Some things never change TB Berachot 47

Today’s daf TB Berachot 47 reaffirms the old saying, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” Jews throughout the ages all have had the same problems.

In many synagogues including mine, don’t have a minyan at the start of services. Sometimes I have to wait for our 10^th person to say the barachu, the call to worship. Sometimes I even have to wait until we reach the Torah service. I kiddingly say that my members come to shul just like the Israelites when they crossed through the Sea of Reeds, “yiddle by yiddle.” Perhaps Jews in Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi also arrived based on Jewish time because he encourages people to the synagogue on time.

“In praise of a quorum of ten, the Gemara states that Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: One should always rise early to go to the synagogue in order to have the privilege and be counted among the first ten to complete the quorum, as even if one hundred people arrive after him, he receives the reward of them all, as they are all joining that initial quorum. The Gemara is perplexed: Does it enter your mind that he receives the reward of them all? Why should he take away their reward? Rather, emend the statement and say: He receives a reward equivalent to the reward of them all.” (Sefaria.org translation)

Sometimes just getting 10 people has been impossible. I can’t count how many times I’ve been asked, “Rabbi, can’t we open up the ark and count the Torah for the 10^th.” They probably didn’t know the source of this idea. Now you do because it can be found in today’s daf.

“With regard to the laws of joining a quorum, Rav Huna said: Nine plus an ark in which the Torah scrolls are stored join to form a quorum of ten. Rav Naḥman said to him: Is an ark a man, that it may be counted in the quorum of ten? Rather, Rav Huna said: Nine who appear like ten may join together. There was disagreement over this: Some said this halakha as follows: Nine appear like ten when they are gathered. And some said this halakha as follows: Nine appear like ten when they are scattered, the disagreement being which formation creates the impression of a greater number of individuals. (Sefaria.org translation)”

After listing several other leniencies concerning the lack of the required number of people to make a zimmun, “The Gemara concludes: The halakha is not in accordance with all of these lien leniencies. Rather, the halakha is in accordance with this statement that Rav Naḥman said: A minor who knows to Whom one recites a blessing is included in a zimmun.” (Sefaria.org translation) Sorry, and ark full of Torah scrolls just doesn’t add up to one human being.

Make your rabbi happy by coming to shul to make a minyan for services. Coming on time would be an added bonus.