On 5b, r' yitchak tells r'nachman in the middle of the meal not to talk during a seudah - wasn't he talking by saying this?? (like the people in shul who yell at others what a disgrace it is to talk??)
Yair, Lawrence, NY
Dear Yair,
The Mishnah Berurah 170:1 writes that even Divrei Torah are forbidden during actual eating, but between courses is permitted and it is even a Mitzvah to learn during a meal. So maybe R. Yitzchak answered during a break in the meal that I am about to continue eating so I won't be able to speak - as I'm explaining now. Only after the meal he spoke at length.
Note: to talk in Shul is forbidden. But to stop someone from talking is not forbidden speech! It is a Mitzvah to rebuke and stop the talking (if you can). See Mishnah Berurah 146:5 concerning talking during Torah reading - "to stop an Aveirah short talk is permitted if motioning is not sufficient."
All the best,
ReuvenWeiner