Siman - Shabbos Daf 33
- Punishments for bad judgments
Much of the Daf enumerates the consequences that come from a variety of transgressions.
A Baraisa teaches that for the sins of delaying handing down a judgment, intentionally perverting judgment, being careless in judgment, and bittul Torah, the sword and plundering shall increase, pestilence and famine shall come, people will eat and not be satisfied, and food will be in such short supply that people will eat their bread by weight.
- The punishment of nivul peh (Obscene Language)
The Baraisa continues that for the sin of nivul peh, (obscene language) calamities increase and harsh decrees originate against the Jews, young men die, orphans and widows cry out and are not answered.
Rabbah bar Shila said in the name of Rav Chisda, כל המנבל את פיו מעמיקין לו גיהנם – Anyone who perverts his speech with nivul peh Gehinnom is deepened for him.
Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak said אף שומע ושותק - Even one who listens to nivul peh and is silent gets such punishment.
- Rebbe Shimon bar Yochai and his son out of the cave
The Gemara recounts the story or Rebbe Shimon bar Yochai and his son Rebbe Elazar who hid in a cave for twelve years to escape the capture of the Romans. When Eliyahu HaNavi came and informed them that the Caesar had died and the decree had been annulled, they left the cave and saw people plowing and sowing. They became incensed and declared, מניחין חיי עולם ועוסקים בחיי שעה – These people are forsaking the pursuit of olam habah and occupying themselves with the pursuit of olam hazeh! Everything they gazed at was immediately incinerated. A bas kol (a heavenly voice) then told them to return to their cave.
A year later they emerged once again. This time whatever R’ Elazar would destroy through his gaze, R’ Shimon would heal and restore.
One erev Shabbos they saw a man running holding two bundles of haddasim. When they asked him what the two bundles were for, he explained they were for kavod Shabbos, one representing zachor and the other representing shamor. R’ Shimon said to his son, חזי כמה חביבין מצות על ישראל – “Look how cherished the mitzvos are to Yisroel” and they were both appeased.
