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Megillah 28b

מגילה כ״ח ע״ב

Learn Megillah 28b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Megillah 28b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The holiness of a בית כנסת and בית מדרש, eulogizing Torah scholars, and the honor due to those who learn הלכות

Overview

This amud continues a ברייתא about what may and may not be done in a בית כנסת. Personal uses such as grooming, strolling, taking shelter from sun or rain, and a private הספד are forbidden. Torah reading, learning and a public הספד are allowed. רבי יהודה adds that a ruined בית כנסת is left with its grass as a sad reminder to rebuild, and the גמרא fills in a missing line about sweeping the floor. רב אסי teaches that the synagogues of בבל are built with a תנאי, but business calculations there are still forbidden and bring punishment. The גמרא then explains the ברייתא's clauses: scholars may treat the study hall like home, a person may enter for learning even when it rains, and someone who must call a friend out should first say some Torah. It defines a public הספד as one the whole community attends, and contrasts ריש לקיש's warm eulogy of a back-row scholar with רב נחמן's refusal to eulogize a man who was not proficient. It closes with teachings on not being served by Torah learners and on the reward for learning הלכות, and then opens a new ברייתא that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

וְאֵין נֵיאוֹתִין בָּהֶם,

And one may not adorn oneself (or take personal benefit) in them,

וְאֵין מְטַיְּילִין בָּהֶם,

and one may not stroll about in them,

וְאֵין נִכְנָסִין בָּהֶן בַּחַמָּה מִפְּנֵי הַחַמָּה,

and one may not enter them in the heat to escape the heat,

וּבַגְּשָׁמִים מִפְּנֵי הַגְּשָׁמִים.

or in the rain to escape the rain.

The steps (31)

  1. StatementPersonal-use activities forbidden in a synagogue
  2. StatementActivities permitted in a synagogue
  3. StatementA ruined synagogue is left to grow grass
  4. ChallengeWho said anything about grass?
  5. ResolutionThe ברייתא is missing a line about sweeping
  6. StatementBabylonian synagogues are built with a condition
  7. QuestionWhat counts as frivolity: business calculations
  8. StatementCalculations in a synagogue lead to a corpse being kept there overnight
  9. ChallengeCan it really mean they will keep a corpse there?
  10. ResolutionIt means they will end up keeping a מת מצוה there
  11. StatementSages and their students may make personal use of the study hall
  12. ProofThe study hall is the 'house' of the Sages
  13. StatementDo not enter a synagogue just for shelter from sun or rain
  14. ProofThe Sages who entered during rain for the sake of learning
  15. QuestionHow may one enter a synagogue to call someone out?
  16. ResponseSay some Torah, have a child say a verse, or sit a little
  17. StatementA public eulogy may be held in a synagogue
  18. QuestionWhat counts as a public eulogy?
  19. ResponseEach Sage humbly points to the other
  20. Proofרפרם eulogizes his daughter-in-law in a synagogue
  21. Proofרבי זירא eulogizes a scholar in a synagogue
  22. Statementריש לקיש praises a humble scholar from the back row
  23. Statementרב נחמן refuses to eulogize a 'basket of books'
  24. ConclusionThe tough scholars of Israel versus the pious scholars of Babylonia
  25. StatementUsing the crown of Torah: being served by one who learns הלכות
  26. Statementעולא: one who learns versus one who teaches
  27. Proofריש לקיש is carried across the water by a learned man
  28. Conclusionריש לקיש's solution: become the man's teacher
  29. Statementרבי זירא: Jewish women's stringency about a mustard-seed drop
  30. StatementWhoever learns הלכות is promised the World to Come
  31. StatementOpening a new ברייתא