Torah Community Connections

Week 43 - Thursday - 21 September 2000

TA'ANIT: CHAPTER 2: MISHNAH 10

They do not decree a fast for the community on Rosh Hodesh, on Hanukkah, or on Purim. And if they began, they do not interrupt; the opinion of Rabban Gamliel. Rabbi Meir said, Even though Rabban Gamliel says they do not interrupt, he would admit they do not complete. And similarly if the Ninth of Av fell on Shabbat eve.

Kehati

They do not decree a fast for the community on Rosh Hodesh, on Hanukkah, or on Purim - this applies to Hol Hamoed, as well, and certainly to a Festival and Shabbat (Hameiri). And if they already began - the group of fasts decreed by the Court for the community, and one fast of the group falls on Rosh Hodesh, Hanukkah, or Purim, they do not interrupt - the fast, and fast even on these days; the opinion of Rabban Gamliel.

Rabbi Meir said, Even though Rabban Gamliel says they do not interrupt, he would admit that they do not complete - the fast until the evening on these days, but eat close to sunset.

And similarly if the Ninth of Av fell on Shabbat eve - e.g., when the new month was decreed on the basis of observation by eyewitnesses (for according to the fixed calendar we use, the Ninth of Av can never fall on Shabbat eve), they do not complete the fast until the evening, because of the honor of the Shabbat, so that they do not enter the Shabbat hungry. The law is not in accordance with Rabbi Meir, for if they began to observe the fasts decreed by the Court on the community, they fast and complete the fast; and similarly, if the Ninth of Av falls on Shabbat eve, they fast and complete the fast (Gemara; Rambam, Hil. Ta'aniyot 1:7).

TA'ANIT: CHAPTER 3: MISHNAH 1

The order of these fasts that was mentioned - to the first revi'ah. But plants that changed, they blow for them immediately. And similarly, if rains stopped between rain and rain forty days, they blow for them immediately, because it is the calamity of scarcity.

Kehati

This chapter discusses the fastdays which the Court imposed for other calamities, besides drought.

The order of these fasts that was mentioned - above (1:4-6), in which initially individuals fast, and afterwards the community, up to thirteen fastdays, in thirteen increasingly strict cycles; this order applies only to the first revi'ah - when the rains did not fall during their proper season, i.e., during the month of Heshvan; the term for rain, "revi'ah," is derived from the words revitzah (crouching) and hafra'ah (fertilization), because the rain lies on the ground and fertilizes it.

But plants that changed - the rains fell at their appointed time and the seeds sprouted, but later their appearance changed for the worse, they blow for them immediately - with the first fastdays, in which they pray and blow on shofarot, as was the practice on the last seven fastdays which are imposed because of drought.

And similarly, if rains - fell at their appointed first period, and later they - stopped between rain and rain forty days - the second revi'ah fell forty days after the first revi'ah, they blow - the entire community fasts, and prays, and they blow shofarot, for them immediately, because it is the sign of the calamity of scarcity.

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