Gemara Clarity

Nedarim 37a

נדרים ל״ז ע״א

Learn Nedarim 37a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Nedarim 37a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

What a מקרא teacher is really paid for (רב: watching; רבי יוחנן: verse breaks and טעמים), and how this explains the משנה about vows and a ברייתא about learning on שבת.

Overview

The משנה said that a person forbidden by a vow to benefit from his friend may learn מדרש from him but not מקרא. The גמרא explains that pay is allowed for teaching מקרא but never for מדרש, so only a free מקרא lesson counts as a real gift. Two פסוקים in דברים teach that Torah must be taught for free. That raises the question of why מקרא may be paid for at all. רב says the teacher is paid for watching the children, and רבי יוחנן says he is paid for teaching the verse breaks and the טעמים. The גמרא challenges רב, since an adult needs no watching. It answers that the משנה is talking about a child, and that the משנה is missing words: a child may not be taught, but an adult and his sons may. Next, a ברייתא saying children may review on שבת but not learn new verses seems to fit only רבי יוחנן. The גמרא pushes back that pay for שבת is allowed when it is included in a weekly wage. It then starts quoting a ברייתא about hired watchmen to prove this, and the quote continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

הָא קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן

This teaches us

דַּאֲפִילּוּ בִּמְקוֹם שֶׁנּוֹטְלִין שָׂכָר

that even in a place where they take payment

עַל הַמִּקְרָא שְׁרֵי לְמִשְׁקַל

for teaching Bible it is permitted to take payment

עַל הַמִּדְרָשׁ לָא שְׁרֵי לְמִשְׁקַל.

for teaching מדרש it is not permitted to take payment.

The steps (13)

  1. ResolutionPay is allowed for teaching Bible but not for teaching מדרש
  2. QuestionWhy may one not take pay for מדרש?
  3. ResponseTorah must be taught for free, learned from פסוקים
  4. ChallengeThen Bible should also be taught for free
  5. Resolutionרב: the teacher is paid for watching the children
  6. Resolutionרבי יוחנן: the teacher is paid for teaching how to read the verses
  7. ChallengeChallenge to רב: an adult does not need watching
  8. ResolutionThe משנה is talking about a child
  9. ChallengeA child does not have sons
  10. ResolutionThe משנה is missing words
  11. ChallengeChildren do not learn new material on שבת
  12. RejectionEven רבי יוחנן's pay is allowed when included
  13. ProofA ברייתא about hired watchmen