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Berachos 64a

ברכות ס״ד ע״א

Berakhot 64a

Learn Berachos 64a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The closing aggadot of מסכת ברכות: רבי אבין הלוי's teachings, the praise of תלמידי חכמים, and the peace they bring

Overview

This amud closes מסכת ברכות. It first finishes a proof from פסוקים that עובד אדום was blessed with sixty-two descendants for honoring the ארון. Then רבי אבין הלוי teaches that whoever forces an opportunity loses it, while whoever steps back from it is rewarded. The proof is the story of רב יוסף (סיני) and רבה (עוקר הרים): רב יוסף was chosen but stepped aside, and he still led later, after רבה's twenty-two years. More teachings of רבי אבין הלוי follow: why a verse says 'אלהי יעקב', the holiness of a meal with a תלמיד חכם, and the right way to say goodbye, 'לך לשלום' to the living and 'לך בשלום' to the dead. Next come teachings praising תלמידי חכמים: going from בית הכנסת to בית המדרש earns פני שכינה, and scholars keep growing even in עולם הבא. The מסכת ends with the teaching that תלמידי חכמים increase peace in the world, and with verses about שלום.

Opening lines

שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״פְּעֻלְּתַי הַשְּׁמִינִי״,

As it is stated: "Peulletai the eighth,"

וּכְתִיב ״כִּי בֵרְכוֹ אֱלֹהִים״.

and it is written: "For God blessed him."

״כׇּל אֵלֶּה מִבְּנֵי עֹבֵד אֱדֹם

"All these were of the sons of Oved-edom,

הֵמָּה וּבְנֵיהֶם וַאֲחֵיהֶם

they and their sons and their brethren,

The steps (22)

  1. ProofVerses proving the blessing of עובד אדום's sixty-two descendants
  2. Statementרבי אבין הלוי: forcing the moment versus yielding to it
  3. ProofBackground: רבה and רב יוסף as candidates for leadership
  4. QuestionThe question sent to ארץ ישראל: who comes first?
  5. ResponseThe answer: סיני comes first
  6. Proofרב יוסף declines the position
  7. ConclusionThe outcome: both men led in turn
  8. Proofרב יוסף did not even summon a bloodletter
  9. QuestionWhy does the verse say only 'אלהי יעקב'?
  10. ResponseThe owner of the beam carries the thick end
  11. StatementEating with a תלמיד חכם is like enjoying the שכינה
  12. ChallengeDid they really eat before God?
  13. ConclusionThe verse teaches the value of a scholar's presence
  14. StatementHow to say goodbye to a friend
  15. ProofProof from יתרו and from דוד
  16. StatementHow to say goodbye to the dead
  17. StatementFrom בית הכנסת straight to בית המדרש
  18. StatementTorah scholars never stop growing
  19. StatementTorah scholars increase peace in the world
  20. ProofReading 'your children' as 'your builders'
  21. ProofA chain of verses about peace
  22. ConclusionHadran — Closing פרק הרואה and מסכת ברכות