Shabbat

that this is not its place. Rabbi said: It is not on that account,  but because it ranks as a separate Book. With whom does the following dictum of R. Samuel b. Nahmani in R. Jonathan's name agree: She [Wisdom] hath hewn out her seven pillars:  this refers to the seven Books of the Law? With whom? With Rabbi.  Who is the Tanna that disagrees with Rabbi? It is R. Simeon b. Gamaliel. For it was taught, R. Simeon b. Gamaliel said: This section is destined to be removed from here and written in its [right place].  And why is it written here? In order to provide a break between the first [account of] punishment and the second [account of] punishment.  What is the second [account of] punishment? — And the people were as murmurers, [etc.].  The first [account of] punishment? — And they 'moved away from the mount of the Lord,  which R. Hama b. R. Hanina expounded [as meaning] that they turned away from following the Lord. And where is its [rightful] place? — In [the chapter on] the banners. The scholars asked: The blank spaces of a Scroll of the Law, may we rescue them from fire or not? — Come and hear: If a Scroll of the Law is decayed, if eighty-five letters can be gathered therein, such as the section 'and it came to pass when the ark set forward,' we must save it; if not, we may not save it. But why so? conclude [that it may be saved] on account of its blank space?  That which is decayed is different.  Come and hear: If a Scroll of the Law is effaced, if eighty-five letters can be gathered therein, such as the section, 'and it came to pass when the ark set forward,' we must save it; if not, we may not save it. But why so: conclude [that we must save it] on account of its blank space?  — As for the place of the writing, I have no doubt, for when it was sanctified it was on account of the writing, [and] when its writing goes its sanctity goes (too]. My problem is only in respect of [the blank spaces] above and below, between the sections, between the columns, [and] at the beginning and the end of the Scroll. Yet conclude [that it must be saved] on that account?  — It may mean [there] that one had cut off [the blank spaces] and thrown them away. Come and hear: The blank spaces above and below, between the sections, between the columns, at the beginning and at the end of the Scroll, defile one's hands.  — It may be that [when they are] together with the Scroll of the Law they are different.  Come and hear: The blank spaces  and the Books of the Minim  may not be saved from a fire, but they must be burnt in their place, they and the Divine Names occurring in them. Now surely it means the blank portions of a Scroll of the Law? No: the blank spaces in the Books of Minim. Seeing that we may not save the Books of Minim themselves, need their blank spaces be stated? — This is its meaning: And the Books of Minim are like blank spaces. R. Joseph b. Hanin asked R. Abbahu: As for the Books of Be Abedan,  may we save them from a fire or not? — Yes and No, and he was uncertain about the matter.  Rab would not enter a Be Abedan, and certainly not a Be Nizrefe;  Samuel would not enter a Be Nizrefe, yet he would enter a Be Abedan. Raba was asked: Why did you not attend at the Be Abedan? A certain palm-tree stands in the way, replied he, and it is difficult for me [to pass it].  Then we will remove it? — Its spot will present difficulties to me.  Mar b. Joseph said: I am one of them  and do not fear them. On one occasion he went there, [and] they wanted to harm him. Imma Shalom, R. Eliezer's wife, was R. Gamaliel's sister. Now, a certain philosopher  lived in his vicinity,