Rabbinic JudaismJerusalem Talmud Taanit 1.1HOLYMAP · SACRED TEXTS
The Jerusalem TalmudJerusalem Talmud Taanit 1.1

The Jerusalem Talmud

Jerusalem Talmud Taanit 1.1

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English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

MISHNAH: From when does one mention the Power of rains? Rebbi Eliezer says, from the first holiday of Tabernacles, but Rebbi Joshua says, from the concluding holiday. Rebbi Joshua said, since rain during Tabernacles is not a sign of blessing, why should he mention? Rebbi Eliezer said to him, he only says “He Who makes the wind blow and brings down the rain”, in its appropriate time. They answered him, if that is so, one should always mention it.

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English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

HALAKHAH: “From when does one mention the Power of rains,” etc. The reason of Rebbi Eliezer, because these four kinds grow on water, they become attorneys for water. Another explanation, when the slave serves all his master’s needs he asks for his reward from him. Rebbi Joshua said to him, is it not that when the slave has served all his master’s needs and his master is satisfied with him that he asks his [sustenance] from him? Another explanation. The slave asks for his reward only close to the time when his reward is due. It was stated: Rebbi Eliezer says, from the time one takes the lulav; Rebbi Joshua says, from the time he puts it down. In the opinion of the latter Tanna, the opinion of Rebbi Eliezer in the first is his opinion in the latter. The argument of Rebbi Joshua is inverted. There, he says from the concluding holiday, but here he says, from the time he puts it down. Rebbi Mana says, because the entire day is qualified to take the lulav. Should he not mention in the evening? Not everybody is there. Then he should mention it in the morning. He would think that maybe they mentioned in the evening and he will mention. Since he sees that they do not mention in the first {prayer} but mention in the later {prayer}, he understands that they did not mention in the evening. Rebbi Ḥiyya bar Marius said to him, so was your father Rebbi Jonah arguing it.

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English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

Rebbi Ḥaggai in the name of Rebbi Pedat: It is forbidden for the individual to mention before the public reader mentions. Rebbi Simon in the name of Rebbi Joshua ben Levi: Is the matter dependent on the public reader? Rebbi Mana said before Rebbi Ḥaggai, do they disagree? He said to him: no. That which you are saying, is the matter dependent on the public reader? The individual if he wants to mention, he mentions dew. But what you are saying is: it is forbidden for the individual to mention before the public reader mentions rain. If they rise for prayer it is as if the public reader mentioned it.

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English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

Just as the resurrection of the dead brings life to the world, so rains bring life to the world. Rebbi Ḥiyya bar Abba understood it from here: He will resurrect us after two days, on the third day He will raise us up and we shall live before Him. We shall know, we shall pursue to know the Eternal, like morning His appearance is well based.

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English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

It is written Elijah the Tisbite, from the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Aḥab: By the Living Eternal One, the God of Israel, before Whom I stood, there will not be dew nor rain these years except by my word. Rebbi Berekhia said, Rebbi Yose and the rabbis. One of them said, he was heard both for dew and for rain; the other one said, he was heard for rain but was not heard for dew, from: Go, appear before Aḥab and I shall give rain on the face of the earth. He who said, he was heard both for dew and for rain, where was the vow of dew dissolved? Rebbi Tanḥum from Edrei said, they are of the opinion that a vow that was dissolved partially is dissolved totally. Some want to say, on the occasion of the son of the woman from Sarepta: He called on the Eternal and said, o Eternal, my God, also the widow with whom I am dwelling You are doing evil to kill her son. Rebbi Judah ben Pazi said, about one who stole a doctor’s bag. When he left, his son was injured. He returned to him and said: Please, sir doctor, heal my son. He said to him: Go and return my bag because it is full of medicines, and I shall heal your son. So the Holy One, praise to Him, said to Elijah: Go and lift the vow of dew because the dead are resurrected only by dew, then I shall resurrect the son of the Sareptan. And from where that the dead will live only by dew? Your dead will live, the corpses will arise. Wake up and jubilate, those who dwell in dust! For a dew of light is Your dew, וָאָרֶ֭ץ רְפָאִ֥ים תַּפִּֽיל. What means וָאָרֶ֭ץ רְפָאִ֥ים תַּפִּֽיל? Rebbi Tanḥum from Edrei said, “the earth will give up what is deposited in it.”

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English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

Rebbi Jacob from Kefar Ḥanan in the name of Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish: When Abraham their forefather did My will, I swore to him that I never shall remove dew from his descendants forever; what is the reason? The Eternal swore and He will not change His intention, you are appointed forever. And it is written there, you have the dew of your youth. Rebbi Judah ben Pazi said, by a will I gave it to Abraham: God may give you from the dew of Heaven. Rebbi Samuel bar Naḥman said, when Israel comes to sin by their evil deeds the rains are arrested. They bring an old man like Rebbi Yose the Galilean, he prays for them and immediately the rains come. But dew does not descend by the merit of any creature, what is the reason? Which do not listen to anybody nor wait for humans.

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English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

Rebbi Ze`ira in the name if Rebbi Ḥanina: When someone stood {praying} in the rainy season and mentioned dew one does not make him repeat. In the season of dew and he mentioned rain one makes him repeat. But is it not stated: The Sages did not oblige one to mention dew and winds but if he wants to mention them, he may mention? One cannot compare one who takes it easy to one who does not pray and does not take it easy. “When he stood in the rainy season and mentioned dew one does not make him repeat.” But is it not stated: If he did not ask for it in the benediction “for years”, or he did not mention the power of rains in “resurrection of the dead”, one makes him repeat? That is about one who mentioned neither dew nor rain.

8
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

Rebbi Ze`ira in the name of Rav Ḥuna: If he did not ask in the benediction “for years” he says it in “He Who hears prayer”. If he did not mention the power of rains in “resurrection of the dead” he says it in “He Who hears prayer”. If the request, made under duress, may be recited in “He Who hears prayer,” the mention, made under easy circumstances, so much more! But is it not stated: If he did not ask in the benediction “for years” or that he did not mention the power of rains in “resurrection of the dead”, one makes him repeat from the start? Rebbi Abbamari the brother of Rebbi Yose, said, if he did not say it in “He Who hears prayer”!

9
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

Where does he return to? Just as Rebbi Simeon bar Abba said in the name of Rebbi Joḥanan: On the day of the New Moon, if he had moved his feet he repeats from the start, otherwise from “Temple service”. Here also, if he had moved his feet he repeats from the start.

10
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

At Nineveh they needed to make a fastday after Passover. They came to ask Rebbi. He told them, go ahead and make one but do not change the form of prayer. Where may he say it? Rebbi Jeremiah thought to say that he says it in “He Who hears prayer.” Rebbi Yose said to him: Did not Rebbi Ze`ira say in the name of Rav Ḥuna: If he did not ask in the benediction “for years”, or that he failed to mention the power of rains in “resurrection of the dead”, he says it at “He Who hears prayer”? But Rebbi said to them, go ahead and make one but do not change the form of prayer! According to the opinion of Rebbi Yose, where does one say it? In the six that he adds. That works for the public which has six. A private person who does not have six, where? Rebbi Ḥinena said, did not Rebbi Ze`ira say in the name of Rav Ḥuna, a private person asks for his personal needs in “He Who hears prayer,” and these are his needs.

11
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

It was stated: If he prayed but does not know what he mentioned, Rebbi Joḥanan said, all of thirty days there is a presumption that what he is used to he (would mention) [mentioned]. Rebbi Abba in the name of Rebbi Ḥuna: On the second holiday of the diaspora he mentions in the morning prayers but not in the musaf prayer. Afternoon prayers like morning prayers and evening prayers like musaf prayers. Ḥananiah the son of Rebbi Joshua’s brother says, in the Diaspora they did not have this custom, but until sixty days after equinox. Samuel said, practice follows Ḥananiah the son of Rebbi Joshua’s brother. And it was stated thus: When was this said? Outside of the Land. But in the Land of Israel, everything according to the season, everything according to the event. That is, about rain. But dew, if he wants to mention the entire year he may mention it.

12
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

“Rebbi Joshua said, since rain during Tabernacles is not a sign of blessing, why should he mention? Rebbi Eliezer said to him, he only says ‘He Who makes the wind blow and brings down the rain’, in its appropriate time.” In its time it is desirable like the resurrection of the dead. Rebbi Yose said, I am wondering how the rabbis could compare rainfall to the resurrection of the dead, but they are not comparable. A person prays all the time for the dead to become alive. Does a person pray for rain to fall all the time?

13
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

“They said to him, if that is so, one should always mention it.” The argument of Rebbi Eliezer seems inverted; the argument of Rebbi Joshua seems inverted. As they disagree: Rebbi Eliezer says, unless Israel repent they never will be redeemed, as it is said, by repentance and satisfaction you will be helped. Rebbi Joshua said to him, if Israel would stay and never repent, would they never be redeemed? Rebbi Eliezer said to him, the Holy One, praise to Him, causes a hard king like Haman to rule over them and immediately they repent and are redeemed. What is the reason? It is an evil time for Jacob and from it he will be helped. Rebbi Joshua said to him, but is it not written, gratis you were sold and not by money you will be redeemed? How does Rebbi Eliezer deal with this? Repentance, as you are saying, a bundle of money he took in his hand, etc. Rebbi Joshua said to him, but is it not written, in its time I shall quickly do it. How does Rebbi Eliezer deal with this? Repentance, as you are saying, but now, Israel, what does the Eternal, your God, ask from you but to fear etc. Rebbi Aḥa in the name of Rebbi Joshua ben Levi: If you merit it, I shall quickly do it; if not, in its time. When Rebbi Joshua said to him, he lifted his right and his left arms to heaven and swore by the Eternally Living that in term, terms and a half, when he finished to smash the hand of the holy people, all this will finish, Rebbi Eliezer withdrew.

14
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

Israel were redeemed from Egypt for five reasons. [Because of the term,] because of tribulation, because of entreaty, because of the merit of the Fathers, because of repentance, because of the term. That is what is written, it was in these important times that the Children of Israel were sighing at the work and crying, because of tribulation; and God heard their wailing, because of entreaty; and God remembered His Covenant, because of the merit of the Fathers. And God saw the children of Israel, because of repentance, and God knew, because of the term. And so it says, if you are in trouble, because of tribulation; and all these matters will find you in future times and you will repent, because of repentance; for the Eternal, your God, is a merciful power, because of mercy; He will not let you sink nor destroy you, nor will He forget your Fathers’ Covenant, because of the merit of the Fathers. And so it says, He saw how they were in trouble, because of tribulation; when He heard their prayer, because of entreaty; and remembered for them His Covenant, because of merit of the Fathers; and consoled them in the abundance of His grace, because of repentance; and He had mercy with them, because of mercy.

15
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

A person sinned with his tongue. He came before Rebbi Joḥanan who sent him before Rebbi Ḥanina. The latter told him, go, examine yourself, and study Torah, as it is written, the tree of life is healing for the tongue.

16
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

Rebbi Ḥanina ben Rebbi Abbahu said, in the book of Rebbi Meïr they found: a saying about Duma, “a saying about Domae, to me He called from Seïr. Rebbi Joḥanan said, He called to me because of Seïr. Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish said, from where was He inimical to me, from Seïr. Rebbi Joshua ben Levi said, if a person asks you, where is your God? Tell him, in the great fortification at Rome. What is the reason? To me He called from Seïr.

17
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

Rebbi Simeon ben Yoḥay stated: Every place to which Israel was exiled, the Divine Presence was exiled with them. They were exiled to Egypt and the Divine Presence was exiled with them. What is the reason? Was I not revealed to your Father’s house when they were in Egypt, the house of Pharaoh? They were exiled to Babylon and the Divine Presence was exiled with them. What is the reason? On your behalf I was sent to Babylon. They were exiled to Media and the Divine Presence was exiled with them. What is the reason? I installed My throne in Elam, but Elam is nothing else but Media as you are saying, when I was in the Capital city of Susa which is in the province of Elam. They were exiled to Ionia and the Divine Presence was exiled with them. What is the reason? I shall awake your sons, Zion, over your sons, Ionia. They were exiled to Rome and the Divine Presence was exiled with them. What is the reason? He calls to me from Se`ir: watchman, what time is it in the night? Israel said to Isaiah: our teacher Isaiah, what will lead us out from this night? He told them, wait until it will be asked. After he asked, he returned to them and they asked him, watchman, what time is it in the night? He said to them, the watchman said, there comes morning and also night. They said to him, and also night? He told them, not as you understand it. But “morning” for the just ones, and “night” for the evildoers. “Morning” for Israel and “night” for the peoples of the world. They asked him, when? He said to them, any time you want, He wants: if you desire to ask, ask. They asked him, what obstructs? He told them, repentance: repent, come.

18
English · Heinrich W. Guggenheimer

Rebbi Aḥa in the name of Rebbi Tanḥum ben Rebbi Ḥiyya: If Israel would repent on one day, David’s son would immediately come. What is the reason? Today, if you will listen to His voice. Rebbi Levi said, if Israel would keep one Sabbath following its rules, David’s son would immediately come. What is the reason? Moses said, eat it today, for Sabbath is this day to the Eternal, etc. One day. And it says, by repentance and satisfaction you will be helped. By keeping the Sabbath and staying put you will be freed.

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The Jerusalem Talmud, edition, translation and commentary by Heinrich W. Guggenheimer (Berlin: De Gruyter, 1999–2015). CC BY. Text from Sefaria (sefaria.org); commentary notes omitted. · Source ↗

Hebrew/Aramaic text: The Jerusalem Talmud, edition by Heinrich W. Guggenheimer (Berlin: De Gruyter, 1999–2015), via Sefaria (sefaria.org). Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/). Changes: footnotes and HTML formatting removed.

The Jerusalem Talmud, edition, translation and commentary by Heinrich W. Guggenheimer (Berlin: De Gruyter, 1999–2015). CC BY. Text from Sefaria (sefaria.org); commentary notes omitted. · Source ↗

English translation: The Jerusalem Talmud, translation and commentary by Heinrich W. Guggenheimer (Berlin: De Gruyter, 1999–2015); commentary notes omitted, via Sefaria (sefaria.org). Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/). Changes: footnotes and HTML formatting removed.

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