BERACHOS - Chapter I
5. Sayings of R.Eliezer, quoting R.Avina (4b)
A person who recites Psalm 145 ("Ashrei") three times a day is certain to
be rewarded in the "World to Come" ("Olam Ha-Ba"). This is because it is
arranged alphabetically, and it also has the verse "You open Your hand and
satisfy every living thing" (145:16). Psalm 119 has an eightfold alphabet,
and Psalm 136 (the "Great Hallel") has the verse "He gives bread to all
flesh" (136:25), but only "Ashrei" has both. There is no verse for the
letter "nun" in "Ashrei" because the verse "The maiden of Israel has
fallen and will no longer arise" (Amos 5:2) begins with the letter "nun";
but in the West (Land of Israel) they explain it as "She fell, but will no
longer fall; arise, maiden of Israel!" In any case, David was Divinely
inspired to provide support in the next verse: "G-d supports all the
fallen" (145:14).
The angel Michael is described as "flying" only once; the verse "One of
the seraphs flew to me" (Isaiah 6:6) refers to the same angel as the verse
"Michael, one of the primary princes, came to help me" (Daniel 10:11).
Gabriel is described as flying twice: "Gabriel, whom I saw at first in a
vision, was caused to fly in a flight" (Daniel 9:21). Michael reaches his
goal in one flight, Gabriel in two, Elijah in four, and the angel of death
in eight -- but at a time of plague, in one.
6. The Shema in Bed (4b-5a)
Even though a person has recited the evening Shema in the synagogue, he
should recite it on his bed, as it says "Tremble (RIGZU) and do not sin;
say it in your hearts on your beds, and be silent" (Psalms 4:5). A scholar
need not do it, but he should recite a verse that refers to mercy, such as
"I deposit my spirit in Your hand" (Psalms 31:6).
A person should always incite his good nature against his evil nature, as
it says "Enrage (RIGZU) and do not sin" (Psalms 4:5). If it wins, good; if
not, he should study Torah, as it says "Say it in your hearts" (ibid.). If
it wins, good; if not, he should recite the Shema, as it says "On your
beds" (ibid.). If it wins, good; if not, he should remind himself of the
day of death, as it says "And be silent" (ibid.).
A person who recites the Shema on his bed is as if he holds a two-edged
sword in his hand, as it says "The righteous shall sing on their beds...
The praise of G-d is in their throat, and a two-edged sword is in their
hand" (Psalms 149:5-6).
"I will give you the Stone Tablets and the Torah and the commandment that
I wrote to guide them" (Ex.24:12): "The Stone Tablets" refers to the Ten
Commandments; "the Torah" refers to the Written Torah"; "the commandment"
refers to the Mishnah (the Oral Torah); "that I wrote" refers to the
Prophets and the Writings (the other books of the Bible); and "to guide
them" refers to the Gemara (the Talmud). This teaches us that they were
all given to Moses at Sinai.
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