Berachot 10: Introducing Wise Women Beruya & Shunem; G-d & the Soul, Hezekiah

Rabbi Meir was bothered by hooligans.  He prayed that G-d should show them mercy and that they should die.  His wife, Beruya, asked him what he was thinking.  What about the verse, "Let sins cease fro the land" (Psalms 104:35)?  It says sins should cease and not sinners.  Thus we should pray for the sins and not the sinners to cease.  At the end of that verse, when it says "... and the wicked will be no more", we should interpret this as G-d should have mercy on them so that they repent, and their wickedness will be no more".  Rabbi Meir noted that Berurya was correct and he prayed for G-d to have mercy on the hooligans.  They repented.

More about Berurya: A heretic commented on Isaiah (54:1), saying "Sing, barren woman who has not given birth... do not cry, for more are the children of the desolate that the children of the married wife...".  Berurya said "Fool! Go to the end of the verse, where it is written "For the children of the desolate shall be more numerous than the children of the married wife, said the Lord".  Thus it means that the congregation of Israel should sing, as we are like a barren woman who did not give birth to children who are destined for Gehenna, hell, like you are."

More stories are told about heretics and responses to their challenges.  

We learn from Rabbi Yochanan about meanings of verses in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai.   One is from Proverbs 31:26): She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of loving-kindness is on her tongue".  The Sages say this this is about the wisdom of Torah and those who study.  Solomon said this regarding his father, David, who was most wise and who resided in five worlds/stages of life.  His song said a song of praise corresponding to each of these worlds/stages.  In the womb, when entering the atmosphere of the world and seeing the stars and constellations, when nursing from his others breast (which was near her heart, understanding, when witnessing the downfall of the wicked, and when facing death.  Other interpretations are shared as well.

There is a beautiful commentary on these five worlds where we hear "Bless the Lord, O my Soul".  They are parallels between the soul in one's body and G-d's power in G-d's world:
Just as the Holy One, Blessed be G-d, fills the entire world, so too the soul fills the entire body
Just as the Holy One, Blessed be G-d, sees but is not seen, so too does the soul see but is not seen
Just as the Holy One, Blessed be G-d, sustains the entire world, so too the soul sustains the entire body
Just as the Holy One, Blessed be G-d, is pure, so too is the soul pure
Just as the Holy One, Blessed be G-d, resides in a chamber within a chamber, so too the soul resides in a chamber within a chamber
Therefore that which has these five characteristics - the soul - should come and praise G-d who also has these five characteristics.

We learn more examples of redemption.  An engaging story about King Hezekiah and Isaiah, where Hezekiah prays for redemption, even at the very end of one's life.  The Sages talk about six innovations that King Hezekiah made, and the agreed with him on only three of those things.  The Gemara considers what it means to bargain with G-d based on our own merits.  

We learn about a woman from Shunem who says that a room that is created about their home is meant for a holy man of G-d who will visit continually (II Kings4:9).  From Shunem's perceptiveness, we learn that women can recognize the character of her guests more than men.  How did she know that he was holy? Was it that there were no flies at his table, or that his tablecloth was clean?  Was it that his bedsheets were not stained with seminal emissions or that he did not grab at her breasts licentiously?  

The rabbis discuss how one should pray.  Our feet should be aligned, like the feet of the angels (Ezekiel 1:7).  We must pray before we eat.  And more.

Before we end today's daf, we learn a third Mishna.  Beit Shammai say one should recite the Shema in the evening while reclining, and in the morning after we rise based on the verses (when we lie down and when we rise).  Beit Hillel say that every person should recite the Shema as he is most comfortable, based on  "And when you walk along the way", neither when one is lying down nor rising, but at those times of day.  Rabbi Tarfon says that he stopped on the road and reclined to recite the Shema even though he was a disciple of Beit Hillel.  Unfortunately in trying to be more stringent, he endangered himself due to listim, highwaymen.  The Sages told him that he deserved to be in a position were he was liable to pay with his life, as he transgressed the statement of Beit Hillel.