📖 SATURDAY PRAYER: HESED-YESHIVAT HAVERIM יְשִׁיבָה חברים – BABYLONIAN TALMUD p150

READING: BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND DAWN OF SATURDAY

“As much as is sufficient to cover,” etc. What is meant by Kalkub and Andiphi? Said Rabh: The
temple, and the hair between it and the ear. Are we to understand from the Mishna that the
prescribed quantity permitted by R. Jehudah is larger than that of the rabbis? Is it not a fact that
the rabbis allow the larger prescribed quantity? Aye; R. Jehudah allows a larger quantity than R.
Nehemiah, but still a smaller quantity than the rabbis. Or it is possible that an Andiphi means a
forehead, from the following narration: “It happened that a Galilean once came to Babylon and
was requested to lecture on metaphysics. The Galilean consented and began: I will interpret to
you something in the style of R. Nehemiah. Meanwhile a wasp flew out of the wall, stung him
on the Andiphi (forehead) and the Galilean died on the spot. It was said that he died a merited
death.” 1
MISHNA III.: For sealing-wax the prescribed quantity is as much as is required for the sealing
of a bale of goods, so is the decree of R. Aqiba; the sages, however, say for the sealing of a
letter. For dung or fine sand as much as is required to fertilize (the soil around) a cabbage stalk,
according to R. Aqiba, and to the sages as much as is required to fertilize (the soil around) a leek
stalk. For coarse sand as much as is required to fill a trowel, for reed as much as is required to
make a writing-pen from, or should it be thick or split, as much as is required to fry the softest
beaten egg with, (which) mixed with oil, (lies) in a hot shell.
GEMARA: “Sufficient to fill a trowel.” A Boraitha states: (For coarse sand the prescribed
quantity is) as much as is required to fill the trowel of a plasterer. Who is the Tana that holds that sand is an improvement on plaster? Said R. Hisda: R. Jehudah of a Boraitha (Baba Bathra, 60b); Rabha, however, said it may be also in accordance with the rabbis, as they hold that the spoiling (of the whiteness) of the
plaster (through the admixture of sand) is an improvement of its durability.