Siman - Shabbos Daf 105

  • Abbreviations in the Torah

The Gemara brings several instances of the Torah using abbreviations (לשון נוטריקון). For example:

Rebbe Yochanan said the word Anochi from the Aseres Hadibros is an acronym for: אנא נפשי כתיבת יהבית – I Myself wrote and gave the Torah.

The Rabbonon said Anochi is an acronym for אמירה נעימה כתיבה יהיבה – A pleasant statement was written and given.

Some say that Anochi should be expounded backwards, יהיבה כתיבה נאמנין אמריה – It was given in writing; reliable are its statements.

  • Tearing a garment in anger

R’ Avin initially suggested that tearing a garment in anger is also an act of מתקן, a rectifying act, and could make one liable, דקעביד נחת רוח ליצרו, since he is satisfying his yetzer hara  by cooling off his anger .

The Gemara challenges this notion based on a Baraisa that states in the name of Rebbe Yochanan ben Nuri that one who in anger tears his garment or utensils or scatters his money should be in your eyes as one who is performing avodah zarah for this is the way of the yetzer hara; Today it tells him, “Do this”, and the next day it tells him, “Do this” until it tells him to serve avodah zarah and he goes ahead and serves it. We see from here tearing one’s clothes in anger is not a constructive act because it increases the strength of the yetzer hara.

The Gemara concludes that tearing one’s garment is a only constructive in a case where the person is not inwardly angry but is displaying anger to strike fear on the members of his household.

  • Mourning good and wise people

The Gemara addresses the importance of mourning good and wise people.

It was said in the name of Bar Kappara, כל המוריד דמעות על אדם כשר הקדוש ברוך הוא סופרן ומניחן בבית גנזיו – Anyone who sheds tears for an upright person, Hakadosh Baruch Hu counts them and places them in His storehouse.

It was said in the name of Rav: כל המתעצל בהספדו של חכם ראוי לקוברו בחייו – Anyone who acts lazily over giving a eulogy for a chochom is fit to be buried alive.