sh. 6.
Sleep in the morning, wine at mid-day, the idle talk of inexperienced
youth, and attending the conventicles of the ignorant drive a man out of
the world.
Ibid., chap. 3, mish. 16.
Rabbi Jonathan says, "Where do we learn that no present is to be made to
an ignorant priest?" In 2 Chron. xxxi. 4, for there it is said Hezekiah
"commanded that all the people that dwelt in Jerusalem should give a
portion to the priests and to the Levites, that they might be strong in
the law of the Lord." He who firmly lays hold of the law has a claim to
a portion, otherwise he has none.
_Chullin_, fol. 130, col. 2.
The aged, if ignorant, grow weaker in intellect the older they become in
years, for it is written (Job xii. 20), "He removeth away the speech of
the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged." But it is
not so with them that are old in the study of the law, for the older
they grow the more thoughtful they become, and the wiser, as it is said
(Job xii. 12), "With the ancient is wisdom, and in length of days
understanding."
_Kinnin_, chap. 3.
The salutation of the ignorant should be responded to quietly, and with
a reluctant nod of the head.
_Taanith_, fol. 14, col. 2.
No calamities ever befall the world except such as are brought on by the
ignorant.
_Bava Bathra_, fol. 8, col. 1.
Rav Hunna's widow once appeared before Rav Nachman as plaintiff in a
lawsuit. "What shall I do?" he said. "If I rise before her (to honor her
as the widow of a Rabbi), the defendant, who is an _amhaaretz_, will
feel uneasy; and if I don't rise I shall break the rule which ordains
that the wife of an associate is to be treated as an associate." So he
said to his servant, "Loose a young goose over my head, then I'll get
up."
Rav bar Sheravyah had a lawsuit with an _amhaaretz_ before Rav Pappa,
who bade him be seated, and also asked the other to sit down. When the
officer of the court raised the _amhaaretz_ with a kick, the magistrate
did not request him to be seated again.
_Shevuoth_, fol. 30, col. 2.
Six things are said respecting demons. In three particulars they are
like angels, and in three they resemble men. They have wings like
angels; like angels they fly from one end of the world to the other, and
they know the future, as angels do, with this difference, that they
learn by listening behind the veil what angels have revealed to them
within. In three respects they resemble men. They eat and drink lik
|