Tractate Berakoth: II.—The Eighteen Benedictions: M. IV. 7; T. III. 10-13. The Additional Prayers—Whether to be said only in a Congregation

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Tractate Berakoth, by , by A. Lukyn Williams, [1921], at sacred-texts.com

The Additional Prayers—Whether to be said only in a Congregation.

M.IV. 7. R. Eleazar ben Azariah used to say: The Additional Prayers are said only in the local congregation. 5 But the Teacher 6 says: Both in a local congregation and where there is no local congregation. R. Judah used to say in his name: 7 In every place where there is a local congregation the individual is exempt from the Additional Prayers. 8

T. III. 10. In every festival in which there is no Additional service, as, for example, Chanuka and Purim, at the morning and the afternoon service one

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prays the Eighteen, and says an abstract corresponding to the needs of the occasion. 1 If he does not say this he is not made to turn back. And in every festival in which there is an Additional service, as, for example, the beginning of the month, and the ordinary days in a festival, at the morning and the afternoon service he prays the Eighteen, and says [the special section for] the sanctification of the day 2 in the Benediction about the Temple service. 3 R. Eleazar says (that he says it) in the Hoda’ah. 4 And if he does not he is turned back.

And in the Additional services he prays seven 5 [Benedictions] and says [the special section for] the sanctification of the day in the middle.

11. In the case of a sabbath which falls on the first day of the month, or on the ordinary day of a festival, at morning and afternoon prayer one prays sevens prayers, and says an abstract corresponding to the needs of the occasion in the "Temple worship" Benediction. 6 But R. Eleazar says, in the Hoda’ah. If one has not said it, he is not turned back. And at the Additional Prayers he prays seven prayers and says [the special section for] the sanctification of the day in the middle.

12. On sabbath, and festival, and the Day of Atonement, one prays seven prayers, and says [the special section for] the sanctification of the day in the middle. 7

13. The case of the festival of New Year's Day, which falls upon a sabbath. The School of

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[paragraph continues] Shammai say: One prays ten 1 [Benedictions], and says that for the sabbath by itself, and that for the festival by itself, and he begins with that for the sabbath. But the School of Hillel says: he prays nine 2 [Benedictions].

The case of a festival which falls on a sabbath. The School of Shammai say: he prays eight [Benedictions], and says that for the sabbath by itself, and that for the festival by itself, and he begins with that for the sabbath. But the School of Hillel say: he prays seven, beginning with that for the sabbath, and ending with that for the sabbath, and he says [the special section for] the sanctification of the day in the middle. R. Nathan says: also he seals it with: "Blessed be Thou that sanctifiest the sabbath and Israel and the festival seasons." 3

Footnotes

33:1 he takes a trumpet. i.e. on New Year's Day; see Lev. 23²⁴; Num. 29¹ (Oesterley and Box, p. 411).

33:2 a Lulab. A palm-branch bound with myrtle and willow at the F. of Tab. (Jew. Enc.: viii. 205). Infra, p. 80.

33:3 a roll of the Book of Esther. At Purim, Esther. 9³². (Oesterley and Box, pp. 407 sq.)

33:4 he recites it—on his journey.

33:5 in the local congregation. Not alone. The reason appears to be that the synagogue service was framed after the pattern of the Temple service. See Staerk, p. 21.

33:6 the Teacher (haRab). B has ha-chakamim, the Majority.

33:7 in his name. Presumably of R. Eleazar.

33:8 It is sufficient for him to have taken part in the prayers of the congregation.

34:1 SA, pp. 51, sq.

34:2 SA, p. 50.

34:3 The 16th or 17th Benediction. SA, pp. 49 sq. Staerk, pp. 54, 18.

34:4 the Hoda’ah. The second of the last three Benedictions, i.e. the 17th or 18th, so called from the first word Modim, "we acknowledge" (SA, p. 51).

34:5 seven. "The first three, and the last three, of the Eighteen, and a special one in the middle" (Laible). See Abrahams on SA, p. 159.

34:6 Cf. SA, pp. 50, 140.

34:7 See Staerk, pp. 21 sq.

Next: M. V. 1; T. III. 4-21. The Posture and Attention in Prayer