Study Megillah folio 28B with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
ואין ניאותין בהם, ואין מטיילין בהם, ואין נכנסין בהן בחמה מפני החמה, ובגשמים מפני הגשמים. ואין מספידין בהן הספד של יחיד. אבל קורין בהן, ושונין בהן, ומספידין בהן הספד של רבים,
and one may not adorn oneself inside them; nor may one wander about inside them; nor may one enter them in the sun for protection from the sun, or in the rain to find shelter from the rain; nor may one offer a eulogy inside them for an individual, which is a private event. However, one may read the Bible inside them, and one may study halakhot inside them, and one may offer a eulogy inside them for a Torah scholar, if the public attends the eulogy.
אמר רבי יהודה: אימתי — בישובן, אבל בחורבנן — מניחין אותן ועולין בהן עשבים, ולא יתלוש מפני עגמת נפש.
R' Yehuda said: When does this apply? When the synagogues are occupied by the people using them. But when they are in a state of ruin, they should be left alone so that grass will sprout up inside them. And that grass should not be picked and removed, due to the anguish that it will bring to those who see it. It will remind them of the disrepair of the synagogue and the need to rebuild it.
עשבים מאן דכר שמייהו? חסורי מיחסרא והכי קתני: ומכבדין אותן ומרביצין אותן כדי שלא יעלו בהן עשבים. אמר רבי יהודה: אימתי — בישובן, אבל בחורבנן — מניחין אותן לעלות. עלו בהן עשבים — לא יתלוש, מפני עגמת נפש.
The Talmud asks: Why did R' Yehuda discuss the halakha about grass? Who mentioned anything about it? The Talmud explains: The text of the baraita is incomplete and is teaching the following: And among the other things that may be done in synagogues, they should also be sure to sweep them and to sprinkle their floors with water, in order that grass not sprout up in them. R' Yehuda said: When does this apply? When the synagogues are occupied by the people using them, but when they are in a state of ruin, they should be left alone so that grass will sprout up inside them. If grass did sprout up, it should not be removed, due to the anguish that this will bring to those who see it.