(R. Ilai bar Yevarchiyah): If not for David's prayer, all of Yisrael would sell fat (a poor man's profession) - "Hash-m, give (the poor) wealth (and through this, honor)."

(R. Ilai bar Yevarchiyah): If not Chabakuk's prayer, Chachamim would be so poor that two Chachamim would wrap themselves in one cloak to learn - "... Hash-m, Your deeds (in the past, You avenged Yisrael's enemies) b'Kerev Shanim Chayehu (in the near future, renew them)" - we read this "b'Karov Shnayim (two close together, sustain them).

(R. Ilai bar Yevarchiyah): If two Chachamim walk on the road and do not converse in Torah, it is fitting that they be burned - "they were walking and speaking, and a chariot of fire." If not for speaking in Torah, they would be fitting to be burned.

(R. Ilai bar Yevarchiyah): If two Chachamim live in the same city and do not learn nicely together, one will die and the other will be exiled - "to flee there, a murderer... without knowledge."

Knowledge is Torah - "My nation seemed to lack knowledge... you forgot Toras Elokecha."

(R. Yehudah, brei d'R. Chiya): If a Chacham engages in Torah amidst financial hardship, his prayer is heard - "the nation will sit in Tziyon, in Yerushalayim they will not cry, Hash-m will be gracious to the sound of your cry, as soon as He hears, He will answer you... (this discusses those who learn, even though) Hash-m will give you sparse bread and water."

(R. Avahu): He merits to be satiated by the Divine Presence - "your eyes will see your Teacher."

(Rav Acha bar Chanina): The curtain is not locked in front of him - "your Teacher will not separate from you."

(Mishnah): R. Yehoshua testified that after the Mikdash was destroyed...

(Rava): Every day's curse is worse than the previous day's - "in the morning you will say 'if only it were evening!' In the evening you will say 'if only it were morning!'"

Question: Which morning does he long for?

Suggestion: He longs for the coming morning.

Rejection: He does not know if it will be better than now (the current evening)!

Answer: Rather, he longs for the previous morning, for it was not as bad as now.

Question: If the curse keeps increasing this way, what sustains the world?

Answer: The Kedushah said in the prayer "u'Va l'Tziyon", and "Amen Yehei Shmei Raba..." said in Kadish after Agadata, sustain the world.

"The land became very dark like the darkness of death, without orders" - if there would be orders of (Kedushos), light would emerge from the darkness.

(Mishnah): Dew does not descend for a Berachah, and fruits lost their taste...

(Beraisa - R. Shimon ben Elazar): When Taharah ceased, fruits lost their taste and smell. When Ma'asros ceased, the fat of grain was lost.

Rav Huna found a fat, fragrant date. He wrapped it in his turban. His son Rabah was able to smell it.

Rav Huna was happy that his son was Tahor (and therefore was able to smell it). He gave the date to him.

Aba, the son of Rabah bar Rav Huna, came. Rabah took the date and gave it to his son.

Rav Huna (to Rabah): My son, you delighted me (because you are Tahor), and blunted my teeth (by showing me that you love your son more than you love me)!

This is like people say, 'a father mercies his son. The son mercies his own son!'

Rav Acha bar Yakov raised his daughter's son, Yakov. When Yakov grew up, Rav Acha bar Yakov asked him to get him water to drink.

Yakov: I am not your son (so I need not honor you)!

This is like people say, 'even though you raised me, I am not your son.'

(Mishnah): During the siege of Aspanyanus, Chachamim decreed against grooms' crowns and Eirus (this will be explained);

During the siege of Titus, they decreed against brides' crowns and that a person should not teach his son Yevanis (Greek).

During the last siege, they decreed that brides should not be carried in bridal canopies in the city.

Rabboseinu permitted a bride to go out in a canopy in the city.

After R. Meir died, there was no one who could give parables;

After ben Azai died, there was no one who learned unceasingly;

After ben Zoma died, there was no one who could expound;

After R. Akiva died, the honor of the Torah ceased;

After R. Chanina ben Dosa died, there was no one of great deeds;

After R. Yosi Katanta died, there were no saintly people;

He was called 'Katanta' because he was the smallest of the saintly.

After R. Yochanan ben Zakai died, the radiance of Chachmah ceased.

After R. Gamliel ha'Zaken died, the honor of the Torah ceased, and Taharah and Perishus (distancing from sin) died.

After R. Yishmael ben Pavi died, the radiance of Kehunah ceased;

After Rebbi died, humility and fear of sin ceased.

(Gemara - Beraisa) (Rashi and others consider this to be part of the Mishnah): R. Pinchas ben Ya'ir says, after the Mikdash was destroyed, the pious and people of lineage were ashamed. People of deeds were lowered, and the forceful people and talebearers overpowered;

No one teaches Yisrael, no one requests mercy for us. We have no one to rely on, except our Father in Heaven!

R. Eliezer says, after the Mikdash was destroyed, Chachamim started to descend to be like teachers of children. Teachers of children became like heads of the Beis ha'Keneses; heads of the Beis ha'Keneses became like commoners; and commoners keep descending.

No one teaches Yisrael, no one requests mercy for us. We have no one to rely on, except our Father in Heaven!

Before Mashi'ach comes, brazenness will be rampant. The most honored people will be crooked (Rashi's text in Sanhedrin). (Even though) the vine will yield grapes, wine will be expensive. Most of the world will be ruled by heretics, and there is no rebuke;

The house of learning will be used for illicit Bi'ah. The Galil will be destroyed, the Gavlan will be desolate, those who lived on the border will roam from city to city without rest;

The Chachmah of Chachamim will spoil, and those who fear sin will be despised. Truth will be hidden, youths will embarrass elders, and elders will stand in front of the small;

A son will disgrace his father, a daughter will stand up against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man's enemies are his household;

The face (leaders) of the generation is like the face of a dog. A son is not ashamed of his father.

We have no one to rely on, except our Father in Heaven!

(Rav): Only a groom's crown of rock-salt colored with sulfur was forbidden, but not of myrtle and roses;

(Shmuel): Even of myrtle and roses was forbidden, but not of reeds and sedge;

(Levi): Even of reeds and sedge was forbidden.

Levi's version of the Mishnah explicitly forbids even of reeds and sedge.

(Mishnah): And Eirus (was forbidden).

Question: What is Eirus?

Answer (R. Elazar): It is a bell with one clapper.

Rabah bar Rav Huna made a drum for his son. Rabah's father came and broke it, for it could be confused with a bell with one clapper.

Rav Huna suggested that he make a drum on the mouth of a Kli, which would not be confused.

(Mishnah): During the siege of Titus, they decreed against brides' crowns...

Question: What is a brides' crown?

Answer (Rabah bar Rav Huna): It is a gold head-plate with a picture of the city (Yerushalayim) on it.

Support (Beraisa): A bride's crown that is forbidden is a gold head-plate with a drawing of the city on it;

One may make a silk hat.

(Beraisa): They decreed even against a groom's canopy.

Question: What is this?

Answer: It is a red cloak set up like a dome, supported by gold plates.

Support (Beraisa): A groom's canopy (that is forbidden) is a red cloak set up like a dome. One may make a dome of wooden rings, and hang whatever he wants from it.

(Mishnah): One may not teach his son Yevanis...

(Beraisa): When the Chashmonai kings fought each other, Hurkenus was outside Yerushalayim, and Aristoblus was inside. Every day, those inside sent coins over the wall in exchange for animals Kosher for the daily Korbanos.

There was an elder who knew Chachmas Yevanis. He used Chachmas Yevanis to tell the besiegers that they would not prevail as long as the Avodah in the Mikdash persists.

The next day, the besiegers sent a swine in place of lambs. When it was lifted halfway up the wall, it dug its claw into the wall; Eretz Yisrael shook 400 Parsa'os (about 1600 kilometers).

At that time, Chachamim cursed anyone who will raise pigs or teach his son Chachmas Yevanis.

That year, (the besiegers destroyed the crops near Yerushalayim, so) they needed to bring the Omer from Gagos Tzerifim (a town near the coast), and the two loaves (of Shavuos) from the valley of Ein Socher. (l'Chatchilah, they should be brought from close to Yerushalayim.)

Question: Rebbi said that in Eretz Yisrael, one should not speak Sursi. He should speak Hebrew or Yevanis!

Rav Yosef said that in Bavel, one should not speak Aramis. He should speak Hebrew or Parsi!

Answer: The decree was against Chachmas Yevanis. This is not regular Yevanis.

Question: Is Chachmas Yevanis really forbidden?!

Half of the 1000 children of R. Gamliel's house learned (only) Torah; and the other half learned (also) Chachmas Yevanis!

Answer: It was permitted to R. Gamliel's house, for they were close to the king.

(Beraisa): One who cuts his hair like the Nochrim transgresses 'going in the ways of the Emori';

This was permitted to R. Gamliel's house, for they were close to the king.

Being close to the king also was a reason to permit learning Chachmas Yevanis.

(Mishnah): During the last siege, they decreed that brides should not go in bridal canopies in the city...

Chachamim permitted this, for modesty.

(Mishnah): After R. Yochanan ben Zakai died, Chachmah ceased.

(Beraisa): After R. Eliezer died, the Sefer Torah was hidden;

After R. Yehoshua died, counsel ceased;

After R. Akiva died, the arms of the Torah ceased and the wells of Chachmah were stopped up;

After R. Elazar ben Azaryah died, the crown of Chachmah ceased;

This is because the crown of Chachamim is their wealth.

After R. Chanina ben Dosa died, there was no one of great deeds;

After R. Yosi Katanta died, there were no saintly people;

He was called 'Katanta' because he was the smallest of the saintly.

After Ben Azai died, there was no one who learned unceasingly;

After Ben Zoma died, there was no one who could expound;

After R. Shimon ben Gamliel died, locusts came and distress increased;

After Rebbi died, troubles multiplied.

(Mishnah): After Rebbi died, humility and fear of sin ceased.

(Rav Yosef): Do not teach that humility ceased. I am around!

(Rav Nachman): Do not teach that fear of sin ceased. I am around!