etc.; if ten and himself, he says, 'Bless
ye,' etc.; (so) if there be ten or ten myriads. If there be an hundred, he
says, 'Let us bless the Lord our God,' etc.; if there be an hundred and
himself, he says, 'Bless ye,' etc.: if there be a thousand, he says, 'Let
us bless the Lord our God, the God of Israel;' if there be a thousand and
himself, he says, 'Bless ye,' etc.: if there be a myriad, he says, 'Let us
bless the Lord our God, the God of Israel, the God of Hosts, who sitteth
between the Cherubim,' etc.; if there be a myriad and himself, he says,
'Bless ye,' etc. As he pronounces the blessing, so they respond after him,
'Blessed be the Lord our God, the God of Israel, the God of Hosts, who
sitteth between the Cherubim, for the food we have eaten.' " R. Jose the
Galilean says they should bless according to the number of the assembly;
for it is written, "Bless ye God in the congregations; (even) the Lord
from the fountain of Israel."(31) Said R. Akivah, "What do we find in the
synagogue? whether many or few the minister says, 'Bless ye the Lord,' "
etc. R. Ishmael says, "Bless ye the Lord, who is ever blessed."

4. When three have eaten together, they are not permitted to separate
without blessing; nor four or five. But six may divide into two parties,
and so may any number up to ten. But ten may not separate without
blessing, nor any number less than twenty (who can divide into two
parties).

5. If two companies have eaten in one house, and some of each company be
able to see some of the other company, they may join in the blessing; but
if not, each company blesses for itself. "They should not bless the wine
till it has been mixed with water." The words of R. Eleazar. But the Sages
say "they may bless it unmixed."

Chapter VIII

1. These are the controversies relating to meals between the schools of
Shammai and Hillel. The school of Shammai say, "one must say the blessing
of the day, and then bless the wine;" but the school of Hillel say, "one
must say the blessing on the wine, and then bless the day."

2. The school of Shammai say, "men must pour water on the hands, and then
mix the goblet;" but the school of Hillel say, "the goblet must be mixed,
and then water poured on the hands."

3. The school of Shammai say, "one is to wipe his hands on the napkin, and
lay it on the table;" but the school of Hillel say, "on the cushion."

4. The school of Shammai bless "the light, the food, the spices, and the
di