תְּ֭פִלָּה לְעָנִ֣י כִֽי־יַעֲטֹ֑ף וְלִפְנֵ֥י יְ֝הוָ֗ה יִשְׁפֹּ֥ךְ שִׂיחֽוֹ׃
Isang panalangin ng nagdurusa, kapag siya'y nanlulupaypay at ibinubuhos niya sa harap ng Walang-Hanggan ang kanyang hinaing.
Jerusalem Talmud Berakhot
Rebbi Joshua ben Levi11In the parallel in the Babli (26b), the opinion of Rebbi Joshua ben Levi is ascribed to R. Yose bar Ḥanina and the opinion of “the rabbis” in the following paragraph to R. Joshua ben Levi. The detailed derivation in both cases is declared to be a baraita, meaning that the two Amoraïm quoted do not claim originality, they simply adopt pre-existing ideas. said: They12The Men of the Great Assembly who instituted formal prayers and benedictions. learned prayers from the patriarchs. Morning prayer from our father Abraham (Gen. 19:27): “Abraham got up early to the place where he had stood there in the presence of the Eternal.” Standing means praying, as it says (Ps. 106:30) “Phineas stood and prayed13Usually translated as “judged”..” Minḥah prayers from our father Isaac. (Gen. 24:63) “Isaac went out to speak on the field14The essential proof is from the part of the verse that is not quoted: “To speak on the field towards evening.” [The Arabic שׁוח, corresponding to Hebrew שׂוח, means “to run, or fly, with outstretched arms”.].” Speaking means praying, as it says (Ps. 102:1) “A prayer of the deprived one when he faints and pours out his speech before the Eternal.” Evening prayer from our father Jacob. (Gen. 28:11) “He entreated at the Place15Usually translated “came suddenly upon the place.” For the meaning of “Place”, see H. Guggenheimer, The Scholar’s Haggadah, pp. 268–269..” Entreaty means prayer, as it is said (Jer. 27:18) “Please, let them entreat the Eternal of hosts.” And it says (Jer. 7:16): “Do not lift for them (your voice in) a cry and do not entreat me.”
Jerusalem Talmud Berakhot
They34This is the start of a lengthy sermon that continues to the end of the Halakhah. It has been subdivided for the benefit of the reader. Since the name of Rebbi Berekhiah, one of the authors and collectors of Midrash Bereshit rabba, is mentioned in this sermon, one may take it as a proof that Midrash Shemot rabba, which in the middle switches from a style identical to that of Midrash Bereshit rabba to extended sermons based on the starting verses of the weekly portions, does not necessarily have two different collectors or editors. came back and asked him: What is that which is written (Deut. 4:8): “Where is a great people that has ĕlōhīm close35Plural. to them?” He answered them, it is not written: “Like the Eternal, our ĕlōhīm, always when we call on them”, but “always when we call on Him.” His students told him: Teacher, these you pushed away with a stick, what can you answer us? He said to them, he is close in all kinds of closeness, as Rebbi Phineas said in the name of Rebbi Yehudah bar Simon: Idolatry seems close but is very far. What is the reason? (Is. 46:7) “They take it on the shoulder, carry it, etc.” Finally, his god is with him in the house and he cries until he dies but that one will not hear and not save him from his distress. But the Holy One, praise to Him, seems to be far away when there is no one closer than Him36The following argument is in disagreement with the generally accepted doctrine of R. Yose bar Ḥalaphta that God is the place of the world but the world is not His place [Bereshit rabba 68(8), Shemot rabba 45(6), Midrash Tehillim 90, Tanḥuma Ki Tissa 27, Tanḥuma Buber Ki Tissa 16, Yalqut Shim‘oni 117, 563, 841]. The piece is a homily and not a theological essay., as Levi said37Without attribution of a name, the statement has been quoted in Chapter 1, Halakhah 1.: From the earth to the (first) heaven is a distance of 500 years’ walk. From one heaven to the next is a distance of 500 years’ walk. The thickness of each heaven is a distance of 500 years’ walk. And Rebbi Berekhiah and Rebbi Ḥelbo in the name of Red Rebbi Abba38A third generation Galilean Amora whose sermons were collected by Rebbi Berekhiah. said, also the toes of the heavenly Ḥayot39They carry the Throne of Heavenly Glory in the vision of Ezechiel (Ez. 1). are a length of 515 years’ walk, the number YŠRH40The homily disregards the conclusion drawn from the verse in Halakhah 1:1 (fol. 2c), that one has to pray with feet parallel one to the other. The numerical value of ישרה is 10+300+200+5 = 515.. See how much higher He is than His world! But a person enters the synagogue, stands behind a pillar, prays in a whisper, and the Holy One, praise to Him, listens to his prayer, as it has been said (1Sam. 1:13): “Hannah spoke to herself, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard.” But the Holy One, praise to Him, listened to her prayer. And so it is with all His creatures, as it has been said (Ps. 102:1): “Prayer of the poor when he wraps himself up41Usually, יעטף is translated “he faints.” But here, it is taken in the Mishnaic sense of “wrapping oneself in a garment,” a toga or prayer shawl, to exclude the world from one’s prayers.,” just like a man whispering into the ear of his friend and the latter understands. Can you have a God who is closer than that to His creatures, from mouth to ear?”
Jerusalem Talmud Taanit
MISHNAH: After they stood to pray they place before the Ark an old knowledgeable man who has children but his house is empty73He has to be poor but must be knowledgeable enough to be able to recite all prayers without slowing down or interruption, and must have young children who are dependent on him. so that his mind should be concentrated on prayer. He recites before them 24 benedictions, eighteen of the daily prayers and additional six. These are they, Zikhronot and Shofarot74The two additional benedictions in the musaf prayer of New Year’s Day; each one accompanied by the blowing of the shofar. The text of each addition is followed by an invocation and a doxology as spelled out in Mishnaiot 4–10.. To the Eternal in my straights75Ps. 120.. I lifted my eyes to the Mountains76Ps. 121.. From the depths I called on You, Eternal77Ps. 130.. Prayer of the poor who is fainting78Ps. 102.