Megillah, Daf Kaf Tet, Part 1
Introduction
This sugya deals with three of the most important mitzvoth in the eyes of the rabbis: study of Torah, marriage and proper care for the dead.
תנו רבנן: מבטלין תלמוד תורה להוצאת המת ולהכנסת הכלה. אמרו עליו על רבי יהודה ברבי אילעאי שהיה מבטל תלמוד תורה להוצאת המת ולהכנסת הכלה. במה דברים אמורים – בשאין שם כל צורכו, אבל יש שם כל צורכו – אין מבטלין.
The study of the Torah may be suspended for escorting a dead body and for bringing a bride into marriage.
It was said of R. Judah b. Ila’i that he used to suspend the study of the Torah for escorting a dead body and for bringing a bride into marriage.
When was this said? When there are not present sufficient numbers, but if sufficient numbers are available, [the study of the Torah] is not suspended.
Studying Torah is of supreme value to the rabbis. Nevertheless, if one is studying Torah and a funeral or wedding procession goes by, he should suspend his study and go and accompany the dead or the wedding. This shows that as important as Torah study is, it does not supersede these two values: burial and marriage.
However, when it comes to a funeral, this is only true if his presence is necessary. But if there are already enough people to honorably accompany the dead, he should not suspend the study of Torah.
וכמה כל צורכו? אמר רב שמואל בר איניא משמיה דרב: תריסר אלפי גברי ושיתא אלפי שיפורי. ואמרי לה: תריסר אלפי גברי, ומינייהו שיתא אלפי שיפורי. עולא אמר: כגון דחייצי גברי מאבולא עד סיכרא.
How many are sufficient? R. Shmuel b. Inia said in the name of Rav: Twelve thousand and [in addition] six thousand trumpets, or, as according to another version, twelve thousand men of whom six thousand have trumpets.
Ulla said: Enough to make a procession extending from the burying ground to the town gate.
The piece here refers to how many are sufficient for a funeral procession. Rav says that a proper number is no less than twelve thousand men either including or not including another six thousand trumpets! Less than that is not enough and therefore he should stop studying Torah to join the procession.
Ulla provides a large but more reasonable answer enough so that a line could be made from the cemetery to the town gate.
רב ששת אמר: כנתינתה כך נטילתה. מה נתינתה בששים ריבוא – אף נטילתה בששים ריבוא. הני מילי – למאן דקרי ותני, אבל למאן דמתני – לית ליה שיעורא.
R. Sheshet said: The taking away of Torah [study] should correspond to its giving: just as it was given in the presence of sixty myriads, so to it should be taken away only in the presence of sixty myriads.
This applies to one who read Scripture and recited Mishnah; but for one who [also] taught the Mishnah there is no limit.
R. Sheshet gives an even higher number. Just as at Mt. Sinai the Torah was given in the presence of 600,000 men (not including women and children) so too its taking away, meaning the burial of a person who knew Torah should be in the presence of 600,000. Ironically what this means is that if someone is buried and there are not 600,000 people to attend his funeral procession, one studying Torah can cease doing so.
The sugya concludes with another value statement. 600,000 is sufficient for one who merely knows how to read Scripture or recite Mishnah. But one who knows how to teach Mishnah, a teacher, there simply is no measure. [Okay, I expect you all to attend my funeral and bring 600 friends, that should get us to around 600,000].