Babylonian Talmud

Rodkinson 1918 — source 8, scan section 80

ing the first two days, but from and including the second day he is allowed ; but on the arrival of new persons he must remove them. R. Hyya bar Abba, R. Ami, and R. Itz'hak of Naph'ha were sitting in the cottage of R. Itz'hak b. Elazar, and a state- ment resulted: " Whence is it deduced that mourning lasts for seven days ? It is written [Amos, viii. 10] : ' And I will change your feasts into mourning.' As the feast lasts for seven days, so does also mourning." But perhaps Pentecost is meant, which lasts only for one day ? The latter one is applied accord- ing to Resh Lakish ; for Resh Lakish said in the name of R. Jehudah the Second : Whence do we know that remote informa- tion (of the occurrence of a death in the family) makes mourning customary for one day only ? From the passage [ibid., ibid.]: 22 THE BABYLONIAN TALMUD. " And I will change your feasts into mourning." And we find one festival which lasts for one day only. C. *If he was the only baker in town, he may do his work privately for the sake of the people. D. If one was cutting another's hair, or was having his hair cut, and he was told that his father was dead, he might finish it. Workingmen who receive work from a mourner are forbidden to do this work at his house, but they are allowed to do it at theirs. R. Simeon b. Jo'hai said: A day laborer is forbidden in any case. Contract work may not be done on his premises, but it may on theirs. Work on anything attached to the ground must not be done in either case, and work to be done in another city is allowed in either case. E. When one mourning succeeds another, he may cut his hair with a knife but not with shears. If his clothes are dirty, he may wash them in cold water but not in feet-water.1 A mourner and one who is under the ban, when on the road, are allowed to wear sandals; however, they must remove them as soon as they reach the town. So is the law also for the 9th of Abh, or a general fast-day. 2 It is certain that a mourner must not cut his hair, for the Mer- ciful One expressly directed the sons of Aaron [ibid. x. 6] : " The hair of your head you shall not let grow long " ; hence the case is not so with other mourners. The question, however, is, whether those who are under the ban, and lepers, may cut their hair? Come and hear : Those who are under the ban, and those afflicted with leprosy, are prohibited from cutting their hair and washing (their clothes). One who was under the ban and died in such a state, the Beth Din stone his coffin. Said R. Jehudah : " It does not mean a heap of stones, as was the case with Achan [Josh. vii. 26], but it means that the Beth Din places a big stone on his coffin, to teach that whoever dies while under the ban, his coffin is stoned. 3 A mourner must wrap up his head, for the Merciful One C. ' For former Mishnas, see Moed Katan, pp. 19-20. E. ' In Tract Krithath, where it speaks of the preparation of the spices for the incense, the Gemara says: To make it stronger — mei raglayim ; literally, " feet-water (wine, according to some commen- tators) would be good for it"; but this must not be brought into the Temple court. The same term is found in Nidah, 6i£, in the Mishna, among the spices which remove stains. 3 Gemara from Moed Katan. 3 Gemara from Moed Katan, EBEL RABBATH1, OR SEMA'HOTH. 23 directed Ezekiel [Ezek. xxiv. 17] : " And cover not thyself to thy upper lip." Hence, others must cover. How is it, however, with one who is under the ban ? Said R. Joseph : Come and hear (Taanith) : u And they wrapped up their heads and sat as if they were under the ban, or mourners, until they were commiserated by Heaven." Said Abayi to him : " Perhaps they have done that, because they have considered themselves as put under the ban by Heaven, in which case it is very rigorous." What is the law in regard to a leper? Come and hear : It is written [Lev. xiii. 45] : u And he shall cover himself up to his upper lip." Hence we see that wrapping up is necessary. A mourner must not wear phylac- teries, for Ezekiel was commanded [Ezek. xxiv. 17] to put them on.4 Hence we must say that others must not. But the ques- tion is as to one who is under the ban, in regard to phylacteries?5 This question was not decided. It is certain that a mourner must not greet any one, as Ezekiel was commanded [ibid.] : " Sigh in silence." But how is the case with one who is under the ban ? Said R. Joseph : Come and hear (Taanith, ibid.) : " And to greet one another as if they were rebuked from Heaven." Said Abayi to him : " Perhaps this case is different, because it is very strict." F. No ban is for less than thirty days, and no rebuke is for less than seven days. G. Said Rabban Gamaliel: He to whom the court has stretched out its hand, although he was again befriended, will not leave this world peaceably. CHAPTER VI. A. A mourner must not read the Pentateuch, Prophets, and Hagiographa. He is also not allowed to study Mishna, Talmud, Halakha, and Hagadah. He is also not allowed to wash, to anoint, to wear shoes, or to have sexual intercourse with his wife. He must cover his head and lower his couch. Rabban Gamaliel washed himself when his wife died (see Mishna Berachoth, 166). 1 A mourner must not study the Law, because the Merciful 4 The Talmud explains this passage to refer to the phylacteries. 6 See our " Phylacteries Ritual," pp. 49 and 55. CHAPTER VI. A. ' Gemara from Moed Katan. 24 THE BABYLONIAN TALMUD. One commanded Ezekiel : " Sigh in silence" [ibid.]. But how is it with one who is under the ban ? Said R. Joseph : Come and hear : We have learned : " One who is put under the ban may study for himself and also with others ; he may be hired and he may hire others. But the case is otherwise with one who was excommunicated ; the latter may, however, study for himself in order not to discontinue his studies. He may also establish for himself a small store in order to earn a living." Rabh said : " He may sell water in the market of Araboth." 2 A mourner must not wash his clothes, as it is written [II Sam. xiv. 2] : " Then sent Joab to Thekoa, and he fetched thence a wise woman, and said to her," etc., " and anoint thyself not with oil ; but be as a woman that hath these many days been mourn- ing for the dead." What is the case with those under the ban ? Come and hear : " Those who are under the ban are prohibited from cutting their hair and washing their clothes." Infer here- from. A mourner must have his garment rent, because the Mer- ciful One commanded the sons of Aaron [Lev. x. 6] : " And your garments you shall not rend " ; hence others must. A mourner must lower his couch (place the mattress near or on the floor), as Bar Qappara taught : " (God said) I had placed my image