Taanis 17b

תענית י״ז ע״ב

Taanit 17b

Learn Taanis 17b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Wine and long hair for כהנים nowadays, and the days of מגילת תענית on which הספד is forbidden

Overview

The amud opens by asking why, according to the רבנן, כהנים may not drink wine nowadays but may let their hair grow long (פרועי ראש). The first answer is that a drunk כהן cannot be ready quickly if the בית המקדש is rebuilt, while a haircut takes only a moment. רמי בר אבא's rule that a short nap clears wine seems to challenge this, but that rule works only for a small amount of wine. רב אשי gives a different reason: wine makes the עבודה invalid, but long hair does not. A ברייתא says both are punished by death, and the גמרא learns this for long hair from neighboring פסוקים in יחזקאל. It explains that the comparison covers only the death penalty, and that the law was an old oral tradition which יחזקאל only attached to a פסוק. The גמרא then turns to the days listed in מגילת תענית and asks why the list includes ראש חודש ניסן. The answer is that rabbinic days need a fence on the day before, while תורה days like ראש חודש do not. A similar question about the end of פסח begins, and רב פפא's answer continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (24)

1. ChallengeIf the Rabbis forbid wine nowadays, why not long hair?
2. ResolutionWine causes a long delay, but a haircut is quick
3. ChallengeWine can also be dispelled quickly by a short nap
4. ResolutionA nap only helps after a small amount of wine
5. Resolutionרב אשי: wine invalidates the service, long hair does not
6. ChallengeA ברייתא lists both wine and long hair as punishable by death
7. QuestionWhere do we learn the death penalty for long hair?
8. ResponseThe source: long hair is placed right next to wine
9. ChallengeShould long hair also invalidate the service?
10. ResolutionThe comparison covers only death
11. ChallengeWho taught this law before יחזקאל?
12. ChallengeThe same question applies to רב חסדא's uncircumcised כהן
13. ResolutionIt was an old tradition that יחזקאל attached to a verse
14. ConclusionThe long-hair tradition taught only death, not invalid service
15. StatementThe day before a 'no eulogy' day is also forbidden
16. StatementThe opening of the list in מגילת תענית
17. ChallengeWhy start the list from ראש חודש?
18. Resolutionרב: listing it forbids the day before
19. ChallengeThe day before ראש חודש should be forbidden anyway
20. ResolutionA Torah festival needs no extra fence
21. ProofA ברייתא: rabbinic days need a fence, Torah days do not
22. StatementQuoting another line from מגילת תענית
23. ChallengeWhy say 'until the end of the festival'?
24. Resolutionרב פפא answers using רב's approach