Taanis 13a

תענית י״ג ע״א

Taanit 13a

Learn Taanis 13a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The order of a fast day, and רב חסדא's rule on bathing in hot versus cold water on fasts and in mourning, with רבא's disagreement about an אבל

Overview

The גמרא first finishes an earlier point. On a תענית ציבור the community deals with its problems first and prays afterward, as shown by two פסוקים in עזרא. Then רב חסדא teaches a new rule. When bathing is forbidden because of mourning (תשעה באב, an אבל), even cold water is forbidden. When it is forbidden only because bathing is a pleasure (a תענית ציבור), only hot water is forbidden. רב אידי בר אבין supports the fast-day leniency from the משנה's words 'they lock the bathhouses'. אביי objects, and רב שישא defends his father's proof. A proof for the strict half of the rule, from people who must immerse on תשעה באב, is pushed off with the hot springs of טבריא. Another ברייתא is used to attack the fast-day leniency, and the גמרא answers it. A story of a sage who bathed in cold water during שבעה is explained as a case of back-to-back mourning. Finally רבא rules that any אבל may bathe in cold water, and the גמרא begins a challenge to him that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (18)

1. ChallengeWhy not reverse the order of the fast day?
2. Resolutionעזרא shows community matters come first, then prayer
3. StatementBathing: forbidden because of mourning versus forbidden because of pleasure
4. ProofProof from the משנה: they lock the bathhouses
5. Rejectionאביי: the משנה could not have said to block the rivers
6. Resolutionרב שישא explains his father's proof: why mention bathhouses at all?
7. ProofA proof from people who must immerse on תשעה באב
8. RejectionThe case is the hot springs of טבריא
9. ChallengeThe end of the ברייתא suggests cold water is forbidden
10. ResolutionA place where there is no cold water
11. ProofA new ברייתא about fast days, mourners, and the person under a ban
12. ChallengeThe ברייתא seems to forbid even cold-water bathing on a public fast
13. ResolutionThe ברייתא is about hot water; the comparison refers only to the other bans
14. ChallengeA mourner who bathed in cold water all seven days
15. ResolutionHis mourning periods came one after another
16. Statementרב חסדא sets the limits of the back-to-back mourning leniency
17. Statementרבא allows a mourner to bathe in cold water
18. ChallengeA challenge to רבא is introduced