Commentary for Berakhot 55:3
ההוא יומא אתוספו כמה ספסלי א"ר יוחנן פליגי בה אבא יוסף בן דוסתאי ורבנן חד אמר אתוספו ארבע מאה ספסלי וחד אמר שבע מאה ספסלי הוה קא חלשא דעתיה דר"ג אמר דלמא ח"ו מנעתי תורה מישראל אחזו ליה בחלמיה חצבי חיורי דמליין קטמא ולא היא ההיא ליתובי דעתיה הוא דאחזו ליה
That day many forms had to be added. R. Johanan said : Abba Jose b. Dostai and the Rabbis differ as to the number; one declaring four hundred forms were added, the other declaring it was seven hundred. This [vast addition] depressed Rabban Gamaliel who said, "Perhaps, God forbid, I have withheld Torah from Israel !" He was shown in a dream white pitchers full of ashes. It was not really so ; but he was shown this to relieve his mind.
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
To accommodate the crowds that sought admission.
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
This is the correct form of the name. Edd. : Joseph.
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
I.e. the new disciples were beautiful outwardly but not inwardly, and he had not prevented any worthy students from studying.
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
The new disciples were in reality worthy men.
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