Taanis 14b

תענית י״ד ע״ב

Taanit 14b

Learn Taanis 14b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Limits on fasts for rain, praying for rain out of season, and the community's signs of distress when rain does not come

Overview

The גמרא tells how רבי יהודה נשיאה declared thirteen fasts (according to רש״י, for a calamity other than rain) with no answer, and רבי אמי stopped him from adding more so the ציבור would not be overburdened. רבי יוחנן and a ברייתא teach that the thirteen-fast limit is only for rain, while for other disasters people keep fasting until they are answered. רבי אמי is defended as following רבי, who argues with רבן שמעון בן גמליאל about the reason for the limit. The people of נינוה, who need rain even in summer, are told by רבי to ask for it in שומע תפלה like individuals, and the הלכה follows this. The גמרא then explains the משנה's rules for the strict fasts: how far stores may open on Monday and Thursday, that only joyful building and planting are cut back, and that חברים stop greeting each other and sit like mourners. Finally, רבי אלעזר teaches that an important person may fall on his face or wear sackcloth only if he will be answered. He also teaches that different people plead and show honor in different ways, and this last teaching continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (28)

1. StatementThirteen fasts with no answer
2. Challengeרבי אמי objects to adding more fasts
3. Rejectionרבי אמי was ruling on his own
4. Statementרבי יוחנן: The limit is only for rain
5. ProofA ברייתא supports רבי יוחנן
6. ChallengeDoes this disprove רבי אמי?
7. ResolutionIt is a dispute between תנאים
8. QuestionThe people of נינוה ask about summer rain
9. Responseרבי answers: You are like individuals
10. ChallengeA ברייתא of רבי יהודה seems to contradict רבי
11. Resolutionרבי is a תנא and may disagree
12. QuestionWhat is the final ruling?
13. Responseרב נחמן and רב ששת disagree
14. ConclusionThe law follows שומע תפלה
15. StatementThe משנה about opening stores on Monday and Thursday
16. QuestionHow should the משנה be read?
17. ResponseA ברייתא shows that on Thursday the store is fully open
18. StatementTwo doorways, and a platform blocking the door
19. StatementThe משנה: If the fasts end with no answer, cut back on business, building and planting
20. StatementOnly joyful building and planting are reduced
21. StatementExamples: a wedding house and a royal garden
22. StatementThe משנה: Greetings are also reduced
23. StatementHow greetings are limited, and sitting like mourners
24. StatementAn important person may not fall on his face unless he will be answered
25. StatementAn important person may not wear sackcloth unless he will be answered
26. Statementמשה and אהרן fell on their faces, יהושע and כלב tore their clothes
27. ChallengeThe word "and" shows יהושע and כלב did both
28. StatementKings honor by standing, ministers by bowing