M. VII. 4-6. The Words of the Invitation depend on the Number Present

Tractate Berakoth, by , by A. Lukyn Williams, [1921], at sacred-texts.com

The Words of the Invitation depend on the Number Present.

M.VII. 4 (3). How is the invitation worded? ¹ In the case of three persons they say: "Let us bless." ² If there are three besides the speaker, he says: "Blessed be He." ³ If there are ten he says: "Let us bless our God." If there are ten besides the speaker he says: "Blessed be He." It is all the same whether there be ten or ten myriads. ⁴

5 (3 cont.). In the case of a hundred he says: "Let us bless the LORD our God." In the case of a hundred besides the speaker he says: "Blessed be He." In the case of a thousand they say: "Let

p. 63

M.us bless the LORD our God, the God of Israel, the God of hosts." 1

In the case of a myriad besides the speaker, he says: "Blessed be He." According to the wording of his blessing 2 so do they respond after him: "Blessed be the LORD our God, the God of Israel, the God of hosts, dwelling between the cherubim for the meal that we have eaten."

R. Jose, the Galilean, says: According to the number of the congregation do they frame the Benediction, for it is said, "By congregations bless ye God the LORD, from the fountain of Israel." 3

6 (3 cont.). R. Aqiba says: How do we find it in the synagogue? 4 It is all one whether there be many or few; they say, Bless ye the LORD." R. Ishmael says: "Bless ye the LORD who is blessed." 5

Footnotes

62:1 How is the invitation worded? The formulæ are essentially the same as in SA, p. 279. See also Abrahams' notes.

62:2 "Let us bless." Observe the gradation. Here no name is mentioned, for ten alone is a fully religious assembly; where there are ten, "our God"; where a hundred, "the LORD our God" where a thousand, "the LORD our God, the God of Israel, the God of hosts"; where a myriad, there is the addition of "dwelling between the cherubims."

62:3 Blessed be He. B has "Bless ye" wherever "Blessed be He" comes in this and the next mishna (in C.).

62:4 myriads. See the next mishna (in C.).