Taanis 4a

תענית ד׳ ע״א

Taanit 4a

Learn Taanis 4a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The drizzle and the growing scholar; a scholar's temper; improper requests answered by ה׳; who taught when we ask for rain

Overview

The amud opens by finishing the גמרא's list of kinds of rain with the gentle drizzle, which helps even a seed buried under a clod of earth. רבא uses that image for a young Torah scholar: once he starts to grow, he keeps growing. Sayings follow about the 'fire' and 'iron' of a תלמיד חכם, and רבינא balances them: a person must still train himself to be gentle. Next, רבי יונתן lists three people who made risky requests. אליעזר and שאול were answered well, but יפתח was answered badly, and two פסוקים in ירמיהו are read as hints to his story. רבי ברכיה adds that כנסת ישראל also asked improperly, comparing ה׳ to rain and to a seal, and ה׳ answered with something better and constant: dew, and engraving Israel on His palms. Finally the גמרא returns to the משנה and asks whose opinion says we ask for rain only near the rainy season. רבא says רבי יהושע, and אביי says it could even be רבי אליעזר, since asking and mentioning are separate. A second version of this discussion begins and continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (22)

1. StatementDrizzle helps even a buried seed
2. QuestionWhat does the word for drizzle mean?
3. ResponseDrizzle means 'Arise, furrows'
4. StatementA young scholar is like a buried seed
5. StatementA scholar's anger comes from his Torah
6. StatementA real scholar is hard as iron
7. ProofA different source: the land whose builders are iron
8. StatementEven so, train yourself to be gentle
9. StatementThree who asked improperly
10. StatementEliezer's open-ended sign at the well
11. StatementShaul's open-ended reward for killing Goliath
12. StatementYiftach's open-ended vow and its tragic answer
13. ProofThe prophet's hint: was there no healer in Gilad?
14. ProofA second פסוק showing ה׳ never wanted יפתח's sacrifice
15. Statementכנסת ישראל also asked improperly by comparing ה׳ to rain
16. Statementה׳ promises to be like dew, which is always wanted
17. StatementIsrael asks to be a seal on ה׳'s heart and arm
18. Statementה׳ engraves Israel on His palms instead
19. QuestionWho taught that we ask for rain only near the rainy season?
20. Responseרבא says it follows רבי יהושע
21. Rejectionאביי says it could even follow רבי אליעזר
22. QuestionA second version of the discussion begins