(Mishnah): One stands to pray only amidst submissiveness;

Chasidim of old would wait one hour (where they would pray) before praying [Shemoneh Esreh], in order to direct their hearts to Hash-m.

Even if the king greets him, he may not answer him. Even if a snake is wrapped around his heel, he may not interrupt.

(Gemara - R. Yirmeyah citing R. Aba): One who comes from the road may not pray (for his mind is not settled).

What is the source? "Lachen Shim'u Na Zos Aniyah u'Shchuras v'Lo mi'Yayin" (one who is afflicted is like one who is drunk; he may not pray).

(R. Zerikan citing R. Yochanan citing R. Elazar, the son of R. Yosi ha'Gelili): One who is pained may not pray.

It is reasonable to learn [only this] from the verse, [and not about one who comes from the road] - "Lachen Shim'u Na Zos Aniyah u'Shchuras v'Lo mi'Yayin."

(Beraisa): One starts to pray only amidst pleasant conversation, but not amidst jesting or lightheadedness, nor amidst idle words, rather, amidst a Devar Torah.

Likewise, one takes leave of his friend only amidst pleasant conversation, but not amidst jesting or lightheadedness, nor amidst idle words, rather, amidst a Devar Torah.

Source: So we find that the early Nevi'im ended their words (Seforim) with [pleasant] words of praise and consolation.

(R. Elazar): Yirmeyah is the exception. He ended with words of rebuke.

Rebuttal (R. Yochanan): Also he ended with words of consolation -"Kachah Tishka Bavel" (retribution of Yisrael's tormentors is consolation).

Suggestion: Yirmeyah continued to prophesize (Perek 52) about the Churban. Perhaps he concluded with Churban Beis ha'Mikdash!

Rejection: [Perek 51 concludes] "Ad Henah Divrei Yirmeyah" - he concluded with the downfall of [the Mikdash's] destroyers, and he did not conclude with words of rebuke. (The last Perek is out of order.)

Question: [Yeshayahu ended with rebuke -] "v'Hayu Dar'on l'Chol Basar"!

Answer: That refers to Nochrim.

Question: It says [at the end of Eichah] "Ki Im Ma'os Me'astanu"!

Answer: [That is said in astonishment. It is connected to the previous verse -] "return us.... for did you despise us greatly?! (Merely "Kafatzta Aleinu" - You were angry at us!. We explained this like MEICHAL HA'MAYIM.)

Also Eliyahu left Elisha only amidst a Davar of Torah - "va'Yhi Hemah Holchim Haloch v'Daber,"

Question: What were they engaged in?

Answer #1 (R. Achava b'Ribi Ze'ira): They were engaged in Keri'as Shma, like it says "v'Dibarta Bam."

Answer #2 (R. Yudah bar Pazi): They were engaged in creation of the world, like it says "bi'Dvar Hash-m Shamayim Na'asu."

Answer #3 (R. Yudan brei d'R. Aibo): They were engaged in consolations of Yerushalayim, like it says "Dabru Al Lev Yerushalayim."

Answer #4 (Rabanan): They were engaged in the Merkavah (Hash-m's chariot), like it says "v'Hinei Rechev Esh v'Susei Esh..."

(R. Yirmeyah): One may stand to pray only amidst a law of Halachah (that is known, and not something that he might be distracted investigating it).

(R. Yirmeyah): One who engages in needs of the Tzibur is like one who engages in Divrei Torah. (He may pray amidst engaging in it.)

R. Chunah used to say [the following Halachah - 'a woman] who sees [even] a drop of blood like a mustard seed, she sits [observes laws of Nidah] and guards seven clean [days before immersing, like the law of a Zavah who saw three sightings]', and stand and pray.

Ze'ira bar Chinena [used to] say 'one who lets blood from Kodshim [and benefited from it], he transgressed Me'ilah.' Also this is a fixed (known) Halachah (one may pray amidst saying it; the same applies to the coming laws).

(Bar Kapara - Beraisa): The 11 days [of Zivah] between [the seven days of] Nidah and Nidah (i.e. if she sees blood during the 11 days, it is Zivah, and not Nidah; if she sees after the 11 days, it is Nidah) is a Halachah l'Moshe mi'Sinai.

(R. Hoshayah - Beraisa): One may enter [into his house] grain with its chaff and scheme to exempt it from Ma'aseros.

Avdan asked Rebbi, how many levels [of Kabalas Tum'ah - CHAREDIM] does Kodesh have? He said, there are four. How many levels does Terumah have? He said, there are three. He stood and prayed.

(R. Chizkiyah citing R. Yakov bar Acha citing R. Yosa citing R. Yochanan): This verse should never leave your mouth - "Hash-m Tzevakos Imanu Misgav Lanu Elokei Yakov Sela."

(R. Yosi bei R. Avun citing R. Yochanan): Its companion (a similar verse that should never leave your mouth - HA'GAON RAV C. KANIEVSKY, SHLITA) is "Hash-m Tzevakos Ashrei Adam Bote'ach Bach."

(R. Chizkiyah citing R. Avahu): [R. SHLOMO SIRILIYO - one should always say] may it be Your will, Hash-m Elokeinu vEilokei Avoseinu, that You save us from exceptionally dire times, and [even] from harsh and bad times, and deviations [from the normal] and normal occurrences [that can lead to illness, e.g. cold] that come to the world. (OHR YAKOV citing PNEI MENACHEM)

(Mishnah): One stands to pray only amidst submissiveness.

Source #1 (R. Yehoshua ben Levi): "Hishtachavu la'Shem b'Hadras Kodesh" - we read this like b'Cherdas Kodesh (awe of Hash-m).

Source #2 (R. Yosi ben Chanina): "Ivdu Es Hash-m b'Yir'ah v'Gilu bi'R'adah."

(R. Acha): [If you fulfill this], when the day of trembling (judgment) comes, you will rejoice.

(R. Yehoshua ben Levi): One who stands and prays must sit (settle his mind) twice - once before praying, and once after praying;

[The source for] before praying - "Ashrei Yoshvei Veisecha." [The source for] after praying - "Ach Tzadikim Yodu Lishmecha Yeshvu Yesharim Es Panecha."

Chasidim of old would delay one hour [before praying], pray for one hour, and delay one hour after their prayer.

Question: (They spent nine hours a day in prayer and its needs.) When did they engage in Torah? When did they engage in their livelihood?

Answer (R. Yitzchak bei R. Elazar): Because they were Chasidim, there was Brachah in their Torah and Brachah in their livelihood.

(Chunah): One who prays in back of a Beis ha'Keneses is called a Rasha, for it says "Saviv Resha'im Yis'halachun."

(Rav Chunah): Anyone who does not enter a Beis ha'Keneses in this world, he does not enter the Beis ha'Keneses in the future. What is the source? "Saviv Resha'im Yis'halachun."

(R. Yochanan): One who prays in his house, it is as if an iron wall surrounds him (this merit will protect him).

Contradiction: R. Yochanan contradicts himself! There, R. Aba cited R. Chiya citing R. Yochanan to say that one must pray in a place special for Tefilah (Beis ha'Keneses), and here he said so?!

Answer: Here (it is good to pray in his house) alone (when there is no Tzibur), and here (one must pray in the Beis ha'Keneses) is where there is a Tzibur. (It seems that AVI HA'EZRI Brachos 90 explains like this, but his text was slightly different.)

(R. Pinchas citing R. Hoshayah): One who prays in the Beis ha'Keneses is like one who offers a Tahor Minchah.

What is the source? "Ka'asher Yavi'u Vnei Yisrael Es ha'Minchah bi'Chli Tahor Beis Hash-m."

(R. Yirmeyah citing R. Avahu): "Dirshu Hash-m b'Himatz'o" - where is He found? In the Batei Kenesiyos and Batei Midrashos. "Kera'uhu bi'Hyoso Karov" - where is He close? In the Batei Kenesiyos and Batei Midrashos. (We explained this like CHAREDIM.)

(R. Yitzchak bei R. Elazar): Not only [is Hash-m found and close in the Batei Kenesiyos and Batei Midrashos] - further, their G-d stands over them.

What is the source? "Elokim Nitzav ba'Adas Kel b'Kerev Elohim Yishpot."