Babylonian Talmud

Rodkinson 1918 — source 8, scan section 73

or torn at birth, a miscarriage, or born alive at the eighth month, or born dead at the ninth — all the religious ceremonies do not apply to it. H. The same is the case with an idolater or bondsman, never- theless they may exclaim over him: " Woe, lion! lion! Woe, hero! " 1 R. Jehudah said: (It may be said also:) Woe, trusted man, who lived by his labor! They said to him: If so, what is there left to say of the upright ? He rejoined: If he was right- eous why should this not be said of him ?2 No consolation is needed (on the death of) male and female slaves. /. It happened when the female slave of R. Eliezer died, his disciples went to console him. When he saw them he went into B. ' See Sabbath, p. 353. C. ' As was the custom at that time. D. J For the reason, see ibid., Mishna and Gemara thereon; here, however, this is said in the name of R. Meir. F. 1 Not in his presence, but people may say among themselves: 11 What a great loss we have in the death of the man who did so and so." Some say even in his presence, because he is used to hear his praises, and will not be alarmed; but we do not find any basis for this assertion. H. ' If they were worthy of such a lamentation. s It seems to us that this is said of a bondman only, but not of an idolater, as an idolater, even if he was a Gentile, is called a sinner according to the Talmud, which declares that idolatry was prohibited to Noah for all nations. EBEL RABBATHI, OR SEMA'HOTH. 3 the yard, and they followed him ; he returned to the house, and they followed him. He then said to them : I thought that you might be scalded with lukewarm water, now I see that you can- not be scalded even with boiling. Have I not taught unto you : No consolation is needed (on the death of) slaves ? y. When Tebbi the slave of Rabban Gamaliel died, the latter accepted consolation. Said his disciples to him: Our master! hast thou not taught unto us that no consolation is needed on slaves ? He rejoined : My slave Tebbi cannot be likened to other slaves ; he was a righteous one. K. He also permitted him to lay Tephilin. Said his dis- ciples: Our master! hast thou not taught unto us that slaves are exempt from Tephilin ? And he made the same rejoinder. L. Slaves must not be distinguished as Father so and so, or Mother so and so..1 The household of Rabban Gamaliel, how- ever, used the distinction of " Father Tebbi" and " Mother Tebbitha " to the above-named and his wife.2 M. Ancestors must not be distinguished as the fathers of the nation (or the tribes), except the three Patriarchs; nor mothers of the nation, but the four mothers.1 CHAPTER II. A. A suicide must be buried without any ceremony. R. Ishmael said: It may be exclaimed: Alas, suicide! Alas, suicide! Said R. Aqiba to him: Leave him alone. Do not honor nor abuse him.1 No rending, no removal of shoes, and no lamenting. They may, however, stand in line,2 and say over L. J The word Abba, which means " Father," was a title at that time, as " Reverend " is now, or as the Catholics entitle their supe- riors of the Church and nunneries " Father" and " Mother." 3 In Midrash Rabbah [Lev. chap, xix.] is to be found Tebbitha, the female slave of Rabban Gamaliel, presumably Tebbi's wife. M. ' Sarah, Rebeccah, Rachel, and Leah, the wives of our patri- archs. See Berachoth. CHAPTER II. A. ' With the saying that you lament him, you also blame him that he committed suicide. It is, therefore, better that nothing should be said. 3 When the mourners return from the burial, all those who accompanied them stand in two rows, through which the 4 THE BABYLONIAN TALMUD. him the mourners' benedictions, because it is for the honor of the living. This is the general rule: Whatever is for the honor of the living may be done; but everything which is not for their sake, it is not imperative for the congregation to do for such. B. Who is to be considered a suicide ? If one ascended to the top of a tree or a roof, and he fell down and was killed,1 he must not be considered a suicide, unless he says previously: " I am going to drop myself!" and immediately afterward it was observed that he did so ; then it is to be considered a suicide, and he shall be buried without any religious ceremonies. C. When one is found hanging on a tree strangled, or lying on a sword killed, he is not to be considered a suicide, and noth- ing may be withheld from him. D. It happened to the son of Gornos in Lud, who ran away from school, that his father threatened him. Being afraid of his father, he drowned himself in a pit. When R. Tarphon was in- quired about him, he said: Nothing shall be withheld from him. E. It happened to a lad at the city of Bene-Berak, who broke a glass on the Sabbath, that his father threatened him. Being afraid of his father, he drowned himself in a pit. It was told to R. Aqiba, and he said : Nothing shall be withheld from him.1 F. From this the sages declared : One shall not threaten a child. He shall either punish him immediately, or he shall keep silence. Said R. Simeon b. Elazar: Lust, children, and women should be repulsed with the left, and attracted with the right hand.1 G. Those who are put to death by the decision of a court must be buried without any ceremonies. Their brothers and relatives may come and greet the witnesses and the judges, to show them that the judgment is considered just, and that they mourners pass, and each one consoles them. So was the custom at that time, and in some congregations it is still extant. The mourners' benediction (Tzidduk Hadin) is said in the cemetery just after the interment. B. l Although he said he would do so sometime previous. E. ' According to Rashi, Mishna A is incomplete, and must read thus: But if the suicide was a minor, it is different. He said so, that the decisions of Aqiba and Tarphon should not contradict it. F. x To all these three, to which human beings are attracted nat- urally, it is advisable not to be subject, but at the same time, when he attracts them with the right, he shall try to repel them with the left when necessary. EBEL RABBATHI, OR SEMA'HOTH. 5 have nothing against them; that they do not mourn for them loudly, but are sorry for them, as sorrow is only in the heart. Rabbi Nathan, however, said: There is no difference between silent sorrow and loud weeping.1 H. No funeral meal 1 must be prepared for them, as it is written [Lev. xix. 26]: " Ye shall not eat upon the blood."2 /. Whoever separates himself from the congregation, nobody shall have anything to do with him. And when he is dead, his brothers and other relatives may dress and wrap themselves in white, eat, drink, and rejoice that the enemy of the Place1 is lost [Ps. cxxxix. 21]. This verse, with the following, is to be