## Sotah Daf 39b

###### Sotah 39b:1
[Sotah 39b:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/39b:1)

מַה שֶּׁהִבְטַחְתָּנוּ. הַשְׁקִיפָה מִמְּעוֹן קׇדְשְׁךָ מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם וְגוֹ׳״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**as You have promised us,** namely: “So shall they put My name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them” (Numbers 6:27). **“Look forth from your holy habitation, from heaven,** and bless Your people, Israel” (Deuteronomy 26:15).


###### Sotah 39b:2
[Sotah 39b:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/39b:2)

אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: אֵין הַכֹּהֲנִים רַשָּׁאִים לָכוֹף קִישְׁרֵי אֶצְבְּעוֹתֵיהֶן עַד שֶׁיַּחְזִרוּ פְּנֵיהֶם מִן הַצִּבּוּר. אָמַר רַבִּי זֵירָא אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: אֵין הַקּוֹרֵא רַשַּׁאי לִקְרוֹת ״כֹּהֲנִים״ עַד שֶׁיִּכְלֶה ״אָמֵן״ מִפִּי הַצִּבּוּר,

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ **Rav Ḥisda says: The priests** who spread their hands open during the benediction **are not permitted to bend the joints of their fingers until they turn their faces away from the congregation** once they have completed the benediction. **Rabbi Zeira says** that **Rav Ḥisda says: The one who calls** the priests forward **is not permitted to call out: Priests, until** the response **amen** to the blessing of thanksgiving **concludes from the mouths of the congregation,** in order to ensure that everyone will hear the voices of the priests.


###### Sotah 39b:3
[Sotah 39b:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/39b:3)

וְאֵין הַכֹּהֲנִים רַשָּׁאִין לְהַתְחִיל בִּבְרָכָה עַד שֶׁיִּכְלֶה דִּיבּוּר מִפִּי הַקּוֹרֵא, וְאֵין הַצִּבּוּר רַשָּׁאִין לַעֲנוֹת ״אָמֵן״ עַד שֶׁתִּכְלֶה בְּרָכָה מִפִּי הַכֹּהֲנִים, וְאֵין הַכֹּהֲנִים רַשָּׁאִין לְהַתְחִיל בִּבְרָכָה אַחֶרֶת עַד שֶׁיִּכְלֶה ״אָמֵן״ מִפִּי הַצִּבּוּר.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And** for the same reason, **the priests are not permitted to begin** reciting **the benediction until the statement of the caller,** i.e., his announcement: Priests, **concludes from his mouth. And the congregation is not permitted to answer amen until the blessing concludes from the mouths of the priests. And the priests are not permitted to begin** reciting **another blessing until** the response **amen** to the previous blessing **concludes from the mouths of the congregation.**


###### Sotah 39b:4
[Sotah 39b:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/39b:4)

וְאָמַר רַבִּי זֵירָא אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: אֵין הַכֹּהֲנִים רַשָּׁאִין לְהַחְזִיר פְּנֵיהֶם מִן הַצִּבּוּר עַד שֶׁיַּתְחִיל שְׁלִיחַ צִבּוּר בְּ״שִׂים שָׁלוֹם״, וְאֵינָן רַשָּׁאִין לַעֲקוֹר רַגְלֵיהֶם וְלֵילֵךְ עַד שֶׁיִּגְמוֹר שְׁלִיחַ צִבּוּר ״שִׂים שָׁלוֹם״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And Rabbi Zeira says** that **Rav Ḥisda says: The priests are not permitted to turn away from the congregation** after they have completed the benediction **until the prayer leader begins** saying the blessing of: **Grant peace. And they are not permitted to uproot their feet and walk** away from the platform **until the prayer leader finishes** saying the blessing of: **Grant peace.**


###### Sotah 39b:5
[Sotah 39b:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/39b:5)

וְאָמַר רַבִּי זֵירָא אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: אֵין הַצִּבּוּר רַשָּׁאִין לַעֲנוֹת ״אָמֵן״ עַד שֶׁתִּכְלֶה בְּרָכָה מִפִּי הַקּוֹרֵא, וְאֵין הַקּוֹרֵא רַשַּׁאי לִקְרוֹת בַּתּוֹרָה עַד שֶׁיִּכְלֶה ״אָמֵן״ מִפִּי הַצִּבּוּר, וְאֵין הַמְתַרְגֵּם רַשַּׁאי לְהַתְחִיל בַּתַּרְגּוּם עַד שֶׁיִּכְלֶה פָּסוּק מִפִּי הַקּוֹרֵא, וְאֵין הַקּוֹרֵא רַשַּׁאי לְהַתְחִיל בְּפָסוּק אַחֵר עַד שֶׁיִּכְלֶה תַּרְגּוּם מִפִּי הַמְתַרְגֵּם.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And** in a similar vein, **Rabbi Zeira says** that **Rav Ḥisda says: The congregation is not permitted to answer amen** to the blessing recited over the Torah reading **until the blessing of the one reading** from the Torah **concludes from his mouth. And the reader is not permitted to** begin **reading from the Torah until** the response **amen** to the preceding blessing **concludes from the mouths of the congregation. And the translator is not permitted to begin the translation** of the Torah reading **until** the reading of **the verse** from the Torah **concludes from the mouth of the reader. And the reader is not permitted to begin** reading **another verse until the translation concludes from the mouth of the translator.**


###### Sotah 39b:6
[Sotah 39b:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/39b:6)

אָמַר רַבִּי תַּנְחוּם אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי: הַמַּפְטִיר בְּנָבִיא, צָרִיךְ שֶׁיִּקְרָא בַּתּוֹרָה תְּחִילָּה, וְאָמַר רַבִּי תַּנְחוּם אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי: אֵין הַמַּפְטִיר רַשַּׁאי לְהַפְטִיר בַּנָּבִיא עַד שֶׁיִּגָּלֵל סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rabbi Tanḥum says** that **Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: The one who concludes with** a reading from **the Prophets** [*haftara*] **must first read** several verses **from the Torah. And Rabbi Tanḥum says** that **Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: The one who concludes is not permitted to conclude with** a reading from **the Prophets until the Torah scroll is furled.**


###### Sotah 39b:7
[Sotah 39b:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/39b:7)

וְאָמַר רַבִּי תַּנְחוּם אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי: אֵין שְׁלִיחַ צִבּוּר רַשַּׁאי לְהַפְשִׁיט אֶת הַתֵּיבָה בַּצִּבּוּר, מִפְּנֵי כְּבוֹד צִבּוּר.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And Rabbi Tanḥum says** that **Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: The prayer leader is not permitted to uncover** the decorative covering of **the ark in public, out of respect for the congregation.** It is inappropriate to have the congregation wait while doing this.


###### Sotah 39b:8
[Sotah 39b:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/39b:8)

וְאָמַר רַבִּי תַּנְחוּם אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי: אֵין הַצִּבּוּר רַשָּׁאִין לָצֵאת, עַד שֶׁיִּנָּטֵל סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה וְיָנֻיחַ בִּמְקוֹמוֹ. וּשְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר: עַד שֶׁיֵּצֵא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And Rabbi Tanḥum says** that **Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: The congregation is not permitted to leave** the synagogue after the Torah reading **until the Torah scroll has been taken and** prepared to be **returned to its place,** as the Torah scroll used to be stored near the synagogue. **And Shmuel said:** They may not leave **until** the Torah scroll **is** actually **taken out** of the synagogue, out of respect for the Torah scroll.


###### Sotah 39b:9
[Sotah 39b:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/39b:9)

וְלָא פְּלִיגִי: הָא — דְּאִיכָּא פִּיתְחָא אַחֲרִינָא. הָא — דְּלֵיכָּא פִּיתְחָא אַחֲרִינָא. אָמַר רָבָא, בַּר אֲהִינָא אַסְבְּרַהּ לִי: ״אַחֲרֵי ה׳ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם תֵּלֵכוּ״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara comments: **And they do not disagree** about the *halakha*. Rather, they were discussing different situations. **This** statement of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi is referring to a case **where there is another exit.** When the Torah scroll is being taken out of one exit, people may leave through the other exit. However, **that** statement of Shmuel is referring to a case **where there is no other exit,** and therefore the congregation must wait until the Torah is carried out. **Rava said:** The Sage **bar Ahina explained to me** that this *halakha* is derived from the verse: **“After the Lord your God you shall walk”** (Deuteronomy 13:5), meaning that one must walk after the Torah scroll and not in front of it.


###### Sotah 39b:10
[Sotah 39b:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/39b:10)

בִּזְמַן שֶׁהַכֹּהֲנִים מְבָרְכִים אֶת הָעָם, מָה הֵן אוֹמְרִים? אָמַר רַבִּי זֵירָא אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: ״בָּרְכוּ ה׳ מַלְאָכָיו גִּבֹּרֵי כֹחַ וְגוֹ׳״, ״בָּרְכוּ ה׳ כׇּל צְבָאָיו מְשָׁרְתָיו עוֹשֵׂי רְצוֹנוֹ״, ״בָּרְכוּ ה׳ כׇּל מַעֲשָׂיו בְּכׇל מְקֹמוֹת מֶמְשַׁלְתּוֹ בָּרְכִי נַפְשִׁי אֶת ה׳״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ The Gemara continues to discuss the Priestly Benediction. **When the priests are blessing the people, what do** the people **say? Rabbi Zeira says** that **Rav Ḥisda says:** For each blessing that the priests recite, they respond with a blessing from the Bible: **“Bless the Lord, His angels, mighty in strength** that fulfill His word, hearkening unto the voice of His word” (Psalms 103:20), **“Bless the Lord, all of His hosts, His ministers that do His pleasure”** (Psalms 103:21), and **“Bless the Lord, all of His works, in all places of His dominion, bless the Lord, O my soul”** (Psalms 103:22).


###### Sotah 39b:11
[Sotah 39b:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/39b:11)

בְּמוּסְפֵי דְשַׁבְּתָא, מָה הֵן אוֹמְרִים? אָמַר רַבִּי אַסִּי: ״שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת הִנֵּה בָּרְכוּ אֶת ה׳ כׇּל עַבְדֵי ה׳ וְגוֹ׳ שְׂאוּ יְדֵיכֶם קֹדֶשׁ וּבָרְכוּ אֶת ה׳״, ״בָּרוּךְ ה׳ מִצִּיּוֹן שׁוֹכֵן יְרוּשָׁלִָם הַלְלוּיָהּ״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
When the priests ascend a second time to bless the congregation **during the additional prayer of Shabbat, what do** the people **say?** It is not appropriate for them to repeat the same verses of praise that they recited previously. **Rabbi Asi said:** They say: **“A song of ascents. Behold, bless you the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,** that stand in the house of the Lord in the night seasons” (Psalms 134:1), **“Lift up your hands in sanctity and bless the Lord”** (Psalms 134:2), and **“Blessed be the Lord out of Zion, Who dwells at Jerusalem. Hallelujah”** (Psalms 135:21).


###### Sotah 39b:12
[Sotah 39b:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/39b:12)

וְלֵימָא נָמֵי ״יְבָרֶכְךָ ה׳ מִצִּיּוֹן״, דִּכְתִיב בְּהָהוּא עִנְיָינָא! אָמַר יְהוּדָה בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן פַּזִּי: מִתּוֹךְ שֶׁהִתְחִיל בְּבִרְכוֹתָיו שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְסַיֵּים בְּבִרְכוֹתָיו שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **And let them also say** the third verse that appears right after the first two blessings: **“The Lord shall bless you out of Zion”** (Psalms 134:3), **as it is written in that** same **matter. Yehuda, son of Rabbi Shimon ben Pazi, says: Since** they **began with blessings of the Holy One, Blessed be He,** they must **end with a blessing of the Holy One, Blessed be He,** rather than reciting this verse, which is a blessing for the Jewish people.


###### Sotah 39b:13
[Sotah 39b:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/39b:13)

בְּמִנְחֲתָא דְתַעֲנִיתָא מַאי אָמְרִי? אָמַר רַב אַחָא בַּר יַעֲקֹב: ״אִם עֲוֹנֵינוּ עָנוּ בָנוּ ה׳ עֲשֵׂה לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ״, ״מִקְוֵה יִשְׂרָאֵל מוֹשִׁיעוֹ בְּעֵת צָרָה לָמָּה תִהְיֶה כְּגֵר בָּאָרֶץ וְגוֹ׳״, ״לָמָּה תִהְיֶה כְּאִישׁ נִדְהָם כְּגִבּוֹר לֹא יוּכַל לְהוֹשִׁיעַ וְגוֹ׳״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: When the priests ascend to recite the Priestly Benediction **during the afternoon prayer of a fast day, what do** the people **say? Rav Aḥa bar Ya’akov said:** They say: **“Though our iniquities testify against us, O Lord, work for Your name’s sake”** (Jeremiah 14:7), **“The Hope of Israel, its savior in times of trouble, why should You be a stranger in the land** and as a wayfaring man that turns aside to tarry for a night?” (Jeremiah 14:8), and **“Why should You be like a man overcome, as a mighty man who cannot save?** Yet You, O Lord, are in the midst of us, and Your name is called upon us; leave us not” (Jeremiah 14:9).