Yevamos - Daf 105
- Descendants from Beis Eli who engaged in Torah and chesed lived longer
Rav Shmuel bar Ami said in the name of Rebbe Yonasan: מנין לגזר דין שיש עמו שבועה שאינו מתקרע – From where do we know that a gezeirah accompanied with an oath can never be torn up? For the passuk states: Therefore, I have sworn concerning the House of Eli, that the sin of the House of Eli will never be atoned בזבח ובמנחה – by a korban or a minchah. Rabbah said: The passuk states only that the sin cannot be atoned for by a korban or minchah, אבל מתכפר הוא בדברי תורה – but it can be atoned for with Torah learning. Abaye said: It cannot be atoned for with a korban or minchah אבל מתכפר בגמילות חסדים – but it can be atoned for with acts of kindness. Rabbah and Abaye were both descendants from the House of Eli. Rabbah, who engaged in Torah learning, lived for forty years. Abaye, who engaged in both Torah and chesed, lived for sixty years. A Baraisa taught that Rebbe Yochanan ben Zakkai was informed that there was a family in Yerushalayim whose members would died when they reached the age of eighteen. He suspected that they were from the House of Eli and told them, לכו ועסקו בתורה ותחיו – go and engage in Torah and live. They did and lived, and people called them, משפחת יוחנן after him.
- Machlokes whether one directs his eyes downwards or upwards when davening
Rebbe Chiya and Rebbe Shimon bar Rebbe were sitting together and one of them said: המתפלל צריך שיתן עיניו למטה – One who prays must direct his eyes downward, which Rashi explains is towards Eretz Yisroel where the Shechinah dwells, as the passuk states: והיו עיני ולבי שם כל הימים – and My eyes and My heart shall be there all the days. The other one said: עיניו למעלה – His eyes should be directed upwards, as the passuk states: נשא לבבנו אל כפים אל קל בשמים – Let us lift our hearts with our hands, to G-d in Shomayim. When Rebbe Yishmael b’Rebbe Yose heard what they were discussing, he told them that his father said: המתפלל צריך שיתן עיניו למטה ולבו למעלה כדי שיתקיימו שני מקראות הללו – One who prays needs to direct his eyes downward and his heart upward, so that one can fulfill both pesukim. The Maharsha explains that Rebbe Yose held that most of the Shechinah left Eretz Yisroel after the churban. Therefore, one’s thoughts should be directed towards Shomayim. But since some of the Shechinah remains in Eretz Yisroel, his eyes should be directed downwards towards it.
- The exchange between Abdan and Rebbe Yishmael b’Rebbe Yose
The Gemara relates that since Rebbe Yishmael b’Rebbe Yose was obese, when he arrived at Rebbe’s shiur he needed to go slowly to his seat, which made it appear as if he was stepping over the heads of those who were already seated on the ground. When Abdan rebuked him and asked him if he was worthy to learn Torarh from Rebbe, Rebbe Yishmael responded, וכי משה היה הגון ללמוד תורה מפי הגבורה – Was Moshe worthy to learn Torah from the mouth of the Al-mighty? Abdan responded, now, are you Moshe, to which Rebbe Yishmael replied, וכי רבך אלקים הוא – Now, is your master G-d? In the meantime, a yevamah came before Rebbe, and he told Abdan to check if she had reached maturity. Rebbe Yishmael said to Rebbe, that his father, Rebbe Yose, said that "איש" written in the parshah of chalitzah indicates that the yavam must be an adult, אבל אשה בין גדולה בין קטנה – but a woman can be an adult or a minor to perform chalitzah. Rebbe said to Abdan: Come back since it is not necessary to check. כבר הורה זקן – The elder sage, Rebbe Yose, has already ruled that a yevamah, who is a minor, can do chalitzah. The Gemara relates that Abdan got tzaraas and suffered from other calamities.
