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Megillah 25a

מגילה כ״ה ע״א

Learn Megillah 25a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Megillah 25a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Forbidden phrasings in public prayer, the reasons the prayer leader is silenced, and which sensitive passages are read, translated, or used as a הפטרה

Overview

This amud finishes a משנה about phrases a שליח ציבור may not say and improper ways of reading or translating the Torah in public. The גמרא explains why מודים מודים and על טוב יזכר שמך are a problem. Two אמוראים then dispute why על קן צפור יגיעו רחמיך is forbidden: it causes jealousy among the creations, or it turns ה׳'s decrees into mercy. Two stories follow. In the first, רבה praises a prayer leader only to sharpen אביי. In the second, רבי חנינא rebukes a man who added extra praises of ה׳. רבי חנינא also teaches that everything is in Heaven's hands except יראת שמים. רבי זירא compares repeating שמע to מודים מודים, and the גמרא distinguishes repeating word by word from repeating verse by verse. The גמרא explains the עריות and מולך clauses of the משנה. A new משנה then lists passages that are read but not translated, and passages not used as a הפטרה. Its ברייתא begins with מעשה בראשית, and that discussion continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

״יְבָרְכוּךָ טוֹבִים״ —

"May the good bless You"

הֲרֵי זוֹ דֶּרֶךְ הַמִּינוּת.

this is a path of heresy.

״עַל קַן צִפּוֹר יַגִּיעוּ רַחֲמֶיךָ״,

"Your mercy extends to a bird's nest,"

וְ״עַל טוֹב יִזָּכֵר שְׁמֶךָ״,

and "May Your name be mentioned for the good,"

The steps (31)

  1. StatementSaying 'May the good bless You' is a path of heresy
  2. StatementThree prayer phrases that get the prayer leader silenced
  3. StatementUsing euphemisms when reading the forbidden relations section
  4. StatementA false translation of the Molech verse is silenced with rebuke
  5. QuestionTwo reasons are clear, but why is the bird's nest phrase forbidden?
  6. ResponseFirst answer: it causes jealousy among creations
  7. ResponseSecond answer: ה׳'s commandments are decrees, not mercy
  8. StatementA prayer leader before רבה asks for mercy based on קן צפור, and רבה praises him
  9. Challengeאביי objects: the משנה says to silence him
  10. Resolutionרבה was only testing אביי
  11. StatementA prayer leader before רבי חנינא adds extra praises of ה׳
  12. Statementרבי חנינא rebukes him: even the three praises need special permission
  13. ProofThe parable: praising a billionaire for his silver coins
  14. StatementEverything is in Heaven's hands except fear of Heaven
  15. ChallengeIs fear of Heaven really a small thing?
  16. ResolutionFor משה רבינו it was a small matter
  17. ProofParable of the large and small vessel
  18. StatementSaying 'שמע שמע' is like saying 'מודים מודים'
  19. ChallengeA ברייתא says repeating שמע is only disgraceful
  20. ResolutionWord by word versus verse by verse
  21. Challengeרב פפא: maybe he repeated שמע because he lost focus
  22. Resolutionרבא: you may not treat Heaven so casually
  23. StatementWhat 'softening' the עריות passage means
  24. StatementThe מולך verse: which reading gets silenced
  25. StatementNew משנה: passages read but not translated
  26. StatementNo הפטרה from the מרכבה vision or from 'הודע את ירושלים'
  27. StatementA ברייתא sorts passages into three groups
  28. StatementA memory code for the passages that are read and translated
  29. StatementThe Creation story is read and translated
  30. ChallengeIsn't that obvious?
  31. ResolutionOne might have feared forbidden questions about Creation