The Relative Sanctity of the Synagogue and the Study Hall

b. Megillah 26b–27a

And R. Pappi said in the name of Rava: [To convert a building] from a synagogue into a study hall [is] permitted, [but] from a study hall into a synagogue [is] prohibited, [as he holds that a study hall has a higher degree of sanctity than a synagogue]. And Rav Pappa in the name of Rava teaches the opposite, [as he holds that a synagogue has a higher degree of sanctity than a study hall]. R. Aḥa said: It stands to reason [to rule] in accordance with [the opinion of] R. Pappi, as R. Joshua ben Levi said: It is permitted [for] a synagogue to be made [into] a study hall. [Indeed,] learn from it [that the opinion of R. Pappi is correct]. Bar Kappara interpreted [a verse] homiletically: What is [the meaning of that] which is written: And he burnt the house of the Lord, and the king’s house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great house he burnt with fire (2 Kings 25:9)? The house of the Lord: This is the Holy Temple. The king’s house: These are the king’s palaces. And all the houses of Jerusalem: as [understood in] its literal sense. [With regard to the final phrase,] And every great house he burnt with fire, R. Yoḥanan and R. Joshua ben Levi [disagree about the meaning of “great house”]: One [of them] said: [It is referring to] a place where the Torah is made great, [i.e., the study hall;] and [the other] one said: [It is referring to] a place where prayer is made great, [i.e., the synagogue]. [ . . . ]

Conclude that R. Joshua ben Levi is the one who said [that “great house” is referring to] a place where the Torah is made great, as R. Joshua ben Levi said [elsewhere]: It is permitted [for] a synagogue to be made [into] a study hall.

b. Mo‘ed Katan 29a

And R. Levi said: Anyone who leaves from the synagogue [and goes] to the study hall or [goes] from the study hall to the synagogue, [i.e., he goes from the mitzvah of prayer to the mitzvah of Torah study or vice versa,] merits to receive the Divine Presence, as it is stated: They go from strength to strength, every one of them appears before God in Zion (Psalm 84:8).