Keritot 6A

בבואה לבבואה דבבואה, נידע דאתי לביתיה. ולאו מילתא היא, דילמא חלשא דעתיה, ומתרע מזליה.

the reflection [bavua] of a reflection of his reflection he should know that he will return and come to his home. The rabbis say about this: And this is nothing, i.e., one should not practice these divinations, as perhaps he will become despondent if he does not see the positive sign and his fortune will turn bad, and this itself will result in his failure.

אמר אביי: השתא דאמרת סימנא מילתא היא, יהא רגיל איניש למיכל ריש שתא קרא ורוביא, כרתי, סילקא ותמרי.

Abaye said: Now that you have said that a sign is a substantial matter, a person should be accustomed to eat, at the start of the year, gourd, fenugreek, leeks, beets, and dates, as each of these grow and multiply quickly, which is a good omen for the deeds of the upcoming year.

אמר להו רב משרשיא לבניה: כי בעיתו למיזל למגמר קמי רבכון, גרוסו מעיקרא מתניתין והדר עולו קמי רבכון, וכי יתביתו קמי רבכון, חזו לפומיה דרבכון, שנאמר: ״והיו עיניך רואות את מוריך״, וכי גרסיתו שמעתא, גרוסו על מיא, דכי היכי דמשכי מיא תמשוך שמעתכון.

With regard to positive omens, Rav Mesharshiyya said to his sons: When you want to go to study in the presence of your teacher, initially study the mishnayot and then ascend before your teacher. And when you sit before your teacher, see your teacher’s mouth, as it is stated: “And your eyes should see your teacher” (Isaiah 30:20). And when you learn a halakha, learn near a source of flowing water, as just as the water flow continues, so too, your learning should continue.

אקילקי דמתא מחסיא, ולא אפדני דפומבדיתא. טב גילדנא סריא למיכל מכותחא דרמי כיפי.

Rav Mesharshiyya gave his sons additional advice: It is better for you to reside on the garbage piles [akilkei] of the city Mata Meḥasya and not to reside in the palaces [apadnei] of the city Pumbedita. It is better to eat rotten fish [gildana] than high-quality kutḥa, which uproots and tosses rocks from their places, i.e., it is a very spicy, powerful flavoring.