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1) THE EVIL OF DECEIT

(a) (Rabah bar bar Chanah): Making someone blush is worse than having relations with a doubtfully married woman.

1. (Rava): "Karu v'Lo Damu" - David said, 'If I would be torn, my blood would not spill';

i. Even when my tormentors are learning the most difficult tractates, they ask me which is the death penalty for relations with a married woman;
ii. I answer, strangulation, and he has a share in the world to come - but one who makes someone blush has no share in the world to come.

(b) (Mar Zutra bar Tuvya): It is better to throw oneself into a lit furnace than to make someone blush;

1. We learn from Tamar - "Hi Mutzeis v'Hi Sholchah" (she would not embarrass Yehudah, by saying that she was pregnant from him, in order to save herself from being burned).

(c) (Rav Chanina brei d'Rav Idi): "Lo Sonu Ish Es Amiso" - his fellowman, i.e. he also guards Torah and Mitzvos.
(d) (Rav): A man must be very careful not to afflict his wife - women are prone to cry, and Hash-m is quick to punish when the victim cries.
(e) (R. Elazar): The gates of prayer were locked from the time of the destruction of the Mikdash - "Sosam Tefilasi";

1. Even so, the gates of tears were not locked - "Dimasi Al Techerash".

(f) (Rav): Anyone who follows his wife's counsel falls to Gehinom - we learn from Achav.
(g) Question (Rav Papa): But people say, if your wife is short, bend down to listen to her!
(h) Answer #1: In matters of the house, listen to her, not regarding worldly matters.
(i) Answer #2: In worldly matters, listen to her, not regarding spiritual matters.
(j) (Rav Chisda): All the gates (of prayer) were locked, except for gates of (one who suffered) affliction - "Hash-m Nitzav Al Chomas Anach"
(k) (R. Elazar): Hash-m punishes for everything through a messenger, except for affliction - "U'vYado Anach"
(l) (R. Avahu): Hash-m does not take His eyes off of three sinners until punishing them - cheats, robbers and idolators.

1. Cheats - "U'vYado Anach"
2. Robbers - "Chamas...Al Panai Tamid";
3. Idolators - "Ha'Machisim Osi Al Panai Tamid".

(a) (Rav Yehudah): A man must be very careful not to lack grain in his house, for this causes constant quarrels - "Gevulech Shalom, Chelev Chitim Yasbiech".

1. (Rav Papa): People say, when barley is finished from the barrel, quarrels come.

(b) (Rav Chinena): A man must be very careful not to lack grain in his house, for Yisrael are only called poor on account of lack of grain - "Va'Yidal Yisrael Me'od".
(c) (Rav Chelbo): A man must be very careful to honor his wife properly, for blessing is found in his house on her account - "U'lAvram Heitiv Ba'avurah".

1. Rava advised men of his city to honor their wives, in order that they will get rich.

(a) (Mishnah - R. Eliezer): The oven of Achnai: rings of earthenware are assembled, and sand is put between them - it does not receive Tum'ah;

1. Chachamim say, it receives Tum'ah.

(b) (Beraisa): R. Eliezer gave all proofs in the world why it is Tahor; Chachamim did not accept them.

1. R. Eliezer: If the law is as me, this carob tree should show it. (The tree moved 100 Amos.)
2. Chachamim: We don't bring proof from a tree.
3. R. Eliezer: If the law is as me, the irrigation ditch should show it. (The water reversed the direction of its flow.)
4. Chachamim: We don't bring proof from an irrigation ditch.
5. 'R. Eliezer: If the law is as me, the walls of the Beis Medrash should show it. (The walls started falling.)
6. R. Yehoshua (to the walls): We are arguing over Halachah - this is not your affair!

i. The walls stopped falling, to honor R. Yehoshua; to this day they remain bent, in honor of R. Eliezer.

7. R. Eliezer: If the law is as me, Heaven should show it.
8. (A voice from Heaven): Why do you argue with R. Eliezer - the Halachah always follows him!
9. R. Yehoshua: It is not in Heaven.

i. Question: What does this mean?
ii. Answer (R. Yirmeyah): Once the Torah was given on Sinai, we do not heed voices from Heaven, rather we follow the majority of Chachamim - "Acharei Rabim l'Hatos".

(c) R. Noson (to Eliyahu): What was Hash-m doing at the time of that dispute?
(d) Eliyahu: He laughed and said 'My children have made (My Torah) Eternal'.
(e) That day, they burned all the food which was Tahor according to R. Eliezer (and Tamei according to Chachamim); they voted and excommunicated him. R. Akiva volunteered to inform him, lest this be done improperly.

1. R. Akiva dressed in black, and sat four Amos away from R. Eliezer, who inquired about this. When he heard, he tore his clothing and removed his shoes (Rashi - as one excommunicated must do); he sat on the floor and cried. Olives, wheat and barley were stricken; some say, even the dough in a woman's hands spoiled.
2. Wherever R. Eliezer looked at was burned. R. Gamliel (the Nasi, who authorized the excommunication) was on a boat; a storm was about to sink it.
3. R. Gamliel: Hash-m, you know I acted for Your honor, so disputes will not increase in Yisrael. (The storm abated.)
4. R. Eliezer's wife was R. Gamliel's sister; after this episode, she would not allow him to fall on his face (to say Tachanun, lest Hash-m avenge R. Eliezer's pain). One day, she did not stop him (she erred regarding which day was Rosh Chodesh, on which Tachanun is not said; some say, she went to give bread to a poor person at the door); she found him on his face.
5. His wife: You killed my brother. (Indeed, he died right after this.)
6. R. Eliezer: How do you know?
7. His wife: I have a tradition from my father's house - all the gates were locked, except for gates of affliction.

(a) (Beraisa): One who afflicts a convert transgresses three Lavim, one who pressures him financially transgresses three.
(b) Objection: We must say, the three Lavim of affliction are "V'Ger Lo Soneh", "V'Chidush Yagur...", and "Lo Sonu Ish Es Amiso" (a convert is also 'your countryman').

1. Similarly, one who pressures him transgresses "V'Lo Silchatzenu", "V'Ger Lo SIlchatz", and "Ami...Lo Sihyeh Lo k'Nosheh" (a convert is also in 'My nation'!).

(c) Correction: Rather, one who pressures or afflicts a convert transgresses three Lavim.
(d) (Beraisa - R. Eliezer ha'Gadol): The Torah warns in 36 (some say - 46) places not to mistreat a convert, for he is prone to return to his former way.

1. R. Noson says, "V'Ger Lo Silchatz...Ki Gerim Hayisem" - v'Lo Silchatzenu" - do not point out in someone else a blemish you yourself have.
2. People say - one in a family from which someone was hanged should not mention the word 'hang', for it recalls his shame.