דְּנִיחָא לְהוּ דְּמִקְבַּע לְהוּ בְּחוֹבָה מֵעִיקָּרָא.

in the case of a waiter, because from the outset, they prefer to establish their zimmun as an obligation rather than as an option.

תָּא שְׁמַע: נָשִׁים מְזַמְּנוֹת לְעַצְמָן, וַעֲבָדִים מְזַמְּנִים לְעַצְמָן, נָשִׁים וַעֲבָדִים וּקְטַנִּים אִם רָצוּ לְזַמֵּן – אֵין מְזַמְּנִין; (וְהָא נָשִׁים אֲפִילּוּ מֵאָה) וְהָא מֵאָה נָשֵׁי כִּתְרֵי גַּבְרֵי דָּמְיָין, וְקָתָנֵי: נָשִׁים מְזַמְּנוֹת לְעַצְמָן וַעֲבָדִים מְזַמְּנִין לְעַצְמָן!

The Gemara cites yet another proof. Come and hear: Women form a zimmun for themselves and slaves form a zimmun for themselves; however, women, slaves, and minors, even if they wish to form a zimmun together, they may not form a zimmun . Aren’t one hundred women considered the equivalent of two men, in that they cannot constitute a prayer quorum, and yet they may form a zimmun ? Apparently, like women, two men can form a zimmun on their own.

שָׁאנֵי הָתָם, דְּאִיכָּא דֵּעוֹת.

The Gemara rejects this: There it is different because, although women cannot constitute a prayer quorum, since there are three individual minds, i.e., people, three women can fulfill the verse: “Praise God with me, and we will exalt His name together.” Two men cannot.

אִי הָכִי אֵימָא סֵיפָא: נָשִׁים וַעֲבָדִים אִם רָצוּ לְזַמֵּן אֵין מְזַמְּנִין, אַמַּאי לָא? וְהָא אִיכָּא דֵּעוֹת!

The Gemara objects: If so, say the latter clause of this baraita : Women and slaves, if they wish to form a zimmun , they may not form a zimmun . Why not? Aren’t they individual minds, which should enable the collective praise of God?

שָׁאנֵי הָתָם – מִשּׁוּם פְּרִיצוּתָא.

The Gemara responds: That is not the reason that women and slaves were prohibited from forming a zimmun together. Rather, it is different there, as the Sages were concerned with regard to women and slaves joining together due to promiscuity.

תִּסְתַּיֵּים דְּרַב דַּאֲמַר ״אִם רָצוּ לְזַמֵּן אֵין מְזַמְּנִין״. דַּאֲמַר רַב דִּימִי בַּר יוֹסֵף אָמַר רַב: שְׁלֹשָׁה שֶׁאָכְלוּ כְּאַחַת וְיָצָא אֶחָד מֵהֶם לַשּׁוּק – קוֹרְאִין לוֹ וּמְזַמְּנִין עָלָיו; טַעֲמָא – דְּקוֹרְאִין לוֹ, הָא לָא קוֹרְאִין לוֹ – לָא!

In the dispute between Rav and Rabbi Yoḥanan, it is unclear which amora held which opinion. The Gemara seeks to resolve this: Conclude that Rav is the one who said: If they wanted to join together, they may not form a zimmun . As Rav Dimi bar Yosef said that Rav said: Three people who ate as one and one of them went out to the marketplace, they call him and include him in the zimmun . The reason is because they call him; by inference, if they do not call him, no, they cannot form a zimmun .

שָׁאנֵי הָתָם, דְּאִקְבְּעוּ לְהוּ בְּחוֹבָה מֵעִיקָּרָא.

The Gemara rejects this proof: It is different there, in the case of three who ate together and one of them left, because from the outset, they established themselves as a group of three who were obligated to form a zimmun . That is why they need to call him and include him in their zimmun .

אֶלָּא, תִּסְתַּיֵּים דְּרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן הוּא דְּאָמַר ״אִם רָצוּ לְזַמֵּן – אֵין מְזַמְּנִין״. דְּאָמַר רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: שְׁנַיִם שֶׁאָכְלוּ כְּאַחַת – אֶחָד מֵהֶן יוֹצֵא בְּבִרְכַּת חֲבֵירוֹ.

The Gemara now attempts to prove the opposite: Rather, conclude that Rabbi Yoḥanan is the one who said: If they wanted to join together, they may not form a zimmun , as Rabba bar bar Ḥana said that Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Two people who ate as one, one fulfills his obligation to recite a blessing with the recitation of the blessing of the other.

וְהָוֵינַן בָּהּ; מַאי קָא מַשְׁמַע לָן? תָּנֵינָא: שָׁמַע וְלֹא עָנָה – יָצָא! וְאָמַר רַבִּי זֵירָא: לוֹמַר שֶׁאֵין בִּרְכַּת הַזִּימּוּן בֵּינֵיהֶם, תִּסְתַּיֵּים.

The Gemara comments: And we discussed it in an attempt to clarify the halakha . What is he teaching us? We already learned this halakha explicitly: One who heard a blessing and did not respond, nevertheless he fulfilled his obligation And Rabbi Zeira said: Rabbi Yoḥanan’s statement teaches us that there is no blessing of zimmun among them. Indeed, conclude that Rabbi Yoḥanan is the amora who held that two may not form a zimmun .

אֲמַר לֵיהּ רָבָא בַּר רַב הוּנָא לְרַב הוּנָא: וְהָא רַבָּנַן דְּאָתוּ מִמַּעַרְבָא אָמְרִי: אִם רָצוּ לְזַמֵּן – מְזַמְּנִין, מַאי לָאו דִּשְׁמִיעַ לְהוּ מֵרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן? – לָא, דִּשְׁמִיעַ לְהוּ מֵרַב מִקַּמֵּי דְּנָחֵית לְבָבֶל.

With regard to this, Rava bar Rav Huna said to his father Rav Huna: Didn’t the Sages who came from the West, from Eretz Yisrael, say that two individuals who ate together, if they wanted to join together, they may form a zimmun ? What, is it not that they heard it from Rabbi Yoḥanan, who was from Eretz Yisrael? Rav Huna answered: No, this is not a proof, as it is possible that they heard this halakha from Rav before he left Eretz Yisrael and descended to Babylonia.

גּוּפָא, אָמַר רַב דִּימִי בַּר יוֹסֵף אָמַר רַב: שְׁלֹשָׁה שֶׁאָכְלוּ כְּאַחַת וְיָצָא אֶחָד מֵהֶם לַשּׁוּק – קוֹרְאִין לוֹ וּמְזַמְּנִין עָלָיו. אָמַר אַבַּיֵי: וְהוּא דְּקָרוּ לֵיהּ וְעָנֵי.

The Gemara now explains the matter of Rav’s statement itself: Rav Dimi bar Yosef said that Rav said: Three people who ate as one and one of them went out to the marketplace, they call him and include him in the zimmun , even if he is not beside them. And Abaye said: This is only in a case that they call him and he responds, but if he too far away to answer he cannot be included.

אָמַר מָר זוּטְרָא: וְלָא אֲמָרַן אֶלָּא בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה, אֲבָל בַּעֲשָׂרָה – עַד דְּנֵיְיתֵי.

Mar Zutra said: We only said this, that it is sufficient to hear and answer, with regard to a zimmun of three; but, with regard to a quorum of ten, they may not form a zimmun which includes mention of God’s name until the one who left comes and sits with them.

מַתְקִיף לָהּ רַב אַשִׁי: אַדְּרַבָּא, אִיפְּכָא מִסְתַּבְּרָא! תִּשְׁעָה – נִרְאִין כַּעֲשָׂרָה, שְׁנַיִם אֵין נִרְאִין כִּשְׁלֹשָׁה!

Rav Ashi strongly objects to this: On the contrary, the opposite is more reasonable. Nine people who ate together appear like ten, so even if one is missing, the quorum does not seem to be incomplete. Two people who ate together do not appear like three, so it would be reasonable to require the actual presence of the third.

וְהִלְכְתָא כְּמָר זוּטְרָא. מַאי טַעְמָא – כֵּיוָן דְּבָעֵי לְאַדְכּוּרֵי שֵׁם שָׁמַיִם, בְּצִיר מֵעַשְׂרָה לָאו אוֹרַח אַרְעָא.

The Gemara concludes: And the halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Mar Zutra. What is the reason? Because it is inappropriate to invoke God’s name with fewer than ten people present. Since a zimmun of ten includes mention of God’s name, all ten must be present.

אָמַר אַבַּיֵי, נְקִיטִינַן: שְׁנַיִם שֶׁאָכְלוּ כְּאַחַת – מִצְוָה לֵיחָלֵק. תַּנְיָא נַמִי הָכִי: שְׁנַיִם שֶׁאָכְלוּ כְּאַחַת – מִצְוָה לֵיחָלֵק; בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים – כְּשֶׁשְּׁנֵיהֶם סוֹפְרִים, אֲבָל אֶחָד סוֹפֵר וְאֶחָד בּוּר – סוֹפֵר מְבָרֵךְ, וּבוּר יוֹצֵא.

With regard to the halakhot of zimmun , Abaye said that we have a tradition: Two people who ate as one, it is a mitzva for them to separate and for each to recite a blessing for himself. This was also taught in a baraita : Two people who ate as one, it is a mitzva for them to separate The baraita , however, adds: In what case are these matters stated? Specifically when both individuals are learned people [ soferim ] and capable of reciting prayers and blessings. However, if one of them was a learned person and the other an ignoramus, the learned person recites the blessing and the ignoramus thereby fulfills his obligation.

אָמַר רָבָא, הָא מִילְּתָא אָמְרִיתָא אֲנָא, וְאִיתַּמְרָהּ מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי זֵירָא כְּוָותִי: שְׁלֹשָׁה שֶׁאָכְלוּ כְּאַחַת – אֶחָד מַפְסִיק לִשְׁנַיִם וְאֵין שְׁנַיִם מַפְסִיקִין לְאֶחָד.

Rava said: This is a statement that I said and it was stated in the name of Rabbi Zeira in accordance with my opinion: Three people who ate as one but did not conclude their meals together, one interrupts his meal in order to join the other two in a zimmun , but two do not interrupt their meal to join the other one in a zimmun .

וְלֹא?! וְהָא רַב פַּפָּא אַפְסֵיק לֵיהּ לְאַבָּא מָר בְּרֵיהּ, אִיהוּ וְחַד! שָׁאנֵי רַב פַּפָּא דְּלִפְנִים מִשּׁוּרַת הַדִּין הוּא דַּעֲבַד.

The Gemara challenges: And do two really not interrupt their meal to join the other one in a zimmun ? Didn’t Rav Pappa interrupt his meal to enable Abba Mar, his son, to recite the zimmun blessing; and, in that case, it was Rav Pappa and one other person? The Gemara responds: The case of Rav Pappa is different, as he acted beyond the letter of the law.

יְהוּדָה בַּר מָרֵימָר וּמָר בַּר רַב אַשִׁי וְרַב אַחָא מִדִּיפְתִּי כְּרַכִי רִיפְתָּא בַּהֲדֵי הֲדָדֵי, לָא הֲוָה בְּהוּ חַד דַּהֲוָה מוּפְלָג מֵחַבְרֵיהּ לְבָרוֹכֵי לְהוּ; יָתְבֵי וְקָא מִיבָּעֲיָא לְהוּ, הָא דִּתְנַן: שְׁלֹשָׁה שֶׁאָכְלוּ כְּאַחַת חַיָּיבִין לְזַמֵּן – הָנֵי מִילֵּי הֵיכָא דְּאִיכָּא אָדָם גָּדוֹל, אֲבָל הֵיכָא דְּכִי הֲדָדֵי נִינְהוּ – חִלּוּק בְּרָכוֹת עָדִיף.

The Gemara relates that three Sages, Yehuda bar Mareimar, Mar bar Rav Ashi and Rav Aḥa of Difti ate bread together. None among them was greater than the other in either age or wisdom, rendering him the obvious choice to recite the blessing on their behalf. They sat down and raised a dilemma: That which we learned in our mishna: Three people who ate as one are required to join together and recite Grace after Meals, does that apply only when there is a great man among them, but where they are on a par with each other, perhaps separating and reciting independent blessings is preferable?

בָּרֵיךְ אֱינִישׁ לְנַפְשֵׁיהּ, אָתוּ לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּמָרֵימָר, אָמַר לְהוּ: יְדֵי בְּרָכָה – יְצָאתֶם, יְדֵי זִימּוּן – לֹא יְצָאתֶם. וְכִי תֵּימְרוּ נֶיהֲדַר וּנְזַמֵּן – אֵין זִימּוּן לְמַפְרֵעַ.

Indeed, that is what they did, and each person recited the blessing for himself. Later, they came before Mareimar to ask him if they had acted correctly. Mareimar said to them: Although you fulfilled your obligation to recite a blessing over your food, you did not fulfill your obligation to form a zimmun . And if you say: Let us go back and form a zimmun , there is no retroactive zimmun . Once the blessing over the meal has been recited, one can no longer recite the zimmun .

בָּא וּמְצָאָן כְּשֶׁהֵן מְבָרְכִים, מַהוּ אוֹמֵר אַחֲרֵיהֶם? רַב זְבִיד אָמַר: ״בָּרוּךְ וּמְבוֹרָךְ״; רַב פַּפָּא אָמַר: עוֹנֶה אָמֵן.

The Gemara discusses another question: One who came and found them reciting the zimmun blessing, what does he say after them zimmun . Rav Zevid said that he says: Blessed is He and blessed is His Name for ever and all time ( Tosafot ). Rav Pappa said: He answers amen.

וְלָא פְּלִיגִי: הָא דְּאַשְׁכַּחִינְהוּ דְּקָא אָמְרִי ״נְבָרֵךְ״, וְהָא דְּאַשְׁכַּחִינְהוּ דְּקָא אָמְרִי ״בָּרוּךְ״; אַשְׁכַּחִינְהוּ דְּקָא אָמְרִי ״נְבָרֵךְ״ – אוֹמֵר ״בָּרוּךְ וּמְבוֹרָךְ״, אַשְׁכַּחִינְהוּ דְּקָא אָמְרִי ״בָּרוּךְ״ – עוֹנֶה אָמֵן.

The Gemara explains that Rav Zevid and Rav Pappa do not disagree. This is in a case where he found them saying: Let us bless; and that is in a case where he found them saying: Blessed be. The Gemara specifies: Where he found them saying: Let us bless, he says: Blessed is He and blessed is His Name for ever and all time; where he found them saying: Blessed be, he answers amen.

תָּנֵי חֲדָא: הָעוֹנֶה אָמֵן אַחַר בִּרְכוֹתָיו הֲרֵי זֶה מְשׁוּבָּח, וְתַנְיָא אִידָךְ: הֲרֵי זֶה מְגוּנֶּה!

A similar explanation resolves a difficulty in a related topic. One baraita taught: One who answers amen after his own blessings, it is praiseworthy. Another baraita taught: It is reprehensible.

לָא קַשְׁיָא: הָא – בְּ״בוֹנֵה יְרוּשָׁלַיִם״, הָא – בִּשְׁאָר בְּרָכוֹת.

The Gemara resolves this apparent contradiction: This is not difficult. This, where the first baraita says that it is praiseworthy to answer amen after his own blessing, is in the blessing: Who builds Jerusalem; this, where the second baraita deems it offensive, is in other blessings.

אַבַּיֵי עָנֵי לֵיהּ בְּקָלָא כִּי הֵיכִי דְּלִשְׁמַעוּ פּוֹעֲלִים וְלֵיקוּמוּ, דְּ״הַטּוֹב וְהַמֵּטִיב״ לָאו דְּאוֹרַיְיתָא. רַב אַשִׁי עָנֵי לֵיהּ בִּלְחִישָׁא, כִּי הֵיכִי דְּלָא נְזַלְזְלוּ בְּ״הַטּוֹב וְהַמֵּטִיב״.

The Gemara relates: Abaye would answer amen aloud after reciting the blessing: Who builds Jerusalem, so the workers would hear and stand to return to work, as the ensuing blessing: Who is good and does good, is not required by Torah law, so the laborers working for the homeowner need not recite it. Rav Ashi, on the other hand, would answer amen in a whisper, so that those who heard him would not relate to the blessing: Who is good and does good, with contempt.