Gemara Clarity

Taanis 3b

תענית ג׳ ע״ב

Taanit 3b

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

Open Taanis 3b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Dew, wind and clouds that are never held back, mistakes in משיב הרוח ומוריד הגשם, and which weather helps the land

Overview

The גמרא finishes explaining that ordinary טל (dew) is never held back. It explains that אליהו's oath was only about the special blessed dew. Next, רבי יהושע בן לוי proves from a פסוק in זכריה that wind never stops either. רבי חנינא then draws a practical הלכה for davening: mistakes about mentioning wind and dew never require repeating, but mistakes about rain do. A ברייתא says mentioning clouds and winds is optional because they are never held back. The גמרא answers a contradiction from רב יוסף by splitting clouds into early and late ones, and winds into ordinary and unusual ones. Finally, the גמרא discusses which weather after rain helps the land, citing עולא, רב יהודה and רבא. Snow on the mountains is worth five rainfalls, and רבא's list of what each kind of rain helps continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

דְּלָא מִיעֲצַר.

because it is not withheld.

וְכִי מֵאַחַר דְּלָא מִיעֲצַר,

And since it is not withheld,

אֵלִיָּהוּ אִשְׁתְּבוֹעֵי לְמָה לֵיהּ?

why did Elijah need to swear?

הָכִי קָאָמַר לֵיהּ:

This is what he said to him:

The steps (32)

  1. ResolutionDew is never held back
  2. ChallengeWhy did אליהו swear about dew?
  3. ResolutionEven the blessed dew will stop
  4. ChallengeThen why not bring back the blessed dew?
  5. ResolutionThe difference cannot be noticed
  6. QuestionHow do we know wind never stops?
  7. Responseרבי יהושע בן לוי brings a פסוק
  8. QuestionWhat is the פסוק telling ישראל?
  9. ChallengeThe wording says 'like,' not 'to'
  10. ResolutionThe world cannot exist without ישראל
  11. StatementMistakes in the summer
  12. StatementMistakes in the rainy season
  13. StatementEven asking for wind and dew to stop is fine
  14. StatementA ברייתא: no obligation to mention clouds and winds
  15. QuestionWhy are clouds and winds optional?
  16. ResponseBecause they are never held back
  17. Challengeרב יוסף's ברייתא says God does hold back clouds and winds
  18. ResolutionClouds: early ones versus late ones
  19. ResolutionWinds: ordinary versus unusual
  20. ChallengeIsn't the unusual wind needed for threshing?
  21. ResolutionSieves can do the job
  22. StatementClouds and winds come right after rain in value
  23. QuestionWhen is this true?
  24. ResponseClouds and winds that come after rain
  25. ChallengeBut wind after rain is called a curse
  26. ResolutionGentle wind versus strong wind
  27. ResolutionWind that raises dust versus wind that doesn't
  28. StatementWind, clouds and sunshine after rain
  29. QuestionWhat does this leave out?
  30. ResponseEvening glow and patchy sun are not good
  31. StatementSnow on mountains is worth five rainfalls
  32. Statementרבא matches each kind of rain to what it helps