Berachos 30a

ברכות ל׳ ע״א

Berakhot 30a

Learn Berachos 30a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Berachos 30a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Praying while traveling (תפלת הדרך, הביננו, riding, direction of prayer, praying early) and the new משנה on מוסף and a חבר עיר

Overview

The amud opens by finishing אביי's rule that a person should always include himself with the צבור, so תפלת הדרך is said in plural: 'lead us to peace.' The גמרא then covers when to say it, the measure of a פרסה, and whether you must stand. A story shows רב ששת standing anyway when it was easy: 'from being good, do not be called bad.' Next the גמרא explains how הביננו (a shortened עמידה that counts fully) differs from the emergency תפלה קצרה. It then rules that a rider prays sitting on his donkey, like רבי. A ברייתא teaches that everyone aims his heart, circle by circle, toward the קודש הקדשים, so all of Israel faces one place. The גמרא discusses praying early before a trip, and the tension between standing for the עמידה and keeping גאולה next to תפלה, including how רב אשי handled a busy day. Finally a new משנה brings three views on מוסף and a חבר עיר; the halacha follows רבי יהודה, and שמואל's supporting statement continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (42)

1. StatementAlways include yourself with the community
2. QuestionHow exactly should he word it?
3. ResponseSay it in plural: 'lead us to peace'
4. QuestionWhen does one say תפלת הדרך?
5. ResponseOnce you are actually on the road
6. QuestionHow much distance is involved?
7. ResponseThe measure is one פרסה
8. QuestionIn what position is it said?
9. Statementרב חסדא: only standing
10. Statementרב ששת: even while walking
11. StatementStory: רב חסדא stops to pray on the road
12. Questionרב ששת asks what רב חסדא is doing
13. ResponseThe attendant: he is standing and praying
14. Conclusionרב ששת stands too: 'From being good, do not be called bad'
15. QuestionHow is הביננו different from תפלה קצרה?
16. Responseהביננו: needs the first and last three, and counts as your prayer
17. Responseתפלה קצרה: no framing ברכות, so pray again at home
18. ConclusionFinal ruling: הביננו standing, short prayer either way
19. StatementRider on a donkey: get off if someone can hold the animal
20. Statementרבי: always pray sitting on the donkey
21. ConclusionThe halacha follows רבי
22. StatementBlind person or someone lost: aim your heart to Heaven
23. StatementCircles of direction leading to the ark-cover
24. ConclusionAll of Israel faces one place
25. ProofA hint from שיר השירים: the hill all mouths turn to
26. StatementPraying early before a journey
27. QuestionWhose opinion did they follow?
28. ResponseA ברייתא supports doing מצוות early before traveling
29. Statementרבי שמעון בן אלעזר: always say שמע and then daven
30. QuestionWhat is the argument about?
31. ResponseStanding for the עמידה versus keeping גאולה next to תפלה
32. Statementמרימר and מר זוטרא daven early with a מנין before the lecture
33. Statementרב אשי davens sitting with the צבור, then again standing at home
34. ChallengeWhy not do what מרימר and מר זוטרא did?
35. ResolutionIt is too much trouble for me
36. ChallengeThen why not daven early like שמואל's father and לוי?
37. ResolutionI never saw older sages do that
38. StatementThe משנה: Three Views on Saying מוסף
39. ChallengeIsn't רבי יהודה the Same as the First Opinion?
40. ResolutionThe Difference: An Individual Where There Is No Group
41. StatementThe Halacha Follows רבי יהודה
42. ProofSupport from שמואל's Practice