Study Berakhot folio 45B with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
in the case of a waiter, because from the outset, they prefer to establish their zimmun as an obligation rather than as an option.
The Talmud cites yet another proof. Come and hear: Women form a zimmun for themselves and slaves form a zimmun for themselves; however, women, slaves, and minors, even if they wish to form a zimmun together, they may not form a zimmun. But aren’t 100 women considered the equivalent of two men, in
The Talmud rejects this: There it is different because, although women cannot constitute a prayer quorum, since there are 3 individual minds, i.e., people, 3 women can fulfill the verse: “Praise God with me, and we will exalt His name together.” Two men cannot.
The Talmud objects: If so, say the latter clause of this baraita: Women and slaves, if they wish to form a zimmun, they may not form a zimmun. Why not? Aren’t they individual minds, which should enable the collective praise of God?
The Talmud responds: That is not the reason that women and slaves were prohibited from forming a zimmun together. Rather, it is different there, as the rabbis were concerned with regard to women and slaves joining together due to promiscuity.