- Various conduct of Rabbonim during tefilla
The Gemara gives examples of how various Rabbonim would conduct themselves during tefilla:
a.Rava bar Rav Huna would dress in fine footwear and daven, citing support for his practice from the passuk, הכון לקראת אלקיך ישראל – Prepare to meet your G-d, Yisroel.
b.Rava would take off his cloak; clasp his hands and daven, explaining that one must appear like a servant before his master.
c.Rav Ashi said that Rav Kahana would behave in the following way:
i.When there was suffering in the world, he would take off his cloak, clasp his hands and pray. He said one must appear like a servant before his master.
ii.When there was peace he would dress, cover and wrap himself with a fine cloak and then daven, based on the passuk of הכון לקראת אלקיך ישראל – Prepare to meet your G-d, Yisroel.
d.When Rava once observed Rav Hamnuna prolonging his davening, he asked, "מניחין חיי עולם ועוסקים בחיי שעה?" - Does one forsake the pursuit of eternal life and occupy himself instead with concerns of the transitory life?
- The Gemara explains that Rav Hamnuna the time for tefiila is separate from the time for learning Torah, meaning that the obligation to learn Torah does not apply when one is engaged in tefillah.
- Informing one that a gift was given
Rava bar Mechasya said in the name of Rav Chama bar Gurya who said in the name of Rav, that one who gives a gift to a friend must inform him about it – הנותן מתנה לחבירו צריך להודיעו, based on the passuk, לדעת כי אני מקדשכם – to know that I am Hashem, Who makes you holy.
- A Baraisa, teaches from this passuk that Hashem said to Moshe, - "מתנה טובה יש לי בבית גנזי ושבת שמה” - I have a wonderful gift in my treasure house called “Shabbos” and I wish to give it to Yisroel. Go and inform them.
- The Gemara clarifies that although the gift of Shabbos was likely to become revealed in any event since it’s a day of rest and enjoyment, its reward for observing it would not likely become revealed. It was of this reward that Hashem wanted Moshe to inform the Jewish people.
- Treating sons equally
Rava bar Mechasya said in the name of Rav Chama bar Gurya who said in the name of Rav, לעולם אל ישנה אדם בנו בין הבנים – A person should never treat one son differently than his other sons. For on account of two selaim’s weight of fine wool that Yaakov gave to Yosef in excess of what he gave his other sons, his brothers became jealous of him and which eventually resulted in the sale of Yosef and the our forefathers descending to Mitzrayim.
