Brachos 28- Tocho Kebaro, Eating Before Mussaf,Prayer of the Heretics, Why Number 18, What direction - a podcast by Eran Netkin

1. Hundreds of talmidim enter the beis midrash
On the day that R’ Elazar ben Azaryah became the Nasi, the doors to the beis midrash were opened to
all the talmidim who had been excluded by R’ Gamliel because they were not as good on the inside as
they appeared on the outside (כברו תוכו שאין .(As a result of their participation, all heretofore
unresolved halachos were resolved that day.
- Masechta Eduyos is composed of halachos that were taught that day, and wherever in Shas the
term “that day” (ביום בו (is used it refers to that day.
2. Final words from R’ Eliezer and R’ Yochanan ben Zakkai to their talmidim
The Gemara relates what two ailing Tanna’im said to their talmidim:
- R’ Eliezer said (among other things) עומדים אתם מי לפני דעו מתפללים כשאתם – When you
daven, know before whom you are standing.
- R’ Yochanan Ben Zakai blessed his students from his deathbed – שמים מורא שתהא רצון יהי
ודם בשר כמורא עליכם -May it be Hashem’s will that your fear of Heaven be as great as your fear of
man.
3. What 18 berachosin the Amidah correspond to
The Gemara brings a three-way machlokes regarding what the 18 blessings in the Amidah correspond
to:
- The 18 times Hashem’s name appears in Psalm 29 – אלים בני' לה הבו
- The 18 times His name appears in Krias Shema
- The 18 vertebrae in the spine
- The nineteenth blessing (ברכת הצדוקים (was composed by Shmuel Hakatan against the heretics.
Siman – Strong Man (strength)
The big strongman let hundreds of talmidim into the beis midrash to visit their two sick Rabbanim,
resolve halachos and to daven Shemoneh Esrei for their refuah.

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