Jerusalem Talmud Taanit 3.9

משנה: עַל כָּל צָרָה שֶׁלֹּא תָבוֹא עַל הַצִּיבּוּר מַתְרִיעִין עָלֶיהָ חוּץ מֵרוֹב גְּשָׁמִים. מַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁאָמְרוּ לְחוֹנִי הַמְעַגֵּל הִתְפַּלֵּל שֶׁיֵּרְדוּ גְשָׁמִים. אָמַר לָהֶן צְאוּ וְהַכְנִיסוּ תַנּוּרֵי פְסָחִים בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁלֹּא יִמָּקוּ. וְהִתְפַּלֵּל וְלֹא יָרְדוּ גְשָׁמִים. עָג עוּגָה וְעָמַד בְּתוֹכָהּ וְאָמַר רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם בָּנֶיךָ שָׂמוּ פְנֵיהֶם עָלַי שֶׁאֲנִי כְבֶן בַּיִת לְפָנֶיךָ. נִשְׁבָּע אֲנִי בְשִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל שֶׁאֵינִי זָז מִכָּאן עַד שֶׁתְּרַחֵם עַל בָּנֶיךָ. הִתְחִילוּ הַגְּשָׁמִים מְנַטְּפִין. אָמַר לֹא כָךְ שָׁאַלְתִּי אֶלָּא גִּשְׁמֵי בוֹרוֹת שִׁיחִין וּמְעָרוֹת. יָרְדוּ בְּזַעַף. אָמַר לֹא כָךְ שָׁאַלְתִּי אֶלָּא גִּשְׁמֵי רָצוֹן בְּרָכָה וּנְדָבָה. יָרְדוּ כְתִקְנָן עַד שֶׁעָלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִירוּשָׁלַיִם לְהַר הַבַּיִת מִפְּנֵי הַגְּשָׁמִים. אָמְרוּ לוֹ כְּשֵׁם שֶׁנִּתְפַּלַלְתָּ עֲלֵיהֶם שֶׁיֵּרְדוּ כָּךְ הִתְפַּלֵּל שֶׁיֵּלְכוּ לָהֶם. אָמַר לָהֶן צְאוּ וּרְאוּ אִם נִמְחֵית אֶבֶן הַטּוֹעִים.

MISHNAH: One blows the shofar because of any danger which menaces the public except an overabundance of rain. It happened that they said to Onias the circle-drawer, pray for rain. He said to them, go and shelter the Passover ovens so they should not get softened. He prayed but no rain fell. What did he do? He drew a circle, stood inside it, and said: Master of the World! Your children trusted me since I am like a familiar before You. I am swearing by Your great Name that I shall not move from here until You show mercy for Your children. Rain started to drip. He said, that is not what I was asking for, but rain {to fill} cistern, ditches, and caves. It rained in a raging storm. He said, that is not what I was asking for, but rain of goodwill, blessing, and donation. It rained normally until Israel moved from Jerusalem to the Temple Mount because of the rain. They came and said to him, just as you prayed for them to come, so pray to remove them. He told them, go and check whether the losers’ stone was wiped away.

הלכה: רִבִּי יוֹנָה שִׁמְעוֹן בַּר בָּא בְשֵׁם רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן. דָּבָר שֶׁאֶיפְשַׁר לָךְ לֹומַר עָלָיו דַּיי הִיא בְרָכָה. רִבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה רִבִּי חֶלְבּוֹ רַב אַבָּא בַּר עִילַאי בְשֵׁם רַב. עַד שֶׁיְּבַלְלוּ שִׂפְתוֹתֵיכֶם מִלּוֹמַר. דַּיֵינוּ בְרָכָה דַּיֵינוּ בְרָכָה.

HALAKHAH: Rebbi Jonah, Simeon bar Abba in the name of Rebbi Joḥanan: The thing about which it is impossible to say “enough”, that is blessing. Rebbi Berekhiah, Rebbi Ḥelbo, Rav Abba bar Ilay in the name of Rav: Until your lips will wear out saying, we have enough blessings, we have enough blessings.

מַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁאָמְרוּ לְחוֹנִי הַמְעַגֵּל הִתְפַּלֵּל שֶׁיֵּרְדוּ גְשָׁמִים. אָמַר לָהֶן צְאוּ וְהַכְנִיסוּ תַנּוּרֵי פְסָחִים בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁלֹּא יִמָּקוּ. הָדָא אָמְרָה. עֶרֶב פְּסָחִים הָיָה. וְתַנֵּי כֵן. בְּעַשְׂרִין בֵּיהּ צָמוּן כָּל עַמָּא לְמִיטְרָא וּנְחַת לוֹן.

“It happened that they said to Onias the circle-drawer, pray for rain. He said to them, go and shelter the Passover ovens so they should not get softened.” This implies that it was close to Passover. It also was stated thus: “On the twentieth all the people fasted for rain and it fell on them.”

וְנִתְפַּלֵּל וְלֹא יָרְדוּ גְשָׁמִים. אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵי בֵּירִבִּי בּוּן. שֶׁלֹּא בָא בָעֲנָוָה. אָמַר רִבִּי יוּדָן גֵּירִיָּא. הָדֵין חוֹנִי הַמְעַגֵּל בַּר בְּרֵיהּ דְּחוֹנִי הַמְעַגֵּל הֲוָה סְמִיךְ לְחָרְבַּן בֵּית מוּקְדְּשָׁא. נְפַק לְטוּרָא לְגַבֵּי פָעֲלֵיי. עַד דּוּ תַמָּן נְחַת מִיטְרָא. עָאַל לֵיהּ לִמְעַרְתָּא. מִן יְתִיב נָם וּדְמָךְ לֵיהּ. וַעֲבַד שְׁקִיעַ בְּשִׁינְתֵּיהּ שׁוּבְעִין שְׁנִין עַד דַּחֲרַב בֵּית מוּקְדְּשָׁא וְאִיתְבְּנִי זְמַן תִּינְיָינוּת. לְסוֹף שׁוּבְעִין שְׁנִין אִיתְעַר מִן שִׁינְתֵּיהּ. נְפַק לֵיהּ מִן מְעַרְתָּא וַחֲמָא עָלְמָא מֻחְלַף. זָוִוי דַהֲוָות כְּרָמִין עֲבִידָא זֵייתִין. זָוִויי דַהֲוָות זֵייתִין עֲבִידָא זַרְעוּ. שְׁאַל לֵיהּ לִמְדִינָתָּא. אֲמַר לוֹן. מָה קָלָא בָעָלְמָא. אָמְרוּן לֵיהּ. וְלֵית אַתְּ יְדַע מָה קָלָא בָעָלְמָא. אֲמַר לוֹן. לֹא. אָמְרִין לֵיהּ. מָאן אַתְּ. אֲמַר לוֹן. חוֹנִי הַמְעַגֵּל. אָמְרוּן לֵיהּ. שְׁמַעְנָן דַּהֲוָה עֲלִיל לָעֲזָרָה וְהִיא מִנְהָרָה. עָאַל וְאַנָהָרַת. וְקָרָא עַל גַּרְמֵיהּ בְּשׁוּב יי אֶת שִׁיבַת צִיּוֹן הָיִינוּ כְּחוֹלְמִים.

“He prayed but no rain fell..” Rebbi Yose ben Rebbi Abun said, because he did not come in meekness. Rebbi Yudan son of proselytes said, this Onias the circle drawer was the grandson of Onias the circle-drawer {who lived} close to the destruction of the Temple. He went to a mountain to his workers. While he was there, rain fell. He went to a cave; when he was sitting down he slumbered and fell asleep. He stayed in his sleep for 70 years, while the Temple was destroyed and rebuilt. At the end of 70 years he awoke from his sleep. He left the cave and found the world changed. At a place where there had been vineyards were olive trees. At a place were there had been olive trees was a field. He asked about the province, and said to them, what is news in the world? They answered him, do you not know what is news in the world? He said, no. They asked him, who are you? He answered them, Onias the circle-drawer. They told him, we heard that when he entered the Temple courtyard it lit up. He went there and it lit up. He recited about himself, when the Eternal leads back the return of Zion we were like sleepers.

הִתְחִילוּ גְּשָׁמִים מְנַטְּפִין. אָמְרוּ. לָא בָאוּ אֵילּוּ אֶלָּא לְהַתִּיר נִדְרוֹ שֶׁלָּזֶה.

“Rain started to drip..” They said, this happened only to eliminate this one’s vow.

אָמַר לֹא כָךְ שָׁאַלְתִּי אֶלָּא גִּשְׁמֵי בוֹרוֹת שִׁיחִין וּמְעָרוֹת. יָרְדוּ בְּזַעַף. תַּנֵּי שֵׁמוּאֵל. כְּמִפִּי הַנּוֹד.

“He said, that is not what I was asking for, but rain {to fill} cistern, ditches, and caves. It rained in a raging storm.” Samuel stated, as pouring from a water-skin.

אָמַר לֹא כָךְ שָׁאַלְתִּי אֶלָּא גִּשְׁמֵי רָצוֹן בְּרָכָה וּנְדָבָה. יָרְדוּ כְתִקְנָן עַד שֶׁעָלוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִירוּשָׁלַיִם לְהַר הַבַּיִת מִפְּנֵי הַגְּשָׁמִים. הָדָא אָמְרָה. הַר הַבַּיִת מְקוּרֶה הָיָה. וְתַנֵּי כֵן. אַסְטָיו לִפְנִים מִסְּטָיו הָיָה.

“He said, that is not what I was asking for, but rain of goodwill, blessing, and donation. It rained normally until Israel moved from Jerusalem to the Temple Mount because of the rain.” This implies that the Temple Mount was covered by a roof. And it was stated so: There was a stoa inside a stoa.

אָמְרוּ לוֹ כְּשֵׁם שֶׁנִּתְפַּלַלְתָּ עֲלֵיהֶם שֶׁיֵּרְדוּ כָּךְ הִתְפַּלֵּל עֲלֵיהֶם שֶׁיֵּלְכוּ לָהֶם. אָמַר לָהֶן צְאוּ וּרְאוּ אִם נִמְחֵית אֶבֶן הַטּוֹעִים. מָה עִיסְקָהּ דְּהָדָא אֶבֶן הַטּוֹעִים. אֶלָּא כָל מָאן דַּהֲוָה מוֹבַד מִילָּה הֲוָה נְסַב לָהּ מִן תַּמָּן. וְכָל מָאן דַּהֲוָה מַשְׁכַּח מִילָּה הֲוָה מֵייבַל לָהּ לְתַמָּן. אָמַר לָהֶן. כְּשֵׁם שֶׁאֵי אֶיפְשַׁר לָאֶבֶן הַזֹּאת לְהִימָּחוֹת מִן הָעוֹלָם. כָּךְ אֵי אֶפְשַׁר לְהִתְפַּלֵּל עַל הַגְּשָׁמִים שֶׁיֵּלְכוּ לָהֶם. אֶלָּא צְאוּ וְהָבִיאוּ לִי פָּר שֶׁלְהוֹדָיוֹת. וְיָצְאוּ וְהֵבִיאוּ לוֹ פָר שֶׁלְהוֹדַיּוֹת. וְסָמַךְ שְׁתֵּי יָדָיו וְאָמַר. רִבּוֹנִי. הֵבֵאתָה רָעָה עַל בָּנֶיךָ וְלֹא יָכְלוּ לַעֲמוֹד בָּהּ. הֵבֵאתָה טוֹבָה עַל בָּנֶיךָ וְלֹא יָכְלוּ לַעֲמוֹד בָּהּ. אֶלָּא יְהִי רְצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ שֶׁתָּבִיא רְוָוחָה. מִיַּד נָשְׁבָה הָרוּחַ וְנִתְפַּזְּרוּ הֶעָבִים וְזָרְחָה הַחַמָּה וְנִתְנַגְּבָה הָאָרֶץ. וְיָצְאוּ וּמָצְאוּ מִדְבָּר מָלֵא כְמֵהִים.

“They said to him, just as you prayed for them to come, so pray to remove them. He told them, go and check whether the losers’ stone was wiped away.” What was the purpose of the losers’ stone. Only that anybody who lost something was taking it from there and anybody who found something was bringing it there. He told them that just as it is impossible for this stone to be wiped off from the world, so it is impossible to pray that the rains should stop. But go and bring me a bull as thanksgiving offering. They went and brought him a bull as thanksgiving offering. He leaned on it with both of his hands and said, my Master! You brought evil on Your children and they could not stand it; You brought benefit on Your children and they could not stand it, but may it be Your pleasure to bring relief. Immediately the wind blew, the clouds dissolved, the sun shone, and the earth dried. They went out and found the desert full of truffles.

שָׁאֲלוּ אֶת רִבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר. מֵאֵימָתַי מִתְפַּלְלִין עַל הַגְּשָׁמִים שֶׁיֵּלְכוּ לָהֶם. אָמַר לָהֶן. כְּדֵי שֶׁיְּהֵא אָדָם עוֹמֵד בְּקֶרֶן הָעוֹפֶל וּמְשַׁקְשֵׁק אֶת יָדָיו בְּנַחַל קִדְרוֹן. אֲבָל בְּטוּחִים אָנוּ בְבַעַל הָרַחֲמִים שֶׁאֵינוֹ מֵבִיא מַבּוּל לָעוֹלָם. מַה טַעַם. כִּי מֵי נֹחַ זֹאת לִי אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי מֵעֲבוֹר מֵי נֹחַ עוֹד עַל הָאָרֶץ.

They asked Rebbi Eliezer, when may one pray for the rains to stop? He told them, if a person stands on top of the Ophel and with his hands makes noise in the Kidron brook. But we trust the merciful Father that He will not bring a deluge over the world. What is the reason? This is to Me like the waters of Noe; as I swore not to bring Noe’s waters another time over the earth