כא איבעיא להו צדדין מהו אמר אבא מר בר רב אשי ת"ש דתנן נתכוון להזות לפניו
21 R. Joshua b. Levi also said: Whoever accepts hospitality of men of niggardly spirit transgresses a prohibition; as it is said: Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, [neither desire thou his dainties]. For as he reckoneth within himself; so is he; eat and drink, saith he to thee, [but his heart is not with thee].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. XXIII, 6f. ');"><sup>17</sup></span> R. Nahman b. Isaac said: He transgresses two prohibitions, 'Eat thou not' and 'Neither desire thou'. R. Joshua b. Levi also said: [The necessity for] the heifer whose neck is to be broken<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. Deut. XXI, 1ff. ');"><sup>18</sup></span> only arises on account of the niggardly of spirit, as it is said: Our hands have not shed this blood.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. 7. ');"><sup>19</sup></span> But can It enter our minds that the elders of a Court of Justice are shedders of blood! The meaning is, [The man found dead] did not come to us for help and we dismissed him, we did not see him and let him go — i.e., he did not come to us for help and we dismissed him without supplying him with food, we did not see him and let him go without escort.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A man without escort was liable to be set upon and murdered. ');"><sup>20</sup></span> Adda said in the name of R. Simlai: In a Synagogue where all the worshippers are kohanim, they all ascend the platform. For whom, then, do they pronounce the benediction? R. Zera answered: For their brethren [working] in the fields.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Who were prevented by their work from being present. ');"><sup>21</sup></span> But it is not so; for Abba the son of R. Minyamin b. Hiyya taught: The people who are behind the kohanim do not come within the scope of the benediction!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' R.H. 35a. So how much more, they who are not present! ');"><sup>22</sup></span> — There is no contradiction; the former refers to men who are compelled [to be absent] and the latter to men who are not compelled [to be stationed behind the kohanim]. But R. Shimi of the Fort of Shihori taught: In a Synagogue where all the worshippers are kohanim, some ascend [the platform] and the rest respond with Amen! — There is no contradiction; the latter refers to where ten remain [to respond Amen] and the former where ten do not remain. The [above] text stated: 'Abba the son of R. Minyamin b. Hiyya taught: The people who are behind the kohanim do not come within the scope of the benediction.' It is obvious that the tall do not create an obstruction for the short,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Although the latter are shut out from the view of the kohanim, they are not excluded from the benediction. ');"><sup>23</sup></span> nor does the ark [where the Torah-scrolls are deposited] create an obstruction; but how is it with a partition [within the Synagogue]? — Come and hear: R. Joshua b. Levi said: Even a partition of iron does not divide between Israel and their Father in heaven. The question was asked: How is it with those standing on the side [of the kohanim]? — Abba Mar son of R. Ashi said: Come and hear: We have learnt: If he intended to sprinkle<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The purifying water to remove the defilement of vessels (v. Num. XIX, 18). ');"><sup>24</sup></span> in front of him