Abraham Cohen Footnotes to the English Translation of Masechet Berakhot

I.e. why should Rab Hanna's house meet with a better fate than the Temple which had been destroyed?

What follows is included in the Burial Service; see Singer, p. 319.

M. adds: b. Isaac.

M. inserts here: What is the Scriptural authority for this? Rab Aha b. Rab Jacob said.

If an article was lost and not found within twelve months, it was deemed irrecoverable.

The benediction to be said on beholding a "crowd" of Israelites; see the preceding folio.

They were apparently annoyed by his excessive praise in comparing them with the sixty myriads of the house of Israel and suspected him of sarcasm. He would in that case have used the Divine Name in the benediction disrespectfully.

Which obviously happened after birth.

Wiesner (p. 186) sees here a trace of the idea that the souls of the wicked are made to inhabit the bodies of such animals. Cf. Sanh. 109 a.

Rashi explains this to mean "shooting stars." Other commentators hazard "comet." The 'Aruk translates Zikin "comets" and K. di-S. "shooting stars." They both probably mean "shooting stars." On this astronomical passage, see Brodetsky, J. R. II. pp. 167 ff.

See p. 74 n. 2.

M.: b. Judah.

There are "seven heavens of which the first, Vilon, was merely a 'curtain' which was withdrawn by day and replaced by night, thus alternately exposing and hiding the Sun, which, together with the moon, planets, and stars, was fixed to the second, Rekia'." Brodetsky, loc. cit. p. 171.

It is merely an error of perspective (Brodetsky).

That the order is reversed.

They thus counteract each other's intensity ; and that is why the same order is not retained in the two passages.

A mythical river mentioned in Dan. vii. 10. It is perhaps meant to denote the Milky Way; see J. E. IV, p. 249.

Wiesner identifies this with Ὑάδες the Hyades, a group of seven stars.

R.V. "Or canst thou guide the Bear with her sons." But the legend that follows requires tanhem to be read as tinnahem.

To let the floods through.

See p. 11.

A proverbial expression. The two stars, having been instroments of destruction, cannot be used to bring reparation.

For the two tears.

M. omits: b. Jacob.

M.: Rab said.

I.e. not full of water.

It was not continuous.

M.: Rab said.

D. S. adopts the reading of the Paris MS : to the whole of the day.

M.: Raba.

I.e. do not carry the corn to market, because the morning rain will make the fields fertile and wheat will be cheap.

M.: Johanan.

Palestine.

I.e. created.

This is explained by Raba's statement which follows.

Mountains and hills are stationary and in fixed places, whereas thunder, etc. occur throughout the world.

I.e. perfectly unclouded.

M.: 'Ulla.

It is stated in Joma 21b, "When the wind blows towards the North [i.e. a South wind]...there is abundant rain; when the wind blows from the North...there is little rain." Prov, xxv. 23 reads in R.V. "The North wind

I.e. between Tuesday and Wednesday.

Diverting the course by numerous canals for irrigation.

The town of Sipphara; Neubauer, p. 336.

The town of Hit. Dekira is connected by Wiesner (p. 147) with kira "wax," and is so-named because of its naphtha wells. Cf. T. A. I. p. 17.

This is the reading of M. and equals "Shapor's land." Edd. : Shebistana.

A similar explanation is given by Josephus, Antiq. I. i. 3.

See p. 350 n. 4.

Shaded to keep out the sun's glare.

A figurative expression. The first rain is absorbed in the soil and requires no benediction. But when the fallen drops [the bridegroom] begin to rebound towards the falling drops [the bride], then it is required.

This passage is now included in the Sabbath Morning Service; Singer, pp. 125 f.

On the form of benediction for rain.

Therefore it was unnecessary for the Mishnah to specify "For rain and good tidings," since the latter includes the former.

Who has especially to be thankful for rain.

It follows from this that the landowner's benediction should be "Who

The child is his own, and yet he says the benediction to be uttered over something that is shared.

See p. 26 n. 5.

According to the Biblical law, the entire heritage could not pass to one son.

Went elsewhere to finish his meal.

M. omits: Joseph... Johanan, reading: And Rab said.

I.e. by inheritance or presentation, not by purchase.

In respect to the second purchase. This deduction clearly follows from Rab Huna's view, and also from R. Johanan's, because he only requires the benediction after the purchase when the articles the man poesesses have not been bought.

Because a benediction is only required after the first purchase.

I.e. by inheritance or presentation, not by purchase.

Even Rab Huna who demands a benediction after the first purchase, irrespective of the fact whether the man possesses similar articles.

In requiring; a benediction after a second purchase.

Because R. Judah only requires a benediction after a first purchase when a similar article is in the man's possession.

Thus agreeing with R. Johanan.

For the second purchase according to R. Meir.

Who demands a benediction for the second purchase, and consequently R. Johanan would not be in agreement with him.

Doing damage to fences and crops.

M.: Abba.

M. omits: Rab said.

Each of whom had given birth to two sons.

Sandal, the technical term for which is "sympodia"; cf. Feldman, The Jewish Child, p. 134.

M.: R. Isaac of the School of R. Ammi ; the reference being to R. Isaac b. Redifa; cf. A. P. A. III. p. 720 n. 8.

R.V. "conceive seed,"

M.: Rabbah.

It is good always to fear lest one neglect the study and practice of Torah.

This is the reading of M. adopted by Hyman, I. p. 121 b. Edd.: Judah b. Nathan... followed Rab Hamnuna; he sighed so Rab Hamnuna said.

The words in brackets are added by M. See Singer, p. 310.

Where there is no protection of the law and he is liable to attack.

Should he be arrested on a charge of which he is innocent.

See fol. 19 a, p. 126.

M. omits.

For "R. Aha said," there is a variant (see D. S. ad loc.) "Our Rabbis have taught" which is adopted by Bacher, A. P. A. III. p. 115 n. 4.

M. adds: and 101 with the other. In the parallel passage, Ketubot 62a, "and rescued" etc. is omitted.

I.e. that thanksgiving should be offered up when leaving the bath-house.

Sc. to perform the operation of cupping. Abbai's view on the value of the physician's services is endorsed in Ecclus. xxxviii. 1 ff.

M.: Raba, which Bacher prefers; cf. A. P. A. loc. cit.

Addressing the angels who are supposed to accompany him.

Referring to the words "leave me" which M. inserts here.

Inserted by M. and found in the Prayer Book. See Singer, p. 4.

The name of Rab.

Since everybody has occasion to use this prayer.

Cf. Singer, p. 293.

See Singer, p. 5.

On this benediction, see Abrahams, p. xvi.

These benedictions are no longer said after each act, but are all included in the Morning Service ; see Singer, pp. 5f.

See Singer, pp. 6 f.

M.: Zera.

And good befalls me.