Bartenura on Mishnah Berakhot

Sefaria · Mishnah > Rishonim on Mishnah > Bartenura > Seder Zeraim · 222 sections

4.4.2
מתפלל תפלה קצרה – And what is this short prayer? That he recites: “Save O LORD, your people…”
4.4.3
בכל פרשת העבור – Even at the time when they are turning aside to sin, “may their needs be revealed before You to have compassion upon them.” “פרשת”/crossroads – means “turning aside.” “העיבור”- of the crossroads. But the Halakha does not follow Rabbi Yehoshua, but rather, the prayer that is recited in a place of danger is “The needs of your people are many, etc.” And when a person recites it as he is walking, he does not recite the first three or last blessings [of the Amidah] but when he passes through the place of danger and is able to compose himself at ease, he must go back and recite the Amidah as it has been established if the time for its being recited has not yet passed.
4.5.1
היה רוכב על החמור ירד – The Halakha does not follow the [opinion of this] anonymous Mishnah but rather whether or not he has someone who can hold his donkey or not, he should not descend [from it] because his mind is not at ease when he descends [from it].
4.5.2
יחזיר את פניו – [He should turn his face] towards Jerusalem, as it says (I Kings 8:48), “and they pray to You in the direction of their land…”
4.5.3
יכוין את בלו כנגד בית קדשי הקדשים – as it states (I Kings 8:35), “and then they pray towards this place…”
4.6.1
באסדא – much wood tied and fastened together on which they float them on the river and people walk upon them, and in the language of the Bible (II Chronicles 2:15), they are called “rafts.”
4.7.1
אין תפלת המוספים אלא בחבר עיר – In communities of the city, that is to say, as a tzibbur/congregation and not as an individual.
4.7.2
בחבר עיר ושלא בחבר עיר – whether as a congregation or as an individual.
4.7.3
ר' יהודה אומר משמו – in the name of Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah. There is a difference between the first teacher [of our Mishnah] and Rabbi Yehuda: An individual who dwells in a city where there aren’t ten [individuals – for a Minyan], according to the First Teacher [of our Mishnah] according to the opinion of Rabbi Eleazar who said, that they did not establish this other than with a community of the city, then an individual is exempt. But according to Rabbi Yehuda, an individual is only exempt when he is in a place where ten [individuals are found] and the שליח ציבור/emissary of the congregation exempts him. And the Halakha follows the Sages.
5.1.1
אין עומדין...מתוך כובד ראש – surrender and fear/awe, as it is written (Psalms 2:11), “Serve the LORD in awe;” and this “service” is prayer.
5.1.2
שוהים שעה אחת – at the place where they came to pray.
5.1.3
אפילו המלך שואל בשלומו – and specifically a Jewish king, but a king who worships idols and constellations, you interrupt [yourself] so that he would not kill you.
5.1.4
אפילו נחש כרוך על עקבו – specifically a snake which most of the time does not bite, but a scorpion or a viper from the things that do indeed bite and kill, you interrupt [your recitation of the Amidah].
5.2.1
מזכירין גבורות גשמים – The words “Who Causes the Wind to blow” is not the language of a request, but rather the language of mentioning and praise, and because the rains are one of the powers of the Holy One, blessed be He, as it is written (Job 5:9-10), “Who performs great deeds which cannot be fathomed…Who gives rain to the earth” – and because of this, we call it the “גבורות גשמים/the Power to cause the rain to fall.”
5.2.2
ושאלה – [The words] “who causes dew and rain to fall for a blessing” is a request.
5.2.3
בברכת השנים – Since these (in this blessing) are for sustenance, [the Rabbis] established their request in the blessing of sustenance.
5.2.4
והבדלה – on Saturday night (after Shabbat is over)
5.2.5
בחונן הדעת – [Chonen HaDaat] which is the first blessing of the weekday. And in the Jerusalem Talmud, they asked: Why was Havdalah established to be recited in “"חונן הדעת (the fourth blessing of the Amidah)? For if there is no knowledge, how can one know about Havdalah (the ceremony that separates between the conclusion of the Sabbath and the beginning of the workweek)? And this is the Halakha.
5.3.1
על קן צפור יגיעו רחמיך – Just as Your mercy reached the bird and you decreed (Deuteronomy 22:6), “Do not take the mother together with her young,” so too should God have compassion upon us as well.
5.3.2
על טוב יזכר שמך – Implying on Your [God’s] goodness (alone) we give thanks to you, but we do not thank Him [God] on the bad things , and yet we are obligated to bless God on the bad things as we do on the good things (see Tractate Berakhot, chapter 9, Mishnah 5).
5.3.3
מודים מודים – which [when you repeat the word “Modim/We thank you,” it appears like one is accepting upon oneself multiple deities, and the Jerusalem Talmud explains that this when it is recited by the community, whereas for an individual [worshipper], they are [words of] supplication.
5.3.4
משתקין אותו – [We silence him] for making the Holy One, blessed be He’s attributes ones of mercy, and they are none other than decrees of the King upon his servants.
5.3.5
ולא יהא סרבן באותה שעה – In the manner of those who descend before the Ark [to lead the service] that they must refuse once, but he should not refuse when they [the members of the congregation] tell him, “go down,” because it is shameful that the Prayer is interrupted so much.
5.4.1
לא יענה אחר הכהנים אמן – at the conclusion of each blessing such as the rest of the congregation does (i.e. After the Kohanim, at the prompting of the שליח ציבור/emissary of the congregation, recites each word in Hebrew of – “May the LORD bless you and guard you” – the congregation would answer “Amen.”).
5.4.2
מפני הטירוף – that he (the שליח ציבור/emissary of the congregation) would not be confused and err since the שליח ציבור/emissary of the congregation would need to begin the second blessing and recite it to them (the Kohanim), word by word, and if he would answer “Amen,” (following the completion of the recitation of the blessing by the Kohanim), he would not be able to concentrate and return to his prayer speedily , and to begin the blessing in the appropriate manner that he should begin.
5.4.3
לא ישא את כפיו – Lest he is unable to concentrate and return to his prayer (repetition of the Amidah and to begin “שים שלום/Grant peace” (the concluding blessing of the Amidah), as his mind would be confused due to his fear of the congregation.
5.4.4
ואם הבטחתו – that is if he is self-assured that he won’t become confused from the fear of the congregation.
5.5.1
אם שגורה תפלתי – ordered/arranged well in my mouth, that is acceptable and I would not stumble in it.
5.5.2
שהוא מטורף – that the infirm individual would be rejected (bound to die), such as (Genesis 44: 28), “alas, he was torn by a beast. ” Another explanation: it is the language (Tractate Berakhot 5b) of: “his prayer is thrown in his face” (i.e. rejected); that is to say, the prayer that they prayed for him is rejected and troubled and not accepted.
6.1.1
כיצד מברכין...חוץ מן היין – Since out of its importance (i.e., the wine), they (i.e., the Rabbis) established a blessing of its own.
6.1.2
בורא מיני דשאים – Since there is the midst the “fruit of the ground,” herbs and seeds such as pulse and Rabbi Yehuda requires a recognized blessing for each species/kind. But the Halakha does not follow Rabbi Yehuda. But since it teaches in the Mishnah that on vegetables we recite [the blessing] “who creates the fruit of the ground,” these kinds of vegetables where is customary to eat them raw and he ate them raw, or where it was customary to eat them cooked and he ate them cooked. But those [vegetables] where it was customary to eat raw and he ate them cooked, or [conversely], where it was customary to eat them cooked and he ate them raw, , he only recites [upon them] the blessing “שהכל/for all things [created by (God’s) word].” And those vegetables that we eat either raw or cooked, we make the blessing, “who creates the fruit of the ground/בורא פרי האדמה” whether he [ate them] raw or cooked.
6.2.1
ברך על פירות האילן וכו' – Whenever one takes hold of fruit that comes from a branch and that branch itself produces fruit in the following year (i.e., “perennial”), it is called a “tee” and we make the blessing on its fruits, “בורא פרי העץ/who creates the fruit of the tree;” but, where one takes hold of it [the fruit] and the branch does not remain to produce in the following year, we do not recite the [same] blessing on them, but rather, “בורא פרי האדמה/who creates the fruit of the ground.”
6.2.2
על כולן אם אמר שהכל יצא – And even on bread and even on the wine (i.e., fruit of the vine). However, ab initio, one should not eat any fruit if he does not know at first the appropriate blessing to be recited on it.
6.3.1
נובלות – fruit that fell from the tree prior to being fully ripened.
6.3.2
גובאי (species of edible locusts) – clean/pure locusts
6.3.3
מין קללה – unripe fruit and locusts come from a curse; and the Halakha does not follow Rabbi Yehuda.
6.4.1
מין שבע – wheat, barley, vines, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates, which are preferred since through them, the Land of Israel is praised (see Deuteronomy 8:9).
6.4.2
מברך על איזה מהם שירצה – which are beloved to him, and the Halakha follows the Sages.
6.5.1
פטר את היין שלאחר המזון – These words [refer to] Sabbaths and Holy Days where it is customary to impart the character of an appointed meal (Sabbath or Holy Day) on the wine after the meal when reciting the blessing on the wine prior to the [start of the] meal, with the assumption that he has already recited the blessing, but on other days where it is not customary to impart the character of an appointed meal through wine after the meal, the blessing on the wine prior to [the start of] the meal does not exempt one [from being required] to recite a blessing after the meal. And every [expression] of “after the meal” as taught in this Tractate is after one has removed their hands from the bread prior to their recitation of the Blessing after the Meal/ברכת המזון.
6.5.2
פרפרת – Everything that serves as a relish for bread such as meat, or eggs or fish is called appetizer/פרפרת; and sometimes they would bring appetizers before the meal/main course, in order to continue the eating and then they once again bring other "פרפרות" after the meal/]dessert] after they have withdrawn their hands from the bread.
6.5.3
מעשה קדרה – Such as flat cakes and grist of early ripened and tender barley which are boiled in water such as pancakes and other similar things. And there are those who explain the word “פרפרת” of our Mishnah as shrunken pieces of bread (soaked) in a bowl which does not appear to look like bread, and on which (when we consume it), we recite the blessing on it, “בורא מיני מזונות/Who Creates various kinds of foods.” And now, it is appropriate that we should teach, “If one has made the blessing on the appetizer, one is not exempt from reciting the blessing on the bread,” even though it also is a form of bread. But something that has been made in a pot exempts us [from reciting the blessing on the bread]. And the School of Shammai holds that just as if we made a blessing on the appetizer, we are not exempt from [reciting the blessing on] the bread, similarly, we are exempt by something made in a pot. And the Halakha does not follow the School of Shammai.
6.6.1
היו יושבין – Without reclining and the sign is that they were not gathered to eat together, since it was customary when groups of people gather together to eat, they would recline on couches and eat and drink while leaning to the left.
6.6.2
כל אחד מברך לעצמו – For they did not have an established meal without reclining. However, if they said: “Let us go and eat bread in a certain place,” even though they did not recline, it is as if they had reclined, and one makes the blessing for (i.e. on behalf of) everyone and they join together also for the invitation [to recite ברכת המזון/The Blessing after the Meal].
6.6.3
בא להם מים בתוך המזון כל אחד מברך לעצמו – Since the esophagus is not free, and the hearts of those leaning are not facing the individual who is making the blessing, other than to swallow what is in their mouths. If so, there is concern lest a person choke when he comes to answer “Amen” [to the blessing recited].
6.6.4
והוא אומר על המוגמר – He who recites ברכת המזון/The Blessing After the Meal, he is the one reciting a blessing on the spices on perfume, “who creates the trees of spices/בורא עצי בשמים”, and even though that there is one that is preferable to it, even so, since he began with one, he would move to the other.
6.6.5
לאחר הסעודה – After [reciting] ברכת המזון, that currently is not [connected to] the needs of the meal, even so, since he has begun reciting other blessings, he should finish them.
6.6.6
מוגמר – they were accustomed to bring trees of spices/perfume after the meal snuff-dishes on a fire for the purposes [of providing] a good smell.
6.7.1
מליח – every salty thing.
6.7.2
שהפת טפלה לו – Whomever ate a large meal [consisting of] extremely sweet fruits, eats afterwards something salty to sever the moisture that is stuck is attached in his body on account of the large amount of fruits [consumed], and because he is incapable of eating something salty alone, he eats from the bread with it. But the salty [food] alone is essential and the bread is secondary to it.
6.8.1
מברך אחריהן שלש ברכות – Anything from the seven species, [after eating] one recites the three blessings [of ברכת המזון] as Rabban Gamaliel holds that [the words] “when you have eaten your fill, give thanks [to the LORD your God” (Deuteronomy 8:10), does not refer to bread alone, but to all seven of the species that are mentioned above in the portion of this verse (ibid., verse 8, “a land of wheat and barley, of vines, figs and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey”). And in this verse, the three blessings are hinted at: “give thanks” – this is the blessing for food; “for the…land” – this is the blessing of the Land (of Israel); “for the good [land which He has given you]” – [this is the blessing of] “who builds Jerusalem.” And similarly, he says, “that good hill country and the Lebanon” (Deuteronomy 3:25).
6.8.2
וחכ"א ברכה אחת – [One blessing] that is an abstract of the three blessings; if he ate grapes, figs, pomegranate, olives or dates, he recites the blessing, “on the tree and on the fruit of tree and on the splendid good land, etc.” and concludes the blessing [with the words: Praised are You….] on the Land and on the fruit thereof.” And in the land of Israel, one concludes the blessing: “on the Land and on its fruit.” And this blessing itself he would recite, “on the wine,” but he would open [with the words]: [Praised are You….] on the wine and on the fruit of the vine” (see Berakhot 44a). And on ever thing that is made from the five kinds of grain (i.e., wheat, rye, barley, spelt and oats), he would substitute [the words] “for the sustenance and on the provision” for “on the tree and the fruit of the tree” and conclude [the blessing with the words, “Praised are You…] for the sustenance and on the provision.”
6.8.3
אפילו אכל שלק – [overboiled] vegetables and it is the meal that he depends upon [for nourishment, making a meal of it], he recites the three blessings of “when you have eaten your fill, [give thanks [to the LORD your God] (Deuteronomy 8:10), since it refers to what he has eaten. And the Halakha follows the Sages, that we do not recite the three blessings [of Birkat HaMazon] other than for bread , and on the seven species [of the Land of Israel], we recite the one blessing that is an abstract of the three [ברכה אחת מעין שלש] , but on all other things, we recite “בורא נפשות רבות וחסרונן/Who Creates Many Souls [who have] their Deficiencies/lacking”. And the explanation of the word, “חסרונן”/Deficiencies/that which they are lacking, such as bread and water where it is impossible to exist without them “on everything that [God] created for a living person to exist , that is to say, on everything in the world that also, had it not been created, human beings could exist and everyone was not create for pleasure and additional goodness and because there is this blessing, these two matters are covered in one long blessing that begins with “Praised [are You]” and concludes with “Praised [are You]” as it is found in the Jerusalem Talmud , “Praised are You, O LORD, eternal life of the universe.”
6.8.4
השותה מים לצמאו – Specifically [drinking water to quench one’s thirst], he recites the blessing, “For all things [that will be like God’s word]/שהכל נהיה בדברו".” But if one drinks water in order to swallow [i.e. wash down] some food that is stuck in his throat, he does not recite a blessing.
6.8.5
רבי טרפון אומר בורא נפשות רבות – He recites he blessing before drinking the water, but the Halakha does not follow Rabbi Tarphon, but rather, beforehand, recites “Shehakol” and afterwards, “בורא נפשות רבות”/Who Creates many souls.”
7.1.1
שלשה שאכל כאחד חייבין לזמן – to join oneself to [the group] together to recite [Birkat HaMazon] in the plural [formulation], “let us bless/give thanks for what we had have eaten of His {God’s].”
7.1.2
דמאי – produce of the masses (lit., “ignorant ones”) which are called “DEMAI”/doubtfully tithed, that is to say, this – have they been tithed or not? Since they are suspected regarding the tithes. (Note: Generally, the masses (common people – who are not known as Haverim/colleagues who are considered trustworthy) would give תרומה גדולה– the 2% tithe of their produce to a Kohen, but they might not necessarily give 1/10th of the rest to a Levite- known as מעשר ראשון/First Tithe or take 1/10 of the remainder to Jerusalem in years 1,2,4 and 5 of the seven year cycle to be consumed there- known as מעשר שני/Second Tithe), and the Sages forbade eating from their produce until they would tithe it, and if one ate [from produce] that was not tithed, one recites the [appropriate] blessing on it and it is not considered a Mitzvah performed on account of a sin, since most of the masses do tithe.
7.1.3
שנטלה תרומתו – And even though they may not have taken from it the תרומה גדולה/the Great Tithe (for the Kohen), such as the son of a Levite who took his portion (מעשר ראשון) for them prior to the Kohen taking his תרומה גדולה portion (2% of the entire individual’s produce, and the Kohen who should have taken his תרומה גדולה first [which is] one-fiftieth (1/50), as the All-Merciful (in the Torah) calls it “[the] first [portion]” (see Numbers 15:20); it is found that the תרומה גדולה of the Kohen is amidst this tithe one of fifty, besides the תרומה מעשר that the Levite is obligated to separate out the tithe from his tithe to give to the Kohen (1/10 of his received gift goes to a Kohen), and our Mishnah teaches us that he the Levite is exempt from separate out תרומה גדולה (the “Great Tithe” of 2% that all Israelites must give), as it is written (Numbers 18:26), “you shall set aside from them one-tenth of the tithe as a gift to the LORD.” “One tenth of the tithe” I said to you and not “תרומה גדולה/the Great Tithe”, but one-tenth of the tithe [only].
7.1.4
מעשר שני והקדש שנפדו – Such as the case where he gave the principal but did not give the extra one-fifth, that the owners that fifth, and our Tanna/teacher comes to teach us that the one-fifth does not invalidate an act by its omission.
7.1.5
והשמש שאכל כזית – you might be under the impression that since the waiter/attendant lacks having a regular appointment (i.e., being regularly there), [but simply] comes and goes, that we would not invite him [to recite ברכת המזוןas part of a group], but [the Mishnah] comes to teach us that in all of these cases, it teaches us, that even though it appears to be forbidden, there is no blessing recited in the midst of a transgression.
7.1.6
והכותי – From the those who worship idols and constellations which the King of Ashur brought [with him] from Cuth (a Babylonian town whence Assyrian colonists were introduced into Samaria) and from the other lands and dwell with them in the cities of Samaria who converted out of fear of lions that would eat them as explained in II Kings 17:24-41. And they observed the written Torah and all the commandments that they took hold of, they observed punctiliously more than the Israelites, therefore, people accepted them in some of the commandments until they examined them [more closely] and found among them the image of the pigeon at the top of Mount Gerizim that they would worship and from then on, they considered them as those who totally worship idols and constellations. Therefore, nowadays, we do not invite a Cuthean to participate [in the group recitation of ברכת המזון; see especially verse 41 of II Kings 24.)
7.1.7
אכל טבל – Grain from which the heave-offering (for the Kohen) and the tithes (i.e. First and Second Tithes) had not been taken is called TEVEL/טבל [where produce is in that stage in which the separation of Levitical and Priestly shares respectively is required, before you may partake of them], and the explanation of טבל is “it is not good” (the word טבל is a aggregate of these two words), and it is not necessary to say, טבל according to the Torah, but even טבל according to the Rabbis, such as grain that grew in a pot without a hole, which is only considered טבל according to the Rabbis, we don’t invite that individual to participate [in the group recitation of] ברכת המזון.
7.1.8
ומעשר ראשון שלא נטלה תרומתו – We are not dealing with תרומת מעשר (the tithe that the LEVITE must make to the KOHEN from what he received from other Israelites as מעשר ראשון/First Tithe), since that is complete TEVEL – but rather such as the case where the Levite preceded a Kohen at a pile [of grain] after it had been shaped into an even pile, which had been designated for TERUMAH from the Torah, and he (the Levite) took the First Tithe first and one-fiftieth of it is appropriate for the תרומה גדולה/the Great Terumah for the Kohen, and as long as he (the Levite) did not give from it תרומה גדולה, even though he separated out תרומת מעשר (the heave-offering of the tithe), we don’t invite him to join the group [recitation of ברכת המזון]. But if he (the Levite) came prior [to the Kohen] with regard to ears of corn, he does not have to separate the heave offering/תרומה גדולה, as we have written of above earlier.
7.1.9
ומעשר שני והקדש שלא נפדו – And we don’t need to say that they were not redeemed at all, for this matter is simple, but rather, that they were redeemed, but not redeemed properly , such as the case where a person redeemed the Second Tithe/מעשר שני in broken ware vessels of silver or in a coin that did not have a shape as the All Merciful-One (God) said (Deuteronomy 14:25), “Wrap up the money [and take it with you to the place that the LORD your God has chosen],” in a form that has a shape, and that which was sanctified for the Sanctuary which was redeemed by land and not by money, for the All-Merciful One (God) said (Deuteronomy 14:25), “You may convert them into money” (not the exact quotation in the Hebrew).
7.1.10
והשמש שאכל פחות מכזית – [This section of the Mishnah] is questionable/unnecessary, but since he retracted for the majority, out of need, , he also retracted for this.
7.1.11
והעובד כוכבים – We are speaking of a [potential] convert who [was] circumcised but did not [as yet] immerse [in a Mikveh/Ritual bath], for as long as he did not immerse, he is an idolater (non-Jew), and he is not [considered] a convert until he is [both] circumcised and immersed [in a Ritual bath/Mikveh].
7.2.1
וקטנים אין מזמנין עליהם – Especially small children who do not know to Whom they are reciting a blessing (ברכת המזון ) a minor who knows to Whom He is reciting a blessing, they may invite him to join [in the group recitation of ברכת המזון], and there is something remarkable that says that we are not speaking about a minor who knows to Whom they are reciting the blessing that we invite him to join [in the group recitation of ברכת המזון] but rather with a child who is thirteen years of age plus one day, who has not brought forth two pubic hairs (which demonstrate his having attained adulthood), and he is called a “blossoming minor” but younger than this, we do not invite him to join [in the group recitation of ברכת המזון] , even if he knows to Whom we are reciting this blessing. And in the Jerusalem Talmud, they bring the Practical Halakha, that we don’t invite the Minor at all, until he grows up and brings forth two pubic hairs. And women invite other [women] to recite ברכת המזון as a group for themselves and slaves invite other [slaves] to recite ברכת המזוןas a group for themselves., but women are not [invited] with slaves because of licentiousness [that would ensue].
7.3.1
בשלשה והוא אומר ברכו – For even without himself, there is a group to be invited/Zimmun and similarly for all of them.
7.3.2
אחד עשרה ואחד עשרה רבוא – The beginning of the Mishnah is Rabbi Akiba as he said, just as we find in the synagogue when we have arrived at ten, there is no division [of the community] whether there are many or few, so too here [in this case], there is no division [of the group into smaller units].
7.3.3
במאה אומר נברך לה' אלהינו – The concluding phrase of the Mishnah is all [according to] Rabbi Yosi HaGelili, who said that according to majority of the community, they recite the [appropriate] blessing, as it says, “Psalms 68:27): “ln assemblies bless God,[ the LORD, O you who are from the fountain of Israel].” But the Halakhic decision is that from three [adult males] until ten [adult males] but the tenth is not included, the person who blesses (as the leader) recites: “Let us bless [Him] that we have eaten from what is His, and everyone answers: “Blessed that we have eaten from what is His, and through His Goodness we live.” And ten or from ten and above, the person leading the blessing states, “We give praise to God that we have eaten from what is His and through His goodness we live.
7.3.4
רבי ישמעאל אומר ברכו את ה' המבורך – and the Halakha is according to Rabbi Yishmael.
7.4.1
אינן רשאין לחלק – Since an obligation of invitation [to a group recitation of ברכת המזון] falls upon them.
7.4.2
וכן ארבעה וכן חמשה – The “three” [of that group of four or five] (cannot separate) to recite ברכת המזון for themselves and the individual should separate himself off from them, for he also has an established obligation for the appeal to participate in the group recitation [of ברכת המזון], it says Psalms 68:27), “In assemblies bless God, [the LORD, O you are from the fountain of Israel].” And the determined Halakhic practice is that from three individuals until ten individuals, but not including ten, the person reciting the blessing says, “Let us thank Him whose food we have eaten/נברך שאכלנו משלו,” and everyone responds, “ברוך שאכלנו משלו ובטובו חיינו/Blessed is [He] whose food we have eaten and through whose goodness we live.” And with ten or more than ten people, the leader says, “נברך לאלהינו שאכלנו משלו/Blessed is our God whose food we have eaten.” And everyone answers: “ברוך לאלהינו שאכלנו משלו ובטובו חיינו/Blessed is our God whose food we have eaten and through whose Goodness we live.”
7.4.3
ששה נחלקין – in order to have a group recitation (of three individuals for ברכת המזון) and another equivalent group over there, until one reaches the number “ten.” But with ten individuals, we do not divide the group since it would obligate them to a have a group recitation including the mention of God’s name until there would be twenty and only then could they divide into two [separate] groups if they desired.
7.5.1
ואם לאו אלו מזמנין לעצמן – And at the time where the attendant/waiter serves the two groups, even though each group does not see the other, the waiter/attendant combines them.
7.5.2
אין מברכין על היין – “Who Creates the Fruit of the Vine/בורא פרי הגפן”.
7.5.3
Until putting water into it, since their wine is extremely strong, and it was not appropriate to drink without water [added to it]. Therefore, since it was not changed for the better, and he did not change his blessing, we recite on it [the blessing] “בורא פרי העץ/Who Creates the fruit of trees,” like [we would recite] on grapes. But the Halakha does not follow Rabbi Eliezer.
8.1.1
אלו דברים – [According to the School of Shammai], he recites the blessing on the [Sabbath and/or Holy] Day – at the beginning the Sanctification of the Day and afterwards, recites the blessing on the wine, “Who creates the fruit of the vine/בורא פרי הגפן”, since he first sanctifies the day and afterwards the wine comes on the table because of the day – and just as he sanctified [the day] at its outset, similarly before the blessing of the wine (based upon the principle: "תדיר ושאינו תדיר, תדיר קודם"/"That which is more frequent vs. that which is less frequent, the more frequent comes first” – see Tractate Horayot, Chapter 3, Mishnah 6).
8.1.2
מברך על היין – [According to the School of Hillel, he recites the blessing on the wine] first, and the same applies to making Kiddush on the Bread (if he lacks fruit of the vine) since the wine or the bread cause [the need to] Sanctification of the Day, for if he doesn’t have wine or bread, he cannot recite the Sanctification/Kiddush.
8.2.1
בית שמאי אומרים: נוטלין לידים ואחר כך מוזגין את הכוס – For if you say “pour the cup” first, as a preventive measure, lest they defile the liquids that fell on the back of the cup on account of one’s hands, for hands prior to washing them are considered impure in the second-degree, and they defile liquids to become impure in the first-degree, and these liquids would come back and defile the outer surface of the cup, for the liquids that were defiled, defile utensils, according to the Rabbis, but they were lenient in this defilement for the utensil whose back was defiled by liquids [which] are impure, what is inside [the utensil] is not defiled nor one’s hands nor its (the utensil’s) rim. And the School of Shammai thinks that it is forbidden to use the cup whose back is impure, even though the inside was not defiled, as a preventive measure, lest splashing [of liquid] of drops from inside [the cup] touch the outer surface of the cup , and the liquids would acquire defilement on account of the outside of the cup, and would defile the hands, and since it is forbidden to use a utensil whose outside are impure, therefore, we wash our hands first and thereafter pour the cup [of wine], in order that the liquid on the outside of the utensil would not receive defilement on account of the hands – and the outside of the utensils would be found to be [ritually] impure, on account of those liquids and we would be using something that is in a forbidden state; but the School of Hillel thinks that there is no prohibition to use a utensil whose external parts are impure; therefore, we pour the cup [of wine] first and drink it and afterwards wash the hands, for if one would say that we wash the hands first and afterwards pour the cup, as a preventive measure lest the external parts of the cup would be impure, for it is permitted to handle a utensil whose external parts are impure, even if one’s hands are not dried well , which would defile the external parts of the utensil, the liquids on his hands and those liquids that had been made “first-degree” impure would defile the hands and it would be found that he would be eating with unclean hands.
8.3.1
מקנח ידיו במפה – From his first hand-washing and place it on the table and wipe his hands with it throughout from the filth of the cooked food; and he should not place it [the napkin] on the cushion on which he sits, as a preventive measure, lest the cushion becomes defiled in the first-degree, and the liquid comes in close contact with the napkin on account of the drying of the hands, and that liquid when it comes in contact with the cushion becomes [defiled] in the first-[degree], and the liquids become [defiled] in the first-[degree], and defile the hands when one wipes [one’s hands] with it continuously during the meal, but concerning the table [itself], there is no preventive measure made, for it is forbidden to use a table which is defiled in the second-degree. But the School of Hillel holds that it is permitted to use a table which is impure in the second-degree. Therefore, he should not leave the napkin on the table, lest the liquids become defiled that are on the napkin on account of the table and in turn would defile the food there, and if he leaves [the napkin] on the cushion, everyone should not suspect lest his hands became defiled; better that his hands become defiled – since they are not an essential principle from Torah law, since the washing of the hands for unconsecrated objects is not from the Torah and they don’t defile foods which have an essential principle from the Torah, for [something that is] unclean from the first-degree makes something unclean in the second-degree for unconsecrated objects from the Torah [perspective].
8.4.1
בית שמאי אומרים: מכבדין את הבית – A place where they ate [a meal], we put the room in order (i.e. clean it/sweep it} from the remnants of the food that became crumbled on it, and afterwards, we wash our hands with מים אחרונים/The Latter Waters, since there are times when the attendant is an עם ארץ/ignoramus (and someone not necessarily punctilious in the separation of tithe) and he leaves the crumbs of an olive’s bulk there, and if one says that one should wash one’s hands first, you might lose the foods from the “Latter Waters/מים אחרונים” that spray on them and become detestable. The School of Hillel holds that it is prohibited to use an attendant who is an ignoramus (of Jewish law, especially, the laws of ritual purity), since an attendant who is a Torah scholar would not leave crumbs of an olive’s bulk, but would remove them, and if the water ( מים האחרונים) sprays upon the crumbs, it is meaningless, since those crumbs do not add up to an olive’s bulk, it is permitted to get rid of them with one’s hand. But the Halakha is in accordance with the School of Shammai in that it is permissible to use an attendant who is an ignoramus.
8.5.1
נר ומזון – He who ate on Shabbat after [reciting] the Minha/Afternoon Service, and it became dark and he had not yet completed his meal and he doesn’t have more than a cup’s worth of wine, the School of Shammai states: [One recites the blessings for] the Candle, the Meal, the spices and the Havdalah prayer, since everyone [holds] that Havdalah [is recited] at the end, so that when one “leaves” a day, we do it as late [as possible] in order that it (the Sabbath) would not seem to him like a burden. They (the Schools of Hillel and Shammai) did not disagree other than on the Candle and on the Spices, for the School of Shammai holds [that we recite the blessings in the following order]: Candle, the Meal, and afterwards the Spices. And the School of Hillel says [that we recite the blessings in the following order]: The Candle, and the Spices, since both the Candle and Spices are mutually blessings that we can do and they do not appear as a burden, such as the Candle and Spices [which are recited] prior to ברכת המזון
8.5.2
בית שמאין אומרים שברא מאור האש – Who created, which implies in the past, and not “who creates,” which implies in the future.
8.5.3
מאור האש – and not the “lights of fire” since one “light” is found in a fire.
8.5.4
ובית הלל אומרים בורא – which also implies in the past
8.5.5
מאורי האש – There are many colors in the flame: red, white and greenish.
8.6.1
לא על הנר ולא על הבשמים – of an idolater. The [Havdalah] Candle because he [the idolater] did not rest on the Sabbath and did work by its candles, and we hold that light that did not “rest,” should not have blessing recited on it, since it was used in [acts of] transgression; and the spices of gentiles – we are speaking about the spices that are used at the dining parties of idolaters and constellation worshippers who are guests at them and since it is taught at the conclusion of the Mishnah “and not on the [Havdalah] candle and not on the Spices that are before the gods of the idolaters and constellation worshippers – what is the reason that it is said? What is the reason that we do not make a blessing on the spices of idolaters and constellation worshippers? Because it is considered a mere idolatrous dinner party for their god, and we don’t recite a blessing on the spices of those who are idolaters and constellation worshippers.
8.6.2
ולא על הנר של מתים –that we should make use their light even for mere honor.
8.6.3
ולא על בשמים של מתים – That we would use it to remove the odor.
8.6.4
ולא על נר ובשמים – of idolaters and constellation worshippers , since it is forbidden to derive benefit from them.
8.6.5
עד שיאותו לאורו – That they would benefit from its light, but not benefit in actuality, but it is so close to it, that one could benefit if one desired.
8.7.1
שיתעכל המזון שבמעיו – As long as he is not hungry on account of that meal, it is a sign that the food was not consumed in his stomach. And specifically, [when] he forgot, the School of Hillel says that he should not go back, but if he did it on purpose, everyone agrees that he should return to the place [where he ate] and recite the blessing [of ברכת המזון].
8.8.1
מברך על היין ואחר כך מברך על המזון – Since [the recitation of] ברכת המזון/The Blessing after the Meal does not require a cup [of wine]. But the School of Hillel holds that ברכת המזון requires a cup.
8.8.2
עונין אמן אחר ישראל המברך – And even though he did not hear the mention of The (God’s) Name other than at the end of the blessing, since it is assumed that towards Heaven, he recited a blessing.
8.8.3
אלא אם כן שמע כל הברכה – lest he (i.e., the Cuthean) recited a blessing towards Mount Gerizim.
9.1.1
מקום שנעשו בו נסים – such as the place where the Israelites crossed the Sea of Reeds and the stream of Arnon (see Numbers, chapter 21, verses 13 and following), and the fords of the Jordan River [where the Israelites crossed – see Joshua, chapter 3 verse 14 and following] the stone on which Moses, of blessed memory, sat when he fought the war against Amalek (see Exodus chapter 17, verse 12) and other similar occurrences. And public miracles such as these require everyone to recite a blessing, but individual miracles such as person who sees a place where a [personal] miracle had occurred for him, he himself is obligated to recite a blessing, “Praised [Are You, O LORD] who performed for a miracle in this bless,” and his son and grandson are obligated to recite the blessing, “Praised [Are You, O LORD] who performed a miracle for my ancestors in this place.” And all these blessings of our Mishnah require the mention of the Name of God and His Sovereignty – for any blessing which lacks the mention of God’s name and His sovereignty is not a blessing.
9.2.1
זיקין – A star that appears like it opens up the firmament and shoots like an arrow from place to place. Alternatively, it is a star that appears like it has a long tail.
9.2.2
זועות – That the earth quakes and trembles.
9.2.3
רעמים – Sound is that heard in the firmament from clouds that pour forth water from one to another, as it says (Jeremiah 51:16), “When He makes His voice heard, There is a rumbling of waters in the skies.”
9.2.4
ועל הרוחות – that come in a storm-wind in vehemence and are not found other than occasionally.

Bartenura on Mishnah, trans. by Rabbi Robert Alpert, 2020. Via Sefaria (sefaria.org), Sefaria-Export. Version source: http://sefaria.org/ Licence: CC-BY. Source.