## Sotah Daf 40a

###### Sotah 40a:1
[Sotah 40a:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/40a:1)

בִּנְעִילָה דְּיוֹמָא דְכִיפּוּרֵי מַאי אָמַר? אָמַר מָר זוּטְרָא, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ בְּמַתְנִיתָא: ״הִנֵּה כִי כֵן יְבֹרַךְ גָּבֶר יְרֵא ה׳״. ״יְבָרֶכְךָ ה׳ מִצִּיּוֹן וּרְאֵה בְּטוּב יְרוּשָׁלִָם כֹּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ״. ״וּרְאֵה בָנִים לְבָנֶיךָ שָׁלוֹם עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**During the closing prayer [*ne’ila*] of Yom Kippur,** which also includes the Priestly Benediction, **what do** the people **say? Mar Zutra says, and some say** that this was taught **in a *baraita*: “Behold, surely thus shall the man who fears the Lord be blessed”** (Psalms 128:4), **“The Lord shall bless you out of Zion, and you shall see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life”** (Psalms 128:5), and **“And see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel”** (Psalms 128:6).


###### Sotah 40a:2
[Sotah 40a:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/40a:2)

הֵיכָן אוֹמְרָן? רַב יוֹסֵף אָמַר: בֵּין כׇּל בְּרָכָה וּבְרָכָה, וְרַב שֵׁשֶׁת אָמַר: בְּהַזְכָּרַת הַשֵּׁם.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **Where does** the congregation **say** these verses during the Priestly Benediction? **Rav Yosef says:** They are said **between each and every blessing. And Rav Sheshet says:** They are said **during the mention of the name** of God in each of the three blessings.


###### Sotah 40a:3
[Sotah 40a:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/40a:3)

פְּלִיגִי בַּהּ רַב מָרִי וְרַב זְבִיד. חַד אָמַר: פְּסוּקָא לָקֳבֵל פְּסוּקָא, וְחַד אָמַר: אַכֹּל פְּסוּקָא אָמַר לְהוּ לְכוּלְּהוּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Mari and Rav Zevid disagree about** this matter. **One says:** The congregation recites one **verse** at a time, **corresponding to** the **verse** that the priests recite. **And one says: For every** single **verse** that the priests recite, the congregation **says all** three verses.


###### Sotah 40a:4
[Sotah 40a:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/40a:4)

אָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא: כׇּל הָאוֹמְרָן בַּגְּבוּלִין — אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא טוֹעֶה. אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בַּר פָּפָּא: תִּדַּע דִּבְמִקְדָּשׁ נָמֵי לָא מִיבְּעֵי לְמֵימְרִינְהוּ, כְּלוּם יֵשׁ לְךָ עֶבֶד שֶׁמְּבָרְכִין אוֹתוֹ וְאֵינוֹ מַאֲזִין?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba says: Anyone who recites** these verses **in the outlying areas,** i.e., outside the Temple, **is nothing other than mistaken** in his practice. **Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa said:** You should **know that in the Temple also** people **should not recite** these verses. **Do you have a servant who is being blessed and does not listen** to the blessing, but rather speaks at the same time?


###### Sotah 40a:5
[Sotah 40a:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/40a:5)

אָמַר רַבִּי אַחָא בַּר חֲנִינָא: תֵּדַע דְּבִגְבוּלִין נָמֵי מִיבְּעֵי לְמֵימְרִינְהוּ, כְּלוּם יֵשׁ עֶבֶד שֶׁמְּבָרְכִין אוֹתוֹ וְאֵין מַסְבִּיר פָּנִים? אָמַר רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ: מֵרֵישׁ הֲוָה אָמֵינָא לְהוּ, כֵּיוָן דַּחֲזֵינָא לֵיהּ לְרַבִּי אַבָּא דְּמִן עַכּוֹ דְּלָא אֲמַר לְהוּ — אֲנָא נָמֵי לָא אָמֵינָא לְהוּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Conversely, **Rabbi Aḥa bar Ḥanina says:** You should **know that in the outlying areas one is also required to say** these verses. **Is there a servant who is being blessed and his face does not brighten?** Therefore, one must recite these verses to give thanks for receiving the Priestly Benediction. **Rabbi Abbahu says: At first, I would recite** these verses, but **since I saw that Rabbi Abba of Akko does not say them, I also do not recite them** anymore.


###### Sotah 40a:6
[Sotah 40a:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/40a:6)

וְאָמַר רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ: מֵרֵישׁ הֲוָה אָמֵינָא עִינְוְתָנָא אֲנָא. כֵּיוָן דַּחֲזֵינָא לֵיהּ לְרַבִּי אַבָּא דְּמִן עַכּוֹ דְּאָמַר אִיהוּ חַד טַעְמָא וְאָמַר אָמוֹרֵיהּ חַד טַעְמָא וְלָא קָפֵיד — אָמֵינָא לָאו עִינְוְתָנָא אֲנָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And Rabbi Abbahu says: At first, I would say** to myself that **I was humble. Since I saw that Rabbi Abba of Akko himself stated one reason** for a matter, **and his interpreter stated one** other **reason** of his own rather than delivering the reason that Rabbi Abba stated, **and** yet Rabbi Abba **did not mind, I say** to myself that **I am not humble.**


###### Sotah 40a:7
[Sotah 40a:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/40a:7)

וּמַאי עִינְוְותָנוּתֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי אֲבָהוּ? דַּאֲמַרָה לַהּ דְּבֵיתְהוּ דְּאָמוֹרֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי אֲבָהוּ לִדְבֵיתֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי אֲבָהוּ: הָא דִּידַן לָא צְרִיךְ לֵיהּ לְדִידָךְ, וְהַאי דְּגָחֵין וְזָקֵיף עֲלֵיהּ — יְקָרָא בְּעָלְמָא הוּא דְּעָבֵיד לֵיהּ. אֲזַלָא דְּבֵיתְהוּ וַאֲמַרָה לֵיהּ לְרַבִּי אֲבָהוּ. אֲמַר לַהּ: וּמַאי נָפְקָא לִיךְ מִינַּהּ? מִינִּי וּמִינֵּיהּ יִתְקַלַּס עִילָּאָה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **And what was the humility of Rabbi Abbahu?** The Gemara relates **that Rabbi Abbahu’s interpreter’s wife said to Rabbi Abbahu’s wife: This one of ours,** i.e., my husband, **has no need for your** husband Rabbi Abbahu, as he could teach everything on his own. **And** the fact **that he bends over** to listen to Rabbi Abbahu, **and** then **stands up above him,** and repeats his words to the congregants **is merely to show respect for him.** Rabbi Abbahu’s **wife went and told** this **to Rabbi Abbahu. He said to her: And what difference does it make to you? Through me and through him the One above will be exalted,** and it does not matter which one of us is teaching.


###### Sotah 40a:8
[Sotah 40a:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/40a:8)

וְתוּ, רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ אִימְּנוֹ רַבָּנַן עֲלֵיהּ לְמִמְנְיֵיהּ בְּרֵישָׁא, כֵּיוָן דְּחַזְיֵהּ לְרַבִּי אַבָּא דְּמִן עַכּוֹ דִּנְפִישִׁי לֵיהּ בַּעֲלֵי חוֹבוֹת, אֲמַר לְהוּ: אִיכָּא רַבָּה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And furthermore,** in another example of his humility, **the Sages were counted** and reached a decision **to appoint Rabbi Abbahu to be the head** of the yeshiva. **Since he saw that Rabbi Abba of Akko had many creditors** and was impoverished, he attempted to get him out of debt. **He said to them: There is** a man who is **greater** than me, Rabbi Abba.


###### Sotah 40a:9
[Sotah 40a:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/40a:9)

רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ וְרַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא אִיקְּלַעוּ לְהָהוּא אַתְרָא, רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ דְּרַשׁ בְּאַגַּדְתָּא, רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא דְּרַשׁ בִּשְׁמַעְתָּא. שַׁבְקוּהּ כּוּלֵּי עָלְמָא לְרַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא, וַאֲזוּל לְגַבֵּיהּ דְּרַבִּי אֲבָהוּ. חֲלַשׁ דַּעְתֵּיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אֶמְשֹׁל לְךָ מָשָׁל לְמָה הַדָּבָר דּוֹמֶה: לִשְׁנֵי בְּנֵי אָדָם, אֶחָד מוֹכֵר אֲבָנִים טוֹבוֹת וְאֶחָד מוֹכֵר מִינֵי סִידְקִית, עַל מִי קוֹפְצִין — לֹא עַל זֶה שֶׁמּוֹכֵר מִינֵי סִידְקִית?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara relates another example of his humility: **Rabbi Abbahu and Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba happened** to come **to a certain place. Rabbi Abbahu taught** matters of ***aggada*,** and at the same time **Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba taught *halakha*. Everyone left Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba and went to Rabbi Abbahu,** and Rabbi Ḥiyya **was offended.** Rabbi Abbahu **said to him,** to appease him: **I will tell you a parable: To what is this matter comparable?** It is comparable **to two people, one** who **sells precious stones and one** who **sells small items [*sidkit*]. Upon whom do** the customers **spring? Don’t** they spring **upon the one who sells small items?** Similarly, you teach lofty and important matters that do not attract many people. Everyone comes to me because I teach minor matters.


###### Sotah 40a:10
[Sotah 40a:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/40a:10)

כׇּל יוֹמָא: הֲוָה מַלְוֵה רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא לְרַבִּי אֲבָהוּ עַד אוּשְׁפִּיזֵיהּ מִשּׁוּם יְקָרָא דְבֵי קֵיסָר. הָהוּא יוֹמָא אַלְוְיֵהּ רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ לְרַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא עַד אוּשְׁפִּיזֵיהּ, וַאֲפִילּוּ הָכִי לָא אִיתּוֹתַב דַּעְתֵּיהּ מִינֵּיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara relates that **every day Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba would escort Rabbi Abbahu to his lodging place [*ushpizei*] out of respect for the house of the emperor,** with which Rabbi Abbahu was associated. On **that day, Rabbi Abbahu escorted Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba to his lodging place, and even so,** Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba’s **mind was not at ease with** Rabbi Abbahu and he felt insulted.


###### Sotah 40a:11
[Sotah 40a:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/40a:11)

בִּזְמַן שֶׁשְּׁלִיחַ צִבּוּר אוֹמֵר מוֹדִים, הָעָם מָה הֵם אוֹמְרִים? אָמַר רַב: ״מוֹדִים אֲנַחְנוּ לָךְ ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ עַל שֶׁאָנוּ מוֹדִים לָךְ״. וּשְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר: ״אֱלֹהֵי כׇּל בָּשָׂר, עַל שֶׁאָנוּ מוֹדִים לָךְ״. רַבִּי סִימַאי אוֹמֵר: ״יוֹצְרֵנוּ יוֹצֵר בְּרֵאשִׁית עַל שֶׁאָנוּ מוֹדִים לָךְ״. נְהַרְדָּעֵי אָמְרִי מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי סִימַאי: ״בְּרָכוֹת וְהוֹדָאוֹת לְשִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל עַל שֶׁהֶחֱיִיתָנוּ וְקִיַּימְתָּנוּ, עַל שֶׁאָנוּ מוֹדִים לָךְ״. רַב אַחָא בַּר יַעֲקֹב מְסַיֵּים בַּהּ הָכִי: ״כֵּן תְּחַיֵּינוּ וּתְחׇנֵּנוּ, וּתְקַבְּצֵנוּ, וְתֶאֱסוֹף גָּלִיּוֹתֵינוּ לְחַצְרוֹת קׇדְשֶׁךָ, לִשְׁמוֹר חוּקֶּיךָ וְלַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹנְךָ בְּלֵבָב שָׁלֵם, עַל שֶׁאָנוּ מוֹדִים לָךְ״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ The Gemara returns to discuss the response of the congregants to certain parts of the prayer service. **While the prayer leader is reciting** the blessing of: **We give thanks, what do the people say? Rav says** that they say: **We give thanks to You, Lord our God, for** the merit of **giving thanks to You. And Shmuel says** that one should say: **God of all** living **flesh, for** the merit of **giving thanks to You. Rabbi Simai says** that one should say: **Our Creator, Who created** everything **in the beginning, for** the merit of **giving thanks to You.** The Sages **of Neharde’a say in the name of Rabbi Simai** that one should say: We offer **blessings and praises to Your great name, for You have given us life and sustained us, for giving thanks to You. Rav Aḥa bar Ya’akov** would **finish** the blessing **as follows: So may You give us life, and show us favor, and collect us, and gather our exiles into Your sacred courtyards, in order to observe Your laws and to fulfill Your will wholeheartedly, for giving thanks to You.**


###### Sotah 40a:12
[Sotah 40a:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/40a:12)

אָמַר רַב פָּפָּא: הִילְכָּךְ נֵימְרִינְהוּ לְכוּלְּהוּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Pappa said:** These Sages each added a different element to the prayer. **Therefore, we should** combine them together and **recite all of them.**


###### Sotah 40a:13
[Sotah 40a:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/40a:13)

אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: לְעוֹלָם תְּהֵא אֵימַת צִבּוּר עָלֶיךָ, שֶׁהֲרֵי כֹּהֲנִים פְּנֵיהֶם כְּלַפֵּי הָעָם וַאֲחוֹרֵיהֶם כְּלַפֵּי שְׁכִינָה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ **Rabbi Yitzḥak says: The awe of the public should always be upon you,** i.e., one must always treat the public courteously. **As** when the **priests** bless the people they **face the people and their backs are toward the Divine Presence,** out of respect for the congregation.


###### Sotah 40a:14
[Sotah 40a:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/40a:14)

רַב נַחְמָן אָמַר: מֵהָכָא: ״וַיָּקׇם דָּוִיד הַמֶּלֶךְ עַל רַגְלָיו וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמָעוּנִי אַחַי וְעַמִּי״. אִם ״אַחַי״ לָמָּה ״עַמִּי״, וְאִם ״עַמִּי״ לָמָּה ״אַחַי״? אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: אָמַר לָהֶם דָּוִד לְיִשְׂרָאֵל: אִם אַתֶּם, שׁוֹמְעִין לִי — אַחַי אַתֶּם, וְאִם לָאו — עַמִּי אַתֶּם, וַאֲנִי רוֹדֶה אֶתְכֶם בְּמַקֵּל.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Naḥman said** that this principle is derived **from here: “Then King David stood up upon his feet, and said: Hear me, my brethren, and my people”** (I Chronicles 28:2). Evidently, King David stood up to address the people rather than remain seated. **If** he said **“my brethren,” why** did he say **“my people”? And if** he said **“my people” why** did he say **“my brethren”? Rabbi Elazar says: David said to the Jewish people: If you listen to me, you are my brethren. And if** you do **not** listen to me willingly, **you are my people** and I am your king, **and I will rule over you** by force **with a staff.** This shows that if the nation acted properly, David would relate to them respectfully.


###### Sotah 40a:15
[Sotah 40a:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/40a:15)

רַבָּנַן אָמְרִי מֵהָכָא: דְּאֵין הַכֹּהֲנִים רַשָּׁאִין לַעֲלוֹת בְּסַנְדְּלֵיהֶן לַדּוּכָן. וְזֶהוּ אַחַת מִתֵּשַׁע תַּקָּנוֹת שֶׁהִתְקִין רַבָּן יוֹחָנָן בֶּן זַכַּאי. מַאי טַעְמָא — לָאו מִשּׁוּם כְּבוֹד צִבּוּר? אָמַר רַב אָשֵׁי: לָא, הָתָם שֶׁמָּא נִפְסְקָה לוֹ רְצוּעָה בְּסַנְדָּלוֹ וַהֲדַר אָזֵיל לְמִיקְטְרֵיהּ, וְאָמְרִי: בֶּן גְּרוּשָׁה אוֹ בֶּן חֲלוּצָה הוּא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**The Sages say** that the importance of showing respect for the congregation is derived **from here:** The *halakha* is **that the priests are not permitted to ascend the platform** to recite the benediction **in their sandals,** as is taught in a *baraita*. **And this** *halakha* **is one of nine ordinances that Rabban Yoḥanan ben Zakkai instituted. What is the reason** for this ordinance? **Is it not out of respect for the congregation,** as it would be disrespectful for the priests to display their dirty sandals in front of the congregants? **Rav Ashi said: No,** this is not the reason. **There,** in the *baraita*, the reason is a concern **lest a strap of his sandal break, and he** will therefore **return** to his place **to go tie it** and not ascend the platform in time for the benediction, **and** people will **say** that he was removed from the platform because he is disqualified from the priesthood, as he **is the son of** a priest and **a divorced woman or the son of** a priest and **a *ḥalutza*.**


###### Sotah 40a:16
[Sotah 40a:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sotah/r/40a:16)

וּבְמִקְדָּשׁ בְּרָכָה אַחַת כּוּ׳.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ It is taught in the mishna: **And in the Temple,** the priests recite the three verses as **one blessing.**