Taanis 3a

תענית ג׳ ע״א

Taanit 3a

Learn Taanis 3a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The water libation on סוכות, who mentions rain on שמיני עצרת, and why mentioning dew and wind is optional

Overview

The גמרא continues discussing the water libation on סוכות, which is tied to when we start mentioning rain. It explains that רבי עקיבא takes the timing of the extra libation from the sixth day. It then brings רבי נתן, who learns from the wording 'הסך נסך' that there are two libations, one of water and one of wine. Next it asks who wrote the משנה that says the water is poured all seven days. A first answer, רבי יהודה בן בתירה together with רבי יהודה, is rejected. The final answer is that the משנה follows רבי יהושע, and the seven days are a הלכה למשה מסיני. The גמרא then asks which רבי יהושע and which בן בתירה said that on שמיני עצרת only the later prayer leader mentions rain. רב נחמן בר יצחק answers that both names refer to רבי יהושע בן בתירה. Finally, a ברייתא teaches that mentioning dew and wind is optional, because they are never held back, and the proof from אליהו continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (20)

1. ChallengeIf רבי עקיבא uses רבי יהודה בן בתירה's reading, why not follow him fully?
2. Resolutionרבי עקיבא places the extra libation on the sixth day
3. Statementרבי נתן learns two libations from 'הסך נסך'
4. ChallengeMaybe both libations are wine
5. ResolutionThe different forms of the word show two different liquids
6. ChallengeWho wrote the משנה that says water is poured all seven days?
7. Resolutionרבי יהודה בן בתירה, following רבי יהודה: drop the first day, add the eighth
8. ChallengeIf day one is dropped, day eight should be dropped too
9. ResolutionThe משנה follows רבי יהושע, who knows the seven days by tradition
10. ProofSupport: the water libation is a הלכה למשה מסיני
11. StatementWhich prayer leader mentions rain on שמיני עצרת and on פסח
12. ChallengeWhich רבי יהושע? Not the one in the משנה
13. ChallengeNot the רבי יהושע of the ברייתא either
14. ChallengeA second ברייתא: which בן בתירה?
15. ResolutionBoth refer to רבי יהושע בן בתירה
16. StatementMentioning dew and wind is optional
17. QuestionWhy is it optional?
18. ResponseDew and wind are never held back
19. QuestionWhere do we learn that dew is never held back?
20. ProofProof from אליהו and אחאב