Taanis 6b

תענית ו׳ ע״ב

Taanit 6b

Learn Taanis 6b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The second rainfall and its laws, the curse of 'וְעָצַר', and the ברכה on rain

Overview

This amud is all about rain. First the גמרא lists laws that depend on the רביעה שניה, the second rainfall of the season: a נדר 'until the rains,' the olives left for the poor, walking on שבילי הרשות, and removing שביעית straw and hay. Along the way it explains the word נמושות and brings a פסוק showing that שביעית produce must be removed once it is gone from the field. רבי אבהו then explains that רביעה means rain that makes the earth fertile, and he gives how much rain counts as the first and second rainfall. רב חסדא gives several rules about when the curse of 'וְעָצַר' is not in effect: enough rain to seal a barrel, rain before the evening שמע, and the right amount of rain in part of the country. Each rule is tested with a challenge and answered. The גמרא also discusses when rain in טבת is good for the year. Finally, רבי אבהו says when to make a ברכה on rain, and the גמרא gives its wording and corrects the closing words to 'אֵל הַהוֹדָאוֹת'. רב פפא begins a practical ruling that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (33)

1. StatementA vow 'until the rains' lasts until the second rainfall
2. Statementרב זביד: the second rainfall matters for olives left for the poor
3. QuestionWhat does the word 'נמושות' mean?
4. Responseרבי יוחנן: old men who walk with a cane
5. Responseריש לקיש: the gleaners who come after the gleaners
6. Statementרב פפא: the second rainfall ends permission to walk on field paths
7. StatementThe second rainfall sets the deadline for removing שביעית produce
8. QuestionWhy must שביעית produce be removed?
9. ResponseThe פסוק: your animals may eat only while wild animals still can
10. StatementWhat the word רביעה means
11. ProofRain is the husband of the earth
12. StatementHow much rain counts as the first and second rainfall
13. StatementEnough rain to seal a barrel means no curse of ועצר
14. StatementRain before reading 'and He will close up' cancels the curse
15. Statementאביי limits the rule to the evening שמע
16. ProofMorning clouds have no substance
17. Challengeרב פפא: people say morning rain means a full day of rain
18. ResolutionThick clouds versus light clouds
19. StatementA dry טבת is good for the year
20. StatementTwo reasons why a dry טבת helps
21. Challengeרב חסדא says a muddy טבת is good
22. ResolutionIt depends on whether it rained before טבת
23. StatementRain on part of a country is not a curse
24. ChallengeA פסוק in עמוס calls partial rain a curse
25. ResolutionToo much rain versus the right amount
26. ProofThe word 'תִּמָּטֵר' shows a flooded place
27. StatementWhen to start making a ברכה on rain
28. QuestionWhat words does one say?
29. ResponseThanks for every single drop
30. Responseרבי יוחנן's longer ending for the ברכה
31. ChallengeWhy say 'most of the thanks' and not 'all of the thanks'?
32. Resolutionרבא changes the wording to 'God of thanksgivings'
33. Statementרב פפא begins a practical conclusion