Siman - Shabbos Daf 127
- Five boxes per guest
The Mishnah on Daf 124b stated that one may clear four or five boxes for הכנסת אורחים or ביטול בית המדרש. The Gemara asks if the maximum number of five boxes applies even if one has numerous guests, or maybe if one has many guests he may move up to five boxes per guest. The Gemara then asks that if the halacha is indeed that one can move five boxes per guest, can one person clear away all of the boxes, or each person needs to clear away five boxes.
The Gemara answers that the five box limit is per guest, based on two incidents where Rebbe and Rebbe Chiya went to a field and cleared away all the bundles (not just five) to make room for their talmidim. The second question whether one person may clear away all of the boxes, is left unresolved as it is assumed that Rebbe did not clear away the bundles himself, but rather instructed others to do so.
- The virtue of הכנסת אורחים
The Gemara presents a number of teachings about the virtue of הכנסת אורחים.
• Rav Yehudah said in the name of Rav: גדולה הכנסת אורחים מהקבלת פני שכינה – Receiving guests is greater than greeting the Divine Presence, which he learns from Avraham Avinu who asked HaKadosh Baruch Hu not to leave when he went to receive guests.
• Rebbe Elazar said: בא וראה שלא כמדת הקדוש ברוך הוא מדת בשר ודם – Come and observe how different is the way of Hakadosh Baruch Hu from the way of flesh and blood. According to the way of flesh and blood, one of lower station cannot tell one of higher station, “Wait here until I come back to you.” Whereas with Hakadosh Baruch Hu, Avraham said, אם נא מצאתי חן בעיניך אל נא תעבר מעל עבדך – "If I have found favor in Your eyes, please do not pass away from Your servant,” and then went to his guests.
- דן לכף זכות
It was taught in a Baraisa, הדן חבירו לכף זכות דנין אותו לזכות – One who judges his fellow man favorably is himself judged favorably. An incident is brought about one who left home and labored for three years. On erev Yom Kippur, the day of his return home, his employer told him that he had no money, produce, land, animals, nor even pillows and cushions to pay him. The man left dejected and returned home. When his employer eventually travelled to pay him, he asked the laborer what he had thought when he told him that he has nothing to pay him with, and the laborer proceeded to share how he judged him favorably in each of the instances. The employer paid him handsomely and said, כשם שדנתני לזכות המקום ידין אותך לזכות – Just as you have judged me favorably, so too should the Omnipresent judge you favorably.
The Sheiltos brings that the employer was the Tanna, Rebbe Eliezer ben Horkenus, and the employee was Rebbe Akiva.
