Quoting%20commentary for Shabbat 166:10

אמר רבי יונתן לעולם אל ימנע אדם את עצמו מבית המדרש ומדברי תורה ואפי' בשעת מיתה שנא' (במדבר יט, יד) זאת התורה אדם כי ימות באהל אפי' בשעת מיתה תהא עוסק בתורה אמר ר"ל אין דברי תורה מתקיימין אלא במי שממית עצמו עליה שנאמר זאת התורה אדם כי ימות באהל אמר רבא

he who quotes, 'a ship in the midst of the sea', [holds that] this too is a ship in the midst of the sea;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For all rivers are the same, not susceptible to defilement. ');">²⁵</span> but as for him who requires that it be carried full and empty, this too is carried full and empty, for R. Hanina b. Akiba said: Why was it ruled that a Jordan boat is unclean? Because it is loaded on dry land and [then] lowered into the water. Rab Judah said in Rab's name: One should never abstain from [attendance at] the <i>Beth Hamidrash</i> even for a single hour, for lo! how many years was this Mishnah learnt in the <i>Beth Hamidrash</i> without its reason being revealed, until R. Hanina b. Akiba came and elucidated it. R. Jonathan said: One should never abstain from the <i>Beth Hamidrash</i> and from Torah, even in the hour of death, for it is said, This is the Torah, when a man dieth in a tent:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Num. XIX, 14. ');">²⁶</span> even in the hour of death one should be engaged in [the study of] the Torah.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the face of the boundless love for the Torah displayed by this dictum, the criticism of Rabbinism as a dry, legalistic system is seen to be shallow and superficial. No system which does not appeal to the warm-hearted emotions could call forth such love. ');">²⁷</span> Resh Lakish said: The words of the Torah can endure only with him who sacrifices<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'kills'. ');">²⁸</span> himself for it, as it is said, This is the Torah, when a man dieth in a tent.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., this Torah can live only when a man is prepared to die for it-an interpretation that has been historically justified. ');">²⁹</span> Raba said:

Explore quoting%20commentary for Shabbat 166:10. In-depth commentary and analysis from classical Jewish sources.