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1) THE POWER OF TORAH AND PRAYER

i. The children argue: if you will punish our parents in the future - why did you punish them in their lifetimes?!

(b) (R. Ilai bar Yevarchiyah): If not for David's prayer, all of Yisrael would sell fat (a poor man's profession) - "Hash-m, give (the poor) wealth (and through this, honor)".
(c) (R. Ilai bar Yevarchiyah): If not Chabakuk's prayer, Chachamim would be so poor that 2 Chachamim would wrap themselves in 1 cloak to learn - "Hash-m, I heard what you told me, and I fear; Hash-m, your deeds, execute them b'Kerev Shanim (in the coming years)" - this may be read "b'Karov Shnayim (2 close together).
(d) (R. Ilai bar Yevarchiyah): 2 Chachamim that walk on the path and do not converse in Torah are fitting to be burned - "They were walking and speaking, and a chariot of fire" - if not for speaking in Torah, they would be fitting to be burned.
(e) (R. Ilai bar Yevarchiyah): 2 Chachamim that live in the same city and do not consult each other, one will die and the other will be exiled - "To flee there, a murderer ... without knowledge".

1. Knowledge is Torah - "My nation appeared to be without knowledge".

(f) (R. Yehudah, brei d'R. Chiya): Any Chacham that engages in Torah amidst financial hardship, his prayer is heard - "The nation will sit in Tziyon, in Yerushalayim they will not cry, Hash-m will be gracious to the sound of your cry, as soon as he hears, he will answer you";

1. Right after this it says, "Hash-m will give you sparse bread and water".

(g) (R. Avahu): He merits to be satiated by the Divine Presence - "Your eyes will see your teacher".
(h) (Rav Acha bar Chanina): The curtain is not locked in front of him - "Your teacher will not separate from you".

(a) (Mishnah): R. Yehoshua testified that after the Temple was destroyed ...
(b) (Rava): Every day's curse is worse than the previous day's - "In the morning you will say, 'If only it were evening!' In the evening you will say, 'If only it were morning!'"
(c) Question: Which morning is longed for?

1. Suggestion: If the coming morning - he does not know if it will be better than the current evening!

(d) Answer: Rather, he longs for the previous morning, for it was not as bad as the current evening is.
(e) Question: If the curse keeps increasing this way - what supports the world?
(f) Answer: The Kedushah said in the prayer "And a redeemer will come to Tziyon", and "Blessed be His great name..." said in Kaddish after learning.

1. "The land became very dark as the darkness of death, without orders" - if there would be orders of (Kedushos), light would emerge from the darkness.

(g) (Mishnah): Dew does not descend for a blessing, and fruits lost their taste ...

1. (Beraisa - R. Shimon ben Elazar): When Taharah ceased, fruits lost their taste and smell; when Ma'aseros ceased, the fat of grain was lost.

(h) Rav Huna found a fat, fragrant date. He wrapped it in his turban. His son Rabah was able to smell it.

1. Rav Huna was happy that his son was Tahor (and therefore could smell it); he gave him the date.
2. Aba, the son of Rabah bar Rav Huna came; Rabah took the date and gave it to his son.
3. Rav Huna: (to Rabah): My son, you delighted me (because you are Tahor) and blunted my teeth (by showing me that you love your son more than you love me)!

i. This is as people say, 'A father mercies his son; the son mercies his own son'.

(i) Rav Acha bar Yakov raised his daughter's son, Yakov. When Yakov grew up, Rav Acha bar Yakov asked him to get him water to drink.

1. Yakov: I am not your son (so I need not honor you)!
2. This is as people say, 'Even though you raised me, I am not your son'.

(a) (Mishnah): During the siege of Aspanyainus, Chachamim decreed against grooms' crowns and Irus;

1. During the siege of Titus, they decreed against brides' crowns and that a person should not teach his son Yevanis;
2. During the last siege, they decreed that brides should not be carried in bridal canopies in the city.

(b) After R. Meir died, there was no one that could give parables;
(c) After ben Azai died, there was no one that learned unceasingly;
(d) After ben Zoma died, there was no one that could expound;
(e) After R. Akiva died, the honor of the Torah ceased;
(f) After R. Chanina ben Dosa died, there was no one of great deeds;
(g) After R. Yosi Katanta died, there were no saintly people;

1. He was called 'Katanta' because he was the smallest of the saintly.

(h) After R. Yishmael ben Pabi died, the radiance of Kehunah ceased;
(i) After Rebbi died, humility and fear of sin ceased.
(j) (Gemara - Beraisa) (Rashi and others include this as part of the Mishnah): R. Pinchas ben Ya'ir says, after the Temple was destroyed, the pious and people of lineage were ashamed; people of deeds were lowered, and the forceful people and talebearers overpowered;

1. No one teaches Yisrael, no one requests mercy for us, no one asks for our peace - we have no one to rely on, except our Father in Heaven!

(k) R. Eliezer says, after the Temple was destroyed, Chachamim started to descend to be as teachers of children; teachers of children as heads of the synagogue; heads of the synagogue as commoners; and commoners keep going lower.

1. No one teaches Yisrael, no one requests mercy for us - we have no one to rely on, except our Father in Heaven!

(l) Before Moshi'ach comes, brazenness will be rampant, the most honored people will be crooked (Rashi's text in Sanhedrin), (even though) the vine will yield grapes, wine will be expensive, most of the world will be ruled by heretics, and there is no rebuke;

1. The house of learning will be used for illicit relations; the Galil will be destroyed, the Gavlan will be desolate, those that lived on the border will roam from city to city without rest;
2. The Chachmah of Chachamim will spoil, those that fear sin will be despised, truth will be hidden, youths will embarrass elders, elders will stand in front of the small;
3. A son will disgrace his father, a daughter will stand up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man's enemies are his household;

(m) The face (leaders) of the generation is as the face of a dog; a son is not ashamed of his father.

1. We have no one to rely on, except our Father in Heaven!

(a) (Rav): Only a groom's crown of rock-salt colored with sulfur was forbidden, but not of myrtle and roses;

1. (Shmuel): Even of myrtle and roses was forbidden, but not of reeds and sedge;
2. (Levi): Even of reeds and sedge was forbidden.

i. Levi's version of the Mishnah explicitly forbids even of reeds and sedge.

(b) (Mishnah): And Irus (was forbidden).
(c) Question: What is Irus?
(d) Answer (R. Elazar): A bell with 1 clapper.

1. Rabah bar Rav Huna made a drum for his son; his father came and broke it, for it could be confused with a bell with 1 clapper.
2. He suggested that he make a drum on the mouth of a vessel, which would not be confused.

(e) (Mishnah): During the siege of Titus, they decreed against brides' crowns ...
(f) Question: What are brides' crowns?
(g) Answer (Rabah bar Rav Huna): A gold headplate with a drawing of the city on it.

1. Support (Beraisa): A bride's crown that is forbidden is a gold headplate with a drawing of the city on it;
2. It is permitted to make a silk hat.

(h) (Beraisa): They even decreed on a groom's canopy.
(i) Question: What is this?
(j) Answer: A scarlet cloak set up as a dome.

1. A groom's canopy is a scarlet cloak set up as a dome; but one may make a dome of wooden rings, and hang whatever he wants from it.

(a) (Mishnah): And that a person should not teach his son Yevanis ...
(b) (Beraisa): When the Chashmonai kings fought each other, Hurkenus was outside Yerushalayim, Aristoblus was inside. Every day, they sent coins over the wall in exchange for animals fit for the daily sacrifices.
(c) There was an elder that knew Chachmas Yevanis; in it, he told the besiegers that they would not prevail as long as the ones inside are serving in the Temple.

1. The next day, the besiegers sent a swine in place of lambs. When it was lifted halfway up the wall, it dug its claw into the wall; Eretz Yisrael shook 400 Parsah.
2. At that time, Chachamim put a curse on anyone that will raise pigs or teach his son Chachmas Yevanis.
3. That year, they had to bring the Omer from the roofs of huts, and the 2 loaves (of Shavuos) from the valley of Ain Socher.

(d) Question: But Rebbi said, in Eretz Yisrael, one should not speak Sorsi - he should speak Hebrew or Yevanis!

1. R. Yosi said, in Bavel, one should not speak Arami - he should speak Hebrew or Parsi!

(e) Answer: The decree was against Chachmas Yevanis - this is not regular Yevanis.
(f) Question: Is Chachmas Yevanis really forbidden?!

1. Half of the 1000 children of R. Gamliel's house learned Torah; the other half learned Chachmas Yevanis!

(g) Answer: It was permitted to R. Gamliel's house, for they were close to the king.

1. (Beraisa): One who cuts his hair as the Nochrim transgresses 'going in the ways of the Emori';
2. This was permitted to R. Gamliel's house, for they were close to the king.
3. Being close to the king also was a reason to be allowed to learn Chachmas Yevanis.

(h) (Mishnah): During the last siege, they decreed that brides should not go in bridal canopies in the city ...

1. Chachamim permitted this, for modesty.

(i) (Mishnah): After R. Yochanan ben Zakai died, Chachmah ceased.
(j) (Beraisa): After R. Eliezer died, the Sefer Torah was hidden;

1. After R. Yehoshua died, counsel ceased;
2. After R. Akiva died, the arms of the Torah ceased and the wells of Chachmah were stopped up;
3. After R. Elazar ben Azaryah died, the crown of Chachmah ceased;

i. This is because the crown of Chachamim is their wealth.

4. After R. Chanina ben Dosa died, there was no one of great deeds;
5. After R. Yosi Katanta died, there were no saintly people;

i. He was called 'Katanta' because he was the smallest of the saintly.

6. After ben Azai died, there was no one that learned unceasingly;
7. After ben Zoma died, there was no one that could expound;
8. After R. Shimon ben Gamliel died, locusts came and distress increased;
9. After Rebbi died, troubles multiplied.

(k) (Mishnah): After Rebbi died, humility and fear of sin ceased.

1. (Rav Yosef): One should not teach that humility ceased - I am around!
2. (Rav Nachman): One should not teach that fear of sin ceased - I am around!