Taanis 9b

תענית ט׳ ע״ב

Taanit 9b

Learn Taanis 9b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Rain for an individual, signs of rain, and the argument between רבי אליעזר and רבי יהושע about where rain comes from

Overview

The amud opens by finishing two stories about רב פפא and students who caused him pain. After a frightening dream, he parts from three Rabbis with a hint of final farewell. Later, רב שימי בר אשי goes silent once he sees how his challenges embarrass his teacher. The גמרא then returns to rain. Using a פסוק in זכריה and a ברייתא, it shows that rain can fall for one person, one field, and even one plant, and it tells the story of רב דניאל בר קטינא's garden. It explains the word חזיזים as flying clouds that signal rain, and gives signs from drizzle along with two stories about עולא's visit to בבל. Finally, רבי אליעזר and רבי יהושע argue whether rain comes from the ocean below or from the waters above. The גמרא matches פסוקים to each view, and רבי יהושע's answer about the 'storehouses' פסוק continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (31)

1. Statementרב פפא's dream about the three shepherds
2. Statementרב שימי בר אשי stops challenging רב פפא
3. Statementריש לקיש also holds that rain falls for an individual
4. StatementThe word 'to a man' shows rain for one person
5. StatementA ברייתא narrows it to one field and one plant
6. ProofRain fell only on the garden beds that needed it
7. QuestionWhat does 'ה׳ עשה חזיזים' mean?
8. ResponseEvery צדיק gets his own cloud
9. QuestionWhat exactly are חזיזים? Flying clouds
10. StatementFlying clouds are a sign of rain
11. QuestionWhat is a flying cloud?
12. StatementDrizzle before rain or after rain
13. StatementMemory hooks: a sieve and goat droppings
14. Statementעולא sees flying clouds in בבל, but no rain comes
15. Statementעולא and the cheap dates of בבל
16. Statementרבי אליעזר: the world drinks from ocean water
17. ChallengeBut ocean water is salty
18. ResolutionThe water becomes sweet in the clouds
19. Statementרבי יהושע: the world drinks from the upper waters
20. ChallengeWhat about the mist that rises from the earth?
21. ResolutionClouds rise up to collect rain from above
22. StatementClouds are full of holes like a sieve
23. ConclusionA day of rain is as great as the day of creation
24. ProofThe verses that prove a rainy day is as great as Creation
25. QuestionWhose view fits 'He waters the mountains from His upper chambers'?
26. ResponseIt fits רבי יהושע
27. ResolutionHow רבי אליעזר reads 'from His upper chambers'
28. ProofProof from 'dust from the heavens'
29. QuestionWhose view fits רבי חנינא's reading of 'He puts the depths in storehouses'?
30. ResponseIt fits רבי אליעזר
31. ChallengeHow does רבי יהושע read this פסוק?