Berachos 63b

ברכות ס״ג ע״ב

Berakhot 63b

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

Open Berachos 63b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

How the חכמים stopped חנינא's breakaway calendar in בבל, followed by the talks at יבנה in honor of Torah and in honor of those who host תלמידי חכמים.

Overview

This amud opens at the end of the story of חנינא, the nephew of רבי יהושע, who began fixing the calendar on his own in בבל. The חכמים of ארץ ישראל warn the Jews of בבל that breaking away is like denying the God of Israel. The people cry out that they will stay loyal. The גמרא explains the harsh steps with the פסוק 'כי מציון תצא תורה'. It also explains why the scholars could overturn his strict rulings: they did it so people would stop following him. Next comes a ברייתא about the חכמים gathered in the כרם ביבנה. רבי יהודה speaks in honor of Torah. His talk covers the אהל outside the camp, משה returning to the people, the idea that Torah should feel new every day, and three readings of 'הסכת': learn in groups, wear yourself out for Torah, and absorb first, then analyze. Related teachings praise effort and humility in learning. Then רבי נחמיה, רבי יוסי and רבי אליעזר each use a קל וחומר to praise those who host a תלמיד חכם. The amud ends with עובד אדום's blessing of many children, and that answer continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (38)

1. StatementThe warning message sent to the Jews of Babylonia
2. StatementThe people cry and refuse to break away
3. QuestionWhy go to such extremes?
4. ResponseTorah must come from Zion
5. ChallengeHow could they rule pure what he ruled impure?
6. ResolutionThey did it so people would not follow him
7. StatementThe חכמים gather in the כרם of יבנה
8. Statementרבי יהודה opens with כבוד תורה and quotes the פסוק
9. ProofTorah scholars who travel are true seekers of ה׳
10. Statementה׳ and משה will show a pleasant face in learning
11. StatementAnother version: show Israel a pleasant face and bring the tent back
12. StatementIf teacher and student are both angry, what will happen to Israel?
13. ProofThe verse that matches משה's return to the camp
14. Statementרבא: The warning about יהושע still came true
15. Statementרבי יהודה opens again with the פסוק 'Today you became a nation'
16. ChallengeBut the Torah was given forty years earlier
17. ResolutionTorah should feel new every single day
18. ProofProof from missing one קריאת שמע
19. Statement'הסכת' means: make groups to learn Torah
20. Proofרבי יוסי ברבי חנינא: A sword on those who learn alone
21. ProofLearning alone makes one foolish
22. ProofLearning alone even leads to sin
23. ProofAnother verse showing that those who learn alone sin
24. StatementSecond reading of 'הסכת': break yourselves over Torah
25. Proofריש לקיש: Torah stays only with one who 'kills himself' over it
26. StatementThird reading of 'הסכת': first be quiet, then analyze
27. Proofרבא: learn first, then think deeply
28. Questionדבי רבי ינאי ask about the verse of milk, nose, and anger
29. ResponseThe cream of Torah comes from working until it hurts
30. ResponseStaying quiet once when the teacher is angry
31. ResponseStaying quiet twice earns the deepest understanding
32. ProofProof that money law is the deepest area of Torah
33. StatementBeing willing to look foolish while learning leads to greatness
34. Statementרבי נחמיה: יתרו's descendants were spared, so a host of a תלמיד חכם earns even more
35. Statementרבי יוסי: The מצרים earned gratitude, so a host of a תלמיד חכם earns even more
36. Statementרבי אליעזר בנו של רבי יוסי הגלילי: עובד אדום was blessed for the ארון, so a host earns even more
37. QuestionWhat was עובד אדום's blessing?
38. Responseרב יהודה בר זבידא: Many children born at once