Mesorat%20hashas for Taanit 42:16

כי הוה אתרמי ליה צורבא מרבנן אגרא מיניה לא שקיל ובתר דקאי יהיב ליה פשיטי ואמר ליה זיל בריא נפשך יומא חד שדר אביי זוגא דרבנן למיבדקיה אותבינהו ואכלינהו ואשקינהו ומך להו ביסתרקי בליליא

Abaye received greetings on every Sabbath eve, Raba on the eve of every Day of Atonement. Abaye felt dejected because of [the signal honour shown to] Abba the Cupper. People said to him: This distinction is made because you cannot do what Abba does. What was the special merit of Abba the Cupper? When he performed his operations he would separate men from women, and in addition he had a cloak which held a cup [for receiving the blood]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The caravans carry with them the pestilence to Nehardea.');">¹⁵</span> and which was slit at the shoulder<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'between the shoulders, shoulder blade'.');">¹⁶</span> and whenever a woman patient came to him he would put the garment on her shoulder<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [Var. lec.: a garment which had many slits at the shoulder blade.]');">¹⁷</span> in order not to see her [exposed body].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' He would insert the cup through the slit on the shoulder to bleed the patient without having to expose her body.');">¹⁸</span> He also had a place<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'hidden'.');">¹⁹</span> out of public gaze<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [Var. lec.: 'outside (his surgery) '].');">²⁰</span> where the patients deposited their fees which he would charge; those that could afford it put their fees there, and thus those who could not pay were not put to shame.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [Var. lec.: and those who could not pay could come in and sit down, and were not etc.]');">²¹</span> Whenever a young scholar happened to consult him not only would he accept no fee from him but on taking leave of him he also would give him some money at the same time adding, Go and regain strength therewith. One day Abaye sent to him two scholars in order to test him. He received them and gave them food and drink and in the evening he prepared woollen mattresses for them [to sleep on].

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