Pesachim 112a

פסחים קי״ב ע״א

Learn Pesachim 112a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Pesachim 112a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Night-time dangers and their remedies, the four cups for the poor, and רבי עקיבא's advice to his son and to רבי שמעון בן יוחי

Overview

This amud starts by finishing a list of dangers: not washing hands after bloodletting, a haircut, or cutting nails brings fear, and food kept under a bed attracts a רוח רעה. A ברייתא warns against drinking water on Tuesday and Friday nights, and the גמרא gives a chain of backup remedies for a thirsty person, from saying the seven 'קול ה׳' verses down to throwing something into the water. A second ברייתא warns against drinking river or pond water at night because of שברירי, a spirit that causes blindness, and gives remedies for that as well. The גמרא then returns to the משנה: even a poor person living off the תמחוי must get four cups, and even רבי עקיבא, who says 'עשה שבתך חול', agrees here because of פרסומי ניסא. תנא דבי אליהו adds that even a poor person should do something small for שבת, such as a dish of small fried fish. The גמרא then quotes רבי עקיבא's seven instructions to his son, including the advice to join a successful person, which רב פפא and רב שמואל בר יצחק explain. Finally, it tells how רבי עקיבא, while in prison, gave five teachings to רבי שמעון בן יוחי. These include using a corrected text when teaching your son and not 'cooking in your friend's pot,' and that last explanation continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (42)

1. StatementNot washing hands after bloodletting, haircut, or nail cutting brings fear
2. StatementHand on the nose brings fear, hand on the forehead brings sleep
3. StatementFood and drink under the bed attract an evil spirit
4. StatementDo not drink water on Tuesday or Friday nights
5. QuestionWhat is the danger?
6. ResponseThe danger is an evil spirit
7. QuestionWhat should a thirsty person do?
8. ResponseSay the seven 'voices of ה׳' from תהלים, then drink
9. ResponseSecond remedy: say a formula against the spirits
10. ResponseThird remedy: wake a companion and tell him you are thirsty
11. ResponseFourth remedy: knock the lid on the jug
12. ResponseLast remedy: throw something into the water
13. StatementDo not drink river or pond water at night
14. QuestionWhat is the danger?
15. ResponseThe danger of שברירי (blindness)
16. QuestionWhat if he is thirsty?
17. ResponseIf someone is with him, he tells his friend he is thirsty
18. ResponseIf he is alone, he says a protective formula to himself
19. ChallengeBack to the משנה: why say even from the charity plate?
20. ResolutionEven רבי עקיבא agrees, because of פרסומי ניסא
21. StatementEven so, do something small for שבת at home
22. QuestionWhat is that small thing?
23. Responseרב פפא: a dish of small fried fish
24. Proofרבי יהודה בן תימא: push yourself to do ה׳'s will
25. Statementרבי עקיבא's seven instructions to his son begin
26. StatementThe remaining instructions, including making שבת like a weekday
27. Statementרב פפא: Partner with the lucky person, but do not trade with him
28. RejectionEven trading with a blessed person brings blessing
29. StatementFive instructions to רבי שמעון בן יוחי while רבי עקיבא was in prison
30. Questionרבי שמעון asks to be taught Torah
31. Responseרבי עקיבא refuses
32. Challengeרבי שמעון's playful threat
33. ResolutionThe cow wants to nurse even more than the calf wants to drink
34. RejectionIt is the student who is at risk
35. StatementFirst teaching: hang yourself on a tall tree
36. StatementSecond teaching: teach your son from a corrected text
37. QuestionWhat does the corrected-text teaching mean?
38. ResponseA mistake learned first stays in
39. StatementThird teaching: don't cook in your friend's pot
40. QuestionWhat is the pot?
41. ResponseThe pot is a divorcee whose ex-husband is alive
42. ResponseA second explanation: even a widow