Tractate Berakoth: III.—Benedictions at Meals, etc.: M. IX. 8a; T. VII. 19. Against Irreverence for the Temple

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Tractate Berakoth, by , by A. Lukyn Williams, [1921], at sacred-texts.com

Against Irreverence for the Temple.

8a (5b). A man must not behave irreverently when opposite the eastern gate, 6 for it is set opposite the Most Holy Sanctuary. He must not enter the Temple area with his staff, and his

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M.shoe(s), 1 and with his purse, and with the dust on his feet. 2 Nor should he make it a short cut, 3 much less spit there. What of wearing shoes? For this is out of respect; it is forbidden to enter with them. And spitting? For this comes from contempt. It is the regulation. 4

T. VII. 19. A man may not enter the Temple area with money tied up in his linen cloth, 5 or with dust which is on his feet, or with his money-bag tied to him on the outside [of his dress]. For it is said: "Keep thy feet when thou goest to the house of God." 6 R. Jose, son of R. Judah, says: Behold, He says: "For none might enter within the king's gate clothed with sackcloth." 7 How many arguments from the less to the greater are there in this case! And so spitting (is forbidden) by the same argument. For as with a shoe, in connexion with which there is no customary contempt, the Law says: 8 Do not enter in—with a shoe, how much less with spitting in which there is customary contempt.

Footnotes

85:6 opposite the eastern gate. As he comes thither on pilgrimage.

Next: M. IX. 8b; T. VII. 21-22, 20. The Closing Words of the Benedictions