Taanis 20b

תענית כ׳ ע״ב

Taanit 20b

Learn Taanis 20b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Taanis 20b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Humility (רבי אלעזר and the ugly man), which collapsing walls call for a fast, and the merits and good deeds of רב אדא בר אהבה and רב הונא.

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a story. רבי אלעזר ברבי שמעון insults a very ugly man, who answers, 'Go tell the Craftsman who made me.' רבי אלעזר begs forgiveness, and the man forgives him only when the townspeople ask. רבי אלעזר then teaches that a person should be soft like a reed, not stiff like a cedar. Next the גמרא returns to the משנה and explains that a fast is called only when sturdy walls collapse, not walls that were ready to fall because they were weak, very tall, or standing on a riverbank. Stories about weak walls follow, showing how the great merit of רב אדא בר אהבה protected others. רבי ינאי warns never to rely on a miracle, since a miracle is deducted from one's merits. The גמרא then lists רב אדא בר אהבה's lifelong habits and the generous deeds of רב הונא: fixing dangerous walls, buying leftover vegetables before שבת, sharing medicine, and opening his doors at meals. The amud ends as רבא says he can follow all of these habits except one; his explanation continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (30)

1. Statementרבי אלעזר insults an ugly man
2. ResponseThe man's sharp reply about his Maker
3. Statementרבי אלעזר begs forgiveness and is refused
4. StatementThe townspeople ask the man to forgive
5. StatementThe man forgives, with a condition
6. ConclusionBe soft like a reed, not stiff like a cedar
7. StatementBack to the משנה: a city with plague or collapsing buildings
8. StatementWhich collapses count: sturdy walls, not weak ones
9. ChallengeIsn't the ברייתא repeating itself?
10. ResolutionStrong walls that fell because they were too tall
11. ResolutionOr: strong walls standing on a riverbank
12. StatementThe weak wall in נהרדעא that רב and שמואל avoided
13. StatementNo need to go around: רב אדא בר אהבה is with us
14. Statementרב הונא's wine and the house that collapsed
15. StatementWhy he was upset: don't rely on miracles
16. ProofThe פסוק: 'I have become small from all the kindnesses'
17. QuestionWhat were the special deeds of רב אדא בר אהבה?
18. Responseרב אדא בר אהבה lists the habits that gave him long life
19. Statementרב הונא had weak walls torn down and rebuilt
20. Statementרב הונא bought the leftover vegetables every Friday
21. ChallengeWhy not give the vegetables to the poor?
22. ResolutionThe poor would stop buying vegetables
23. ChallengeWhy not feed the vegetables to animals?
24. ResolutionHuman food may not be fed to animals
25. ChallengeWhy buy the vegetables at all?
26. ResolutionBuying them protects the future supply
27. Statementרב הונא's free medicine at the door
28. StatementAnother version: water against the spirit שיבתא
29. Statementרב הונא's open door at meals
30. Statementרבא can follow all except one