Berachot 6: Fears, Reward, Demons, Voices, and Our Relationship with G-d as a Model

Some notes from today's daf:

• Abba Binyamin: if the eye was given permission to see, no creature would be able to withstand the abundance of demons

The rabbis discuss demons for some time.  They surround us.  There are a thousand demons on our left and ten thousand on our right.  The demons crowd us, make our knees feet weak and our feet hurt.  They even rub and wear out priests' robes.  How do we get rid of demons?  Well, we begin with placing fine ashes around our beds to see their footprints, which look like chicken's footprints, in the morning.  Then we burn the afterbirth of a firstborn female black cat and grind it to a powder.  We place that in our eyes and we will see the demons.  When we put the ashes in an iron tube sealed with iron so that we won't be harmed.  Rav Beivai bar Abaye did this and saw the demons but was harmed.  He was then healed.  

• If a person intends to do a mitzvah but circumstances don't allow it, it is as if the mitzvah was completed

The rabbis talk about G-d's qualities as compared with those of humans.  They suggest that G-d wears tefillin, and the proof texts are based on the many references to G-d's right hand or right arm as strength.  

We learn about ways that G-d tries to elevate Israel.  Then we learn about the benefits of prayer in synagogue and the benefits of running or taking large strides toward prayer, or knowing the Lord (Hosea 6:3).  From there it is a simple step to Rabbi Zeira's comment about breaking halacha to run on Shabbat if we are running toward halacha.  The rabbis comment:

• Zeira: the reward for attending the lecture if for running
• Abaye: the reward for attending the kallah is the crowding
• Rava: the reward for learing halachic traditions of the amora'im is for the logical analysis (the primary reward is learning what led to our conclusions)
• Rav Pappas: the reward for attending a shiva house is for the silence
• Mar Zutra: the reward for fasting is the charity given to the poor on fast day
• Rav Sheshet: The reward for eulogizing is for causing others to cry
• Rav Ashi: the reward for a wedding is for the words (the good wishes to the bride and groom)

The rabbis return to their discussion of where we should pray.  It is prohibited to pray behind and away from the synagogue but it is permitted to pray outside but facing the synagogue.  We are told a story about Eliahu who caused himself to look like an Arab and when seeing a Jew praying outside of the synagogue but facing away, Eliahu kills him.

We learn about the afternoon prayers.  Rabbi Yochanan says that one must be vigilant regarding the evening prayer as well for it is stated in Psalms (141:2): "Let my prayer come forth as incense forgave You, the lifting of my hands as the evening offering".  Rav Nachnam bar Yitzchak says that one must be vigilant with regard to the evening prayer as well as it is stated, in Psalms (Psalms5:4): "Lord, in the morning You shall hear my voice; in the morning I will order my prayer unto You and will look forward".

We are told that we must increase the joy of a groom and not just benefit from the wedding feast, based on Jeremiah (33:11).  One's reward has to do with being given the Torah, also referred to as five voices (Exodus 19:16): "And it was on the third day, when it was morning, there were kolot, sounds, and lightening and a thick cloud upon the mountain , and the voice of the shofar".  The kolot refers to two voices.  And then, when the shofar grows louder, G-d answers Moshe by a voice (Ex. 20:15).  These add up to eve more than five voices.

Rabbi Abbahu says that the reward for causing rejoicing at a wedding is the same as if one had offered a thanks-offering to the house of the Lord.  Rav Hachman bar Yitzchak says that the reward for causing a groom to rejoice is the same as if one rebuilt one of Jerusalem's ruins, as it is stated in the same verse, "For I will restore the captivity of the land as it was in the beginning".   

We are told that when one has the fear of Heaven, one's words will be heard.  "Fearing G-d and keeping G-d's commandments for this is is all of man" Ecclesiastes (12:13).   In fact, Rabbi Elazar says that the entire world was created only for this person.  

So the world is created for one who hears and fears G-d.  Rabbi Abba bar Kahana says that the end of this teaches us that this is equivalent to the entire world.  Rabbi Shimon ben Azzai or Rabbi Shimon ben Zoma say that was ell, the entire world was created to serve as companions for him for our entire society would function well.  Rabbis Chelbo and Rav Huna say that one who is aware that another person is used to greeting another must return the greeting and even greet the other first.  

Today's daf seems to focus on the relationship between people and G-d.  We should be modelling our relationships with other people on our relationships with G-d.  Not just that, but our relationship with G-d is one that is reciprocal.