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Taanis 2a

תענית ב׳ ע״א

Taanit 2a

Learn Taanis 2a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

When and why we mention 'גבורות גשמים' in תפלה, the source for calling rain 'might', and the three keys God keeps for Himself

Overview

The משנה asks from what day we start saying 'משיב הרוח ומוריד הגשם' in the עמידה. רבי אליעזר says from the first day of סוכות, and רבי יהושע says from שמיני עצרת, since rain on סוכות is a curse. רבי אליעזר answers that mentioning rain is praise, not a request, and רבי יהושע replies that then it could be said all year. The משנה adds that we ask for rain only close to the rainy season. רבי יהודה then says the mention begins at מוסף of שמיני עצרת and ends at מוסף of the first day of פסח. The גמרא first suggests the משנה builds on ברכות, but rejects that and says it follows ראש השנה's teaching that on סוכות the world is judged for water. It explains that rain is called 'גבורות' because a גזירה שוה on the word 'חקר' links rain to the creation of the world, which was done with גבורה. It learns from 'service of the heart' that rain belongs in תפלה. Finally, רבי יוחנן teaches that God keeps three keys for Himself, rain, birth and תחיית המתים, and the גמרא begins bringing a פסוק for each one, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

מֵאֵימָתַי מַזְכִּירִין גְּבוּרוֹת גְּשָׁמִים?

From when do we mention the might of the rains?

רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר:

Rabbi Eliezer says:

מִיּוֹם טוֹב הָרִאשׁוֹן שֶׁל חַג.

From the first Festival day of the Festival.

רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אוֹמֵר:

Rabbi Yehoshua says:

The steps (21)

  1. StatementThe opening question: from when do we mention rain?
  2. Challengeרבי יהושע: rain on סוכות is a curse
  3. Resolutionרבי אליעזר: mentioning is not asking
  4. Challengeרבי יהושע: then mention it all year
  5. StatementWe ask for rain only close to the rainy season
  6. Statementרבי יהודה: which שליח ציבור starts and stops
  7. QuestionWhere is the משנה coming from when it asks 'from when'?
  8. ResponseThe תנא is relying on a source 'there'
  9. ResponseThe earlier source is the משנה in ברכות
  10. ChallengeThen why not teach it in ברכות?
  11. ResolutionThe תנא is coming straight from ראש השנה
  12. QuestionWhy say 'the might of rain'?
  13. Responseרבי יוחנן: rain falls with God's might
  14. QuestionHow do these פסוקים show that rain is might?
  15. ResponseA word link to the creation of the world
  16. ProofThe פסוקים that complete the word link
  17. QuestionWhy mention rain in תפלה?
  18. ResponseService of the heart, then rain
  19. StatementThree keys God keeps for Himself
  20. ProofThe פסוק for the key of rain
  21. ProofThe פסוק for the key of birth begins