Miracles Happen

There once was a man whose wife passed away when their son was still nursing.  The man did not have enough money to hire a wet nurse, so a miracle was performed for him.  His breasts opened up like a woman's breasts and he nursed the boy by himself.

Rav Yosef said: He must have been a great man, if such a miracle was performed for him.

Abaye replied: On the contrary, he must have been a very unworthy man, because the natural order was changed for him.

Rav Yehuda said: This just goes to show how difficult parnassa can be, that the natural order had to be changed for this man.

Rav Nachman said: Miracles happen, but food is never spontaneously generated.

(Shabbat 53b)

Mazal Tov

Rabban Gamliel said: In the future, women will have a new baby every day, as Yirmiyahu says: “She will conceive and give birth at the same time.” (Yirmiyahu 31:7)

(Shabbat 30b)

Would you Like a Cup of Wine?

One day, a man approached Rebbe and said: “Your wife is my wife, and your children are my children.”

Rebbe said: “Would you like a cup of wine?”

The man drank the wine, and then he exploded.

One day, a man approached Rebbe Chiya and said: “Your mother is my wife, and you are my son.”

Rebbe Chiya said: “Would you like a cup of wine?”

The man drank the wine, and then he exploded.

(Shabbat 30b)

Fear and Trembling

Rabba would always open his shiur with a joke.  After The Rabbis had a good laugh, Rabba would dive into the shiur with fear and trembling.

(Shabbat 30b)

Who is Rich?

The Rabbis taught: Who is rich?  He who is happy being rich.  These are the words of Rebbe Meir.

The mnemonic is “matkas”.  M for Rebbe Meir, T for Rebbe Tarfon, K for Rebbe Akiva, and S for Rebbe Yossi.

Rebbe Tarfon said: He who has 100 fields and 100 vineyards and 100 laborers on each one.

Rebbe Akiva said: He who has a wife with beautiful good deeds.

Rebbe Yossi said: He who has a bathroom close to his table.

(Shabbat 25b)

So How do they Learn Gemara?

Rebbe Yochanan said: If you pray for your needs in Aramaic, the Ministering Angels will ignore you, because they don't understand Aramaic.

(Shabbat 12b)

Live for the Moment

Rava saw that Rav Hamnuna was taking his time davening.

Rava scolded him.  “You lost yourself in the moment and lost sight of Eternity."

Rav Hamnuna did not respond, but in his heart he said: "There is a time for prayer and a time for Torah."

(Shabbat 10a)