Taanis 7b

תענית ז׳ ע״ב

Taanit 7b

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

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Topic

The end of the Torah-and-liquids comparison, then the greatness of rain, the sins that hold rain back, and the remedy of תפלה.

Overview

The עמוד opens by finishing the story of רבי יהושע and the Caesar's daughter: if handsome scholars had been plain, they would have learned even more. It then gives a second reason Torah is like water, wine and milk: all three spoil only through inattention, and Torah is forgotten only through inattention. Next the גמרא turns to rain. רבי חמא ברבי חנינא and רב אושעיא praise the day of rain, comparing it to creation and saying even ישועה grows on it. רבי תנחום בר חנילאי teaches that rain comes only when ישראל's sins are forgiven, and רבי תנחום בריה דרבי חייא teaches that it is held back when they deserve destruction; each time, זעירי brings a different פסוק for the same idea. A list follows of sins that hold back rain: neglecting תרומות ומעשרות, לשון הרע, עזות פנים, ביטול תורה, and גזל. Along the way there is a side discussion about the brazen person: whether brazenness leads to sin or shows a past sin, and whether he may be called a רשע or even hated. רבי אמי teaches that the remedy is strong תפלה for mercy. The עמוד ends as ריש לקיש begins reading the 'blunt iron' פסוק as being about a תלמיד, which continues on the next עמוד.

Opening lines

The steps (28)

1. ResponseHad they been ugly, they would have learned more
2. StatementA second reason Torah is like water, wine and milk
3. StatementThe day of rain is as great as the day of creation
4. Proof"Created it," not "created them"
5. StatementEven salvation grows on a day of rain
6. StatementRain falls only after sins are forgiven
7. ProofA different פסוק for the same idea
8. StatementRain is held back only when ישראל deserve destruction
9. Proofזעירי gives a different source from the תורה
10. StatementRain stops because people neglect תרומות ומעשרות
11. QuestionHow does the פסוק show this?
12. ResponseSummer duties neglected, winter rain taken away
13. StatementRain stops because of לשון הרע
14. StatementRain stops because of brazen people
15. StatementA brazen person will end up sinning
16. Statementרב נחמן: the brazen person has already sinned
17. StatementA brazen person may be called wicked
18. StatementA brazen person may even be hated
19. StatementRain is held back because of neglect of Torah
20. ProofProving what 'sink' and 'rafters' mean
21. StatementAnother source for neglect of Torah holding back rain
22. StatementEven full rain clouds get blown away
23. StatementRain is held back because of robbery
24. ProofProving what 'hands' and 'light' mean
25. StatementThe remedy for rain held back by robbery is more prayer
26. StatementA sky hard as iron comes from a corrupt generation
27. StatementThe remedy is to pray hard for mercy
28. Statementריש לקיש begins a different reading of the same verse