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Taanis 5b

תענית ה׳ ע״ב

Taanit 5b

Learn Taanis 5b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Idol worship as 'two evils,' why שמואל aged early, and the meal and parting of רב נחמן and רבי יצחק

Overview

This amud begins by finishing an answer: the 'two evils' in ירמיהו are really one sin, עבודה זרה, which weighs as much as two. A ברייתא adds that the nations of כתים and קדר never left their false gods, yet the Jewish people left the true God. Next, רב נחמן asks how the פסוק can call שמואל 'old' when he died at fifty-two. רבי יצחק answers in the name of רבי יוחנן that old age jumped on him early. שמואל had prayed that שאול's kingship not be undone in his lifetime, so הקב״ה made him age suddenly so that his death would look natural and דוד could reign on time. The גמרא proves that one person can be pushed aside for another. Then comes a story of רב נחמן and רבי יצחק at a meal. It includes the rule not to talk while eating, the teaching that יעקב אבינו did not die, and a statement about רחב. At parting, רבי יצחק begins a משל about a perfect tree to explain how to bless רב נחמן, and the ברכה continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

שְׁקוּלָה כִּשְׁתַּיִם,

[There is one sin] equivalent to two,

וּמַאי נִיהוּ — עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה,

and what is it? Idol worship,

דִּכְתִיב: ״כִּי שְׁתַּיִם רָעוֹת עָשָׂה עַמִּי

as it is written: "For My people have committed two evils;

אֹתִי עָזְבוּ מְקוֹר מַיִם חַיִּים

they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters,

The steps (22)

  1. ResponseIdol worship counts as two evils
  2. StatementThe nations kept their gods even when they knew better
  3. Questionרב נחמן asks about שמואל being old
  4. Challengeשמואל died at only fifty-two
  5. ResolutionOld age jumped on שמואל early
  6. Statementשמואל asks that his work not be undone in his lifetime
  7. Statementה׳'s dilemma: three options that all seem blocked
  8. ResolutionThe solution: sudden old age for שמואל
  9. ProofA פסוק hints that שמואל's prayer kept שאול alive
  10. ChallengeCan one person really be pushed aside for another?
  11. ResolutionYes, a פסוק in הושע shows it happens
  12. QuestionAt a meal, רב נחמן asks רבי יצחק to say some Torah
  13. ResponseNo talking while eating, because of the danger of choking
  14. StatementAfter the meal: יעקב our father did not die
  15. ChallengeBut יעקב was eulogized, embalmed and buried
  16. ResolutionA verse links יעקב to his living children
  17. StatementThe power of saying רחב's name
  18. Challengeרב נחמן says it does not affect him
  19. ResolutionIt applies only to someone who knew her
  20. QuestionAt parting, רב נחמן asks for a blessing
  21. ResponseThe parable of the tired traveler and the tree
  22. ResponseWhat blessing can you give a tree that has everything?