Gemara Clarity

Sanhedrin 101a

סנהדרין ק״א ע״א

Learn Sanhedrin 101a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Sanhedrin 101a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Proper use of פסוקים, whispering and remedies, demons, and the value of suffering at רבי אליעזר's sickbed

Overview

The amud opens by finishing the reading of 'כל ימי עני רעים' as describing a narrow-minded person. It then explains, through שמואל's rule that a change in routine makes the stomach sick, why even a poor man's שבת and יום טוב are bad days for him. A ברייתא warns that turning פסוקים into party songs brings evil to the world, while a פסוק said at its proper time brings good. The גמרא returns to the משנה about whispering over a wound: רבי יוחנן limits it to one who spits, and רב and רבי חנינא extend it even to פסוקים without ה׳'s name. Next come ברייתות about soothing actions on שבת, consulting demons, and whispering over oil, illustrated by two stories of harm and rescue. רבי יוחנן's reading of 'כי אני ה׳ רפאך' shows that ה׳ heals even when He sends illness. The amud ends with two accounts of רבי אליעזר's illness, where רבי עקיבא teaches that suffering is precious. His proof from King מנשה begins here and continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

שֶׁדַּעְתּוֹ קְצָרָה.

(this is) one whose mind is narrow.

״וְטוֹב לֵב מִשְׁתֶּה תָמִיד״

"And for the good-hearted it is always a feast"

– זֶה שֶׁדַּעְתּוֹ רְחָבָה.

this is one whose mind is broad.

וְאָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי:

And Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said:

The steps (35)

  1. StatementNarrow mind versus broad mind
  2. ChallengeDoesn't a poor person have שבת and יום טוב?
  3. ResolutionA change in routine makes the poor man sick
  4. StatementUsing פסוקים as entertainment brings evil
  5. QuestionThen what should they do while eating?
  6. ResponseEach person should learn on his own level
  7. StatementA פסוק at its proper time brings good
  8. StatementWhispering over a wound: only when he spits
  9. StatementEven פסוקים without ה׳'s name
  10. StatementSoothing actions allowed on שבת
  11. StatementOnly a vessel that may be moved
  12. StatementAsking demons on Shabbat and on weekdays
  13. ConclusionThe הלכה follows רבי יוסי
  14. Statementרבי יוסי's reason is danger
  15. ProofThe story of רב יצחק בר יוסף and the cedar
  16. StatementRubbing the stomach, but not in the weekday way
  17. QuestionHow should it be done?
  18. ResponseTwo ways to change from the weekday way
  19. StatementDemons of oil and eggs
  20. StatementWhispering over oil in a vessel versus in the hand
  21. Proofרב יצחק's boils from oil in a vessel
  22. ChallengeIf ה׳ places no disease, why does He need to heal?
  23. ResolutionThe verse explains itself: disease only if we don't listen
  24. Statementרבי אליעזר is sick: the students cry and רבי עקיבא laughs
  25. Responseרבי עקיבא explains: suffering means reward is saved for later
  26. Challengeרבי אליעזר asks: did I miss anything in the Torah?
  27. ResolutionNo righteous person never sins
  28. StatementFour elders come to visit the sick רבי אליעזר
  29. Statementרבי טרפון says he is better than rain
  30. Statementרבי יהושע says he is better than the sun
  31. Statementרבי אלעזר בן עזריה says he is better than a father and mother
  32. Statementרבי עקיבא says suffering is precious
  33. Statementרבי אליעזר asks to be propped up to hear רבי עקיבא
  34. Questionרבי אליעזר asks for the source
  35. Responseרבי עקיבא begins his proof from King מנשה