stinction of the day;" but the school of Hillel bless "the light, the
spices, the food, and the distinction of the day." The school of Shammai
say, "who created the light of fire;" but the school of Hillel say,
"Creator of the lights of fire."

6. Men must not bless light and spices of idolatrous Gentiles, nor light
and spices of corpses, nor light and spices before an idol. They must not
bless the light until they have enjoyed the light.

7. "If one have eaten, and forgotten, and not blessed?" The school of
Shammai say, "he must return to his place and bless." But the school of
Hillel say, "he may bless in the place where he recollects." "How long is
one obliged to bless?" "Until the food in his stomach be digested."

8. "If wine came to the company, and there is but one goblet?" The school
of Shammai say "that one must bless the wine and then bless the food." But
the school of Hillel say "that one must bless the food and then bless the
wine." Men must answer "Amen" when an Israelite blesses; but they must not
answer "Amen" when a Samaritan blesses, until the whole(32) blessing be
heard.

Chapter IX

1. He who sees a place where signs were wrought for Israel, says, "Blessed
be He who wrought signs for our fathers in this place;" a place where
idolatry has been rooted out,--says, "Blessed be He who hath rooted
idolatry out of our land."

2. On comets, earthquakes, lightnings, thunder, and tempests, say,
"Blessed be He whose strength and might fill the world." On mountains,
hills, seas, rivers, and deserts, say, "Blessed be He who made the
creation." R. Judah says, when a man sees the great sea he is to say,
"Blessed be He who made the great sea,"--when he sees it at intervals. On
rains, and on good news say, "Blessed be He who is good and beneficent."
On bad news say, "Blessed be the true Judge."

3. He who has built a new house, or bought new furniture, says, "Blessed
be He who has kept us alive," etc. One must bless for evil the source of
good; and for good the source of evil. "He who supplicates for what is
past?" "Such prayer is vain." "How?" His wife is pregnant, and he says,
"God grant that my wife may bring forth a male child." Such prayer is
vain. Or if one on the road hear the voice of lamentation in the city, and
say, "God grant that it may not be my son, my house," etc., such prayer is
vain.

4. Whoever enters a fortified town must say two prayers, one at his
entrance, and one at his departure.