Berachos 27a

ברכות כ״ז ע״א

Berakhot 27a

Learn Berachos 27a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Berachos 27a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The time limits for שחרית and מנחה according to רבי יהודה and the רבנן, the meaning of 'עד', the melting of the מן, and rules about davening near others.

Overview

The amud opens by asking whether רבי יהודה's word 'עד' (until) includes the end point. Each reading seems to cause a problem. The גמרא solves this by explaining that פלג המנחה means 10¾ hours, so 'עד' can include the end point. רב נחמן then proves the point from רבי יהודה בן בבא's testimony that the morning תמיד was offered at four hours, and רב כהנא rules like רבי יהודה for שחרית. Next the גמרא asks whose view a ברייתא follows when it says the מן melted at four hours. It shows that both רבי יהודה and the רבנן can agree with it, and רבי אחא בר יעקב explains that four hours is when the sun is hot but the shade is still cool. For מנחה, רב חסדא finds no clear ruling, so a person may follow either opinion. A story about רב davening the שבת prayer early teaches three הלכות, including that one may not pass within four אמות in front of someone davening. The amud ends as the גמרא begins to challenge how רבי ירמיה could daven behind his teacher, and that challenge continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (28)

1. ChallengeIf 'until' is inclusive, רבי יהודה matches the רבנן
2. RejectionBut the non-inclusive reading has its own problem: the end of the משנה
3. ProofA ברייתא about choosing between מוסף and מנחה
4. ChallengeWithout an inclusive 'until,' מוסף and מנחה never overlap
5. ChallengeThen the first clause is a problem again
6. Resolution'פלג המנחה' means the end of the first half, at 10¾ hours
7. Proofרב נחמן brings a proof from the testimonies of רבי יהודה בן בבא
8. ConclusionConclusion: 'until' includes the end-point
9. Conclusionרב כהנא rules like רבי יהודה
10. QuestionWho taught that the מן melted at four hours?
11. StatementThe ברייתא proves the melting was at four hours, not six
12. ChallengeThe ברייתא fits neither רבי יהודה nor the רבנן
13. ResolutionAnswer according to the רבנן: split the morning in two
14. ResolutionAnswer according to רבי יהודה: the extra 'morning' moves it one hour earlier
15. ConclusionEveryone agrees the melting was at four hours
16. QuestionHow do we know it means four hours?
17. Responseרבי אחא בר יעקב: the sun is hot but the shade is still cool
18. QuestionIs the הלכה like רבי יהודה for מנחה too?
19. Responseרב יצחק stays silent
20. ProofProof from רב davening the שבת prayer early
21. RejectionOn the contrary: רב הונא waited until night
22. ConclusionEither opinion may be followed
23. Statementרב davens early at גניבא's house
24. ConclusionThree lessons from the story
25. ProofThis supports רבי יהושע בן לוי
26. ChallengeBut רבי אמי and רבי אסי did pass
27. ResolutionThey passed beyond four אמות
28. ChallengeHow could רבי ירמיה daven behind his teacher?