Commentary for Gittin 118:22

שלחו ליה בני גלילא לרבי חלבו אחריהן

helps himself to the dish<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'stretches forth his hand'. ');">²¹</span> first, but if he wishes to pay respect to his teacher or to a superior he may do so.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. 'Er. 47a. ');">²²</span> Commenting on this, the Master said: This applies only to the table,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'meal'. ');">²³</span> but not to the synagogue, since there such deference<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' By a priest to a teacher or a superior, because it might be misunderstood by other people. Hence here the rule of the Torah requires to be reinforced. ');">²⁴</span> might lead to quarrelling. R. Mattenah said: What you have said about the synagogue is true only on Sabbaths and Festivals, when there is a large congregation, but not on Mondays and Thursdays.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' On which days the Torah is also read, v. B.K. 82a. ');">²⁵</span> Is that so? Did not R. Huna read as kohen<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., first, although only a lay Israelite; v. Glos. ');">²⁶</span> even on Sabbaths and Festivals? — R. Huna was different, since even R. Ammi and R. Assi who were the most distinguished kohanim of Eretz Israel paid deference to him. Abaye said: We assume the rule to be that if there is no kohen there, the arrangement no longer holds.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'the bundle is separated,' i.e., it is not necessary to call up a Levite first; (v. Rashi). ');">²⁷</span> Abaye further said: We have it on tradition that if there is no Levite there, a kohen reads in his place. Is that so? Has not R. Johanan said that one kohen should not read after another, because this might cast a suspicion on the first,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This is explained immediately. ');">²⁸</span> and one Levite should not read after another because this might cast a suspicion on both? — What we meant was that the same kohen [should read in the place of the Levite]. Why just in the case of the Levites should there be a reflection on both of them? Because, [you say,] people will say that one [or other] of them is not a Levite? If one kohen reads after another, they will also say that one of them is not a kohen? — We assume that it is known that the father of the second was a kohen.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And therefore it is only the first on whom suspicion falls. ');">²⁹</span> But in the same way we may say that it is known that the father of the second [Levite] was a Levite?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And the second Levite was called up not as Levi but as Yisrael. The order of calling up is, Kohen, Levi, Yisrael. ');">³⁰</span> — They might say that he [the father] married a bastard or a nethinah<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A descendant of the Gibeonites, v. Sanh. (Sonc. ed.) p. 340, n. 12. ');">³¹</span> and disqualified his offspring. In the same way they might say that [the father of the second priest] married a divorced woman or a <i>haluzah</i><span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Glos. ');">³²</span> and disqualified his offspring? — In any case [if he were suspect] would he read as Levi?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If he was disqualified from being called up first qua kohen, he would not be called up earlier than third. ');">³³</span> And who would suspect him? Those who remain in the synagogue?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Till the reading of the law is finished. ');">³⁴</span> They see [that he counts as one of the seven]!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And therefore know that the reason why another priest or Levite was called up was not because he was disqualified. ');">³⁵</span> — It must be then, those who go out of synagogue.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Before the reading of the Law is concluded. ');">³⁶</span> The Galileans sent to inquire of R. Helbo: After them [the kohen and levi,]

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