Halakhah for Shabbat 238:11

ואמר רבא לא חרבה ירושלים אלא בשביל שפסקו ממנה אנשי אמנה שנאמר (ירמיהו ה, א) שוטטו בחוצות ירושלים וראו נא [ודעו ובקשו ברחובותיה אם תמצאו איש] (אם יש איש) עושה משפט מבקש אמונה ואסלח לה איני והאמר רב קטינא אפי' בשעת כשלונה של ירושלים לא פסקו ממנה אנשי אמנה שנאמר (ישעיהו ג, ו) כי יתפש איש באחיו בית אביו (לאמר) שמלה לכה קצין תהיה לנו דברים שבני אדם מתכסין בהן כשמלה ישנן בידיך והמכשלה הזאת תחת ידך

and did not rebuke each other. Rab Judah said: Jerusalem was destroyed only because scholars were despised therein: for it is said, but they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' II Chron. XXXVI, 16. ');">²⁸</span> What does 'till there was no remedy' intimate? Said Rab Judah in Rab's name: He who despises a scholar, has no remedy for his wounds. Rab Judah said in Rab's name: What is meant by. Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I Chron. XVI, 22. ');">²⁹</span> Touch not mine anointed' refers to school children;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Whom it was customary to anoint with oil, cf. supra 10b. ');">³⁰</span> 'and do my prophets no harm', to disciples of the Sages. Resh Lakish said in the name of R. Judah the Prince:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Nesi'ah, Judah II. ');">³¹</span> The world endures only for the sake of the breath of school children. Said R. Papa to Abaye, What about mine and yours? Breath in which there is sin is not like breath in which there is no sin, replied he. Resh Lakish also said in the name of R. Judah the Prince: School children may not be made to neglect [their studies] even for the building of the Temple. Resh Lakish also said to R. Judah the Prince: I have this tradition from my fathers — others state, from your fathers: Every town in which there are no school children shall be destroyed. Rabina said: It shall be laid desolate.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This is more thorough-going than the former. ');">³²</span> Raba said: Jerusalem was destroyed only because men of faith<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., men completely truthful and trustworthy. ');">³³</span> ceased therein: for it is said, Run ye to and fro in the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that doeth justly, that seeketh faithfulness; and I will pardon her.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Jer. V, 1. ');">³⁴</span> But that is not so? For R. Kattina said: Even at the time of Jerusalem's downfall men of faith did not cease therein, for it is said, When a man shall take hold of his brother in the house of his father, saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Or, judge, Isa. III, 6. ');">³⁵</span> [this means,] things wherewith men cover themselves as [with] a garment<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Rashi: when questioned on learning they hide themselves, pretending not to hear, because they cannot answer. ');">³⁶</span> are in thy hand. And let this stumbling<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' E.V. 'ruin'. ');">³⁷</span> be under thy hand:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. ');">³⁸</span>

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