וא"ר אלעזר כל עדה שיש בה חנופה מאוסה כנדה שנאמר (איוב טו, לד) כי עדת חנף גלמוד שכן בכרכי הים קורין לנדה גלמודה מאי גלמודה גמולה מבעלה
R. Eleazar also said: Any community in which is flattery is as repulsive as a menstruant woman; as it is said: 'For the community of flatterers is galmud'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Job XV, 34. The usual translation of galmud is 'barren'.
');"><sup>3</sup></span> — and in over-sea towns they call a menstruant woman galmudah. What means galmudah? — She is separated [gemulah da] from her husband. R. Eleazar also said: Any community in which is flattery will finally go into exile. It is written here, 'For the community of flatterers is galmud', and elsewhere it is written: Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath gotten me these, seeing I have been bereaved of my children, and am solitary [galmudah], an exile and wandering to and fro etc.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Isa. XLIX, 21.
');"><sup>4</sup></span>
Orchot Tzadikim
Rabbi Simon, the son of Halafta said, "From the date that the power of flattery grew strong, laws have been twisted and deeds have been perverted, and no man was able to say honestly to his companion, 'My deeds are greater than your deeds.' " Said Rabbi Elazar, "Every man that has flattery in his nature, brings wrath upon the world," as it is said, "But they that are godless in heart lay up anger" (Job 36:13). Not only this, but his prayer is not heard, as it is said, "They cry not for help when He bindeth them" (ibid). And even the unborn children, still in the wombs of their mothers, curse him, and he falls into Gehennah. And everyone who flatters a wicked man falls into his hand. And if he does not fall into his hand, then he falls into the hand of the son of the wicked man, and if he does not fall into the hand of his son, then he falls in the hand of his grandson (Sotah 41b). Every congregation that has within it the trait of flattery is as loathsome as a woman in her impurity, and in the end will be exiled (Sotah 42a).
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