Commentary page

Berakhot 16b

This page gathers the commentary on one source unit: the classic commentaries as they are printed, the sources the text cites, the sages named in it and direct links back to the text.

Read the full text in the reader

Babylonian Talmud · folio map

Berakhot 16b

Berakhot 16b. The full printed text of this folio side — 25 numbered segments, about 648 words — with the classic commentaries printed on the page.

Original text

Segment 1

אִי הָכִי מַאי אִירְיָא הַכּוֹנֵס אֶת הַבְּתוּלָה? אֲפִילּוּ כּוֹנֵס אֶת הָאַלְמָנָה נָמֵי.

The Gemara questions this: If so, why discuss a case of one who is marrying a virgin in particular? Even one who is marrying a widow is performing a mitzva and should also be exempt.

Segment 2

הָכָא — טְרִיד, וְהָכָא — לָא טְרִיד.

The Gemara responds that nevertheless, there is a distinction between one marrying a virgin and one marrying a widow. Here, in the case of one who marries a virgin, the groom is preoccupied by his thoughts, while here, in the case of one who marries a widow, he is not preoccupied.

Segment 3

אִי מִשּׁוּם טִרְדָּא, אֲפִילּוּ טָבְעָה סְפִינָתוֹ בַּיָּם נָמֵי, אַלְּמָה אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר זַבְדָּא אָמַר רַב: אָבֵל חַיָּיב בְּכָל מִצְוֹת הָאֲמוּרוֹת בַּתּוֹרָה, חוּץ מִן הַתְּפִילִּין שֶׁהֲרֵי נֶאֱמַר בָּהֶן ״פְּאֵר״, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״פְּאֵרְךָ חֲבוֹשׁ עָלֶיךָ וְגוֹ׳״!

The Gemara challenges: If a groom is exempt from the recitation of Shema simply due to preoccupation, then even one who is preoccupied because his ship sank at sea should be exempt. If so, why then did Rabbi Abba bar Zavda say that Rav said: A mourner is obligated in all the mitzvot mentioned in the Torah except for the mitzva to don phylacteries, as the term splendor is stated with regard to phylacteries, as it is stated that the prophet Ezekiel was prohibited to mourn and was told: “Bind your splendor upon yourself” (Ezekiel 24:17). If even a mourner, who is pained and preoccupied, is obligated to recite Shema , clearly preoccupation has no bearing upon one’s obligation.

Segment 4

אָמְרִי הָתָם טִרְדָּא דִרְשׁוּת הָכָא טִרְדָּא דְמִצְוָה.

The Gemara responds: Nevertheless, there is a distinction between the cases. There, it is a case of preoccupation with a voluntary act, as there is no mitzva to be preoccupied with his mourning, but here, in the case of a groom, the cause of the preoccupation is the mitzva itself.

Segment 5

מַתְנִי׳ רָחַץ לַיְלָה הָרִאשׁוֹן שֶׁמֵּתָה אִשְׁתּוֹ. אָמְרוּ לוֹ תַּלְמִידָיו: לִמַּדְתָּנוּ רַבֵּינוּ שֶׁאָבֵל אָסוּר לִרְחוֹץ? אָמַר לָהֶם אֵינִי כִּשְׁאָר בְּנֵי אָדָם, אִסְטְנִיס אֲנִי.

MISHNA: The mishna relates another episode portraying unusual conduct by Rabban Gamliel. He bathed on the first night after his wife died. His students said to him: Have you not taught us, our teacher, that a mourner is prohibited to bathe? He answered them: I am not like other people, I am delicate [ istenis ]. For me, not bathing causes actual physical distress, and even a mourner need not suffer physical distress as part of his mourning.

Segment 6

וּכְשֶׁמֵּת טָבִי עַבְדּוֹ קִבֵּל עָלָיו תַּנְחוּמִין. אָמְרוּ לוֹ תַּלְמִידָיו: לִמַּדְתָּנוּ רַבֵּינוּ שֶׁאֵין מְקַבְּלִין תַּנְחוּמִין עַל הָעֲבָדִים? אָמַר לָהֶם: אֵין טָבִי עַבְדִּי כִּשְׁאָר כָּל הָעֲבָדִים, כָּשֵׁר הָיָה.

Another exceptional incident is related: And when his slave, Tavi, died, Rabban Gamliel accepted condolences for his death as one would for a close family member. His students said to him: Have you not taught us, our teacher, that one does not accept condolences for the death of slaves? Rabban Gamliel said to his students: My slave, Tavi, is not like all the rest of the slaves, he was virtuous and it is appropriate to accord him the same respect accorded to a family member.

Segment 7

חָתָן אִם רוֹצֶה לִקְרוֹת קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע לַיְלָה הָרִאשׁוֹן — קוֹרֵא, רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר: לֹא כָּל הָרוֹצֶה לִיטּוֹל אֶת הַשֵּׁם, יִטּוֹל.

With regard to the recitation of Shema on one’s wedding night, the Sages said that if, despite his exemption, a groom wishes to recite Shema on the first night, he may do so. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: Not everyone who wishes to assume the reputation of a God-fearing person may assume it, and consequently, not everyone who wishes to recite Shema on his wedding night may do so.

Segment 8

גְּמָ׳ מַאי טַעְמָא דְּרַבָּן (שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן) גַּמְלִיאֵל? קָסָבַר: אֲנִינוּת לַיְלָה — דְּרַבָּנַן, דִּכְתִיב: ״וְאַחֲרִיתָהּ כְּיוֹם מָר״. וּבִמְקוֹם אִיסְטְנִיס לָא גְזַרוּ בֵּיהּ רַבָּנַן.

GEMARA: With regard to Rabban Gamliel’s bathing on the first night after the death of his wife, the Gemara asks: What is the reason that Rabban Gamliel did not practice the customs of mourning after his wife died? The Gemara answers: He holds that acute mourning [ aninut ] is in effect only on the day of the death itself, but acute mourning at night is only by rabbinic law, as it is written: “And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentations; I will bring sackcloth upon your loins and baldness upon every head; and I will make you like a mourner for an only child, and the end will be like a bitter day” (Amos 8:10). Therefore, by Torah law one’s acute mourning is only during the day, like a bitter day, while the acute mourning at night that follows is only rabbinic. And in the case of a delicate person, the Sages did not issue a decree that one should afflict himself during the period of acute mourning.

Segment 9

וּכְשֶׁמֵּת טָבִי עַבְדּוֹ וְכוּ׳.

We learned in our mishna that: When his servant, Tavi, died, Rabban Gamliel accepted condolences for him.

Segment 10

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: עֲבָדִים וּשְׁפָחוֹת אֵין עוֹמְדִין עֲלֵיהֶם בְּשׁוּרָה, וְאֵין אוֹמְרִים עֲלֵיהֶם בִּרְכַּת אֲבֵלִים וְתַנְחוּמֵי אֲבֵלִים.

The Sages taught in a baraita : For slaves and maidservants who die, one does not stand in a row of comforters to console the mourners, and one recites neither the blessing of the mourners nor the consolation of the mourners.

Segment 11

מַעֲשֶׂה וּמֵתָה שִׁפְחָתוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר. נִכְנְסוּ תַּלְמִידָיו לְנַחֲמוֹ. כֵּיוָן שֶׁרָאָה אוֹתָם עָלָה לַעֲלִיָּיה, וְעָלוּ אַחֲרָיו. נִכְנַס לָאַנְפִּילוֹן, נִכְנְסוּ אַחֲרָיו. נִכְנַס לַטְּרַקְלִין, נִכְנְסוּ אַחֲרָיו. אָמַר לָהֶם: כִּמְדוּמֶּה אֲנִי שֶׁאַתֶּם נִכְוִים בְּפוֹשְׁרִים, עַכְשָׁיו אִי אַתֶּם נִכְוִים אֲפִילּוּ בְּחַמֵּי חַמִּין, לֹא כָּךְ שָׁנִיתִי לָכֶם: עֲבָדִים וּשְׁפָחוֹת אֵין עוֹמְדִים עֲלֵיהֶם בְּשׁוּרָה, וְאֵין אוֹמְרִים עֲלֵיהֶם בִּרְכַּת אֲבֵלִים וְלֹא תַּנְחוּמֵי אֲבֵלִים? אֶלָּא מָה אוֹמְרִים עֲלֵיהֶם? — כְּשֵׁם שֶׁאוֹמְרִים לוֹ לְאָדָם עַל שׁוֹרוֹ וְעַל חֲמוֹרוֹ שֶׁמֵּתוּ — ״הַמָּקוֹם יְמַלֵּא לְךָ חֶסְרוֹנְךָ״, כָּךְ אוֹמְרִים לוֹ עַל עַבְדּוֹ וְעַל שִׁפְחָתוֹ ״הַמָּקוֹם יְמַלֵּא לְךָ חֶסְרוֹנְךָ״.

An incident is related that when Rabbi Eliezer’s maidservant died, his students entered to console him. When he saw them approaching he went up to the second floor, and they went up after him. He entered the gatehouse [ anpilon ], and they entered after him. He entered the banquet hall [ teraklin ], and they entered after him. Having seen them follow him everywhere, he said to them: It seems to me that you would be burned by lukewarm water, meaning that you could take a hint and when I went up to the second floor, you would understand that I did not wish to receive your consolations. Now I see that you are not even burned by boiling hot water. Did I not teach you the following: For slaves and maidservants who die, one does not stand in a row of comforters to console the mourners, and one neither recites the blessing of the mourners nor does he recite the consolation of the mourners, as the relationship between master and slave is not like a familial relationship? Rather, what does one say about them when they die? Just as we say to a person about his ox or donkey which died: May the Omnipresent replenish your loss, so too do we say for one’s slave or maidservant who died: May the Omnipresent replenish your loss, as the connection between a master and his slave is only financial in nature.

Segment 12

תַּנְיָא אִידַּךְ: עֲבָדִים וּשְׁפָחוֹת אֵין מַסְפִּידִין אוֹתָן. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: אִם עֶבֶד כָּשֵׁר הוּא — אוֹמְרִים עָלָיו: ״הוֹי אִישׁ טוֹב וְנֶאֱמָן וְנֶהֱנֶה מִיגִיעוֹ״. אָמְרוּ לוֹ: אִם כֵּן, מָה הִנַּחְתָּ לַכְּשֵׁרִים?

It was taught in another baraita : One does not eulogize slaves and maidservants. Rabbi Yosei says: If he was a virtuous servant, one recites over him a eulogy of sorts: Alas, a good and loyal man who enjoyed the fruits of his hard labor. They said to him: If so, what praise have you left for virtuous Jews? A Jewish person would be proud to be eulogized in that manner.

Segment 13

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אֵין קוֹרִין ״אָבוֹת״ אֶלָּא לִשְׁלֹשָׁה, וְאֵין קוֹרִין ״אִמָּהוֹת״ אֶלָּא לְאַרְבַּע.

The Sages taught in a baraita : One may only call three people patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but not Jacob’s children. And one may only call four people matriarchs, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah.

Segment 14

אָבוֹת מַאי טַעְמָא? אִילֵּימָא מִשּׁוּם דְּלָא יָדְעִינַן אִי מֵרְאוּבֵן קָא אָתֵינַן אִי מִשִּׁמְעוֹן קָא אָתֵינַן, אִי הָכִי אִמָּהוֹת נָמֵי לָא יָדְעִינַן אִי מֵרָחֵל קָא אָתֵינַן אִי מִלֵּאָה קָא אָתֵינַן! אֶלָּא, עַד הָכָא חֲשִׁיבִי, טְפִי לָא חֲשִׁיבִי.

The Gemara asks: What is the reason for this exclusivity with regard to the Patriarchs? If you say that it is because we do not know whether we descend from Reuben or from Simon, so we cannot accurately say our father Reuben, for example, if so, with regard to the Matriarchs as well, we do not know whether we descend from Rachel or from Leah, and we should not call Rachel and Leah matriarchs either. Instead, the reason the sons of Jacob are not called patriarchs is not for that reason, but because until Jacob they are significant enough to be referred to as patriarchs, but beyond Jacob, they are not significant enough to be referred to as patriarchs.

Segment 15

תַּנְיָא אִידָךְ: עֲבָדִים וּשְׁפָחוֹת אֵין קוֹרִין אוֹתָם ״אַבָּא פְּלוֹנִי״ וְ״אִמָּא פְּלוֹנִית״. וְשֶׁל רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל הָיוּ קוֹרִים אוֹתָם ״אַבָּא פְּלוֹנִי״ וְ״אִמָּא פְּלוֹנִית״.

This serves as an introduction; although older people are often referred to with the honorific: Father so-and-so, it was taught in another baraita : One may not refer to slaves and maidservants as father [ abba ] so-and-so or mother [ imma ] so-and-so. But they would call the slaves and maidservants of Rabban Gamliel “father so-and-so” and “mother so-and-so.”

Segment 16

מַעֲשֶׂה לִסְתּוֹר?! מִשּׁוּם דַּחֲשִׁיבִי.

The Gemara asks: Is a story cited in order to contradict the previously stated halakha ? The Gemara answers: There is no contradiction; rather, because Rabban Gamliel’s servants were significant, they were addressed with these honorifics.

Segment 17

אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: מַאי דִּכְתִיב, ״כֵּן אֲבָרֶכְךָ בְחַיָּי בְּשִׁמְךָ אֶשָּׂא כַפָּי״? ״כֵּן אֲבָרֶכְךָ בְחַיָּי״ — זוֹ קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע. ״בְּשִׁמְךָ אֶשָּׂא כַפָּי״ — זוֹ תְּפִלָּה. וְאִם עוֹשֶׂה כֵּן — עָלָיו הַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר: ״כְּמוֹ חֵלֶב וָדֶשֶׁן תִּשְׂבַּע נַפְשִׁי״. וְלֹא עוֹד אֶלָּא שֶׁנּוֹחֵל שְׁנֵי עוֹלָמִים — הָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וְהָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְשִׂפְתֵי רְנָנוֹת יְהַלֶּל פִּי״.

The Gemara cites an aggadic statement concerning prayer and the recitation of Shema . Rabbi Elazar said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “So I will bless You as I live, to Your name I will raise my hands” (Psalms 63:5)? So I will bless You as I live, refers to the recitation of Shema , and to Your name I will raise my hands, refers to the Amida prayer, which is characterized as lifting one’s hands to God. And if one does so, recites Shema and prays, the verse says about him: “As with fat and marrow, my soul will be satisfied” (Psalms 63:6). And not only does he receive this reward, but he inherits two worlds, this world and the World-to-Come, as it is stated: “With lips of joys [ renanot ], my mouth praises You” (Psalms 63:6). The plural, joys, refers to two joys, that of this world and that of the World-to-Come.

Segment 18

רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בָּתַר דִּמְסַיֵּים צְלוֹתֵיהּ אָמַר הָכִי: ״יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, שֶׁתְּשַׁכֵּן בְּפוּרֵינוּ אַהֲבָה וְאַחְוָה וְשָׁלוֹם וְרֵיעוּת. וְתַרְבֶּה גְּבוּלֵנוּ בְּתַלְמִידִים וְתַצְלִיחַ סוֹפֵנוּ אַחֲרִית וְתִקְוָה. וְתָשִׂים חֶלְקֵנוּ בְּגַן עֵדֶן, וְתַקְּנֵנוּ בְּחָבֵר טוֹב וְיֵצֶר טוֹב בְּעוֹלָמֶךָ. וְנַשְׁכִּים וְנִמְצָא יִחוּל לְבָבֵנוּ לְיִרְאָה אֶת שְׁמֶךָ, וְתָבֹא לְפָנֶיךָ קוֹרַת נַפְשֵׁנוּ לְטוֹבָה״.

The Gemara describes how after Rabbi Elazar concluded his prayer, he said the following additional prayer: May it be Your will, Lord our God, to cause to dwell in our lot love and brotherhood, peace and friendship. And may You make our borders rich in disciples and cause us to ultimately succeed, that we will have a good end and hope. And may You set our portion in the Garden of Eden, and may You establish for us a good companion and a good inclination in Your world. And may we rise early and find the aspiration of our hearts to fear Your name, and may the satisfaction of our souls come before You, i.e., may You hear our prayers that we may have spiritual contentment in this world for the best.

Segment 19

רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן בָּתַר דִּמְסַיֵּים צְלוֹתֵיהּ אָמַר הָכִי: ״יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, שֶׁתָּצִיץ בְּבׇשְׁתֵּנוּ, וְתַבִּיט בְּרָעָתֵנוּ, וְתִתְלַבֵּשׁ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ, וְתִתְכַּסֶּה בְּעֻזֶּךָ, וְתִתְעַטֵּף בַּחֲסִידוּתֶךָ, וְתִתְאַזֵּר בַּחֲנִינוּתֶךָ, וְתָבֹא לְפָנֶיךָ מִדַּת טוּבְךָ וְעִנְוְתָנוּתֶךְ״.

Similarly, the Gemara recounts that after Rabbi Yoḥanan concluded his prayer, he said the following additional prayer: May it be Your will, Lord our God, that You look upon our shame and behold our plight, that You clothe Yourself in Your mercy, and cover Yourself with Your might, that You wrap Yourself in Your loving-kindness, and gird Yourself with Your grace, and may Your attributes of goodness and humility come before You.

Segment 20

רַבִּי זֵירָא בָּתַר דִּמְסַיֵּים צְלוֹתֵיהּ אָמַר הָכִי: ״יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, שֶׁלֹּא נֶחֱטָא וְלֹא נֵבוֹשׁ וְלֹא נִכָּלֵם מֵאֲבוֹתֵינוּ״.

Similarly, after Rabbi Zeira concluded his prayers he said the following additional prayer: May it be Your will, Lord our God, that we not sin or shame ourselves, and that we not disgrace ourselves before our forefathers, in the sense that our actions should not disgrace the actions of our forefathers.

Segment 21

רַבִּי חִיָּיא בָּתַר דִּמְצַלֵּי אָמַר הָכִי: ״יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, שֶׁתְּהֵא תּוֹרָתְךָ אוּמָּנוּתֵנוּ, וְאַל יִדְוֶה לִבֵּנוּ, וְאַל יֶחְשְׁכוּ עֵינֵינוּ״.

After Rabbi Ḥiyya prayed he said the following: May it be Your will, Lord our God, that Your Torah should be our vocation, and may our heart not become faint nor our eyes dim.

Segment 22

רַב בָּתַר צְלוֹתֵיהּ אָמַר הָכִי: ״יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ שֶׁתִּתֵּן לָנוּ חַיִּים אֲרוּכִּים, חַיִּים שֶׁל שָׁלוֹם, חַיִּים שֶׁל טוֹבָה, חַיִּים שֶׁל בְּרָכָה, חַיִּים שֶׁל פַּרְנָסָה, חַיִּים שֶׁל חִלּוּץ עֲצָמוֹת, חַיִּים שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶם יִרְאַת חֵטְא, חַיִּים שֶׁאֵין בָּהֶם בּוּשָׁה וּכְלִימָּה, חַיִּים שֶׁל עוֹשֶׁר וְכָבוֹד, חַיִּים שֶׁתְּהֵא בָּנוּ אַהֲבַת תּוֹרָה וְיִרְאַת שָׁמַיִם, חַיִּים שֶׁתְּמַלֵּא לָנוּ אֶת כָּל מִשְׁאֲלוֹת לִבֵּנוּ לְטוֹבָה״.

After his prayer, Rav said the following: May it be Your will, Lord our God, that You grant us long life, a life of peace, a life of goodness, a life of blessing, a life of sustenance, a life of freedom of movement from place to place, where we are not tied to one place, a life of dread of sin, a life without shame and disgrace, a life of wealth and honor, a life in which we have love of Torah and reverence for Heaven, a life in which You fulfill all the desires of our heart for good.

Segment 23

רַבִּי בָּתַר צְלוֹתֵיהּ אָמַר הָכִי: ״יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁתַּצִּילֵנוּ מֵעַזֵּי פָּנִים וּמֵעַזּוּת פָּנִים, מֵאָדָם רָע, וּמִפֶּגַע רָע, מִיֵּצֶר רָע, מֵחָבֵר רָע, מִשָּׁכֵן רָע, וּמִשָּׂטָן הַמַּשְׁחִית, וּמִדִּין קָשֶׁה וּמִבַּעַל דִּין קָשֶׁה, בֵּין שֶׁהוּא בֶּן בְּרִית בֵּין שֶׁאֵינוֹ בֶּן בְּרִית״.

After his prayer, Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi said the following: May it be Your will, Lord our God, and God of our forefathers, that You save us from the arrogant and from arrogance in general, from a bad man, from a bad mishap, from an evil instinct, from a bad companion, from a bad neighbor, from the destructive Satan, from a harsh trial and from a harsh opponent, whether he is a member of the covenant, a Jew, or whether he is not a member of the covenant.

Segment 24

וְאַף עַל גַּב דְּקָיְימִי קָצוֹצֵי עֲלֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי.

And the Gemara notes that Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi would recite this prayer every day despite the fact that royal officers stood watch over Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi for his protection; nevertheless, he prayed to avoid conflict or hindrance resulting from arrogance.

Segment 25

רַב סָפְרָא בָּתַר צְלוֹתֵיהּ אָמַר הָכִי: ״יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, שֶׁתָּשִׂים שָׁלוֹם

After his prayer, Rav Safra said the following: May it be Your will, Lord our God, that You establish peace

Berakhot 16b

Berakhot 16b

Rashi

Tosafot

Rashba

Ritva

Meiri

Maharsha (Chidushei Halachot)

Shita Mekubetzet

Penei Yehoshua

Ben Yehoyada

What this page contains

Continue the sequence

Parallel sources

Lessons and study tools

Sages named on this page

Original text