Menachot 99b

שֶׁבִּיטּוּלָהּ שֶׁל תּוֹרָה זֶהוּ יִסּוּדָהּ, דִּכְתִיב: ״אֲשֶׁר שִׁבַּרְתָּ״, אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמֹשֶׁה: יִישַׁר כֹּחֲךָ שֶׁשִּׁבַּרְתָּ.

the apparent dereliction of the study of Torah is its foundation, e.g., if one breaks off his studies in order to participate in a funeral or a wedding procession. This is derived from a verse, as it is written: “And the Lord said to Moses: Hew for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and I will write upon the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which [ asher ] you broke” (Exodus 34:1). The word “ asher ” is an allusion to the fact that that the Holy One, Blessed be He, said to Moses: Your strength is true [ yishar koḥakha ] in that you broke the tablets, as the breaking of the first tablets led to the foundation of the Torah through the giving of the second tablets.

וְאָמַר רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ: תַּלְמִיד חָכָם שֶׁסָּרַח, אֵין מְבַזִּין אוֹתוֹ בְּפַרְהֶסְיָא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְכָשַׁלְתָּ הַיּוֹם וְכָשַׁל גַּם נָבִיא עִמְּךָ לָיְלָה״ – כַּסֵּהוּ כַּלַּיְלָה.

And Reish Lakish says: With regard to a Torah scholar who sinned, he is not disgraced in public, as it is stated: “Therefore, you shall stumble in the day, and the prophet also shall stumble with you in the night” (Hosea 4:5). One can derive from the verse that if a prophet or any other Torah scholar stumbles and sins, one should conceal his offense like the night and not punish him in public.

וְאָמַר רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ: כׇּל הַמְשַׁכֵּחַ דָּבָר אֶחָד מִתַּלְמוּדוֹ עוֹבֵר בְּלָאו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ וּשְׁמֹר נַפְשְׁךָ מְאֹד פֶּן תִּשְׁכַּח אֶת הַדְּבָרִים״, וְכִדְרַבִּי אָבִין אָמַר רַבִּי אִילְעָא, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי אָבִין אָמַר רַבִּי אִילְעָא: כׇּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״הִשָּׁמֶר״, ״פֶּן״, וְ״אַל״ – אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה.

And Reish Lakish says: Anyone who causes himself to forget even one matter from his studies violates a prohibition, as it is stated with regard to the receiving of the Torah on Mount Sinai: “Only observe for yourself, and guard your soul diligently, lest you forget the matters that your eyes saw, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life, but you should make them known to your children and to your children’s children” (Deuteronomy 4:9). And this is in accordance with the principle that Rabbi Avin says that Rabbi Ile’a says, as Rabbi Avin says that Rabbi Ile’a says: Wherever it is stated: Observe, or: Lest, or: Do not, it is nothing other than a prohibition.

רָבִינָא אָמַר: ״הִשָּׁמֶר״ וּ״פֶן״ שְׁנֵי לָאוִין נִינְהוּ. רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק אָמַר: בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה לָאוִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ וּשְׁמֹר נַפְשְׁךָ מְאֹד פֶּן תִּשְׁכַּח אֶת הַדְּבָרִים״.

Ravina says: One who forgets his studies violates two prohibitions, as the verse uses both the term “observe” and the term “lest,” and these are two prohibitions. Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak says: He violates three prohibitions, as it is stated: “Only observe for yourself, and guard your soul diligently, lest you forget the matters that your eyes saw.” The term “Guard your soul” is derived from the same root as “observe” and is considered an additional prohibition.

יָכוֹל אֲפִילּוּ מֵחֲמַת אוֹנְסוֹ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר ״וּפֶן יָסוּרוּ מִלְּבָבְךָ״ – בִּמְסִירָם מִלִּבּוֹ הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר. רַבִּי דּוֹסְתַּאי בְּרַבִּי יַנַּאי אָמַר: יָכוֹל אֲפִילּוּ תָּקְפָה עָלָיו מִשְׁנָתוֹ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר ״רַק״.

The Gemara qualifies this statement: One might have thought this applies even to one who forgot his Torah knowledge due to circumstances beyond his control. Therefore, the verse states: “And lest they depart from your heart.” This indicates that the verse is speaking of one who willingly causes them to depart from his heart. Rabbi Dostai, son of Rabbi Yannai, says: One might have thought that this applies even if his studies were too hard for him to remember. Therefore, the verse states: “Only,” which excludes one who is unable to recall his studies.

רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן וְרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר דְאָמְרִי תַּרְוַיְיהוּ: תּוֹרָה נִיתְּנָה בְּאַרְבָּעִים, וּנְשָׁמָה נוֹצְרָה בְּאַרְבָּעִים. כׇּל הַמְשַׁמֵּר תּוֹרָתוֹ – נִשְׁמָתוֹ מִשְׁתַּמֶּרֶת, וְכֹל שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְשַׁמֵּר אֶת הַתּוֹרָה – אֵין נִשְׁמָתוֹ מִשְׁתַּמֶּרֶת.

Rabbi Yoḥanan and Rabbi Elazar both say: The Torah was given in forty days, when Moses ascended to Mount Sinai to receive it, and similarly the soul of man is formed in forty days, as the formation of the fetus in the womb takes forty days from the time of conception. This teaches that anyone who preserves his Torah studies, his soul is likewise preserved, and anyone who does not preserve his Torah studies, his soul is not preserved either.

תָּנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל: מָשָׁל לְאָדָם שֶׁמָּסַר צִפּוֹר דְּרוֹר לְעַבְדּוֹ, אָמַר: כִּמְדוּמֶּה אַתָּה שֶׁאִם אַתָּה מְאַבְּדָהּ שֶׁאֲנִי נוֹטֵל מִמְּךָ אִיסָּר בְּדָמֶיהָ? נִשְׁמָתְךָ אֲנִי נוֹטֵל מִמְּךָ!

The school of Rabbi Yishmael taught: This can be illustrated by a parable, as it is comparable to a person who delivered a sparrow to his slave for safekeeping, and said to him: Are you under the impression that if you lose it I will take from you an issar , a small coin, which is the value of the bird? It is not so; I will take your soul from you as punishment, meaning I will kill you. Similarly, one who fails to preserve the Torah entrusted to him will be severely punished.

מַתְנִי׳ שְׁנֵי שׁוּלְחָנוֹת הָיוּ בָּאוּלָם מִבִּפְנִים, עַל פֶּתַח הַבַּיִת, אֶחָד שֶׁל שַׁיִישׁ וְאֶחָד שֶׁל זָהָב. עַל שֶׁל שַׁיִישׁ נוֹתְנִים לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים בִּכְנִיסָתוֹ, וְעַל שֶׁל זָהָב בִּיצִיאָתוֹ.

MISHNA: There were two tables in the Entrance Hall, on the inside of the Entrance Hall, next to the entrance to the Temple, i.e., next to the entrance to the Sanctuary. One was of marble and one was of gold. On the table of marble, the priests place the new shewbread that has been baked, before its entrance into the Sanctuary, so that the loaves may cool a little from the heat of the oven and not spoil. And when the old shewbread is removed from the shewbread Table it is placed on the table of gold upon its exit from the Sanctuary, where it remains until the frankincense is burned on the altar.

שֶׁמַּעֲלִין בַּקּוֹדֶשׁ וְלֹא מוֹרִידִין. וְאֶחָד שֶׁל זָהָב מִבִּפְנִים, שֶׁעָלָיו לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים תָּמִיד.

The reason the shewbread is placed on a gold table when it is removed, rather than on a marble or silver table, is that one elevates to a higher level in matters of sanctity and one does not downgrade. Since it is set on the gold shewbread Table all week, it cannot be downgraded to a marble or silver table upon its removal. And there was one Table of gold within the Sanctuary, upon which the shewbread is always found.

וְאַרְבָּעָה כֹּהֲנִים נִכְנָסִין, שְׁנַיִם בְּיָדָם שְׁנֵי סְדָרִים, וּשְׁנַיִם בְּיָדָם שְׁנֵי בָּזִיכִין, וְאַרְבָּעָה מַקְדִּימִין לִפְנֵיהֶם, שְׁנַיִם לִיטּוֹל שְׁנֵי סְדָרִים, וּשְׁנַיִם לִיטּוֹל שְׁנֵי בָּזִיכִין.

The mishna describes the manner in which it is ensured that the shewbread is constantly on the Table: And four priests enter, two with the two arrangements of the new shewbread in their hands and two with the two bowls of frankincense in their hands. And four priests precede them, entering the Sanctuary before them, two to take the two arrangements of the old shewbread from the Table, and two to take the two bowls of frankincense.

הַמַּכְנִיסִים עוֹמְדִים בַּצָּפוֹן, וּפְנֵיהֶם לַדָּרוֹם, וְהַמּוֹצִיאִין עוֹמְדִים בַּדָּרוֹם, וּפְנֵיהֶם בַּצָּפוֹן. אֵלּוּ מוֹשְׁכִין, וְאֵלּוּ מַנִּיחִין, וְטִפְחוֹ שֶׁל זֶה כְּנֶגֶד טִפְחוֹ שֶׁל זֶה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״לְפָנַי תָּמִיד״.

Those bringing the new shewbread into the Sanctuary stand in the north and their faces are to the south, and those removing the old shewbread stand in the south and their faces are to the north. These priests draw the old shewbread from the Table and those priests place the new shewbread on the Table, and for each handbreadth of this old shewbread that is removed from the Table a handbreadth of that new shewbread is placed upon the Table, so that the Table is never without loaves upon it, as it is stated: “And you shall set upon the Table shewbread before Me always” (Exodus 25:30).

רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: אֲפִילּוּ אֵלּוּ נוֹטְלִין וְאֵלּוּ מַנִּיחִין, אַף הִיא הָיְתָה ״תָּמִיד״.

Rabbi Yosei says: Even if these priests were to remove the shewbread from the Table entirely, and only afterward those priests were to place the new shewbread upon the Table, this too would fulfill the requirement that the shewbread always be on the Table. It is unnecessary to ensure the uninterrupted presence of the shewbread upon the Table, as long as it does not remain a single night without shewbread upon it.

יָצְאוּ וּנְתָנוּם עַל שֻׁלְחָן הַזָּהָב שֶׁהָיָה בָּאוּלָם, הִקְטִירוּ הַבָּזִיכִין, וְהַחַלּוֹת מִתְחַלְּקוֹת לַכֹּהֲנִים.

The mishna describes the manner in which the shewbread is distributed: The priests who carried the old shewbread loaves came out of the Sanctuary and placed them on the table of gold that was in the Entrance Hall. The priests then burned on the altar the frankincense that was in the bowls. And the loaves were subsequently distributed to the priests. This occurred on Shabbat, the day that the priestly watch that served in the Temple during the preceding week was replaced by the priestly watch that would serve during the following week. The shewbread was distributed to the priests of both watches.

חָל יוֹם כִּיפּוּרִים לִהְיוֹת בְּשַׁבָּת, הַחַלּוֹת מִתְחַלְּקוֹת לָעֶרֶב. חָל לִהְיוֹת בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת, שָׂעִיר שֶׁל יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים נֶאֱכָל לָעֶרֶב, וְהַבַּבְלִיִּים אוֹכְלִין אוֹתוֹ כְּשֶׁהוּא חַי, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁדַּעְתָּן יָפָה.

If Yom Kippur occurs on Shabbat, the loaves are distributed at night, at the conclusion of the fast, since they may not be eaten during the day. If Yom Kippur occurs on Friday, i.e., when the holy day begins on Thursday evening, the goat sin offering of Yom Kippur is eaten by the priests at night, i.e., on Friday night, as it may be eaten only on the day that it is sacrificed or during the following night, until midnight. And since there is no possibility of cooking the meat, as one may not cook on Yom Kippur or Shabbat, the Babylonians, i.e., priests who had emigrated from Babylonia, eat it when it is raw, due to the fact that they are broad-minded with regard to their food, i.e., they are not particular and will eat meat even when it is not cooked.

גְּמָ׳ תַּנְיָא: רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר, אֲפִילּוּ סִילֵּק אֶת הַיְּשָׁנָה שַׁחֲרִית וְסִידֵּר אֶת הַחֲדָשָׁה עַרְבִית – אֵין בְּכָךְ כְּלוּם, אֶלָּא מָה אֲנִי מְקַיֵּים ״לְפָנַי תָּמִיד״? שֶׁלֹּא יָלִין שֻׁלְחָן בְּלֹא לֶחֶם.

GEMARA: The mishna teaches that according to Rabbi Yosei, even if the priest first removes the old shewbread entirely, and only then places the new shewbread upon the Table, this fulfills the requirement that the shewbread always be on the Table. Moreover, it is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Yosei says: Even if the priest removed the old shewbread on the morning of Shabbat, and arranged the new shewbread toward evening, there is nothing wrong with that. Rather, how do I realize the meaning of the verse: “And you shall set upon the Table shewbread before Me always” (Exodus 25:30)? This means that the Table should not be left overnight without bread upon it.

אָמַר רַבִּי אַמֵּי: מִדְּבָרָיו שֶׁל רַבִּי יוֹסֵי נִלְמוֹד, אֲפִילּוּ לֹא שָׁנָה אָדָם אֶלָּא פֶּרֶק אֶחָד שַׁחֲרִית וּפֶרֶק אֶחָד עַרְבִית – קִיֵּים מִצְוַת ״לֹא יָמוּשׁ (אֵת) סֵפֶר הַתּוֹרָה הַזֶּה מִפִּיךָ״.

The baraita teaches that according to Rabbi Yosei, even if the old shewbread remained on the Table for a short while in the morning, and the new shewbread was placed on the Table toward evening, and even though it did not reside constantly on the Table, this fulfills the requirement that the shewbread should always be on the Table. Rabbi Ami says: From Rabbi Yosei’s statement we may learn that even if a person learned only one chapter of the Mishna in the morning and one chapter of the Mishna in the evening, he has thereby fulfilled the mitzva of: “This Torah scroll shall not depart from your mouth, and you shall contemplate in it day and night, that you may take heed to do according to all that is written in it, for then you shall make your ways prosperous, and then you shall have good success” (Joshua 1:8).

אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַי: אֲפִילּוּ לֹא קָרָא אָדָם אֶלָּא קְרִיַּת שְׁמַע שַׁחֲרִית וְעַרְבִית – קִיֵּים ״לֹא יָמוּשׁ״, וְדָבָר זֶה אָסוּר לְאוֹמְרוֹ בִּפְנֵי עַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ, וְרָבָא אָמַר: מִצְוָה לְאוֹמְרוֹ בִּפְנֵי עַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ.

Rabbi Yoḥanan says in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai: Even if a person recited only the recitation of Shema in the morning and in the evening, he has fulfilled the mitzva of: “This Torah scroll shall not depart from your mouth.” And it is prohibited to state this matter in the presence of ignoramuses [ amei ha’aretz ], as they are likely to get the impression that there is no need to study Torah beyond this. And Rava says: On the contrary, it is a mitzva to state this matter in the presence of ignoramuses, as they will realize that if merely reciting the Shema leads to such a great reward, all the more so how great is the reward of those who study Torah all day and night.

שָׁאַל בֶּן דָּמָה, בֶּן אֲחוֹתוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל, אֶת רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל: כְּגוֹן אֲנִי, שֶׁלָּמַדְתִּי כׇּל הַתּוֹרָה כּוּלָּהּ, מַהוּ לִלְמוֹד חׇכְמַת יְוָנִית? קָרָא עָלָיו הַמִּקְרָא הַזֶּה: ״לֹא יָמוּשׁ סֵפֶר הַתּוֹרָה הַזֶּה מִפִּיךָ וְהָגִיתָ בּוֹ יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה״. צֵא וּבְדוֹק שָׁעָה שֶׁאֵינָהּ לֹא מִן הַיּוֹם וְלֹא מִן הַלַּיְלָה, וּלְמוֹד בָּהּ חׇכְמַת יְוָנִית.

Ben Dama, son of Rabbi Yishmael’s sister, asked Rabbi Yishmael: In the case of one such as I, who has learned the entire Torah, what is the halakha with regard to studying Greek wisdom? Rabbi Yishmael recited this verse about him: “This Torah scroll shall not depart from your mouth, and you shall contemplate in it day and night.” Go and search for an hour that is neither part of the day nor part of the night, and learn Greek wisdom in it.

וּפְלִיגָא דְּרַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָנִי, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָנִי אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן: פָּסוּק זֶה אֵינוֹ לֹא חוֹבָה וְלֹא מִצְוָה, אֶלָּא בְּרָכָה. רָאָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֶת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ שֶׁדִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה חֲבִיבִים עָלָיו בְּיוֹתֵר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּמְשָׁרְתוֹ יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן נוּן נַעַר לֹא יָמִישׁ מִתּוֹךְ הָאֹהֶל״. אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, כׇּל כָּךְ חֲבִיבִין עָלֶיךָ דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה? ״לֹא יָמוּשׁ סֵפֶר הַתּוֹרָה הַזֶּה מִפִּיךָ״.

The Gemara notes: And this statement of Rabbi Yishmael’s disagrees with the opinion of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani, as Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani says that Rabbi Yonatan says: This verse is neither an obligation nor a mitzva, but a blessing. Rabbi Yonatan explains: The Holy One, Blessed be He, saw Joshua and observed that the words of Torah were very precious to him, as it is stated: “And the Lord spoke to Moses face-to-face… and his servant Joshua, son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the Tent” (Exodus 33:11). The Holy One, Blessed be He, said to Joshua: Joshua, are the words of Torah so precious to you? I bless you that “this Torah scroll shall not depart from your mouth.”

תָּנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל: דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה לֹא יְהוּ עָלֶיךָ חוֹבָה, וְאִי אַתָּה רַשַּׁאי לִפְטוֹר עַצְמְךָ מֵהֶן.

The tanna of the school of Rabbi Yishmael teaches: The words of Torah should not be considered as an obligation upon you, i.e., one should not treat Torah study as a burden, but at the same time you are not permitted to exempt yourself from them.

אָמַר חִזְקִיָּה: מַאי דִּכְתִיב ״וְאַף הֲסִיתְךָ מִפִּי צָר רַחַב לֹא מוּצָק תַּחְתֶּיהָ״? בּוֹא וּרְאֵה שֶׁלֹּא כְּמִדַּת הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִדַּת בָּשָׂר וְדָם. מִדַּת בָּשָׂר וָדָם אָדָם מֵסִית אֶת חֲבֵירוֹ מִדַּרְכֵי חַיִּים לְדַרְכֵי מִיתָה, וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מֵסִית אֶת הָאָדָם מִדַּרְכֵי מִיתָה לְדַרְכֵי חַיִּים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וְאַף הֲסִיתְךָ מִפִּי צָר״ מִגֵּיהִנָּם, שֶׁפִּיהָ צָר, שֶׁעֲשָׁנָהּ צָבוּר

Ḥizkiyya said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “He delivers the afflicted due to His affliction, and opens their ear by tribulation; and also He has allured you out of a narrow opening to a broad place without confines below it, and that which is set on your table is full of fatness” (Job 36:15–16)? Come and see that the attribute of flesh and blood is unlike the attribute of the Holy One, Blessed be He. The attribute of flesh and blood is that a person allures another from the paths of life to the paths of death, but the Holy One, Blessed be He, allures the person from the paths of death to the paths of life, as it is stated: “And also He has allured you out of a narrow opening,” i.e., from Gehenna, the opening of which is narrow so that its smoke is collected