But surely

<<prayer,

<<which is a matter

<<that the congregation

<<is engaged

<<in it,

<<and we learned:

<<“If he was

<<standing

<<in prayer

<<and remembered

<<that he

<<had had a seminal emission,

<<he should not

<<interrupt,

<<but

<<should abbreviate.”

<<The reason is

<<that he began;

<<but [if]

<<not

<<he began,

<<he should not

<<begin!

Is different

<<prayer,

<<for there is not

<<in it

<<the Kingship of

<<Heaven.

<<But surely

<<the blessing over food

<<after it,

<<for there is not

<<in it

<<the Kingship of

<<Heaven,

<<and we learned:

<<“And over

<<food

<<he blesses

<<after it

<<and does not

<<bless

<<before it”!

<<Rather:

<<the Shema

<<and the blessing over food

<<are by Torah law,

<<and prayer

<<is by rabbinic law.

Rav Yehuda said:

<<from where [is]

<<the blessing over food

<<after it

<<from

<<the Torah?

<<As it is stated:

<<“And you shall eat

<<and be satisfied

<<and bless.”

From where [is]

<<the blessing over the Torah

<<before it

<<from

<<the Torah?

<<As it is stated:

<<“When

<<the Name of

<<Hashem

<<I proclaim,

<<ascribe

<<greatness

<<to our God.”

Rabbi Yochanan said:

<<we have learned

<<the blessing over the Torah

<<after it

<<from

<<the blessing over food

<<by a kal vachomer,

<<and the blessing over food

<<before it

<<from

<<the blessing over the Torah

<<by a kal vachomer.

<<The blessing over the Torah

<<after it

<<from

<<the blessing over food

<<by a kal vachomer:

<<if

<<food,

<<which does not

<<require [a blessing]

<<before it,

<<requires [one]

<<after it,

<<Torah,

<<which requires [one]

<<before it,

<<is it not

<<logical

<<that it requires [one]

<<after it?

<<And the blessing over food

<<before it

<<from

<<the blessing over the Torah

<<by a kal vachomer:

<<if

<<Torah,

<<which does not

<<require [one]

<<after it,

<<requires [one]

<<before it,

<<food,

<<which

<<requires [one]

<<after it,

<<is it not

<<logical

<<that it should

<<require [one]

<<before it?

There is

<<to refute:

<<what [comparison]

<<to food,

<<for indeed

<<he has benefited [from it];

<<and what

<<to Torah,

<<for indeed

<<it is life

<<eternal.

<<And further,

<<we learned:

<<“Over

<<food

<<he blesses

<<after it

<<and does not

<<bless

<<before it.”

<<A refutation.

Rav Yehuda said:

<<[if] doubtful

<<he recited

<<the Shema,

<<doubtful

<<he did not

<<recite,

<<he does not

<<go back

<<and recite.

<<Doubtful

<<he said

<<“True

<<and firm,”

<<doubtful

<<he did not

<<say [it],

<<he goes back

<<and says

<<“True

<<and firm.”

<<What is the reason?

<<The Shema

<<is by rabbinic law;

<<“True

<<and firm”

<<is by Torah law.

Objected

<<Rav Yosef:

<<“And when you lie down

<<and when you rise”!

<<Abaye said to him:

<<that

<<about words of

<<Torah

<<is written.

We learned:

<<“One who has had a seminal emission

<<meditates

<<in his heart

<<and does not

<<bless,

<<neither

<<before it

<<nor

<<after it.

<<And over

<<food

<<he blesses

<<after it

<<and does not

<<bless

<<before it.”

And if

<<it enters your mind

<<“True

<<and firm”

<<is by Torah law,

<<let him bless

<<after it!

For what reason

<<does he bless [it]?

<<If

<<because of

<<the Exodus from

<<Egypt,

<<it is already

<<mentioned

<<by him

<<in the Shema.

And let us say

<<this,

<<and let not

<<be needed

<<that!

<<The Shema

<<is preferable,

<<for there are

<<in it

<<two [things].

And Rabbi Elazar

<<said:

<<doubtful

<<he recited

<<the Shema,

<<doubtful

<<he did not

<<recite,

<<he goes back

<<and recites

<<the Shema.

<<Doubtful

<<he prayed,

<<doubtful

<<he did not

<<pray,

<<he does not

<<go back

<<and pray.

<<And Rabbi Yochanan

<<said:

<<and would that

<<would pray

<<a person

<<all

<<the day

<<entire!

And Rav Yehuda said in the name of Shmuel:

<<if he was

<<standing

<<in prayer

<<and remembered

<<that he had prayed,

<<he stops,

<<and even

<<in the middle of

<<a blessing.

<<Is that so?!

<<But didn't Rav Nachman say:

<<when

<<we were

<<at the house of

<<Rabbah bar Avuha,

<<we asked

<<of him:

<<these

<<students

<<of the academy

<<who err

<<and mention

<<[the prayer] of weekdays

<<on Shabbos,

<<what is [the law]

<<that they should finish?

<<And he said

<<to us:

<<they finish

<<all of

<<that

<<blessing!

How can you compare!

<<There

<<the man

<<is subject to

<<obligation

<<he is,

<<and the Rabbis

<<it is

<<who did not

<<burden him

<<because of

<<the honor of

<<Shabbos;

<<but

<<here,

<<surely

<<he has prayed

<<it.

And Rav Yehuda said in the name of Shmuel:

<<if one prayed

<<and entered

<<the synagogue

<<and found

<<a congregation

<<that are praying,

<<if

<<he is able

<<to innovate

<<in it

<<something,

<<let him go back

<<and pray;

<<and if

<<not,

<<let him not

<<go back

<<and pray.

And [both] are necessary,

<<for if

<<it had taught us

<<the first,

<<this applies

<<to an individual

<<and an individual