Taanis 7a

תענית ז׳ ע״א

Taanit 7a

Learn Taanis 7a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The greatness of rain, and how Torah stays with a worthy, humble person who learns together with others

Overview

This amud first finishes the earlier discussion of the blessing on rain: we say both endings. Then it praises rain. רבי אבהו says rain is greater than תחיית המתים, while רב יוסף holds the two are equal. רב יהודה says the day of rain is as great as מתן תורה, and רבא says it is even greater. Both learn this from 'יערף כמטר לקחי'. From that same פסוק, רבא and רבי בנאה teach that Torah gives life to a worthy person who learns לשמה, but harms an unworthy one. A string of teachings follows about how to learn Torah. A worthy תלמיד חכם is like a fruit tree. Learning with others sharpens you, like iron on iron or sticks lighting a fire, and learning alone leads to foolishness. Teachers should seek out and teach worthy students. Torah stays only with a humble person, like water that flows down and wine that keeps in plain jars. The amud ends with the story of רבי יהושע בן חנניה and the emperor's daughter. At the end the emperor raises an objection, which is answered on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (29)

1. ConclusionSay both endings of the thanksgiving blessing
2. StatementRain is greater than the resurrection of the dead
3. Statementרב יוסף holds rain and resurrection are equal
4. StatementThe day of rain is as great as the giving of the Torah
5. Statementרבא: Rain is even greater than the giving of the Torah
6. ChallengeIs Torah like rain or like dew?
7. ResolutionGentle for the worthy, harsh for the unworthy
8. ProofTorah learned for its own sake is a medicine of life
9. ProofTorah learned not for its own sake is a poison of death
10. Statementרבי זירא is too weak to teach halacha, so he is asked for aggada
11. QuestionHow can a person be called a tree of the field?
12. ChallengeTwo verses about trees seem to contradict each other
13. ResolutionA worthy scholar is a tree to learn from; an unworthy one is cut down
14. StatementIron sharpens iron: scholars sharpen each other
15. StatementTorah is like fire: it does not burn alone
16. ProofA warning to scholars who learn alone
17. StatementLearning alone can even lead to sin
18. ProofA second source linking foolishness and leading astray
19. StatementTorah is like wood: small sticks light big ones
20. Proofרבי חנינא learned most from his students
21. ChallengeTwo verses about water seem to clash
22. ResolutionWorthy student versus unworthy student
23. ChallengeShare your springs, or keep them to yourself?
24. ResolutionTeach the worthy, hold back from the unworthy
25. StatementTorah is like water: it flows to the humble
26. StatementTorah is like water, wine and milk: kept in simple containers
27. ProofThe emperor's daughter mocks רבי יהושע בן חנניה, and he answers with a question about wine
28. StatementThe wine spoils in the gold vessels, and רבי יהושע בן חנניה explains his lesson
29. ChallengeThe emperor objects that some good-looking people are learned