Commentary for Shabbat 290:12

והכא מנלן דגלו דתניא רבי יהודה אומר נ"ב שנה לא עבר איש ביהודה שנאמר (ירמיהו ט, ט) על ההרים אשא בכי ונהי וגו' מעוף השמים ועד בהמה נדדו הלכו בהמ"ה בגימטריא חמשין ותרתין הוו

Go to the wilderness of Gaza, replied he, and I will show you fatter ones. Why are the festivals in Babylon [so] joyous? Because they [its inhabitants] are poor.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And live drably during the rest of the year, therefore they appreciate the festivals all the more. ');">²⁰</span> Why are the scholars in Babylonia distinguished [in dress]? Because they are not well learned.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'they are not sons of (i.e., they do not possess) the Torah'. — Hence they have nothing else but dress to distinguish them. ');">²¹</span>

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