Berachos 6b

ברכות ו׳ ע״ב

Berakhot 6b

Learn Berachos 6b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Berachos 6b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Habits of תפילה and respect for the בית הכנסת, and a chain of sayings from רבי חלבו in the name of רב הונא

Overview

The amud opens with the last line about the תפילין of הקדוש ברוך הוא: all the פסוקים are written together in the arm-תפילין. Then come many teachings about תפילה and the בית הכנסת. When a regular misses בית הכנסת for ordinary business, ה׳ asks about him, because he should have trusted in ה׳. ה׳ is angry when there are not ten men in the בית הכנסת. A person should keep a fixed place for תפילה like אברהם, should not rush out of the בית הכנסת, and should run in and run to learn, even on שבת. A list of sayings follows about the 'main reward' of different מצוות: running, crowding, reasoning, silence, צדקה, crying at a הספד, and words at a wedding. רב הונא calls one who prays behind the בית הכנסת facing away a רשע, and a story about אליהו shows how serious this is, followed by explanations of 'כרם זלות לבני אדם'. The amud ends with more sayings of רבי חלבו in the name of רב הונא: be careful with מנחה (others add ערבית and שחרית), make a חתן happy, a God-fearing person is listened to, and greet others first and always return a greeting.

Opening lines

The steps (48)

1. ConclusionClosing the earlier discussion: all the verses are in the arm-תפילין
2. StatementWhen a regular misses בית הכנסת, God asks about him
3. StatementIt depends on why he was absent: מצוה or ordinary business
4. QuestionWhy does the verse say 'let him trust in ה׳'?
5. ResponseBecause he should have trusted in ה׳ and did not
6. Statementה׳ is angry when there are not ten men in בית הכנסת
7. StatementA fixed place for תפילה brings the help of the God of אברהם
8. StatementHe is eulogized as a student of אברהם
9. QuestionHow do we know אברהם had a fixed place?
10. ResponseProof from the פסוק: אברהם returned to the place where he 'stood'
11. StatementDo not take big steps when leaving the synagogue
12. Statementאביי: the rule is only for leaving, but running in is a מצוה
13. Statementרבי זירא at first thought running to the lecture on שבת was wrong
14. ProofA teaching that one should run to learn הלכה even on שבת
15. StatementThe reward for the lecture is for the running
16. StatementThe reward for the כלה gathering is for the crowding
17. StatementThe reward for learning is for the reasoning
18. StatementThe reward for visiting mourners is for the silence
19. StatementThe reward for fasting is for the charity
20. StatementThe reward for a eulogy is for making people cry out
21. StatementThe main reward for a wedding is for the words
22. StatementPraying behind the synagogue makes one called wicked
23. StatementThe rule applies only when not facing the synagogue
24. Proofאליהו kills a man praying with his back to the synagogue
25. QuestionWhat does the end of the פסוק mean?
26. ResponseVery important things that people treat lightly
27. StatementNeeding other people makes a person's face change
28. QuestionWhat is a כרום?
29. ResponseThe כרום is a bird that changes colors
30. StatementDepending on others is like being punished by fire and water
31. StatementBe extra careful with the afternoon prayer
32. StatementWhy אליהו said 'answer me' twice
33. StatementBe careful with the evening prayer too
34. StatementBe careful with the morning prayer too
35. StatementEnjoying a wedding meal without making the groom happy
36. QuestionWhat is the reward for making the groom happy?
37. ResponseHe merits the תורה, given with five voices
38. ChallengeAnother verse mentions more voices at סיני
39. ResolutionThose voices came before the giving of the תורה
40. ResponseMaking a groom happy is like bringing a thanks-offering
41. ResponseMaking a groom happy is like rebuilding a ruin of ירושלים
42. StatementA person who fears Heaven is listened to
43. QuestionWhat does 'for this is all of man' mean?
44. ResponseThe whole world was created for this person
45. ResponseThis person is worth as much as the whole world
46. ResponseThe whole world was created to keep this person company
47. StatementGreet first someone who usually greets you
48. StatementSomeone who doesn't return a greeting is called a robber