Gemara Clarity

Taanis 10b

תענית י׳ ע״ב

Taanit 10b

Learn Taanis 10b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Taanis 10b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Who counts as a יחיד for private fasts, rules for keeping a fast, and travel advice drawn from יעקב and יוסף

Overview

The amud opens with the last line of a list from the previous discussion: days written in מגילת תענית. A ברייתא then teaches that every תלמיד חכם counts as a יחיד for the private fasts. It also defines a יחיד and a תלמיד. Two more ברייתות record a debate about whether anyone may take on these roles by himself. The answer given is that painful practices like fasting may be taken on, and the person is remembered for good. Next come rules for keeping a fast: you finish a fast once you start it, and a traveller follows the stricter place. Someone who ate by mistake should not look full in public, as יעקב warned his sons. The גמרא then turns to יוסף's travel advice to his brothers. Review Torah on the road but do not analyze deeply. Do not take long strides. Travel only in daylight. Finally, רבי חייא says a traveller should eat little, and the גמרא gives two reasons and starts explaining how they differ, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

וּבְיָמִים טוֹבִים הַכְּתוּבִין בִּמְגִילַּת תַּעֲנִית.

And on the festive days that are written in Megillat Taanit.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן:

The Rabbis taught:

אַל יֹאמַר אָדָם תַּלְמִיד אֲנִי,

A person should not say, 'I am a student,'

אֵינִי רָאוּי לִהְיוֹת יָחִיד,

'I am not fit to be a yachid.'

The steps (21)

  1. StatementDays written in מגילת תענית
  2. StatementEvery תלמיד חכם counts as a יחיד
  3. QuestionAsking for definitions
  4. ResponseDefining יחיד and תלמיד
  5. Statementרבי מאיר: not everyone may take on these roles
  6. Statementרבי יוסי: he may, since it brings pain, not praise
  7. StatementAnother ברייתא: רבי שמעון בן אלעזר says not everyone may
  8. Statementרבן שמעון בן גמליאל: honors no, hardships yes
  9. StatementFinishing a fast, and fasting when you travel
  10. StatementIf he forgot and ate during the fast
  11. ProofSource: יעקב told his sons not to look full
  12. Statementיוסף's warning: no הלכה debates on the road
  13. ChallengeChallenge: scholars on the road must speak Torah
  14. ResolutionReviewing is allowed on the road, deep analysis is not
  15. StatementA ברייתא: no long strides, and reach town while it is light
  16. StatementWhy not take long strides: it harms eyesight
  17. StatementWhy arrive by daylight: leave and enter with "כי טוב"
  18. StatementA traveler should eat no more than in a famine year
  19. QuestionWhat is the reason for eating little on the road?
  20. ResponseTwo reasons: the digestion, or saving food
  21. QuestionWhat difference is there between the two reasons?