Sotah

HE ALSO ABOLISHED THE WAKERS. What does 'WAKERS' mean? — Rehabah said: The Levites used daily to stand upon the dais and exclaim, Awake, why sleepest Thou, O Lord?  He said to them, Does, then, the All-Present sleep? Has it not been stated: Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep!  But so long as Israel abides in trouble and the Gentiles are in peace and comfort, the words 'Awake, why sleepest Thou, O Lord'? [should be uttered]. AND KNOCKERS. What does 'KNOCKERS' mean? — Rab Judah said in the name of Samuel: They used to make an incision on the calf between its horns  so that the blood should flow into its eyes.  [Johanan] came and abolished the practice because it appeared as though [the animal had] a blemish. There is a Baraitha which teaches: They used to strike [the animal] with clubs as is the practice with idolatry. [Johanan] said to them, How long will you feed the altar with nebeloth!  [How could he have described the carcasses as] nebeloth when they had been properly slaughtered! — Rather [should they be described as] terefoth,  since the membrane of the brain may have been perforated. He [thereupon] arose and ordained rings for them in the ground. UP TO HIS DAYS THE HAMMER USED TO STRIKE IN JERUSALEM. On the intermediate days of the Festival. ALL HIS DAYS  THERE WAS NO NEED TO INQUIRE ABOUT DEMAI. As we have explained above. MISHNAH. WHEN THE SANHEDRIN CEASED [TO FUNCTION], SONG CEASED FROM THE PLACES OF FEASTING; AS IT IS SAID, THEY SHALL NOT DRINK WINE WITH A SONG ETC. WHEN THE FORMER PROPHETS  DIED, THE URIM AND THUMMIM  CEASED. WHEN [THE SECOND] TEMPLE WAS DESTROYED, THE SHAMIR AND NOPHETH ZUFIM  CEASED, AND MEN OF FAITH DISAPPEARED FROM ISRAEL; AS IT IS SAID, HELP, LORD, FOR THE GODLY MAN CEASETH ETC.  RABBAN SIMEON B. GAMALIEL SAYS: R. JOSHUA TESTIFIED THAT FROM THE DAY THE TEMPLE WAS DESTROYED, THERE IS NO DAY WITHOUT A CURSE, THE DEW HAS NOT DESCENDED FOR A BLESSING, AND THE FLAVOUR HAS DEPARTED FROM THE FRUITS. R. JOSE SAYS: THE FATNESS  WAS ALSO REMOVED FROM THE FRUITS. R. SIMEON B. ELEAZAR SAYS; [THE CESSATION OF] PURITY HAS REMOVED TASTE AND FRAGRANCE [FROM FRUITS]; [THE CESSATION OF] THE TITHES HAS REMOVED THE FATNESS OF CORN. BUT THE SAGES SAY: IMMORALITY AND WITCHCRAFT DESTROYED EVERYTHING. GEMARA. How do we know that the text, ['They shall not drink wine with a song'] — applies to the time when the Sanhedrin ceased? — R. Huna, son of R. Joshua, said: Because Scripture states: The elders have ceased from the gate, the young men from their music. Rab said: The ear which listens to song should be torn off. Raba said: When there is song in a house there is destruction on its threshold; as it is stated: Their voice shall sing in the windows, desolation shall be in the thresholds, for He hath laid bare the cedar work.  What means 'for he hath laid bare ['erah] the cedar work'? — R. Isaac said: Is a house panelled with cedar-wood a city ['irah]?  But [the meaning is] even a house panelled with cedars will be overthrown [mithro'ea'].  R. Ashi said: Infer from this that when destruction begins, it begins on the threshold; as it is stated: 'Desolation shall be in the thresholds' — Or if you will, deduce it from here: And the gate is smitten with destruction.  Mar, son of R. Ashi said: I have personally seen him,  and he gores like an ox. R. Huna said: The singing of sailors and ploughmen is permitted, but that of weavers is prohibited.  R. Huna abolished singing, and a hundred geese were priced at a zuz  and a hundred se'ahs of wheat at a zuz and there was no demand for them [even at that price];  R. Hisda came and [ordered R. Huna's edict to be] disregarded, and a goose was required [even at the high price of] a zuz but was not to be found.  R. Joseph said: When men sing and women join in it is licentiousness; when women sing and men join in it is like fire in tow.  For what practical purpose is this mentioned? — To abolish the latter before the former. R. Johanan said: Whoever drinks to the accompaniment of the four musical instruments  brings five punishments to the world; as it is stated: Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink, that tarry late into the night, till wine inflame them! And the harp, and the lute, the tabret and the pipe, and wine, are in their feasts; but they regard not the work of the Lord.  What is written after this? 'Therefore My people are gone into captivity for lack of knowledge' — they therefore cause captivity in the world; 'and their honourable men are famished' — they therefore bring hunger into the world; and their multitude are parched with thirst  — they therefore cause Torah to be forgotten by its students. And the mean man is bowed down and the great man is humbled  — they therefore cause humiliation to the haters of God  — and 'man' signifies none other than the Holy One, blessed be He, as it is said: The Lord is a man of war,'  'and the eyes of the lofty are humbled' they therefore cause the humiliation of Israel. And what is written after that? Therefore