ecame a beacon to their
countrymen for all time, the Christian Church was not idle. By their
writings and eloquence the Fathers were gathering the treasures of
patristic lore which have descended to us. While Rabbis were discoursing
in the synagogues of Tiberias and Babylon, Christian orators were
preaching in the basilicas of Constantinople and Rome. They have all gone
from this mortal scene. But their thoughts are handed down, so that we may
converse with them, though they are no longer on earth. We can hear their
wisdom--we can see their errors--we can almost fancy we behold their
forms--so that, being dead, they yet speak. Since they ceased from their
labors empires have risen and fallen, countless millions of our race have
vanished into eternity, and left their bodies to moulder into dust. But
their teachings still live on, to influence immortal souls for weal or
woe. Doubtless their departures from the Word of God prepared a way and
furnished matter for the numerous heresies and lawless deeds which form a
great portion of the history of mankind. From their errors sprang at least
in part the Koran. This and kindred themes, however, open up an
interminable vista, leading us away from the Talmud itself. It is better
now to conclude this introduction. And with what more suitable words can I
close than with those drawn from the wisdom of the Fathers? "It is not
incumbent upon thee to complete the work: neither art thou free to cease
from it. If thou hast studied the law, great shall be thy reward; for the
Master of thy work is faithful to pay the reward of thy labor: but know
that the reward of the righteous is in the world to come."

[Transcriber's Note: What follows is actually only extracts from the
Mishna, and not the Gemara; as explained above, what is considered the
Talmud is the Mishna and the Gemara together.]

On Blessings

Recitation of the Shemah--Blessings--Rabbi Gamaliel--Exemptions from
the Recitation--Prayers--Differences Between the Schools of Shammai
and Hillel--Reverence for the Temple.

Chapter I

1. "From what time do we recite the Shemah(8) in the evening?" "From the
hour the priests(9) enter (the temple) to eat their heave offerings, until
the end of the first watch."(10) The words of R. Eleazar; but the Sages
say "until midnight." Rabban Gamaliel says, "until the pillar of the morn
ascend." It happened that his sons came from a banquet. They said to him,
"we have no