Berakhot 124

Chapter 124

א רִבִּי זְעִירָא וְרִבִּי יְהוּדָה בְשֵׁם רַב כָּל בְּרָכָה שֶׁאֵין עִמָּהּ מַלְכוּת אֵינָהּ בְּרָכָה. אָמַר רִבִּי תַּנְחוּמָא אֲנָא אֲמַר טַעֲמָא אֲרוֹמִמְךָ אֱלֹהַי הַמֶּלֶךְ. רַב אָמַר צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר אַתָּה וּשְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר אֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר אַתָּה.

1 Rebbi Zeïra and Rebbi Yehudah in the name of Rav: Any benediction without mention of the Kingdom is no benediction. Rebbi Tanḥuma said, I shall give the reason (Ps. 145:1): “I shall elevate You, my God, o King!” Rav said, one has to say “You,” but Samuel said, one does not have to say “You.”

ב רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן וְרִבִּי יוֹנָתָן אָזְלִין מִיעֲבֵד שְׁלָמָא בְּאִילֵּין קִרְיָיתָא דִּדְּרוֹמָה עָלוּן לְחָד אֲתַר וְאַשְׁכְּחוּן לְחַזָּנָא דַּאֲמַר הָאֵל הַגָּדוֹל הַגִּבּוֹר וְהַנּוֹרָא הָאַבִּיר וְהָאַמִּיץ וְשִׁיתְּקוּ אוֹתוֹ. אָמְרוּ לוֹ אֵין לְךָ רְשׁוּת לְהוֹסִיף עַַל מַטְבֵּעַ שֶׁטָּבְעוּ חֲכָמִים בִּבְרָכוֹת. רַב הוּנָא בְשֵׁם רַב שַׁדַּי לֹא מְצָאנוּהוּ שַׂגִּיא כֹחַ. לֹא מָצִינוּ כֹּחוֹ וּגְבוּרָתוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ. רִבִּי אַבָּהוּ בְשֵׁם רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן הַיְסוּפַּר לוֹ כִּי אֲדַבֵּר כִּי אָמַר אִישׁ כִּי יְבוּלָּע. אִם בָּא אָדָם לְסַפֵּר גְּבוּרוֹתָיו שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִתְבַּלֵּעַ מִן הָעוֹלָם. אָמַר רִבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן מִי יְמַלֵּל גְּבוּרוֹת ה׳ כְּגוֹן אֲנִי וַחֲבֵירָי. אָמַר רִבִּי אָבוּן מִי יְמַלֵּל גְּבוּרוֹת ה׳. תִּרְגֵּם יַעֲקֹב כְּפַר נָבוֹרָיָיא בְּצוֹר לְךָ דוּמִיָּה תְהִילָּה אֱלֹהִים בְּצִּיּוֹן. סַמָּא דְכוּלָּא מַשְׁתּוּקָא. לְמַרְגָּלִית דְּלֵית לָהּ טִימֵי כָּל שֶׁמְּשַׁבֵּחַ בָּהּ פָּגְמָהּ.

2 Rebbi Yoḥanan and Rebbi Jonathan went to make peace in the Southern settlements. They came to a place where they found the reader saying: “The great God, the strong and awe-inspiring, the noble and overpowering;” they stopped him and told him: you are not permitted to add to the formula the Sages coined for benedictions. Rav Huna in the name of Rav: (Job 37:23) “The All-powerful, we did not find for Him the fullness of His might,” we did not find out the might and strength of the Holy One, praise to Him! Rebbi Abbahu in the name of Rebbi Yoḥanan: (Job 37:20) “Can it be told to Him if I should speak, if a man tells, he certainly will be swallowed up.” If a man comes to tell the strengths of the Holy One, praise to Him, he sets himself up to be swallowed away from the world. Rebbi Samuel bar Naḥman said (Ps. 106:2) “Who can tell the strengths of the Eternal?” For example, I and my colleagues. Rebbi Abun said: “Who can ever tell the strengths of the Eternal?” Jacob of Kefar Naburaia explained in Tyre: (Ps. 65:2) “Silence is praise for You, God in Zion!” The medicine for everything is silence; like a priceless jewel: everyone who adorns himself with it, diminishes it.

ג תַּנִּי הַפּוֹתֵחַ בְּיוּ״ד הֵ״א וְחוֹתֵם בְּיוּ״ד הֵ״א הֲרֵי זֶה חָכָם. בַּאֲלֶ״ף לַמֶּ״ד וְחוֹתֵם בַּאֲלֶ״ף לַמֶּ״ד הֲרֵי זֶה בּוּר. בַּאֲלֶ״ף לַמֶּ״ד וְחוֹתֵם בְּיוּ״ד הֵ״א הֲרֵי זֶה בֵּינוֹנִי. בְּיוּ״ד הֵ״א וְחוֹתֵם בַּאֲלֶ״ף לַמֶּ״ד הֲרֵי זוֹ דֶּרֶךְ אֲחֶרֶת.

3 It was stated: He who starts with YH and closes with YH is wise, with ’L and closes with ’L is ignorant, with ’L and closes with YH is average, with YH and closes with ’L is not Jewish.

ד הַמִּינִין שָׁאֲלוּ אֶת רִבִּי שִׂמְלַאי כַּמָּה אֱלֹהוּת בָּרְאוּ אֶת הָעוֹלָם. אָמַר לָהֶן וְלִי אַתֶּם שׁוֹאֲלִין. לְכוּ וְשַׁאֲלוּ אֶת אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר כִּי שְׁאַל נָא לְיָמִים רִאשׁוֹנִים וְגוֹמֵר. אֲשֶׁר בָּרְאוּ אֱלֹהִים אָדָם עַל הָאָרֶץ אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן אֶלָּא לְמִן הַיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים אָדָם עַל הָאָרֶץ. אָמְרוּ לֵיהּ וְהָכְתִיב בְּרֵאשִית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים. אָמַר לָהֶן וְכִי בָּרְאוּ כְתִיב אֵין כְּתִיב אֶלָּא בָּרָא. אָמַר רִבִּי שִׂמְלַאי כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁפָּקְרוּ הַמִּינִין תְּשׁוּבָתָן בְּצִידָּן.

4 (Jewish) Christians asked Rebbi Simlai: How many aspects of divinity created the world? He answered them: Are you asking me? Go and ask the first Adam, as it is said (Deut. 4:32): “Please ask the first days etc.” It does not say there “when gods created man on the earth” but “from the day that God created man on the earth”. They said to him, but it is written (Gen. 1:1): “In the beginning, ĕlōhīm created …” He said to them: Is it written “they created” (plural)? It says “he created” (singular). Rebbi Simlai said, every place where the Christians read heretic meanings, their answer is at that place.

ה חָזְרוּ וְשָׁאֲלוּ אוֹתוֹ. מַה אָהֵן דִּכְתִיב נַעֲשֵׂה אָדָם בְּצַלְמֵינוּ כִּדְמוּתֵינוּ. אָמַר לָהֶן וַיִּבְרְאוּ אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאָדָם בְּצַלְמָם אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן אֶלָּא וַיִּבְרָא אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאָדָם בְּצַלְמוֹ. אָמְרוּ לוֹ תַלְמִידָיו לְאֶילּוּ דָּחִיתָה בְּקָנֶה לָנוּ מַה אַתָּה מֵשִיב. אָמַר לָהֶן לְשֶׁעָבַר אָדָם נִבְרָא מִן הֶעָפָר וְחַוָּה נִבְרָאת מִן הָאָדָם. מֵאָדָם וָאֵילַךְ בְּצַלְמֵינוּ כִּדְמוּתֵינוּ. אִי אֶיפְשַׁר לָאִישׁ בְּלֹא אִשָּׁה. וְאִי אֶפְשַׁר לְאִשָּׁה בְּלֹא אִישׁ. אִי אֶיפְשַׁר לִשְׁנֵיהֶן בְּלֹא שְׁכִינָה.

5 They came back and asked him: What is that which is written (Gen. 1:26): “Let us make a human in our image, as in our pattern.” He answered them, it is not written: “ĕlōhīm created man in their image” but (Gen. 1:27): “God created man in His image.” His students told him: these you pushed away with a stick, what can you answer us? He said to them: Adam was created from dust, Eve was created from Adam. After Adam “in our image, like our pattern;” it is impossible for a man without a woman, or for a woman without a man, and for both of them without the Shekhinah.

ו וְחָזְרוּ וְשָָׁאֲלוּ אוֹתוֹ. מַה הָהֵן דִּכְתִיב אֵל אֱלֹהִים ה׳ אֵל אֱלֹהִים ה׳ הוּא יוֹדֵעַ. אָמַר לָהֶן הֵם יוֹדְעִים אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן אֶלָּא הוּא יוֹדֵעַ כְּתִיב. אָמְרוּ לוֹ תַלְמִידָיו רִבִּי לְאֶילּוּ דָּחִיתָ בְּקָנֶה לָנוּ מַה אַתָּה מֵשִיב. אָמַר לָהֶן שְׁלָשְׁתָּן שֵׁם אֶחָד כְּאֵינָשׁ דַּאֲמַר בַּסִילֵייוּס קֵיסַר אַגוּשְׂתּוֹס.

6 They came back and asked him: What is that which is written (Jos. 22:22): “God, ĕlōhīm, Eternal, God, ĕlōhīm, Eternal, He knows.” He answered them, it is not written: “they know”, but “He knows.” His students told him: Teacher, these you pushed away with a stick, what can you answer us? He said to them: All three are one name, as if a man would say “King, Caesar, Augustus.”

ז חָזְרוּ וְשָָׁאֲלוּ אוֹתוֹ. מַהוּ דִּכְתִיב אֵל אֱלֹהִים ה׳ דִּבֶּר וַיִּקְרָא אָרֶץ. אָמַר לָהֶן וְכִי דִּיבְּרוּ וַיִּקְרְאוּ כְתִיב כָּאן. אֵין כְּתִיב אֶלָּא דִּבֶּר וַיִּקְרָא אָרֶץ. אָמְרוּ לוֹ תַלְמִידָיו רִבִּי לְאֶילּוּ דָּחִיתָה בְּקָנֶה וְלָנוּ מַה אַתָּה מֵשִיב. אָמַר לָהֶן שְׁלָשְׁתָּן שֵׁם אֶחָד כְּאִינִישׁ דַּאֲמַר אוּמָנוֹן בְּנָיָין אַרְכִיטֶקְטָנָן.

7 They came back and asked him: What is that which is written (Ps. 50:2): “God, ĕlōhīm, Eternal, He spoke and called the earth.” He answered them, it is not written: “they spoke and called”, but “He spoke and called.” His students told him: Teacher, these you pushed away with a stick, what can you answer us? He said to them: All three are one name, as if a man would say “professional, builder, architect.”

ח חָזְרוּ וְשָָׁאֲלוּ אוֹתוֹ. מַהוּ דִּכְתִיב כִּי אֱלֹהִים קְדוֹשִׁים הוּא. אָמַר לָהֶן קְדוֹשִׁים הֵם אֵין כְּתִיב כַּאן אֶלָּא הוּא אֵל קַנָּא הוּא. אָמְרוּ לוֹ תַלְמִידָיו רִבִּי לְאֶילּוּ דָּחִיתָה בְּקָנֶה וְלָנוּ מַה אַתָּה מֵשִיב. אָמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק קָדוֹשׁ בְּכָל מִינֵי קְדוּשׁוֹת. דְּאָמַר רִבִּי יוּדָן בְּשֵׁם רִבִּי אָחָא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא דַּרְכּוֹ בִקְדוּשָָׁה. דִּיבּוּרוֹ בִקְדוּשָׁה. וְיִישׁוּבוֹ בִקְדוּשָׁה. חֲשִׂיפַת זְרוֹעוֹ בִקְדוּשָׁה. אֱלֹהִים נוֹרָא וְאַדִּיר בִּקְדוּשָׁה. דַּרְכּוֹ בִקְדוּשָׁה. אֱלֹהִים בַּקּוֹדֶשׁ דַּרְכֶּךָ. הִילּוּכוֹ בִקְדוּשָׁה. הֲלִיכוֹת אֵלִי מַלְכִּי בַקּוֹדֶשׁ. מוֹשָׁבוֹ בִקְדוּשָׁה. אֱלֹהִים יָשַׁב עַל כִּסֵּא קָדְשׁוֹ. דִּיבּוּרוֹ בִקְדוּשָׁה. אֱלֹהִים דִּיבֶּר. חֲשִׂיפַת זְרוֹעוֹ בִקְדוּשָׁה. חָשַׂף ה׳ אֶת זְרוֹעַ קָדְשׁוֹ. נוֹרָא וְאַדִּיר בִּקְדוּשָׁה. מִי כָמוֹכָה נֶאְדָּר בַּקּוֹדֶשׁ.

8 They came back and asked him: What is that which is written (Jos. 24:19): “For He is a holy God.” He answered them, it is not written: “they”, but “He,” “He is a jealous God.” His students told him: Teacher, these you pushed away with a stick, what can you answer us? Rebbi Isaac said, He is holy in all kinds of holiness, as Rebbi Yudan said in the name of Rebbi Aḥa: The Holy One, praise to Him, is holy in all kinds of holiness. His speech is in holiness, His throning is in holiness, the baring of His arm is in holiness, God is awesome and majestic in holiness. His way is in holiness, (Ps. 77:14) “God, Your way is in holiness.” His walking is in holiness, (Ps. 68:25) “the course of my God, my King, in holiness.” His throning is in holiness, (Ps. 47:9) “God throned on His holy throne.” His speech is in holiness, (Ps. 60:8) “God spoke [in His holiness].” The baring of His arm is in holiness, (Is. 52:10) “The Eternal bared His holy arm.” He is awesome and glorious in holiness, (Ex. 15:11) “Who is like You, glorious in holiness!”

ט חָזְרוּ וְשָׁאֲלוּ אוֹתוֹ. מַהוּ אָהֵן דִּכְתִיב מִי גּוֹי גָּדוֹל אֲשֶׁר לוֹ אֱלֹהִים קְרוֹבִים אֵלָיו. אָמַר לָהֶן כַּה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ בְּכָל קָרְאֵינוּ אֲלֵיהֶם אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן אֶלָּא בְּכָל קָרְאֵינוּ אֵלָיו. אָמְרוּ לוֹ תַלְמִידָיו רִבִּי לְאֶילּוּ דָּחִיתָה בְּקָנֶה לָנוּ מַה אַתָּה מֵשִיב. אָמַר לָהֶן קָרוֹב בְּכָל מִינֵי קְרֵיבוֹת. דְּאָמַר רִבִּי פִּינְחָס בְּשֵׁם רַב יְהוּדָה בַּר סִימוֹן עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה נִרְאֵית קְרוֹבָה וְאֵינָהּ אֶלָּא רְחוֹקָה. מַה טַעֲמָא יִשָּׂאוּהוּ עַל כָּתֵף יִסְבְּלוּהוּ וְגוֹמֵר. סוּף דָּבָר אֱלוֹהוֹ עִמּוֹ בַבַּיִת וְהוּא צוֹעֵק עַד שֶׁיָּמוּת וְלֹא יִשְׁמַע וְלֹא יוֹשִׁיעַ מִצָּרָתוֹ. אֲבָל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא נִרְאֶה רָחוֹק וְאֵין קָרוֹב מִמֶּנּוּ. דְּאָמַר לֵוִי מֵהָאָרֶץ וְעַד לָרָקִיעַ מַהֲלָךְ חָמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה. וּמֵרָקִיעַ לָרָקִיעַ מַהֲלָךְ חֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה. וְעֹבְיוֹ שֶׁל רָקִיעַ חֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה וְכֵן לְכָל רָקִיעַ וְרָקִיעַ. וְאָמַר רִבִּי בְּרֶכְיָה וְרִבִּי חֶלְבּוֹ בְּשֵׁם רִבִּי אַבָּא סְמוּקָה אַף טַלְפֵי הַחַיּוֹת מַהֲלָךְ חָמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה וַחֲמֵשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה מִנְיָין י̇ש̇ר̇ה̇. רְאֵה כַּמָּה הוּא גָבוֹהַּ מֵעוֹלָמוֹ. וְאָדָם נִכְנַס לְבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת וְעוֹמֵד אַחוֹרֵי הָעַמּוּד וּמִתְפַּלֵּל בִּלְחִישָׁה וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַאֲזִין אֶת תְּפִילָּתוֹ. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְחַנָּה הִיא מְדַבֶּרֶת עַל לִבָּהּ רַק שְׂפָתֶיהָ נָעוֹת וְקוֹלָהּ לֹא יִשָּׁמֵעַ. וְהֶאֱזִין הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֶת תְּפִילָּתָהּ. וְכֵן כָּל בִּרְיוֹתָיו שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר תְּפִילָּה לֶעָנִי כִּי יַעֲטֹף. כְּאָדָם הַמֵּשִׂיחַ בְּאוֹזֶן חֲבֵירוֹ וְהוּא שׁוֹמֵעַ. וְכִי יֵשׁ לְךָ אֱלוֹהַּ קָרוֹב מִזֶּה. שֶׁהוּא קָרוֹב לְבִרְיוֹתָיו כְּפֶה לָאוֹזֶן.

9 They came back and asked him: What is that which is written (Deut. 4:8): “Where is a great people that has ĕlōhīm close to them?” He answered them, it is not written: “Like the Eternal, our ĕlōhīm, always when we call on them”, but “always when we call on Him.” His students told him: Teacher, these you pushed away with a stick, what can you answer us? He said to them, he is close in all kinds of closeness, as Rebbi Phineas said in the name of Rebbi Yehudah bar Simon: Idolatry seems close but is very far. What is the reason? (Is. 46:7) “They take it on the shoulder, carry it, etc.” Finally, his god is with him in the house and he cries until he dies but that one will not hear and not save him from his distress. But the Holy One, praise to Him, seems to be far away when there is no one closer than Him, as Levi said: From the earth to the (first) heaven is a distance of 500 years’ walk. From one heaven to the next is a distance of 500 years’ walk. The thickness of each heaven is a distance of 500 years’ walk. And Rebbi Berekhiah and Rebbi Ḥelbo in the name of Red Rebbi Abba said, also the toes of the heavenly Ḥayot are a length of 515 years’ walk, the number YŠRH. See how much higher He is than His world! But a person enters the synagogue, stands behind a pillar, prays in a whisper, and the Holy One, praise to Him, listens to his prayer, as it has been said (1Sam. 1:13): “Hannah spoke to herself, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard.” But the Holy One, praise to Him, listened to her prayer. And so it is with all His creatures, as it has been said (Ps. 102:1): “Prayer of the poor when he wraps himself up,” just like a man whispering into the ear of his friend and the latter understands. Can you have a God who is closer than that to His creatures, from mouth to ear?”

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