The Babylonian Talmud on Rabbinic Involvement in the Synagogue
b. Berakhot 8a
R. Ammi and R. Assi, despite [the fact] that they had thirteen synagogues in Tiberias, they would only pray between the pillars where they studied.
b. Gittin 59b–60a
The people of the Galilee sent [a question] to R. Ḥelbo: After them, [the priest and the Levite,] who reads [from the Torah? An answer] was not [readily] available to him. He came and asked R. Isaac Nappaḥa, [who] said to him: After them [the] Torah scholars who are appointed as leaders of the community [read—Ed.]. And after them, Torah scholars who are fit to be appointed as leaders of the community, [even if in practice they received no such appointment. The sages said that a Torah scholar who knows how to answer any question asked of him is fit to be appointed as leader of the community.] And after them the sons of Torah scholars whose fathers were appointed as leaders of the community [read—Ed.]. And after them the heads of synagogues, and [after them] any person.
Notes
Words in brackets appear in the original translation.
Credits
Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.
