Commentary for Berakhot 62:21
אלא אמר להן עלי קראו כהן ליתי ולשחוט חזנהו שמואל דהוו מהדרי בתר כהן למישחט אמר להו למה לכו לאהדורי בתר כהן למישחט שחיטה בזר כשרה אייתוהו לקמיה דעלי אמר ליה מנא לך הא אמר ליה מי כתיב ושחט הכהן והקריבו הכהנים כתיב מקבלה ואילך מצות כהונה מכאן לשחיטה שכשרה בזר
Nay; but Eli said to them, "Call a priest that he may come and slay [the bullock]." Samuel saw them going for a priest to slay it? so he said to them, "Why go searching for a priest to slay it? I f the act of slaying is performed by a non-priest it is valid." They brought him before Eli, who asked him, "Whence hast thou this teaching?" He replied, "Is it written, 'The priest shall slay'? It is written, 'The priests shall present the blood' (Lev. i, 5). From the receiving of the blood onwards is the function of the priesthood ; hence, the act of slaying is valid if performed by a non-priest."
Tosafot on Berakhot
Hence it is deduced that it is forbidden to sit within four cubits of one engaged in prayer – whether in front of them, behind them or on the side of them. The Teshuvat Geonim explain that that this is only if one is sitting idly, but if they are engaged in the recitation of Shema or something similar, even if they are sitting it is okay.
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
I.e. thou hast put the worst, not the most favourable, construction on my conduct. Cf. Abot i. 6, Singer, p. 185.
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
Lit. daughter of Belial.
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
Lit. sons of Belial.
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
Lit. If looking Thou wilt look.
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
For the express purpose of arousing her husband's suspicions, though unjustly.
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
See p. 26 n. 5.
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
Considered ugly ; see below.
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
What would be the utility of Hannah's ruse?
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
The plan of Hannah was deduced from the use of the infinitive with the finite verb, "If looking Thou wilt look." If the deduction is not drawn, how is the double use of the verb to be accounted for?
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
It is a common idiom, and no inference should be drawn therefrom.
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
I.e. sins for which one is visited with death.
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
See Mishnah Shab. ii. 6, Singer, p. 121.
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
I.e. distinguished.
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
Meaning, an average person, not conspicuous among others.
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
I have adopted the reading of M. אוכם (page:209) "dark," i.e. ugly, which offers the contrast to "ruddy," i.e. handsome. Edd. read אלם (page:209) which means "a mute." Rashi explains it as "corpulent," but the word never seems to have that meaning. Some edd. add after it : nor blind.
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
The ground for this inference is not clear. The explanation offered by the commentators (see Tosafot) is as follows: The word "by thee" עמכה (page:209) is spelt with a redundant letter ה (page:209) which has the numerical value of five. Hence it is taken to mean "I was within five [cubits] of thee," because one is not allowed to sit within four cubits of one who prays.
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
A strictly forbidden action.
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
What is the connection between the two clauses?
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
Eli was potentially his teacher, since Samuel's mother had placed him in his charge.
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
Lit. upon.
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
The only fast which is permitted on the Sabbath is that of the Day of Atonement. It speaks here of a voluntary fast as, e.g., after a dream of ill omen.
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
Seventy years is the normal span of human life (Ps. xc. 10) and this will be shortened if one spoils "the day of delight" by fasting. Rashi explains differently in a favourable sense : If one adds to the severity of his fast by choosing the Sabbath day, then should there be a divine decree to his detriment, though it be incurred in extreme youth (seventy years ago), it will be annulled.
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Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
I.e. 'al instead of el "unto."
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