Eiruvin, fol. 41, col. 2.

Three effects are ascribed to Babylonian broth (which was made of moldy bread, sour milk, and salt):—­It retards the action of the heart, it affects the eyesight, and emaciates the body.

P’sachim, fol. 42, col 1.

These three are not permitted to come between two men, nor is a man allowed to pass between any two of these three:—­A dog, a palm tree, or a woman; to which some add the pig, and others the serpent as well.

Ibid., fol. 111, col. 1.

One part of this regulation is rather hard and should surely be abolished; that, viz, which ordains a woman shall not come between two men or a man pass between two women.  The compiler of this Miscellany was once witness to a case which illustrates its inconvenience:  it occurred at Tiberias.  A pious young Jew who had to traverse a narrow road to pass from the lake to the town was kept standing for a very considerable time under a broiling sun, simply because two young women, to tease him, guarded the entrance, and dared him to pass between them.  Of course he dared not accept the challenge, otherwise he would have incurred the penalty of death, according to the judgment of the Talmud; for “Whosoever transgresses any of the words of the Scribes is guilty of death.” (Eiruvin, fol. 21, col. 2.)

These three will inherit the world to come:—­He who dwells in the land of Israel; he who brings up his sons to the study of the law; and he who repeats the ritual blessing over the appointed cup of wine at the close of the Sabbath.

P’sachim, fol. 113, col. 1.

There are three whom the Holy One—­blessed be He!—­Himself proclaims virtuous:—­The unmarried man who lives in a city and does not sin; the poor man who restores a lost thing which he has found to its owner; and the rich man who pays the tithes of his increase unostentatiously.  Rav Saphra was a bachelor, and he dwelt in a large city.  A disciple of the wise once descanted upon the merits of a celibate life in the presence of Rava and this Rav Saphra, and the face of the latter beamed with delight.  Remarking which, Rava said to him, “This does not refer to such a bachelor as thou art, but to such as Rabbi Chanena and Rabbi Oshaia.”  They were single men, who followed the trade of shoemakers, and dwelt in a street mostly occupied by meretrices, for whom they made shoes; but when they fitted these on, they never raised their eyes to look at their faces.  For this the women conceived such a respect for them, that when they swore, they swore by the life of the holy Rabbis of the land of Israel.

Psachim, fol. 113, cols, 1, 2.