Gemara Clarity

Berachos 24b

ברכות כ״ד ע״ב

Berakhot 24b

Learn Berachos 24b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Berachos 24b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Proper conduct and bodily concerns during תפלה, and the cleanliness and covering needed for קריאת שמע

Overview

This amud starts by finishing a report about how רבי behaved while praying. A ברייתא seems to condemn that behavior: burping, yawning, sneezing and spitting during תפלה. The גמרא answers each point. רבי burped and yawned only when he couldn't help it, he sneezed from the nose (a good sign, says רב זירא), and he absorbed his spit discreetly, as רב יהודה teaches. רב הונא then limits the ban on praying aloud: it is allowed for someone who can't concentrate quietly, but only when praying alone. A story about רבי אבא brings the rule for someone who passes wind during תפלה. The גמרא next turns to קריאת שמע. It discusses a person covered by his garment in bed, and a person walking through filthy alleys, where רב הונא allows reciting with a covered mouth and רב חסדא strongly forbids it. ברייתות support each side, and פסוקים describe the one who keeps reciting in filth and the one who stops. The amud ends with רב הונא's ruling that a garment tied around the waist is enough covering to say שמע.

Opening lines

וּמְמַשְׁמֵשׁ בְּבִגְדוֹ,

And he would feel around in his garment,

אֲבָל לֹא הָיָה מִתְעַטֵּף.

but he would not wrap himself.

וּכְשֶׁהוּא מְפַהֵק

And when he would yawn,

הָיָה מַנִּיחַ יָדוֹ עַל סַנְטֵרוֹ.

he would place his hand on his chin.

The steps (38)

  1. StatementThe end of the report about רבי's conduct during prayer
  2. ChallengeA ברייתא harshly criticizes noises and bodily actions during prayer
  3. ResolutionBurping and yawning: by accident versus on purpose
  4. ChallengeThe sneezing contradiction is still a problem
  5. ResolutionSneezing from above versus from below
  6. Proofרב זירא: sneezing in prayer is a good sign
  7. ChallengeThe spitting contradiction remains
  8. ResolutionSpitting the respectful way, following רב יהודה
  9. Questionרב אשי questions רבינא's way of spitting
  10. Responseרבינא: I am too sensitive
  11. Statementרב הונא limits the rule against praying aloud
  12. StatementThe allowance applies only when praying alone
  13. Statementרבי אבא avoids רב יהודה
  14. StatementRabbi Abba's plan before leaving
  15. StatementPassing wind during תפילה: wait and continue
  16. StatementA longer version: step back and say a special prayer
  17. Conclusionרבי אבא: this teaching alone was worth it
  18. StatementSaying קריאת שמע while covered in bed
  19. ChallengeChallenge: the heart still sees the ערוה
  20. ResolutionThe תנא קמא holds the heart seeing the ערוה is allowed
  21. StatementCovering the mouth to say שמע in filthy alleys
  22. Challengeרב חסדא strongly rejects the ruling
  23. StatementSecond version: the ruling in the name of רבי יהושע בן לוי
  24. ChallengeDid רב הונא really say this?
  25. ResolutionStanding versus walking
  26. ChallengeDid רבי יוחנן really say this?
  27. ResolutionSuggesting the same standing-versus-walking answer
  28. RejectionThe story of רבי אבהו stopping שמע in a filthy alley
  29. Rejectionרבי יוחנן was answering by רבי אבהו's view
  30. ProofA ברייתא that backs רב הונא
  31. ProofA ברייתא that backs רב חסדא
  32. QuestionWhat if he did not stop?
  33. Responseרבי מיאשה: laws that are not good
  34. ResponseTwo more פסוקים: רב אסי and רב אדא בר אהבה
  35. QuestionWhat reward does the one who stopped get?
  36. Responseרבי אבהו: he earns a long life
  37. Statementרב הונא: a garment tied around the waist is enough
  38. ProofA ברייתא supports רב הונא