Commentary for Berakhot 37:5
אמר רבי יהושע בן לוי כל המספר אחר מטתן של תלמידי חכמים נופל בגיהנם שנא' (תהלים קכה, ה) והמטים עקלקלותם יוליכם ה' את פועלי האון שלום על ישראל אפילו בשעה ששלום על ישראל יוליכם ה' את פועלי האון
R. Joshua b. Levi said : Whoever talks [evil] after the bier of disciplas of the wise will fall into Gehinnom ; as it is said, "But as for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the Lord will lead them away with the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel" (Ps. cxxv. 5) — i.e. even at a time when "there is peace upon Israel," "the Lord will lead them away with the workers of iniquity."
Tosafot on Berakhot
EVEN WHEN THERE IS PEACE UPON ISRAEL. The Gemara says that one who slanders a Talmid Chochom even after his death will fall into Gehinom. The Gemara presented this verse to prove its point:
והמטים עקלקלותם יוליכם ה' את פועלי האון שלום על ישראל
Where do we see in the verse that we are speaking about a Talmid Chochom who has passed away? Tosfos explains: It is from the words שלום על ישראל.
This is referring to the period after his, the talmid chochom’s death, when he will not come to fight with those who speak of his shameful deeds. From here it is evident that the verse is speaking of after the talmid chochom’s death.
והמטים עקלקלותם יוליכם ה' את פועלי האון שלום על ישראל
Where do we see in the verse that we are speaking about a Talmid Chochom who has passed away? Tosfos explains: It is from the words שלום על ישראל.
This is referring to the period after his, the talmid chochom’s death, when he will not come to fight with those who speak of his shameful deeds. From here it is evident that the verse is speaking of after the talmid chochom’s death.
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