Talmud Bavli
Talmud Bavli

Responsa for Berakhot 108:23

והמאריך בתפלתו מעליותא היא והאמר רבי חייא בר אבא א"ר יוחנן

"Who prolongs his prayer" — is that a virtue ? And lo, R. Hiyya b. Abba said in the name of R. Johanan :

Shut min haShamayim

They responded to the first question: "Lift your hands to the sacred!" (Psalms 134:2) Namely, wash your hands whenever you want to speak sacred words or study Torah. "And bless God!" (ibid.) - with the blessing instituted for washing hands. As for the second question, they responded: Do you not know that four need to give thanks (Berachot 54b:12), and this includes one who was sick. And none are more sick than such a person [who relieves themself], as it says (Isaiah 51:14): "Quickly the crouching one is freed."2cf. Rashi on Isaiah 51:14
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