מֵסִ֣יר אָ֭זְנוֹ מִשְּׁמֹ֣עַ תּוֹרָ֑ה גַּֽם־תְּ֝פִלָּת֗וֹ תּוֹעֵבָֽה׃
Kto odwraca swe ucho, aby nauki nie słuchał, tego modlitwa nawet jest wstrętną.
Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition)
(Fol. 10a) Raba b. R. Huna was wont to put on fine gaiters for prayer, saying: It is written (Amos 4, 12.) Prepare thyself to meet thy God, O Israel. Raba was accustomed to throw off his mantle and fold his hands when praying, saying: "Like a servant before his master [should a man stand]." R. Ashi said: "I have noticed that R. Cahana in time of trouble was accustomed to throw off his mantle and fold his hands while praying, saying: 'Like a servant before his master [should a man stand],' and in time of peace he clothed, covered and wrapped himself up and then prayed, saying: 'Prepare thyself to meet thy God, O Israel.'" (Ib.) Raba observing that R. Hamnuna was prolonging his prayer, said: "They leave eternal life (Torah) and occupy themselves with transient life (prayer)." But R. Hamnuna contends that a separate time is provided for prayer and a separate time for study. R. Jeremiah was sitting before R. Zeira discussing traditional law, [and as] it was becoming late for prayer, R. Jeremiah hurried [his teacher], whereupon R. Zeira read to him the passage (Pr. 28, 9.) When one turneth away his ear so as not to listen to the Torah, even his prayer becometh an abomination.
Devarim Rabbah
That which the verse said: “Hear and listen, do not be haughty [tigbahu]…” (Jeremiah 13:15) – what is “hear and listen”? Rabbi Tanḥuma said: The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Hear the words of the Torah and do not speak haughtily.’ “For the Lord has spoken” (Jeremiah 13:15) – where did He speak? “Anyone haughty of heart is an abomination to the Lord” (Proverbs 16:5). Another matter, “hear” the words of the Torah and do not lift [tagbia] your ears to avoid hearing the Torah. “For the Lord has spoken” – where did He speak? “One who removes his ear from hearing Torah, even his prayer is an abomination” (Proverbs 28:9).
Another matter, “hear” the words of the Torah, “listen” to the words of the Torah. What is “do not be haughty [tigbahu]”? Do not cause goodness to be ascend [tigbehu] so that it does not come into the world.2Do not sin and thereby prevent goodness from coming to the world. “For the Lord has spoken” – where did He speak? “If you are willing and heed, the goodness of the land you will eat. But if you refuse and are defiant, you will be devoured by the sword, as the mouth of the Lord has spoken” (Isaiah 1:19–20). What is, “if you are willing and heed…”? Rabbi Elazar said: The sword and the [Torah] scroll descended intertwined from Heaven. [God] said to them: ‘If you perform what is written in this scroll, you will be delivered from this sword. If you do not perform it, you will be killed with this sword.’ Another matter, “if you are willing and heed…” – Rabbi Levi said: To what is the matter comparable? To a slave whose master said to him: ‘Here is a gold chain, and if [you do] not [act in accordance with my will], here are iron shackles.’ So, the Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: ‘If you perform My will, here is goodness and blessing. If not, here is the curse. There are two paths before you: “See, I place before you today a blessing and a curse.”’
Another matter, “hear” the words of the Torah, “listen” to the words of the Torah. What is “do not be haughty [tigbahu]”? Do not cause goodness to be ascend [tigbehu] so that it does not come into the world.2Do not sin and thereby prevent goodness from coming to the world. “For the Lord has spoken” – where did He speak? “If you are willing and heed, the goodness of the land you will eat. But if you refuse and are defiant, you will be devoured by the sword, as the mouth of the Lord has spoken” (Isaiah 1:19–20). What is, “if you are willing and heed…”? Rabbi Elazar said: The sword and the [Torah] scroll descended intertwined from Heaven. [God] said to them: ‘If you perform what is written in this scroll, you will be delivered from this sword. If you do not perform it, you will be killed with this sword.’ Another matter, “if you are willing and heed…” – Rabbi Levi said: To what is the matter comparable? To a slave whose master said to him: ‘Here is a gold chain, and if [you do] not [act in accordance with my will], here are iron shackles.’ So, the Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: ‘If you perform My will, here is goodness and blessing. If not, here is the curse. There are two paths before you: “See, I place before you today a blessing and a curse.”’
Devarim Rabbah
“Listen, heavens, and I will speak, and the earth will hear the sayings of my mouth” (Deuteronomy 32:1).
Halakha: A person of Israel who had an earache, what is the ruling; is it permitted to heal it on Shabbat? So the Sages taught: Any case where there is uncertainty regarding a life-threatening situation, [it] overrides Shabbat. This earache, if it is life-threatening, one may cure it on Shabbat.
The Rabbis say: If you seek not to ache in your ears, or in any of your limbs, incline your ear to Torah and you will inherit life. From where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “Incline your ear and go to Me; listen, and your soul will live” (Isaiah 55:3).
Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa said: Anyone who turns his ear away from hearing Torah, his prayer is rejected, as it is stated: “One who turns his ear away from hearing Torah, even his prayer is an abomination” (Proverbs 28:9).
Rabbi Levi said: The ear, to the body, is like the perforated vessel1A vessel with holes cut into it. is to garments, as many garments can he placed over it, and you place incense beneath them; they are all fumigated. So, there are two hundred and forty-eight limbs in this person; by means of the ear, all of them live, as it is stated: “Listen, and your soul will live.” The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘If you inclined your ear to Torah, when you come to begin stating matters of Torah, everyone becomes silent before you, and listens to your words, just as you inclined your ear to listen to matters of Torah.’ From where do you derive it? It is from Moses our master, as, because he inclined his ear to Torah, when he came to begin stating matters of Torah, the upper worlds and the lower worlds became silent and listened to his words. From where is it derived? It is from what we read regarding the matter: “Listen, heavens, and I will speak, [and the earth will hear the sayings of my mouth].”
Halakha: A person of Israel who had an earache, what is the ruling; is it permitted to heal it on Shabbat? So the Sages taught: Any case where there is uncertainty regarding a life-threatening situation, [it] overrides Shabbat. This earache, if it is life-threatening, one may cure it on Shabbat.
The Rabbis say: If you seek not to ache in your ears, or in any of your limbs, incline your ear to Torah and you will inherit life. From where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “Incline your ear and go to Me; listen, and your soul will live” (Isaiah 55:3).
Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa said: Anyone who turns his ear away from hearing Torah, his prayer is rejected, as it is stated: “One who turns his ear away from hearing Torah, even his prayer is an abomination” (Proverbs 28:9).
Rabbi Levi said: The ear, to the body, is like the perforated vessel1A vessel with holes cut into it. is to garments, as many garments can he placed over it, and you place incense beneath them; they are all fumigated. So, there are two hundred and forty-eight limbs in this person; by means of the ear, all of them live, as it is stated: “Listen, and your soul will live.” The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘If you inclined your ear to Torah, when you come to begin stating matters of Torah, everyone becomes silent before you, and listens to your words, just as you inclined your ear to listen to matters of Torah.’ From where do you derive it? It is from Moses our master, as, because he inclined his ear to Torah, when he came to begin stating matters of Torah, the upper worlds and the lower worlds became silent and listened to his words. From where is it derived? It is from what we read regarding the matter: “Listen, heavens, and I will speak, [and the earth will hear the sayings of my mouth].”