לֹא כְּנֶגֶד רַבּוֹ וְלֹא אֲחוֹרֵי רַבּוֹ;

directly next to his rabbi, presumptuously indicating that he is his rabbi’s equal, and behind his rabbi as it creates the impression that he is bowing to him ( Tosafot )?

וְתַנְיָא, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: הַמִּתְפַּלֵּל אֲחוֹרֵי רַבּוֹ, וְהַנּוֹתֵן שָׁלוֹם לְרַבּוֹ, וְהַמַּחֲזִיר שָׁלוֹם לְרַבּוֹ, וְהַחוֹלֵק עַל יְשִׁיבָתוֹ שֶׁל רַבּוֹ, וְהָאוֹמֵר דָּבָר שֶׁלֹּא שָׁמַע מִפִּי רַבּוֹ – גּוֹרֵם לַשְּׁכִינָה שֶׁתִּסְתַּלֵּק מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל!

And it was taught in a baraita , in a more extreme manner, as Rabbi Eliezer says: One who prays behind his rabbi and one who greets his rabbi without waiting for his rabbi to greet him first, one who returns his rabbi’s greeting without saying: Greetings to you, rabbi, one who rivals his rabbi’s yeshiva, i.e., establishes a yeshiva of his own and teaches during his rabbi’s lifetime without his consent (Rambam), and one who says something in the name of his rabbi which he did not hear directly from his rabbi, causes the Divine Presence to withdraw from Israel.

שָׁאנֵי רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה בַּר אַבָּא, דְּתַלְמִיד חָבֵר הֲוָה. וְהַיְינוּ דְּקָאָמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה בַּר אַבָּא לְרַב: ״מִי בַּדְלַתְּ?״ אָמַר לֵיהּ: אִין, בָּדֵילְנָא, וְלֹא אָמַר, ״מִי בָּדֵיל מָר.״

With regard to Rabbi Yirmeya’s conduct, the Gemara explains that Rabbi Yirmeya bar Abba is different, as he was not a mere student of Rav. Rather, he was a disciple-colleague and was, therefore, permitted to act that way. And that is why on one occasion, when Rav prayed the Shabbat prayer early, Rabbi Yirmeya bar Abba asked him: Did you distance yourself from labor and accept the sanctity of Shabbat? Rav said to him: Yes, I distanced myself. And Rabbi Yirmeya did not say to him: Did the Master distance himself, as would have been appropriate had he merely been Rav’s student.

וּמִי בָּדֵיל?! וְהָאָמַר רַבִּי אָבִין: פַּעַם אַחַת הִתְפַּלֵּל רַבִּי שֶׁל שַׁבָּת בֶּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת, וְנִכְנַס לַמֶּרְחָץ וְיָצָא וְשָׁנָה לָן פִּרְקִין וַעֲדַיִין לֹא חַשְׁכָה! אָמַר רָבָא: הַהוּא דְּנִכְנַס לְהַזִיעַ, וְקוֹדֶם גְּזֵירָה הֲוָה.

Although Rav replied that he distanced himself from labor, did he indeed need to distance himself from labor? Didn’t Rabbi Avin say: Once Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi prayed the Shabbat prayer on the eve of Shabbat before nightfall. He then entered the bathhouse and emerged and taught us our chapters that we had learned, and it was not yet dark. Rava said: That is a case where he had entered the bathhouse to perspire, and it was before the Sages issued a decree prohibiting perspiring in a bathhouse on Shabbat.

אִינִי?! וְהָא אַבַּיֵי שְׁרָא לֵיהּ לְרַב דִּימִי בַּר לִיוָאֵי לְכַבְרוּיֵי סַלֵּי!

The Gemara asks: Is that so, that he was required to refrain from labor? Didn’t Abaye permit Rav Dimi bar Liva’ei to fumigate baskets with sulfur even though he had already recited the Shabbat prayer, indicating that it is permitted to perform labor even after the Shabbat prayer?

הַהוּא טָעוּתָא הַוַאי.

The Gemara responds: That was an error, as Rav Dimi did not intend to begin Shabbat early. It was a cloudy day and he mistakenly thought that the sun had set and that was why he prayed. Consequently, even though he prayed, the Shabbat prayer did not obligate him to conduct himself in accordance with the sanctity of Shabbat and he was allowed to perform labor even after his prayer.

וְטָעוּתָא מִי הָדְרָא?! וְהָא אָמַר אַבִידָן: פַּעַם אַחַת נִתְקַשְּׁרוּ שָׁמַיִם בֶּעָבִים, כִּסְבוּרִים הָעָם לוֹמַר חֲשֵׁכָה הוּא, נִכְנְסוּ לְבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת וְהִתְפַּלְּלוּ שֶׁל מוֹצָאֵי שַׁבָּת בְּשַׁבָּת, וְנִתְפַּזְּרוּ הֶעָבִים וְזָרְחָה הַחַמָּה,

The Gemara goes on to ask: Can a mistake be reversed, enabling one to conduct himself as if he had not prayed? Didn’t Avidan, a student of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, say: Once the sky became overcast, leading the people to think that it was the dark of night; they entered the synagogue and recited the evening prayer of the conclusion of Shabbat on Shabbat. And later, the clouds cleared and the sun shone, indicating that it was still day.

וּבָאוּ וְשָׁאֲלוּ אֶת רַבִּי, וְאָמַר: הוֹאִיל וְהִתְפַּלְּלוּ – הִתְפַּלְּלוּ! – שָׁאנֵי צִבּוּר, דְּלָא מַטְרְחִינַן לְהוּ.

And they came and asked Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi what they should do, and he said: Since they have prayed, they have prayed, and they need not pray again. Although they prayed erroneously, their mistake is not reversible and what was done remains. The Gemara responds: A community is different in that we do not burden them to pray again.

אָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אָבִין: רַב צַלֵּי שֶׁל שַׁבָּת בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת, רַבִּי יֹאשִׁיָּה מְצַלֵּי שֶׁל מוֹצָאֵי שַׁבָּת בְּשַׁבָּת. רַב צַלֵּי שֶׁל שַׁבָּת בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת. אוֹמֵר קְדוּשָּׁה עַל הַכּוֹס, אוֹ אֵינוֹ אוֹמֵר קְדוּשָּׁה עַל הַכּוֹס? תָּא שְׁמַע: דְּאָמַר רַב נַחְמָן אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: מִתְפַּלֵּל אָדָם שֶׁל שַׁבָּת בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת וְאוֹמֵר קְדוּשָּׁה עַל הַכּוֹס. וְהִלְכְתָא כְּוָותֵיהּ.

The Gemara continues to discuss the possibility of reciting the evening prayer early, even on Shabbat. Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Avin said: Rav prayed the Shabbat prayer on the eve of Shabbat before nightfall. Rabbi Yoshiya would pray the evening prayer of the conclusion of Shabbat on Shabbat. With regard to the fact that Rav prayed the Shabbat prayer on the eve of Shabbat before nightfall, the dilemma is raised: In those cases, did he recite kiddush over the cup of wine, or did he not recite kiddush over the cup of wine before the stars emerged? Come and hear a resolution to this, as Rav Naḥman said that Shmuel said: One prays the Shabbat prayer on the eve of Shabbat before nightfall and recites kiddush over the cup of wine. And the halakha is in accordance with his ruling.

רַבִּי יֹאשִׁיָּה מְצַלֵּי שֶׁל מוֹצָאֵי שַׁבָּת בְּשַׁבָּת. אוֹמֵר הַבְדָּלָה עַל הַכּוֹס אוֹ אֵינוֹ אוֹמֵר הַבְדָּלָה עַל הַכּוֹס? תָּא שְׁמַע דְּאָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: מִתְפַּלֵּל אָדָם שֶׁל מוֹצָאֵי שַׁבָּת בְּשַׁבָּת, וְאוֹמֵר הַבְדָּלָה עַל הַכּוֹס.

A similar dilemma was raised concerning the fact that Rabbi Yoshiya would pray the evening prayer of the conclusion of Shabbat on Shabbat: After praying, while it is still Shabbat, does he recite havdala over the cup of wine or does one not recite havdala over the cup of wine? Come and hear a resolution to this, as Rav Yehuda said that Shmuel said: One prays the evening prayer of the conclusion of Shabbat on Shabbat and recites havdala over the cup of wine.

אָמַר רַבִּי זֵירָא אָמַר רַבִּי אַסִי אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא אָמַר רַב: בְּצַד עַמּוּד זֶה הִתְפַּלֵּל רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי שֶׁל שַׁבָּת בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת.

Rabbi Zeira said that Rabbi Asi said that Rabbi Elazar said that Rabbi Ḥanina said that Rav said: Alongside this specific pillar before me, Rabbi Yishmael, son of Rabbi Yosei, prayed the Shabbat prayer on the eve of Shabbat before nightfall.

כִּי אֲתָא עוּלָּא, אָמַר: בְּצַד תְּמָרָה הֲוָה וְלֹא בְּצַד עַמּוּד הֲוָה, וְלֹא רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי הֲוָה אֶלָּא רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי הֲוָה, וְלֹא שֶׁל שַׁבָּת בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת הֲוָה אֶלָּא שֶׁל מוֹצָאֵי שַׁבָּת בְּשַׁבָּת הֲוָה.

But when Ulla came from the Eretz Yisrael to Babylonia, he related a different version of this story. He said that he had heard: This transpired beside a palm tree, not beside a pillar, and it was not Rabbi Yishmael, son of Rabbi Yosei, but it was Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Yosei, and it was not the Shabbat prayer on Shabbat eve before nightfall, rather it was the prayer of the conclusion of Shabbat on Shabbat.

״תְּפִלַּת הָעֶרֶב אֵין לָהּ קֶבַע.״ מַאי ״אֵין לָהּ קֶבַע?״ אִילֵימָא דְּאִי בָּעֵי מְצַלֵּי כּוּלֵּיהּ לֵילְיָא – לִיתְנֵי תְּפִלַּת הָעֶרֶב כָּל הַלַּיְלָה! אֶלָּא מַאי ״אֵין לָהּ קֶבַע?״

We learned in the mishna: The evening prayer may be recited throughout the night and is not fixed to a specific hour. The Gemara asks: What is the meaning of is not fixed? If you say that if one wishes, he may pray throughout the night, then let the mishna teach: The evening prayer may be recited throughout the night. Rather, what is the meaning of not fixed?

כְּמַאן דְּאָמַר: תְּפִלַּת עַרְבִית רְשׁוּת. דְּאָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: תְּפִלַּת עַרְבִית, רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר: חוֹבָה, רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אוֹמַר: רְשׁוּת. אָמַר אַבַּיֵי: הֲלָכָה כְּדִבְרֵי הָאוֹמֵר חוֹבָה. וְרָבָא אָמַר: הֲלָכָה כְּדִבְרֵי הָאוֹמֵר רְשׁוּת.

It is in accordance with the opinion of the one who said: The evening prayer is optional. As Rav Yehuda said that Shmuel said with regard to the evening prayer. Rabban Gamliel says: It is obligatory. Rabbi Yehoshua says: It is optional. Abaye said: The halakha is in accordance with the statement of the one who said: The evening prayer is obligatory. Rava said: The halakha is in accordance with the statement of the one who said: The evening prayer is optional.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: מַעֲשֶׂה בְּתַלְמִיד אֶחָד שֶׁבָּא לִפְנֵי רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, אָמַר לוֹ: תְּפִלַּת עַרְבִית רְשׁוּת אוֹ חוֹבָה? אָמַר לֵיהּ: רְשׁוּת.

The Sages taught: There was an incident involving a student, who came before Rabbi Yehoshua. The student said to him: Is the evening prayer optional or obligatory? Rabbi Yehoshua said to him: Optional.

בָּא לִפְנֵי רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל, אָמַר לוֹ: תְּפִלַּת עַרְבִית רְשׁוּת אוֹ חוֹבָה? אָמַר לוֹ: חוֹבָה. אָמַר לוֹ: וַהֲלֹא רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אָמַר לִי רְשׁוּת! אָמַר לוֹ: הַמְתֵּן עַד שֶׁיִכָּנְסוּ בַּעֲלֵי תְרִיסִין לְבֵית הַמִּדְרָשׁ.

The same student came before Rabban Gamliel and said to him: Is the evening prayer optional or obligatory? Rabban Gamliel said to him: Obligatory. The student said to Rabban Gamliel: But didn’t Rabbi Yehoshua tell me that the evening prayer is optional? Rabban Gamliel said to the student: Wait until the “masters of the shields,” a reference to the Torah scholars who battle in the war of Torah, enter the study hall, at which point we will discuss this issue.

כְּשֶׁנִּכְנְסוּ בַּעֲלֵי תְרִיסִין, עָמַד הַשּׁוֹאֵל וְשָׁאַל: תְּפִלַּת עַרְבִית רְשׁוּת אוֹ חוֹבָה? אָמַר לוֹ רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל: חוֹבָה. אָמַר לָהֶם רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל לַחֲכָמִים: כְּלוּם יֵשׁ אָדָם שֶׁחוֹלֵק בְּדָבָר זֶה? אָמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ: לָאו. אָמַר לוֹ: וַהֲלֹא מִשִּׁמְךָ אָמְרוּ לִי רְשׁוּת!

When the masters of the shields entered, the questioner stood before everyone present and asked: Is the evening prayer optional or obligatory? Rabban Gamliel said to him: Obligatory. In order to ascertain whether or not Rabbi Yehoshua still maintained his opinion, Rabban Gamliel said to the Sages: Is there any person who disputes this matter? Rabbi Yehoshua said to him: No, no one disagrees. In deference to the Nasi , he did not wish to argue with him publicly ( Tziyyun LeNefesh Ḥayya ). Rabban Gamliel said to Rabbi Yehoshua: But was it not in your name that they told me that the evening prayer is optional?

אָמַר לֵיהּ: יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, עֲמוֹד עַל רַגְלֶיךָ וְיָעִידוּ בְּךָ! עָמַד רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ עַל רַגְלָיו וְאָמַר: אִלְמָלֵא אֲנִי חַי וְהוּא מֵת – יָכוֹל הַחַי לְהַכְחִישׁ אֶת הַמֵּת, וְעַכְשָׁיו שֶׁאֲנִי חַי וְהוּא חַי – הֵיאַךְ יָכוֹל הַחַי לְהַכְחִישׁ אֶת הַחַי?

Rabban Gamliel said to Rabbi Yehoshua: Yehoshua, stand on your feet and they will testify against you. Rabbi Yehoshua stood on his feet and said: If I were alive and the student were dead, the living can contradict the dead, and I could deny issuing that ruling. Now that I am alive and he is alive, how can the living contradict the living? I have no choice but to admit that I said it.

הָיָה רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל יוֹשֵׁב וְדוֹרֵשׁ, וְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ עוֹמֵד עַל רַגְלָיו, עַד שֶׁרִנְּנוּ כָּל הָעָם וְאָמְרוּ לְחוּצְפִּית הַתּוּרְגְּמָן: עֲמוֹד! וְעָמַד.

In the meantime, Rabban Gamliel, as the Nasi , was sitting and lecturing, and Rabbi Yehoshua all the while was standing on his feet, because Rabban Gamliel did not instruct him to sit. He remained standing in deference to the Nasi . This continued for some time, until it aroused great resentment against Rabban Gamliel, and all of the people assembled began murmuring and said to Ḥutzpit the disseminator:​ Stop conveying Rabban Gamliel’s lecture. And he stopped.

אָמְרִי: עַד כַּמָּה נְצַעֲרֵיהּ וְנֵיזִיל? בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה אֶשְׁתָּקַּד צַעֲרֵיהּ, בִּבְכוֹרוֹת בְּמַעֲשֶׂה דְּרַבִּי צָדוֹק צַעֲרֵיהּ, הָכָא נַמִי צַעֲרֵיהּ, תָּא וְנַעַבְרֵיהּ!

The Gemara relates that in their murmuring they said: How long will Rabban Gamliel continue afflicting him? Last year on Rosh HaShana, he afflicted him; Rabban Gamliel ordered Rabbi Yehoshua to come to him carrying his staff and bag, on the day on which Yom Kippur occurred, according to Rabbi Yehoshua’s calculations. Regarding the firstborn, in the incident involving the question of Rabbi Tzadok, he afflicted him just as he did now, and forced him to remain standing as punishment for his failure to defend his differing opinion. Here too, he is afflicting him. Let us remove him from his position as Nasi .

מַאן נוֹקִים לֵיהּ? נוֹקְמֵיהּ לְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ? בַּעַל מַעֲשֶׂה הוּא; נוֹקְמֵיהּ לְרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא? דִּילְמָא עָנֵישׁ לֵיהּ, דְּלֵית לֵיהּ זְכוּת אָבוֹת;

It was so agreed, but the question arose: Who shall we establish in his place? Shall we establish Rabbi Yehoshua in his place? The Sages rejected that option because Rabbi Yehoshua was party to the incident for which Rabban Gamliel was deposed. Appointing him would be extremely upsetting for Rabban Gamliel. Shall we establish Rabbi Akiva in his place? The Sages rejected that option because Rabbi Akiva, who descended from a family of converts, would be vulnerable. Perhaps due to Rabban Gamliel’s resentment he would cause him to be divinely punished as he lacks the merit of his ancestors to protect him.

אֶלָּא נוֹקְמֵיהּ לְַרבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן עֲזְַריָה, דְּהוּא חָכָם וְהוּא עָשִׁיר והוּא עֲשִׂיִרי לְעֶזְָרא. הוּא חָכָם – דְּאִי מַקְשִׁי לֵיהּ מְפֵָרק לֵיהּ, וְהוּא עָשִׁיר – דְּאִי אִית לֵיהּ לְפַלּוּחֵי לְבֵי קֵיסָר אַף הוּא אֵיזִיל וּפְלַח, והוּא עֲשִׂיִרי לְעֶזְָרא – דְּאִית לֵיהּ זְכוּת אָבוֹת וְלֹא מָצֵי עָנֵישׁ לֵיהּ. אֲתוּ וַאֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: נִיחָא לֵיהּ לְמָר דְּלֶיהֱֵוי רֵישׁ מְתִיבְתָּא? אֲמַר לְהוּ: אֵיזִיל ואִימְלִיךְ בֶּאֱינָשֵׁי בֵיתִי. אֲזַל וְאִמְלִיךְ בִּדְבֵיתְהוּ. אֲמַַרַה לֵיהּ:

Rather, suggested the Sages, let us establish Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya in his place, his outstanding characteristics set him apart from the other candidates. He is wise, rich, and a tenth generation descendant of Ezra. The Gemara explains: He is wise, so if Rabban Gamliel raises a challenge in matters of Torah, he will answer it and not be embarrassed. And he is rich, so if the need arises to pay homage to the Caesar’s court and serve as a representative of Israel to lobby and negotiate, he has sufficient wealth to cover the costs of the long journeys, taxes, and gifts, so he too is able to go and pay homage. And he is a tenth generation descendant of Ezra, so he has the merit of his ancestors, and Rabban Gamliel will be unable to cause him to be punished. They came and said to him: Would the Master consent to being the Head of the Yeshiva? He said to them: I will go and consult with my household. He went and consulted with his wife. She said to him: