וַיִּשְׁמַ֨ע מֹשֶׁ֜ה אֶת־הָעָ֗ם בֹּכֶה֙ לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֔יו אִ֖ישׁ לְפֶ֣תַח אָהֳל֑וֹ וַיִּֽחַר־אַ֤ף יְהוָה֙ מְאֹ֔ד וּבְעֵינֵ֥י מֹשֶׁ֖ה רָֽע׃
Moses heard the people weeping, in family groups, publicly, and the Eternal’s anger was greatly aroused. It displeased Moses whose mission it was to raise up the people to spiritual perfection, and who were now weeping because they missed the onions and the garlic.
(רמב"ן, רש"י.)
(רמב"ן, רש"י.)
זָכַ֙רְנוּ֙ אֶת־הַדָּגָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־נֹאכַ֥ל בְּמִצְרַ֖יִם חִנָּ֑ם אֵ֣ת הַקִּשֻּׁאִ֗ים וְאֵת֙ הָֽאֲבַטִּחִ֔ים וְאֶת־הֶחָצִ֥יר וְאֶת־הַבְּצָלִ֖ים וְאֶת־הַשּׁוּמִֽים׃
We remember the fish that we would eat in Egypt, free [of mitzvoth], the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. [The (flavor of the) manna would change into any (flavor they desired) except these, for they are harmful to nursing women.]
רב נחמן בר יצחק אמר ניצול משעבוד גליות כתיב הכא והרכבתיך על במתי ארץ וכתיב התם ואתה על במותימו תדרוך אמר רב יהודה אמר רב כל המענג את השבת נותנין לו משאלות לבו שנאמר והתענג על ה׳ ויתן לך משאלות לבך עונג זה איני יודע מהו כשהוא אומר וקראת לשבת עונג הוי אומר זה עונג שבת במה מענגו רב יהודה בריה דרב שמואל בר שילת משמיה דרב אמר בתבשיל של תרדין ודגים גדולים וראשי שומין רב חייא בר אשי אמר רב אפילו דבר מועט ולכבוד שבת עשאו הרי זה עונג מאי היא אמר רב פפא כסא דהרסנא
Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said: One who delights in Shabbat is rescued from the oppression of exile. He derives it by means of a verbal analogy. It is written here, with regard to Shabbat: “And I will cause you to ride on the heights [bamotei] of the world” (Isaiah 58:14), and it is written there: “You are fortunate Israel, who is like you? A nation redeemed by God, the shield that aids you and the sword of your triumph. Your enemies will try to defeat you and you will trample their high places [bamoteimo]” (Deuteronomy 33:29). Rav Yehuda said that Rav said: With regard to anyone who delights in the Shabbat, God grants him his heart’s desires, as it is stated: “And you shall delight in God and He will grant you your heart’s desires” (Psalms 37:4). This delight in God, which is mentioned in the verse, I do not know what it is. When it says: “And you shall call the Shabbat delight,” one must say: It is the delight of Shabbat. The Gemara asks: With what does one delight in the day of Shabbat? Rav Yehuda, son of Rav Shmuel bar Sheilat, said in the name of Rav: With a dish of beets, and large fish, and heads of garlic. Rav Ḥiyya bar Ashi said that Rav said: Even with regard to a small item and one prepared it in deference to Shabbat, it is a delight. The Gemara asks: What is the small item mentioned? Rav Pappa said: Small fried fish.
עשרה תקנות תיקן עזרא שקורין במנחה בשבת וקורין בשני ובחמישי ודנין בשני ובחמישי ומכבסים בחמישי בשבת ואוכלין שום בערב שבת ושתהא אשה משכמת ואופה ושתהא אשה חוגרת בסינר ושתהא אשה חופפת וטובלת ושיהו רוכלין מחזירין בעיירות ותיקן טבילה לבעלי קריין:
§ The Sages taught that Ezra the Scribe instituted ten ordinances: He instituted that communities read the Torah on Shabbat in the afternoon; and they also read the Torah on every Monday and Thursday; and the courts convene and judge every Monday and Thursday; and one does laundry on Thursday; and one eats garlic on Shabbat eve. And Ezra further instituted that a woman should rise early and bake bread on those days when she wants to bake; and that a woman should don a breechcloth; and that a woman should first comb her hair and only then immerse in a ritual bath after being ritually impure; and that peddlers of cosmetics and perfumes should travel around through all the towns. And Ezra further instituted the requirement of immersion for those who experienced a seminal emission.
ושיהו אוכלין שום בע"ש משום עונה דכתיב (תהלים א, ג) אשר פריו יתן בעתו וא"ר יהודה ואיתימא רב נחמן ואיתימא רב כהנא ואיתימא ר' יוחנן זה המשמש מטתו מע"ש לע"ש
The Gemara explains the next listed ordinance: And that one should eat garlic Shabbat eve. This is due to the fact that garlic enhances sexual potency, and Friday night is an appropriate time for conjugal relations. As it is written concerning the righteous: “And he shall be like a tree planted by streams of water, who brings forth his fruit in his season” (Psalms 1:3); and Rabbi Yehuda says, and some say it was Rav Naḥman, and some say it was Rav Kahana, and some say it was Rabbi Yoḥanan who said: This is referring to one who engages in sexual intercourse every Shabbat eve.
ת"ר חמשה דברים נאמרו בשום משביע ומשחין ומצהיל פנים ומרבה הזרע והורג כנים שבבני מעיים וי"א מכניס אהבה ומוציא את הקנאה:
The Sages taught in a baraita that five matters were stated with regard to garlic: It satisfies; it warms the body; it causes one’s countenance to shine; it increases one’s sperm, and it kills lice that are in the intestines. And some say that it also instills love into those who eat it and removes jealousy from them.
כי הא דיתיב רבי וקא דריש והריח ריח שום אמר מי שאכל שום יצא עמד רבי חייא ויצא עמדו כולן ויצאו בשחר מצאו רבי שמעון בר' לרבי חייא אמר ליה אתה הוא שציערת לאבא אמר לו לא תהא כזאת בישראל
The Gemara relates that the story about Shmuel HaKatan is similar to an incident that occurred when Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi was sitting and teaching, and he smelled the odor of garlic. Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi was very sensitive and could not tolerate this odor. He said: Whoever ate garlic should leave. Rabbi Ḥiyya stood up and left. Out of respect for Rabbi Ḥiyya, all of those in attendance stood up and left. The next day, in the morning, Rabbi Shimon, son of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, found Rabbi Ḥiyya, and he said to him: Are you the one who disturbed my father by coming to the lecture with the foul smell of garlic? Rabbi Ḥiyya said to him: There should not be such behavior among the Jewish people. I would not do such a thing, but I assumed the blame and left so that the one who did so would not be embarrassed.
דעבר במברא ניתיב חד זוזא דלא עבר במברא ניתיב תרי דהוה ליה (תורא) [דרא] דלבני אתי כל חד וחד שקל' חדא א"ל אנא חדא דשקלי דהוה שדי תומי או שמכי אתו כל חד וחד שקיל חדא א"ל אנא חדא דשקלי
Furthermore, they declared in Sodom: Let one who crosses on a ferry give one dinar as payment; let one who does not cross on a ferry, but walks in the river, give two dinars. In addition, when there was anyone who had a row of bricks, each and every one of the people of Sodom would come and take one brick and say to him: I am taking only one, and you are certainly not particular about so inconsequential an item, and they would do this until none remained. And when there was anyone who would cast garlic or onions to dry, each and every one of the people of Sodom would come and take one and say to him: I took only one garlic or onion, and they would do this until none remained.
יֵשׁ מַאֲכָלוֹת שֶׁהֵם רָעִים בְּיוֹתֵר עַד מְאֹד וְרָאוּי לָאָדָם שֶׁלֹּא לְאָכְלָן לְעוֹלָם. כְּגוֹן הַדָּגִים הַגְּדוֹלִים הַמְּלוּחִים הַיְשָׁנִים. וְהַגְּבִינָה הַמְּלוּחָה הַיְשָׁנָה. וְהַכְּמֵהִין וּפִטְרִיּוֹת וְהַבָּשָׂר הַמָּלִיחַ הַיָּשָׁן. וְיַיִן מִגִּתּוֹ. וְתַבְשִׁיל שֶׁשָּׁהָא עַד שֶׁנָּדַף רֵיחוֹ. וְכֵן כָּל מַאֲכָל שֶׁרֵיחוֹ רַע אוֹ מַר בְּיוֹתֵר. הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ לַגּוּף כְּמוֹ סַם הַמָּוֶת. וְיֵשׁ מַאֲכָלוֹת שֶׁהֵן רָעִים אֲבָל אֵינָן כְּמוֹ הָרִאשׁוֹנִים לְרֹעַ. לְפִיכָךְ רָאוּי לָאָדָם שֶׁלֹּא לֶאֱכל מֵהֶן אֶלָּא מְעַט וְאַחַר יָמִים הַרְבֵּה. וְלֹא יַרְגִּיל עַצְמוֹ לִהְיוֹת מְזוֹנוֹ מֵהֶם אוֹ לְאָכְלָן עִם מְזוֹנוֹ תָּמִיד. כְּגוֹן דָּגִים גְּדוֹלִים וּגְבִינָה וְחָלָב שֶׁשָּׁהָא אַחַר שֶׁנֶּחְלַב כ''ד שָׁעוֹת. וּבְשַׂר שְׁוָרִים גְּדוֹלִים וּתְיָשִׁים גְּדוֹלִים וְהַפּוֹל וְהָעֲדָשִׁים וְהַסַּפִּיר וְלֶחֶם שְׂעוֹרִים וְלֶחֶם מַצּוֹת וְהַכְּרוּב וְהֶחָצִיר וְהַבְּצָלִים וְהַשּׁוּמִים וְהַחַרְדָּל וְהַצְּנוֹן. כָּל אֵלּוּ מַאֲכָלִים רָעִים הֵם אֵין רָאוּי לָאָדָם לֶאֱכל מֵאֵלּוּ אֶלָּא מְעַט עַד מְאֹד וּבִימוֹת הַגְּשָׁמִים. אֲבָל בִּימוֹת הַחַמָּה לֹא יֹאכַל מֵהֶן כְּלָל. וְהַפּוֹל וְהָעֲדָשִׁים בִּלְבַד אֵין רָאוּי לְאָכְלָן לֹא בִּימוֹת הַחַמָּה וְלֹא בִּימוֹת הַגְּשָׁמִים. וְהַדְּלוּעִין אוֹכְלִין מֵהֶן בִּימוֹת הַחַמָּה:
There are foods that are really very bad, and it is fitting that a person never eat them, such as big old salted fish, old salted cheese, truffles and mushrooms, old salted meat, wine from the press and a food that sat until its smell wafts, and so [too] any food that has a bad smell or is very bitter. Behold, these are like a deadly poison for the body. And there are foods that are bad, but they are not as bad as the first ones. Therefore, it is fitting for a person to only eat a little of them and after many days. And a person should not accustom himself to have his meals from them or to eat them with his meals constantly. Examples [of these] are big fish, cheese or milk that sat twenty-four hours after it was [produced], meat from large bulls or large goats, fava beans, lentils, chickpeas, barley bread, matzo bread, cabbage, leeks, onions, garlic, mustard and radishes. All of these are bad foods [and] it is only fitting that a person eat a very little of them, and in the winter. But in the summer, one should not eat from them at all. And it is only fava beans and lentils that are not fitting to eat in the summer or the winter. And one may eat gourds during the summer.
הַנּוֹדֵר מִשּׁוֹבְתֵי שַׁבָּת, אָסוּר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָסוּר בַּכּוּתִים. מֵאוֹכְלֵי שׁוּם, אָסוּר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָסוּר בַּכּוּתִים. מֵעוֹלֵי יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, אָסוּר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל וּמֻתָּר בַּכּוּתִים:
He who vows [not to benefit] from those who rest on the Sabbath, is forbidden [to benefit] both from Israelites and Samaritans (Cutheans). If he vows [not to benefit] from garlic eaters, he may not benefit from Israelites and Samaritans (Cutheans). From those who go up to Jerusalem, he is forbidden [to benefit] from Israelites but from Samaritans (Cutheans) he is permitted.
בְּעוֹ מִינֵּיהּ מֵרַב חִסְדָּא: מִי שֶׁאָכַל וְשָׁתָה וְלֹא בֵּרַךְ, מַהוּ שֶׁיַּחֲזוֹר וִיבָרֵךְ? אֲמַר לְהוּ: מִי שֶׁאָכַל שׁוּם וְרֵיחוֹ נוֹדֵף, יַחְזוֹר וְיֹאכַל שׁוּם אַחֵר כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּהֵא רֵיחוֹ נוֹדֵף?!
They raised a dilemma before Rav Ḥisda: One who ate and drank and did not recite a blessing, what is the ruling? Does he return and recite the blessing that he should have recited beforehand before he continues eating or not? In response, Rav Ḥisda said to them an analogy: Should one who ate garlic and the odor on his breath smells return and eat another garlic so that the odor on his breath will smell? That is to say, one must recite a blessing. Should one who committed a transgression and failed to recite a blessing before eating, remedy his situation by continuing to eat without reciting a blessing (Talmidei Rabbeinu Yona)?
אם חתך בו שומין ובצלים וכרישין (ותמכא שקורין קרי"ן) (הגהת ש"ד והגהת או"ה שם) וכיוצא בהם מדברים החריפים ופירות חמוצים (אורחות חיים) ודגים מלוחים דינם שוה לחתוך בו צנון (שבולי לקט): הגה ומכל מקום מותר לאכול מרקחת חריפים של עובדי כוכבים כגון זנגביל וכיוצא בו דיש להם כלים מיוחדים לכך או תולשין אותו (מרדכי ואגודה פ' כיצד מברכין):
(2) If one cut garlic, onions, kerishin, and tamcha (known as krayn) and other things that are similarly sharp, or pickled fruits, or salted fish, they all have the same laws as one who cuts a radish. Rema: And it is nonetheless permissible to eat spice mixtures made by gentiles like ginger since they use special tools to prepare it our pull it out of the ground without cutting.
דָּרֵשׁ רַב עוּלָּא: מַאי דִכְתִיב ״אַל תִּרְשַׁע הַרְבֵּה וְגוֹ׳״ — הַרְבֵּה הוּא דְּלָא לִירְשַׁע, הָא מְעַט לִירְשַׁע?! אֶלָּא: מִי שֶׁאָכַל שׁוּם וְרֵיחוֹ נוֹדֵף יַחְזוֹר וְיֹאכַל שׁוּם אַחֵר וִיהֵא רֵיחוֹ נוֹדֵף?!
Rav Ulla taught: What is the meaning of that which is written: “Be not overmuch wicked” (Ecclesiastes 7:17)? This appears difficult, as, is that to say that only overmuch one should not be wicked; a little, one should be wicked? Rather, this can be understood based on the following adage: One who ate a clove of garlic and its odor spreads, should he again eat another clove of garlic so that its odor will spread further? If you were somewhat wicked, do not think that it is legitimate to continue and be very wicked.
האוכל שום קלוף כו' ואע"ג דמנחי בסילתא ומציירי וחתימי רוח רעה שורה עליהן ולא אמרן אלא דלא שייר בהן עיקרן או קליפתן אבל שייר בהן עיקרן או קליפתן לית לן בה
The Gemara analyzes this statement of Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai, beginning with the case of one who eats peeled garlic, a peeled onion, or a peeled egg, when they were left overnight. The Gemara notes: And these peeled foods are dangerous even if they are placed in a basket and they are tied and sealed in that basket throughout the night, as an evil spirit rests upon them. And we said that eating them is dangerous only if one did not leave on them their roots or their shells. But if one left on them their roots or their shells, we have no problem with it.
זכרנו את הדגה. וכי יש בענין, שהיו המצרים נותנים להם דגים בחנם? והלא כבר נאמר (שמות ה) ואתם לכו עבדו ותבן לא ינתן לכם. אם תבן לא היו נותנים להם בחנם, דגים היו נותנים להם בחנם? – ומה אני אומר חנם – חנם מן המצות: ואת הקשואים. ר' שמעון אומר מפני מה המן משתנה להם לכל דבר שהיו רוצים חוץ מחמשת המינים הללו? משל למלך בשר ודם שמסר בנו לפדגוג, והיה יושב ומפקדו ואומר לו: הנראה שלא יאכל מאכל רע, ולא ישתה משקה רע! ובכל כך היה הבן ההוא מתרעם על אביו, לומר: לא מפני שאוהבני, אלא שאי אפשר לו שאוכל. וחכמים אומרים מן היה להם לישראל – לכל דבר שרוצים, אלא שלא היו רואים בעיניהם, שנאמר אין כל בלתי אל המן עינינו. אין לנו אלא מן בשחר ומן בערב:
(Bamidbar 11:5) "We remember the fish that we would eat in Egypt, free": Is it possible that the Egyptians gave them fish free? Is it not written (Shemot 5:18) "And now, go and work, and straw will not be given you": If they did not give them straw free, would they give them fish free? How, then, are we to understand "free"? "Free" of mitzvoth. R. Shimon says: The manna would change for them to any flavor they desired, except for (that of) these five things (Ibid "cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic") An analogy: A king hands his son over to a pedagogue and charges him: See to it that he does not eat or drink anything harmful. And the son grumbles at his father, saying: It is not because he loves me, but because he does not want me to eat! The sages say: The manna changed for Israel to any thing (i.e., any flavor) they desired, but they did not see it (the desired object) with their eyes. And this is the intent of (Ibid. 6) "There is nothing. Only to the manna is our eyes." To our eyes, there is nothing — only manna in the morning, manna in the evening!
וליחזי טעמיה דמאן מסתבר וכי תימא לא מצי קאי אטעמייהו והתניא בן עזאי אומר כל חכמי ישראל דומין עלי כקליפת השום חוץ מן הקרח הזה
The Gemara raises a difficulty: But let ben Azzai see whose opinion is more reasonable, and decide accordingly. And if you would say that it is not possible for him to establish their reasoning, that is difficult: But it is taught in a baraita that ben Azzai says: All the Sages of Israel appear to me to be as unimpressive in their intellect as garlic peel, except for this bald one, i.e., Rabbi Akiva.
לככא אמר רבה בר רב הונא ליתי תומא יחידאה ונימרסיה במישחא ומילחא ונתביה אטופראי דאליונא דההוא גיסא דכייב ליה ונהדר ליה גדנפא דלישא וניזדהר לבישריה דקשי לחיורא
With regard to the remedy for pain in one’s teeth [lekhakha], Rabba bar Rav Huna said: Let him bring an individual garlic that grew as a single clove and grind it with oil and salt. And let him place it on the thumbnail of the side that hurts him, and let him surround it with a rim [gedanpa] of dough. And he should take care that it does not touch his flesh because it is harmful and can cause boils.
ואי לא לייתי תרבא דחיפושתא גמלניתא וליפשר ולישדי ביה ואי לא למלייה לאודניה מישחא וליעבד שב פתילתא דאספסתא וליתי שופתא דתומא וליתוב ברקא בחד רישא וליתלי בהו נורא ואידך רישא מותבא באודנא וליתוב אודניה להדא נורא ויזדהר מזיקא ונישקול חדא וננח חדא
The Gemara adds: And if this is not possible, he should bring the fat of a large beetle and melt it and apply it to the ear. And if not, he should fill his ear with oil and prepare seven wicks made of alfalfa [aspasta] and bring dried garlic ends, and tie the ends to the wicks with a strip of hair at one end, and set the wicks aflame. And he should place the other end of each wick in his ear one at a time, and place his ear opposite the flame. Parenthetically, the Gemara notes: And he should be cautious of drafts and avoid them, as they will harm his ear. The Gemara continues: And he should take one wick and remove one wick, i.e., replace each wick as it is consumed until all seven have been used.
עַל הַצְּנוֹן מְבָרְכִין בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה. וְכֵן עַל שׁוּמִים וּבְצָלִים כְּשֶׁהֵן רַכִּין וְדַרְכָּן לְאָכְלָן חַיִּין, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁעַל פִּי הָרֹב אֵין אוֹכְלִין אוֹתָן רַק עִם פַּת, מִכָּל מָקוֹם גַּם אִם אוֹכְלָן בְּלֹא פַּת, מְבָרְכִין עֲלֵיהֶן בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה. אֲבָל אִם הִזְקִינוּ, שֶׁהֵם חֲרִיפִים מְאֹד, וְאֵין דַּרְכָּן לְאָכְלָן חַיִּין, מִי שֶׁאָכְלָן חַיִּין, מְבָרֵךְ עֲלֵיהֶם שֶׁהַכֹּל.
Before eating radishes, you should say Borei peri ha'adamah. Likewise, over garlic and onions that are soft and can be eaten raw, although, as a rule, they are eaten with bread, nevertheless, even if you eat them without bread, you recite over them Borei peri ha'adamah.2Since in the Western countries, green onions (scallions) are generally eaten with bread, it is preferable that Shehakol should be said before eating them (without bread). (Mishnah Berurah 205: 5) But if the [garlic or onions] have grown old which give them a very strong flavor, so that they are not usually eaten raw, then, if you do eat them raw, you should say the berachah Shehakol.