Gemara Clarity

Berachos 63a

ברכות ס״ג ע״א

Berakhot 63a

Learn Berachos 63a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Berachos 63a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Respect for a בית הכנסת, blessings in the מקדש, greeting with God's name, 'עת לעשות לה׳', practical life lessons, and the story of חנינא setting the calendar in בבל

Overview

This amud moves through many short topics. First, the גמרא finishes a discussion about respect for a בית הכנסת. רבא concludes that it is like a person's own house: a shortcut through it is forbidden, but spitting and wearing shoes are allowed. Next, the גמרא explains the משנה about the מקדש. Blessings there had a long special ending because people did not answer אמן there; each blessing got its own full praise, based on a פסוק in נחמיה. The גמרא then explains why the משנה brings several פסוקים to allow greeting with God's name. It also explains the פסוק 'עת לעשות לה׳', which רבא reads in two directions and הלל uses to teach when to spread Torah and when to hold back. A series of life lessons follows from בר קפרא, רבי, רבי יוחנן and others: lead where no one else leads, keep ה׳ in mind in everything, give your gifts to the כהן, and turn to ה׳ in times of trouble. The amud ends with the story of חנינא, who set the calendar in בבל. The חכמים of ארץ ישראל send messengers who warn him to stop or be placed in נידוי.

Opening lines

וְאֵימָא: הַר הַבַּיִת דְּאָסוּר בְּמִנְעָל —

But say: the Temple Mount, where it is forbidden to wear shoes —

לֵילְפֵהּ מִמִּנְעָל.

let it learn [the spitting rule] from shoes.

אֲבָל בֵּית הַכְּנֶסֶת דִּשְׁרֵי בְּמִנְעָל,

But a synagogue, where shoes are permitted,

אַדְּיָלֵיף מִמִּנְעָל וּלְהֶיתֵּר,

instead of learning from shoes and being lenient,

The steps (50)

  1. ChallengeChallenge: Why not learn the stricter rule for a בית הכנסת?
  2. Resolutionרבא: A בית הכנסת is like one's own house
  3. StatementQuoting the משנה about blessings in the מקדש
  4. QuestionWhy was such a long ending needed?
  5. ResponseBecause no one answers אמן in the מקדש
  6. QuestionWhat is the source that אמן is not said in the מקדש?
  7. ProofProof from the פסוק in נחמיה
  8. ProofEvery blessing gets its own praise
  9. StatementThe משנה: greeting a friend with God's name
  10. QuestionWhy does the משנה need so many פסוקים?
  11. Responseבעז might have acted on his own, so the פסוק about גדעון is added
  12. ResponseThe angel's words may not be a greeting, so 'Do not despise your mother' is added
  13. StatementThe משנה's final פסוק: 'A time to act for ה׳'
  14. Statementרבא: the פסוק reads both forward and backward
  15. StatementReading the verse from beginning to end
  16. StatementReading the verse from end to beginning
  17. Statementהלל: when to spread Torah and when to hold back
  18. Statementבר קפרא: buy when cheap, lead where no one leads
  19. Statementאביי: where there is a leader, do not compete
  20. ChallengeIsn't that obvious?
  21. ResolutionEven when both are equally qualified
  22. StatementA short passage that all of Torah depends on
  23. StatementEven for a matter of sin
  24. StatementTeach your son a clean and easy trade
  25. QuestionWhich trade is that?
  26. Responseרב חסדא names the trade
  27. StatementDo not bring too many friends into your house
  28. StatementDo not appoint a manager over your house
  29. StatementWhy the section of נזיר comes right after the section of סוטה
  30. StatementHolding back gifts from the כהן leads to needing the כהן through one's wife
  31. StatementHe will even end up needing those very gifts himself
  32. StatementOne who does give to the כהן will become rich
  33. StatementBringing ה׳ into one's distress doubles one's livelihood
  34. StatementLivelihood flies to him like a bird
  35. StatementOne who slacks off in Torah has no strength on a day of trouble
  36. StatementEven being lax in one מצוה
  37. Statementחנינא sets the calendar outside ארץ ישראל
  38. StatementTwo scholars are sent after חנינא
  39. Statementחנינא publicly praises the visitors
  40. ProofProof that זכריה בן קבוטל served in the מקדש
  41. StatementThe visitors rule against every ruling חנינא makes
  42. Statementחנינא publicly denounces the visitors
  43. RejectionThe visitors say he cannot take back his praise
  44. Questionחנינא asks why they always rule against him
  45. ResponseTheir reason: he sets the calendar outside ארץ ישראל
  46. Challengeחנינא points to רבי עקיבא as a precedent
  47. Resolutionרבי עקיבא was different: he left no equal behind
  48. Challengeחנינא claims he too left no equal behind
  49. ResolutionHis former students have grown greater than he is
  50. ConclusionThe ultimatum: obey, or be placed in נידוי