them the order of the sacrifices. Whenever they will read the section dealing with them, I will reckon it as if they were bringing me an offering, and forgive all their inquities.

Triennial Cycle

Megillah 29b



Soncino Translation:
...Yes, for the people of Palestine, who complete the reading of the Pentateuch in three years.
(This is known as the Triennial Cycle.)

Hareini Mochel

Megillah 28a



Soncino Translation:
R. Nehunia b. ha-Kaneh was asked by his disciples: In virtue of what have you reached such a
good old age? He replied: ... ‘Nor did the curse of my fellow go up on my bed with me’. This is illustrated by Mar Zutra, who, when he climbed into his bed said, I forgive all who have vexed me.

Watch Out!

Megillah 25b



Soncino Translation:
Mishna: ... ‘WE GIVE THANKS, WE GIVE THANKS’ (In the ‘Amidah prayer.), HE IS SILENCED.
Gemara: ... because he seems to be addressing two Powers ... R. Zera said: For one to say, ‘Hear, Hear’, is like saying, ‘We give thanks, we give thanks’... Said R. Papa to him: But perhaps [the reason why he repeats] is because at first he was not thinking of what he said, and now he does think? — He replied: Is he to treat heaven like an ordinary acquaintance? If he does not think of what he is saying, I will hit him with a hammer till he does think.

Nov 14, 2009

Rabbit

Megillah 9b


Continue with highlighted Gemara


Soncino Translation:
‘It is related of King Ptolemy that he brought together seventy-two elders and placed them in seventy-two [separate] rooms, without telling them why he had brought them together, and he went in to each one of them and said to him, Translate for me the Torah of Moses your master. God then prompted each one of them and they all conceived the same idea and wrote for him........‘the beast with small legs’ and they did not write ‘the hare’(הארנבת), because the name of Ptolemy's wife was 'hare' (ארנבת), lest he should say, The Jews have jibed at me and put the name of my wife in the Torah.

Nov 12, 2009

There's Always Room for Desert

Megillah 7b:



Soncino:
Said Abaye: This bears out the popular saying...There is always room for sweet things.

Nov 11, 2009

Yaga'ati not for Business

Megillah 6b:



Soncino:
R. Isaac also said: If a man says to you, I have laboured and not found, do not believe him. If he says, I have not laboured but still have found, do not believe him. If he says,I have laboured and found, you may believe him. This is true in respect of words of Torah, but in respect of business, all depends on the assistance of heaven.

Nov 10, 2009

Rambam S' Zmanim Hil' Lulav P' 7 H'14-15

מצות לולב להנטל ביום ראשון של חג בלבד בכל מקום ובכל זמן ואפילו בשבת שנאמר ולקחתם לכם ביום הראשון. ובמקדש לבדו נוטלין אותו בכל יום ויום משבעת ימי החג שנאמר ושמחתם לפני ה' אלהיכם גו'. חל יום השבת להיות בתוך ימי החג אינו ניטל בשבת גזרה שמא יוליכנו בידו ארבע אמות ברשות הרבים כמו שגזרו בשופר
ולמה לא גזרו גזרה זו ביום טוב הראשון מפני שהוא מצוה מן התורה ואפילו בגבולין. נמצא שאין דינו ודין שאר הימים שוה שבשאר ימי החג אין אדם חייב ליטול לולב אלא במקדש
משחרב בית המקדש התקינו שיהיה לולב ניטל בכל מקום כל שבעת ימי החג זכר למקדש. וכל יום ויום מברך עליו אשר קדשנו במצותיו וצונו על נטילת לולב מפני שהיא מצוה מדברי סופרים. ותקנה זו עם כל התקנות שהתקין רבן יוחנן בן זכאי משחרב בית
המקדש כשיבנה בית המקדש יחזרו הדברים לישנן