Commentary for Berakhot 9:13
ואם קבלם מה שכרו (ישעיהו נג, י) יראה זרע יאריך ימים ולא עוד אלא שתלמודו מתקיים בידו שנא' (ישעיהו נג, י) וחפץ ה' בידו יצלח
If he accept them, what is his reward? "He will see his seed, prolong his days" (ibid.). More than that, his study [of Torah] will endure with him; as it is said, "The purpose of the Lord will prosper in his hand" (ibid.).
Rashi on Berakhot
He examined and did not find - he did not find a transgression that corresponded to all of this suffering.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
Title of a student of Torah. He need not read the Shema' on his bed because his mind is constantly bent on his religious studies.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
M.: b. Lahma.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
On the Jeser Tob and Jeser Ra', the tendency towards good and evil, see J. E. XII. p. 601. To the literature there cited may now be added, Schechter, Aspects of Rabbinic Theology, Chaps. XV, XVI, and Abelson, Immanence of God, Chap. XXIII.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
Of the Torah it is said, "And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thy heart" (Deut. vi. 6).
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
The Shema' was to be read "when thou liest down" (Deut. vi. 7).
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
Stillness being a symbol of death. Cf. "The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence " (Ps. cxv. 17).
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
M. : Talmud.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
On the significance of this passage, see Introduction, § I.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
M. : R. Eleazar.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
To ward off the evil spirits.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
"Sons of Reshef" in the English version is "sparks." The ancient Jewish Aramaic version, the Targum, renders it "the sons of evil spirits."
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
The root of this word is 'uf, "to fly." The verse is appHed to Torah: "Wilt thou cause thine eyes to fly upon it [i.e. neglect it]? It is gone [from thy mind]."
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
The Targum here renders Reshef by "birds"; so LXX in Job v. 7. But "bitter destruction " is rendered by "attacked by evil spirits." According to a statement in Pesahim 111 b, Kefeb meriri "bitter destruction" is the name of an evil spirit which is active about the time of noon. It is probably heat personified ; cf. T. A . III. p. 346 n. 131.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
The teaching is explicitly inculcated in the Torah in a passage known to school-children. Why, then, derive it from obscure verses?
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
This is what R. Simeon meant to teach, and it cannot be deduced from Exod. xv. 26.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
M. adds: Another version in the West: in the name of R. Abba b. Mari. This is probably an error for Raba b. Mari; cf. D.S. ad loc.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
At parting with the article.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
He rejoiced inasmuch as He "gave" it, willingly and without price.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
Instead of "another version : Rab Hisda," M. reads: in the name of R. Sahorah, in the name of Rab Huna.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
On the Rabbinic doctrine of Retribution, see Schechter, Studies in Judaism (First Series), pp. 259 ff.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
The work for "restitution" is asham which also means "trespass-offering." Before the asham was offered, confession had to be made (Lev. 5:5), and therefore the sacrifice was a voluntary act. Hence the inference is drawn that the sufferings are voluntarily endured.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
The preceding verses (cf. vv. 10-12) speak of sufferings.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
The Rabbis frequently suggest an alteration of the Scriptural text for homiletic purposes. In the present instance, a slight change in the vowels is required. See Introduction, § v.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
The argument here used is called Kol wahomer, lit. "light and heavy," i.e. a fortiori or a majore ad minorem. See Mielziner, pp. 130 ff.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
See Exod. xxi. 26 f.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
If God ordained that a slave should be set free whose eye or tooth had been damaged, will He not show His mercy to His creatures who suffer more than that!
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
The verse occurs at the end of the chapter containing the penalties threatened to Israel if disobedient to the word of God.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot
The word for "instruction," musur, comes from the same root as jisur "suffering." "The way of life" is referred to the life eternal.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Rashi on Berakhot
Sufferings are chasttenings of love: God makes people suffer in the this world even if they are free of sin in order to increase their reward in the world to come - so that they will receive more than their actions merit.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy