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Week 42 - Thursday - 14 September 2000

TA'ANIT: CHAPTER 1: MISHNAH 3

On the third day of Marheshvan they request the rains. Rabban Gamliel says, On the seventh therein, fifteen days after the Festival, so that the last one in Israel may reach the Euphrates River.

Kehati

This mishnah deals with the time when "and provide dew and rain" are recited in the "Blessing of the Years" in the Shemoneh Esreh prayer.

On the third day of Marheshvan they request the rains - they begin to say "and provide dew and rain" in the blessing "Bless for us the year" in the Shemoneh Esreh, for on this day the rainy season commences in Eretz Yisrael.

Rabban Gamliel says, They begin to say "and provide dew and rain" on the seventh therein - of Marheshvan, fifteen days after the Festival - Sukkot, so that the last one in Israel - who came up to Jerusalem and stayed until after the Festival, may reach the Euphrates River - i.e., the border of Syria, the farthest from Jerusalem, in order not to be caught in the rains. The halakhah follows Rabban Gamliel (Gemara; Rambam, Hil. Tefilah 2:16). This is the halakhah in Eretz Yisrael. In the Diaspora, however, they begin to say "and provide dew and rain" on the sixtieth day after the autumnal equinox (a baraita in the Gemara; Rambam, ibid.).

TA'ANIT: CHAPTER 1: MISHNAH 4

The seventeenth of Marheshvan arrived and the rains did not fall, individuals began fasting three fasts. They may eat and drink from when it became dark, and are permitted to work, bathe, anoint themselves, to wear shoes, and marital relations.

The seventeenth of Marheshvan - which is the last day of the season of the first rains. There are three respective dates in the season of the first rain (according to the opinion of Rabbi Meir): the third, the seventh, and the seventeenth of Marheshvan, arrived - if all three dates passed, and the rains did not fall - in Eretz Yisrael, individuals - i.e., Torah scholars (Gemara, Rabbeinu Asher; Bartenura), begin fasting three fasts - on Monday, Thursday, and Monday. They - those observing these fasts,

May eat and drink from when it became dark - the entire night preceding the day of the fast, until alot hashahar. This is the law regarding one who did not sleep; if, however, he slept in a regular manner, he may no longer eat before daybreak unless he stipulated this before retiring (Gemara; Jer. Talmud; Bartenura), and are permitted to work, to bathe, to anoint themselves, wear shoes and marital relations - on the days of the these fasts.

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