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Avodah Zarah 18a

עבודה זרה י״ח ע״א

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Topic

The punishment and martyrdom of רבי חנינא בן תרדיון and the rescue of his daughter

Overview

The amud begins by explaining why רבי חנינא בן תרדיון was punished: he pronounced God's Name as it is spelled. The גמרא asks how he could, since אבא שאול says such a person loses עולם הבא. It answers that he did it only to learn, and that his real sin was doing it in public. It then gives the reasons for his wife's punishment (she did not protest) and his daughter's (she enjoyed being admired for her walk), and all three accept God's judgment with פסוקים. Next a ברייתא tells how רבי יוסי בן קיסמא warned רבי חנינא not to teach תורה publicly against Rome's decree. The Romans later burned רבי חנינא wrapped in his ספר תורה. He saw the letters flying upward and refused to hasten his own death. The executioner sped up his death, jumped into the fire, and a בת קול announced that both would enter עולם הבא. Finally ברוריה asks רבי מאיר to rescue her sister. He tests her, bribes the guard, and teaches him to say 'אלהא דמאיר ענני'. The story continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

הוֹגֶה אֶת הַשֵּׁם בְּאוֹתִיּוֹתָיו.

he would pronounce the Name with its letters.

וְהֵיכִי עָבֵיד הָכִי?

And how could he do that?

וְהָתְנַן: אֵלּוּ שֶׁאֵין לָהֶם חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא —

But didn't we learn: These are the ones who have no share in the World to Come —

הָאוֹמֵר אֵין תּוֹרָה מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם,

one who says the Torah is not from Heaven,

The steps (38)

  1. StatementHe pronounced God's Name as it is spelled
  2. ChallengeHow could a great צדיק do something that costs עולם הבא?
  3. ResolutionHe did it only to learn
  4. QuestionThen why was he punished?
  5. ResponseHe said the Name in public
  6. ResponseHis wife was punished for not protesting
  7. ResponseHis daughter enjoyed being admired for her walk
  8. ProofSmall sins trampled underfoot come back on the Day of Judgment
  9. StatementThe three family members accept God's judgment with פסוקים
  10. Statementרבי praises the family for finding the right פסוקים
  11. Statementרבי יוסי בן קיסמא warns רבי חנינא בן תרדיון
  12. Responseרבי חנינא answers that Heaven will have mercy
  13. Challengeרבי יוסי בן קיסמא rejects the answer and predicts burning
  14. Questionרבי חנינא asks about his share in עולם הבא
  15. Questionרבי יוסי בן קיסמא asks about a special deed
  16. ResponseThe mixed-up פורים money
  17. ConclusionMay my portion be like yours
  18. Statementרבי יוסי בן קיסמא dies and רבי חנינא is found teaching in public
  19. Statementרבי חנינא is burned wrapped in the ספר תורה
  20. QuestionHis daughter cries out at seeing him this way
  21. ResponseHe is comforted because the ספר תורה burns with him
  22. QuestionHis students ask what he sees
  23. ResponseThe parchment burns but the letters fly upward
  24. StatementThe students urge him to open his mouth and end the suffering
  25. ResponseHe refuses: only the One who gave life may take it
  26. QuestionThe executioner offers to speed his death in exchange for עולם הבא
  27. Responseרבי חנינא agrees and swears
  28. Statementרבי חנינא dies quickly and the executioner jumps into the fire
  29. StatementA heavenly voice announces both men's reward
  30. Conclusionרבי cries over earning a world in one moment
  31. Statementברוריה asks רבי מאיר to save her sister
  32. Statementרבי מאיר sets a test before going
  33. Statementרבי מאיר tests the sister in disguise
  34. Conclusionרבי מאיר concludes she stayed pure
  35. StatementThe guard is afraid to release her
  36. Responseרבי מאיר offers money as a bribe
  37. QuestionThe guard asks what happens when the money runs out
  38. ResponseSay 'God of Meir, answer me'