Ben Azai says, "four, two at his
entrance, and two at his departure; he returns thanks for the past, and
supplicates for the future."

5. Man is bound to bless God for evil, as he is bound to bless Him for
good. For it is said, "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy
heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."(33) "With all thy
heart" means, with both thy inclinations, the evil as well as the good.
"With all thy soul" means, even should He deprive thee of life; and "with
all thy might" means with all thy wealth. Another opinion is, that "with
all thy might" means whatever measure He metes out unto thee, do thou
thank Him with thy entire might. No man is to be irreverent opposite the
eastern gate of the Temple, for it is opposite the Holy of Holies. No man
is to go on the mountain of the house with his staff, shoes, or purse, nor
with dust on his feet, nor is he to make it a short cut, nor is he to spit
at all. All the seals of the blessings in the sanctuary used to say, "from
eternity." But since the Epicureans perversely taught there is but one
world, it was directed that man should say, "from eternity to eternity."
It was also directed that every man should greet his friend in THE NAME,
as it is said, "And behold Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the
reapers, The Lord (be) with you: and they answered him, The Lord bless
thee."(34) And it is also said, "The Lord _is_ with thee, thou mighty man
of valor."(35) And it is said, "Despise not thy mother when she is
old."(36) And it is also said, "(It is) time for (thee), Lord, to work,
for they have made void thy law."(37) R. Nathan says, "They have made void
thy law because (it is) time for (thee), Lord, to work."

On The Sabbatical Year

Ploughing--Gardening--Dunging--Removing Stones--Sowing--Cutting Down
Trees--Fruits--Buying and Selling--Territory Included in the
Sabbatical Year--Produce Governed by Its Laws--Debts and Payments.

Chapter I

1. "How long do men plough in a field with trees on the eve of the
Sabbatical year?"(38) The school of Shammai say, "so long as it is useful
for the fruit;" but the school of Hillel say, "till Pentecost," and the
words of the one are near to the words of the other.

2. "What is a field with trees?" "Three trees to every fifty cubits
square, if they be fit to produce a heap of figs worth sixty Italian
minas;(39) on their account men can legally plough the earth for the whole