- The impact of age
It was taught in a Baraisa that Rebbe Yishmael b’Rebbe Yose says, תלמידי חכמים כל זמן שמזקינין חכמה נתוספת בהם – Talmidei Chochomim, the older they become the more does wisdom increase in them, as it says, בישישים חכמה וארך ימים תבונה – In the aged is wisdom and in length of days understanding, whereas, בעמי הארץ כל זמן שמזקינין טפשות נתוספת בהן – with amei ha’aretz, the older they become the more does foolishness increase within them, as it says, מסיר שפה לנאמנים וטעם זקנים יקח – He distorts the utterances of the trustworthy, and takes reason away from the elders.
Rashi explains that since the two psukkim contradict one another, with the first stating that age increases wisdom with the second stating that it decreases one’s ability to reason, Rebbe Yishmael interprets the first for talmidei chochomim and the second for amei ha’aretz.
- The soul mourns over itself for seven days
Rav Chisda said, נפשו של אדם מתאבלת עליו כל שבעה – A person’s soul mourns over him all seven days that follow his death, as it says, ונפשו עליו תאבל – and his soul will mourn over itself, and it is written, ויעש לאביו אבל שבעת ימים – and he ordained a mourning for his father, seven days. Since we see that the term “mourning” refers to a seven-day period, we can learn the soul mourns over itself for seven days.
Rav Yehudah said that if a deceased has no mourners, ten men should go and sit in mourning in the place that he died for seven days after the burial. Rav Yehudah organized a group of ten men to sit in mourning in the home of someone who died who had no mourners for seven days. After seven days, the dead man appeared to Rav Yehudah in a dream and said to him, תנוח דעתך שהנחת את דעתי – Let your mind be at ease, for you have set my mind at ease.
- Speaking in front of a corpse
Rebbe Abahu said, כל שאומרים בפני המת – All that is said in the presence of a corpse, יודע עד סיסתם הגולל – is known by that person’s soul until the top of the casket is closed.
Rebbe Chiya and Rebbe Shimon b’Rebbe disagree regarding how long the deceased is aware of what is said in his presence:
- One holds, עד שיסתם הגולל – until the top of the casket is closed.
- The other holds, עד שיתעכל הבשר – until the flesh of the corpse decomposes in the grave.
