Berachos 29a

ברכות כ״ט ע״א

Berakhot 29a

Learn Berachos 29a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Berachos 29a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

שמואל הקטן and ברכת המינים; the number of ברכות on special days; the shortened תפילה הביננו and when it may be said

Overview

The amud opens by finishing the story of שמואל הקטן, who forgot ברכת המינים while leading the prayer and still was not removed. The גמרא asks why, since רב rules that someone who skips this ברכה is removed. First it says the author of the ברכה is above suspicion, and אביי adds that a truly good person does not turn bad. After challenges from a פסוק and from the story of יוחנן כהן גדול, and רבא's view that anyone can fall, the final answer is that שמואל הקטן had already begun the ברכה. The גמרא then gives sources for the number of ברכות on שבת (seven), ראש השנה (nine) and a תענית (twenty-four). Next it explains רבי יהושע's shortened תפילה: רב says each ברכה is shortened, while שמואל gives the single ברכה of הביננו. It discusses when הביננו may not be said: on מוצאי שבת because of הבדלה, and in the rainy season because of the request for rain. Finally it examines רב אסי's rule about forgetting rain or הבדלה, faces a contradicting ברייתא, and begins an answer that finishes on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (44)

1. Statementשמואל הקטן forgets the blessing but stays at his post
2. Challengeרב's rule says he should have been removed
3. ResolutionThe author of the blessing is beyond suspicion
4. ChallengeMaybe he changed his ways
5. ResolutionA good person does not turn bad
6. ChallengeA verse says a righteous person can turn to sin
7. ResolutionThe verse is about someone who was wicked from the start
8. ChallengeThe story of יוחנן כהן גדול who became a צדוקי
9. Resolutionאביי: יוחנן and ינאי are the same
10. Statementרבא: ינאי and יוחנן are different people
11. ChallengeThe משנה fits אביי but is hard for רבא
12. Resolutionרבא: even a lifelong צדיק might change
13. ChallengeThen why wasn't שמואל הקטן removed?
14. Resolutionשמואל הקטן had already started the blessing
15. ProofSomeone who began the blessing may finish it
16. QuestionWhat do the seven blessings of שבת match?
17. ResponseThe seven voices David mentioned
18. QuestionWhat do the nine blessings of ראש השנה match?
19. ResponseThe nine mentions of ה׳'s name in חנה's prayer
20. QuestionWhat do the twenty-four blessings of a fast day match?
21. ResponseThe twenty-four songs of שלמה
22. ChallengeThen say them every day
23. Resolutionשלמה said them on a day of asking for mercy
24. QuestionWhat does a shortened שמונה עשרה mean?
25. Responseרב: shorten every single blessing
26. Responseשמואל: the הביננו blessing
27. Statementאביי curses those who say הביננו
28. StatementNo הביננו on מוצאי שבת and יום טוב
29. Challengeרבה בר שמואל: say הבדלה as its own blessing
30. ResolutionThe חכמים set seven blessings, not eight
31. ChallengeWhy not put הבדלה inside הביננו itself?
32. Conclusionמר זוטרא's question is left standing
33. Statementהביננו is not said in the rainy season
34. ChallengeWhy not put the rain request inside הביננו?
35. ResolutionHe would get confused
36. ChallengeThen the same answer should work for הבדלה
37. ResolutionStart of the prayer versus middle of the prayer
38. ChallengeWhy not ask for rain in שומע תפלה?
39. ResolutionOnly someone who made a mistake may use שומע תפלה
40. StatementLooking at רב אסי's teaching on its own
41. ChallengeA ברייתא says the forgotten rain request does require going back
42. ResolutionFirst answer: one source is about an individual, the other about a congregation
43. RejectionRejecting the answer: רב אסי's reason does not fit a congregation
44. ResolutionNew answer: both are about an individual, and it depends on when he remembers