## Sotah Daf 38b

###### Sotah 38b:1
[Sotah 38b:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/38b:1)

מִשֶּׁלָּהֶם תְּהֵא. וְהִילְכְתָא כְּווֹתֵיהּ דְּאַבָּיֵי, וְלֵית הִילְכְתָא כְּווֹתֵיהּ דְּרַב חִסְדָּא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**should be from them;** one of the priests themselves should call: Priests. The Gemara concludes: **And the *halakha* is in accordance with** the opinion **of Abaye,** that when only one priest is present, the prayer leader does not call: Priest. **And the *halakha* is not in accordance with** the opinion **of Rav Ḥisda,** as an Israelite may also call: Priests.


###### Sotah 38b:2
[Sotah 38b:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/38b:2)

(סִימַן: מִתְאַוֶּה לִבְרָכָה דּוּכָן בַּעֲבוֹדָה כּוֹס מַכִּיר נֶהֱנֶה בְּעֶגְלָה).

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ The Gemara cites **a mnemonic** device for the statements of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi: **Desires the benediction, platform, during the service, cup, recognize, derives benefit, from a heifer.**


###### Sotah 38b:3
[Sotah 38b:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/38b:3)

אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי: מִנַּיִן שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִתְאַוֶּה לְבִרְכַּת כֹּהֲנִים — שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְשָׂמוּ אֶת שְׁמִי עַל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַאֲנִי אֲבָרְכֵם״. וְאָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי: כׇּל כֹּהֵן שֶׁמְּבָרֵךְ — מִתְבָּרֵךְ, וְשֶׁאֵינוֹ מְבָרֵךְ — אֵין מִתְבָּרֵךְ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַאֲבָרְכָה מְבָרְכֶיךָ״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: From where** is it derived **that the Holy One, Blessed be He, desires the Priestly Benediction? As it is stated: “So shall they put My name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them”** (Numbers 6:27). This shows that God waits for the priests to bless the people, and only then He Himself blesses them. **And Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: Any priest who blesses** the people **is blessed** from Heaven, **and one who does not bless** the people **is not blessed, as it is stated: “And I will bless those who bless you”** (Genesis 12:3).


###### Sotah 38b:4
[Sotah 38b:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/38b:4)

וְאָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי: כׇּל כֹּהֵן שֶׁאֵינוֹ עוֹלֶה לַדּוּכָן — עוֹבֵר בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה עֲשֵׂה: ״כֹּה תְבָרְכוּ״, ״אָמוֹר לָהֶם״, ״וְשָׂמוּ אֶת שְׁמִי״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: Any priest who does not ascend the platform** to recite the Priestly Benediction **violates three positive** mitzvot: **“So you shall bless,” “And you shall say to them”** (Numbers 6:23), and **“So shall they put My name”** (Numbers 6:27).


###### Sotah 38b:5
[Sotah 38b:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/38b:5)

רַב אָמַר: חוֹשְׁשִׁין שֶׁמָּא בֶּן גְּרוּשָׁה אוֹ בֶּן חֲלוּצָה הוּא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav says:** One need be **concerned that** a priest who does not ascend to recite the Priestly Benediction **is perhaps the son of** a priest and **a divorced woman, or the son of** a priest and **a *yevama* who has performed *ḥalitza* [*ḥalutza*].** Perhaps he does not ascend to recite the Priestly Benediction because he is disqualified from the priesthood.


###### Sotah 38b:6
[Sotah 38b:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/38b:6)

וְלָא פְּלִיגִי, הָא — דְּסָלֵיק לִפְרָקִים, הָא — דְּלָא סָלֵיק לִפְרָקִים.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara comments: **And they do not disagree. This** statement of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi is referring to a case **where he ascends periodically.** Therefore, there is no reason to believe that he is disqualified from the priesthood, and the assumption is that he violates three positive mitzvot. Whereas **that** statement of Rav is referring to a case **where one does not ascend** to recite the Priestly Benediction even **periodically,** and therefore there is reason to suspect that he is disqualified from the priesthood.


###### Sotah 38b:7
[Sotah 38b:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/38b:7)

וְאָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי: כׇּל כֹּהֵן שֶׁאֵינוֹ עוֹלֶה בָּעֲבוֹדָה, שׁוּב אֵינוֹ עוֹלֶה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּשָּׂא אַהֲרֹן אֶת יָדָיו אֶל הָעָם וַיְבָרְכֵם וַיֵּרֶד מֵעֲשֹׂת הַחַטָּאת וְהָעוֹלָה וְהַשְּׁלָמִים״, מָה לְהַלָּן — בַּעֲבוֹדָה, אַף כָּאן — בַּעֲבוֹדָה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: Any priest who does not ascend** the platform **during** the blessing of **the** Temple **service** recited in the *Amida* prayer **may no longer ascend** to recite the benediction, **as it is stated: “And Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them; and he came down from offering the sin-offering, and the burnt-offering, and the peace-offerings”** (Leviticus 9:22). **Just as there,** in the Tabernacle, Aaron lifted up his hands **during the service,** as evident from the fact that only after he blessed them does it say that he came down from sacrificing the offerings, **so too here,** in the *Amida* prayer, the Priestly Benediction is recited **during** the blessing of Temple **service.**


###### Sotah 38b:8
[Sotah 38b:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/38b:8)

אִינִי? וְהָא רַבִּי אַמֵּי וְרַבִּי אַסִּי סָלְקִי! רַבִּי אַמֵּי וְרַבִּי אַסִּי מֵעִיקָּרָא הֲווֹ עָקְרִי כַּרְעַיְיהוּ, מִמְטָא לָא הֲוָה מָטוּ הָתָם. וְכִדְתָנֵי רַבִּי אוֹשַׁעְיָא: לֹא שָׁנוּ, אֶלָּא שֶׁלֹּא עָקַר אֶת רַגְלָיו, אֲבָל עָקַר אֶת רַגְלָיו — עוֹלֶה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **Is that so? But didn’t** the priests **Rabbi Ami and Rabbi Asi ascend** after the blessing of the service? The Gemara answers: **Rabbi Ami and Rabbi Asi would begin walking** to the platform during the blessing of the service, but **they would not arrive there** until after the conclusion of this blessing. **And** this is sufficient **in accordance with what Rabbi Oshaya taught: They taught** that a priest may not recite the benediction if he did not ascend the platform during the blessing of Temple service **only** in a case **where he did not begin walking. But if he began walking** before the prayer leader finished the blessing, **he may ascend the platform** even after he has finished the blessing.


###### Sotah 38b:9
[Sotah 38b:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/38b:9)

וּתְנַן נָמֵי — אִם הַבְטָחָתוֹ שֶׁנּוֹשֵׂא אֶת כַּפָּיו וְחוֹזֵר לִתְפִלָּתוֹ — רַשַּׁאי. וְהָוֵינַן בַּהּ: הָא לָא עֲקַר? אֶלָּא דְּנָד פּוּרְתָּא, הָכָא נָמֵי דְּעָקַר פּוּרְתָּא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And** concerning this issue, **we also learned** in a mishna (*Berakhot* 34a): A priest who serves as prayer leader does not recite the Priestly Benediction, but **if he is certain that he can lift his hands** and recite the benediction, **and** then **resume his prayer** without becoming confused, **he is permitted** to do so. **And we discussed it** and raised the following difficulty: If **he did not begin** walking to ascend the platform during the blessing of the service, how is it permitted for him to recite the benediction? **Rather,** it must be explained **that he moved slightly** to show that he also wanted to ascend the platform. **Here too,** the statement of Rabbi Oshaya is referring even to a case **where** the priest **uprooted** himself **slightly** from his place during the blessing of the service.


###### Sotah 38b:10
[Sotah 38b:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/38b:10)

וְאָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי: אֵין נוֹתְנִין כּוֹס שֶׁל בְּרָכָה לְבָרֵךְ אֶלָּא לְטוֹב עַיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״טוֹב עַיִן הוּא יְבֹרָךְ כִּי נָתַן מִלַּחְמוֹ לַדָּל״, אַל תִּיקְרֵי ״יְבֹרָךְ״ אֶלָּא ״יְבָרֵךְ״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: One may give a cup of blessing to recite the blessing** of Grace after Meals **only to** someone with **a good eye,** i.e., a generous person, **as it is stated: “One who has a good eye will be blessed [*yevorakh*], for he gives of his bread to the poor”** (Proverbs 22:9). **Do not read** it: “**Will be blessed.” Rather,** read it: **Will bless [*yevarekh*].**


###### Sotah 38b:11
[Sotah 38b:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/38b:11)

וְאָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי: מִנַּיִן שֶׁאֲפִילּוּ עוֹפוֹת מַכִּירִין בְּצָרֵי הָעַיִן — שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי חִנָּם מְזֹרָה הָרָשֶׁת בְּעֵינֵי כׇּל בַּעַל כָּנָף״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: From where** is it derived **that even birds recognize miserly** people and do not eat the food they have set in bird traps? **As it is stated: “For in vain the net is spread in the eyes of any bird”** (Proverbs 1:17).


###### Sotah 38b:12
[Sotah 38b:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/38b:12)

וְאָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי: כׇּל הַנֶּהֱנֶה מִצָּרֵי הָעַיִן עוֹבֵר בְּלָאו — שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אַל תִּלְחַם אֶת לֶחֶם רַע עָיִן וְגוֹ׳ כִּי כְּמוֹ שָׁעַר בְּנַפְשׁוֹ כֶּן הוּא אֱכוֹל וּשְׁתֵה יֹאמַר לָךְ וְגוֹ׳״. רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק אָמַר: עוֹבֵר בִּשְׁנֵי לָאוִין, ״אַל תִּלְחַם״, ״וְאַל תִּתְאָו״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: Anyone who derives benefit from miserly people transgresses a prohibition, as it is stated: “Do not eat the bread of one who has an evil eye,** and do not desire his delicacies, **for as one that has reckoned within himself, so he is. He says to you: Eat and drink,** but his heart is not with you” (Proverbs 23:6–7). **Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak says: He transgresses two prohibitions,** as it says **“do not eat” and** also **“do not desire.”**


###### Sotah 38b:13
[Sotah 38b:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/38b:13)

וְאָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי: אֵין עֶגְלָה עֲרוּפָה בָּאָה אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל צָרֵי הָעַיִן,

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says:** When a person is found slain between two cities and it is not known who killed him, **a heifer whose neck is broken is brought.** This occurs **only because of miserly people.**


###### Sotah 38b:14
[Sotah 38b:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/38b:14)

שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְעָנוּ וְאָמְרוּ יָדֵינוּ לֹא שָׁפְכוּ אֶת הַדָּם הַזֶּה״. וְכִי עַל לִבֵּנוּ עָלְתָה שֶׁזִּקְנֵי בֵּית דִּין שׁוֹפְכֵי דָמִים הֵם? אֶלָּא, לֹא בָּא לְיָדֵינוּ וּפְטַרְנוּהוּ, וְלֹא רְאִינוּהוּ וְהִנַּחְנוּהוּ. לֹא בָּא לְיָדֵינוּ וּפְטַרְנוּהוּ בְּלֹא מְזוֹנוֹת, לֹא רְאִינוּהוּ וְהִנַּחְנוּהוּ בְּלֹא לְוָיָיה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**As it is stated: “And they shall speak and say: Our hands have not shed this blood”** (Deuteronomy 21:7). **But did it enter our hearts** to think **that the Elders of the court are murderers?** Why it is necessary for them to publicize that they did not kill him? **Rather,** they must declare: It is **not** so that this victim **came to us and we dismissed him, and** it is **not** so that **we saw him and left him.** In other words, **he did not come to us and we** in turn **dismissed him without food,** and **we did not see him and** then **leave him without an escort.** It is miserly people who do not provide others with food and cause them to travel to places where they might be murdered.


###### Sotah 38b:15
[Sotah 38b:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/38b:15)

אָמַר אַדָּא אָמַר רַבִּי שִׂמְלַאי: בֵּית הַכְּנֶסֶת שֶׁכּוּלָּהּ כֹּהֲנִים — כּוּלָּן עוֹלִין לַדּוּכָן. לְמִי מְבָרְכִין? אָמַר רַבִּי זֵירָא: לַאֲחֵיהֶם שֶׁבַּשָּׂדוֹת.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ **Adda said** that **Rabbi Samlai says:** In **a synagogue that is** made up **entirely** of **priests, everyone ascends the platform** to recite the Priestly Benediction. The Gemara asks: If the entire congregation is composed of priests, **for whom do they utter the blessing? Rabbi Zeira says:** They say the blessing **for their brethren who are in the fields.**


###### Sotah 38b:16
[Sotah 38b:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/38b:16)

אִינִי? וְהָתָנֵי אַבָּא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַב מִנְיָמִין בַּר חִיָּיא: עַם שֶׁאֲחוֹרֵי כֹּהֲנִים אֵינָן בִּכְלַל בְּרָכָה! לָא קַשְׁיָא, הָא — דַּאֲנִיסִי, הָא — דְּלָא אֲנִיסִי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **Is that so? But didn’t Abba, son of Rav Minyamin bar Ḥiyya, teach** that the **people who are** standing **behind** the backs of **the priests are not included in the** Priestly **Benediction?** The Gemara answers: That is **not difficult. This** is a case **where** the people **are compelled** to be in the fields because of their work, and they are therefore included in the benediction. Whereas **that** statement is referring to people **who are not compelled** to be away but still do not stand face-to-face with the priests. Consequently, they are not included in the benediction.


###### Sotah 38b:17
[Sotah 38b:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/38b:17)

וְהָתָנֵי רַב שִׁימִי מִבִּירְתָא דְשִׁיחוֹרִי: בֵּית הַכְּנֶסֶת שֶׁכּוּלָּהּ כֹּהֲנִים — מִקְצָתָן עוֹלִין, וּמִקְצָתָן עוֹנִין ״אָמֵן״!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **But didn’t Rav Shimi of Birte deShiḥorei teach** the following *baraita*: In **a synagogue that is** made up **entirely** of **priests, some of them ascend** to recite the benediction **and some of them answer amen?**


###### Sotah 38b:18
[Sotah 38b:18](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/38b:18)

לָא קַשְׁיָא: הָא — דְּאִישְׁתְּיֻיר בֵּי עֲשָׂרָה, הָא — דְּלָא אִישְׁתְּיֻיר בֵּי עַשְׂרָה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara answers: That is **not difficult. That** is a case **where,** if some of the priests recite the benediction, a quorum of **ten** priests still **remains** to receive the benediction and answer amen. Therefore, only some of the priests ascend to recite the benediction. By contrast, **this** case, which Rabbi Simlai was referring to, is a case **where** a quorum of **ten does not remain** to answer amen, so it is better for all of the priests to ascend and bless the people working in the fields.


###### Sotah 38b:19
[Sotah 38b:19](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/38b:19)

גּוּפָא, תָּנָא אַבָּא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַב מִנְיָמִין בַּר חִיָּיא: עַם שֶׁאֲחוֹרֵי כֹּהֲנִים אֵינָן בִּכְלַל בְּרָכָה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara returns to **the** matter **itself** cited above: **Abba, son of Rav Minyamin bar Ḥiyya, taught:** The **people who are** standing **behind the priests are not included in the benediction.**


###### Sotah 38b:20
[Sotah 38b:20](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/38b:20)

פְּשִׁיטָא, אֲרִיכֵי בְּאַפֵּי גוּצֵי לָא מַפְסְקִי. תֵּיבָה — לָא מַפְסְקָא. מְחִיצָה מַאי? תָּא שְׁמַע, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי: אֲפִילּוּ מְחִיצָה שֶׁל בַּרְזֶל אֵינָהּ מַפְסֶקֶת בֵּין יִשְׂרָאֵל לַאֲבִיהֶם שֶׁבַּשָּׁמַיִם.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara raises several questions with regard to this statement: It **is obvious** that **tall people** standing **in front of short people do not interpose** between the priests and the shorter people with regard to the Priestly Benediction. Similarly, **a chest** or ark containing a Torah scroll **does not interpose** between the priests and the people. However, **what** is the *halakha* with regard to **a partition? Come** and **hear** an answer from **what Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: Even an iron partition does not interpose between the Jewish people and their Father in Heaven;** the people are included in the benediction.


###### Sotah 38b:21
[Sotah 38b:21](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/38b:21)

אִיבַּעְיָא לְהוּ: צְדָדִין מַהוּ? אָמַר אַבָּא מָר בַּר רַב אָשֵׁי: תָּא שְׁמַע, דִּתְנַן: נִתְכַּוֵּון לְהַזּוֹת לְפָנָיו

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**A dilemma was raised before** the Sages: **What is** the *halakha* in the case of people who are standing to **the sides** of the priests? Are they included in the blessing? **Abba Mar bar Rav Ashi said: Come** and **hear** an answer, **as we learned** in a mishna (*Para* 12:2) with regard to the *halakha* of sprinkling the waters of purification on vessels that contracted ritual impurity imparted by a corpse: If one **intended to sprinkle** the water **forward**