The Book of Differences

[In] the land of Israel, they stand during the recitation of the Shema‘. The residents of Babylonia sit.

[In] Israel, they mourn over a one-day-old baby. The residents of Babylonia wait until [a baby is] thirty days [old, before they will mourn its death].

[In] Israel, they do not allow a nursing woman whose son has died to marry for twenty-four months. The residents of Babylonia, for eighteen months.

The residents of Babylonia redeem firstborn sons with twenty-eight silver coins. [In] Israel, five zuz, which are seventeen and one third [silver coins].

The residents of Babylonia exempt a mourner [from mourning practices if mourning began] even one hour before a festival. [In] Israel, only if he had three days .

[In] Babylonia, their marriage contract is worth twenty-five zuz. [In] Israel, anyone who lowers [the value of the contract] below two hundred [dinars] for a virgin or a maneh [i.e., one hundred dinars] for a widow renders his marital relations like intercourse with a prostitute.

[In] Babylonia, a bride is forbidden to the bridegroom [after the first intercourse for] all seven days [of the wedding celebrations] because she becomes like “a woman who menstruates due to desire.” [In] Israel, since he removes her virginity through pain, she is permitted to him immediately. [ . . . ]

The residents of Babylonia: A menstruating woman performs all household requirements except for three things: she may not pour the cup [for her husband], she may not lay out the bed, and she may not wash his face, his hands, or his feet. [In] Israel, she may not touch anything, not [even] vessels. However, they reluctantly permitted her to nurse her child.

The residents of Babylonia carry [the four species on all days of the festival of Sukkot]. [In] Israel, they do not carry [the] myrtle branch on the Sabbath, but they do carry the palm branch on the first day of the festival of Sukkot that falls on the Sabbath.

The residents of Babylonia do not commence [a eulogy] before the dead on a festival. The residents of the land of Israel do.

The residents of Babylonia do not tear up a bill of divorce [after its delivery]. The residents of the land of Israel do.

The residents of Babylonia allow a mourner to enter the synagogue every day. [In] Israel, they only allow him to enter on the Sabbath.

The residents of Babylonia do not clean [themselves] with water [after defecating, but with stones]. The residents of the land of Israel do, based on this: There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes [and yet is not washed from its filthiness] (Proverbs 30:12). [ . . . ]

The residents of Babylonia circumcise over water and place [the water] on their faces. [In] Israel, they circumcise over dust, based on this: As for you also, because of the blood of your covenant [I send free your prisoners out of the pit in which there is no water] (Zechariah 9:11).

The residents of Babylonia do not recite a blessing over wine unless it is diluted. [In] Israel, they recite a blessing over it undiluted. [ . . . ]

The residents of Babylonia spread their palms [to recite the priestly benediction] on a fast day and on the fast of the Ninth of Av. [In] Israel, they only spread their palms during the evening prayer of Yom Kippur.

The residents of Babylonia do not slaughter a newborn animal until eight days have passed. [In] Israel, they do so at one day old, [as they apply the requirement to wait] eight days only for a sacrifice.

The residents of Babylonia say, “Let us bless the One from whom we have eaten” and do not mention “food” [in the invitation to Grace after Meals]. The residents of the land of Israel render “food” the main aspect, as all [else] is subordinate to it.

The residents of Babylonia do not examine the wedding ring [to determine that it exceeds the minimum required value]. The residents of the land of Israel do examine the wedding ring completely.

The residents of Babylonia write two [adjacent yods (ys)] in words that have ten letters in a bill of divorce [de-yatehevyyan (“that they shall be”) and de-yatitsviyyan (“that they wish”)]. The residents of the land of Israel write three [adjacent yods in] words that have ten letters in a bill of divorce [de-yatehevyyyan and de-yatitsviyyyan].

The residents of Babylonia recite seven blessings to a groom [for the marriage]. The residents of the land of Israel, three blessings.

The residents of Babylonia: The prayer leader recites the priestly benediction in the presence of the congregation. The residents of the land of Israel: He says, They will place My name [upon the children of Israel and I will bless them] (Numbers 6:27), as it is prohibited for anyone to “place” the name of God unless he is a priest.

The residents of Babylonia permit beans that were boiled by a non-Jew, and likewise grasshoppers. The residents of the land of Israel prohibit them, because they [i.e., non-Jews] mix boiled [juices] of meat with boiled [juice] of fruit. [ . . . ]

The residents of Babylonia: A student does not greet his teacher. of the land of Israel say, “Peace be upon you, my teacher.”

The residents of Babylonia say [the blessing], “. . . Who sanctifies the Sabbath” [when reciting kiddush on Sabbath eve]. The residents of the land of Israel say, “. . . Who sanctifies Israel and the Sabbath day.”

The residents of Babylonia: If one’s [potential] levirate wife gave birth [which would exempt her from levirate marriage] but the child dies within thirty , she must perform the required ḥalitsah ceremony. The residents of the land of Israel: if she had a miscarriage at a stage when it is identifiable whether the child was male or female, and the face of the child is recognizable, she requires neither ḥalitsah

This is the sum of the disputes between them.>