Daf Yomi - Taanis 10 - Highlights

ERETZ YISROEL
The Gemora cites a braisa which states that Eretz Yisroel was the land that was created fist and all other lands were created afterwards.

The braisa continues that Hashem personally waters Eretz Yisroel and the rest of the world is watered through an emissary of Hashem. This causes that the rain water that falls in Eretz Yisroel is especially blessed and the water that descends on the other lands are not as blessed since they come down through an agent of Hashem.

The braisa concludes that Eretz Yisroel is the first land to drink and afterwards the rest of the world drinks. This is similar to someone making cheese, where he takes the edible parts and dispose of the refuse. (10a)

GAN EDEN
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said that the entire world can receive rain only after Gan Eden has been watered first. The Gemora cites a braisa that supports the viewpoint of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi. The braisa states that from the leftover of a container that waters a beis kor (thirty se’ah), referring to Gan Eden, one can water a tarkav (a half se’ah), referring to the rest of the world - which is one-sixtieth of a beis kor.

The Gemora cites a braisa which states that Egypt is four-hundred parsohs (four mil – which is approximately 2.5 miles) by four-hundred parsohs. It is one sixtieth the size of Kush. Kush is one sixtieth the size of the world. The world is one sixtieth the size of Gan Eden. Gan Eden is one sixtieth the size of Eden. Eden is one sixtieth the size of Gehinom. It emerges that the entire world is merely a pot cover for Gehinom. There are those that say Gehinom has no measure and there are others who say that Eden has no measure. (10a)
V’SEN TAL U’MATAR
 The Mishna presents a dispute regarding the asking for rain, v’sen tal u’matar. One Tanna holds that we begin on the third day of Cheshvan and Rabban Gamliel maintains that we begin on the seventh day of Cheshvan. Rabban Gamliel explains that the seventh of Cheshvan is the fifteenth day since Sukkos and this way the last traveler can reach the Euphrates River before the rain begins.

The Gemora cites a braisa where Chananya rules that the people residing in Bavel do not request rain until sixty days into the fall season.

The Gemora questions this ruling from Shmuel’s opinion who maintains that v’sen tal u’matar is not recited until the time that they bring the firewood into the house of Tavos, the bird hunter.

The Gemora answers that perhaps sixty days into the fall season and the bringing in of the firewood for the rainy season are precisely the same time. (10a)
FASTING FOR RAIN
 The Mishna rules that if the seventeenth of Cheshvan arrived and it still did not rain, the pious people should begin to fast three fasts. The fasts begin in the day and they are permitted to perform work. They are allowed to wash and anoint themselves. They are permitted to wear leather shoes and engage in marital relations.

If rain did not fall by Rosh Chodesh Kislev, beis din declares three communal fasts. The fasts begin in the day and they are permitted to perform work. They are allowed to wash and anoint themselves. They are permitted to wear leather shoes and engage in marital relations.

Rav Huna explains that the three fasts for the righteous individuals must take place on Monday, Thursday and Monday. There is a Mishna which rules that Beis Din never declares the first fast to be on Thursday since that would cause the prices to rise (people would be compelled to purchase food for two large meals in a row). We might have thought that this halacha would only apply when Beis Din declares the fasts and not when the pious individuals accepted the fasts upon themselves. This is the novelty of Rav Huna’s halacha.

A braisa is cited supporting Rav Huna’s ruling. The braisa concludes that if these fasts fall out on Rosh Chodesh or on one of the Yomim Tovim that are written in Megillas Taanis not to fast, the fasts are interrupted. (10a – 10b)

ACTING LIKE A TZADIK
 The Gemora cites a braisa which teaches that a student who is studying Torah is regarded as a pious individual and therefore should fast during the first series of fasts. The Gemora elaborates that an individual is someone who has the ability to be appointed a leader and a student is one who can respond to halachic questions related to what he is currently learning.

The Gemora presents a dispute between Rabbi Meir and Rabbi Yosi regarding one who wishes to conduct himself like a student or righteous person. Rabbi Meir does not allow him to since it will appear arrogant. Rabbi Yosi permits him to act like a righteous individual and he would be considered praiseworthy since he is accepting to fast which is difficult and painful. (10b)

We learned in a braisa that if one was fasting on account of troubling situations and it passed or he was fasting because of a sick person and he recovered before he completed the fast, he should nevertheless complete the fast.

The braisa rules regarding a person who went from a place that they were not fasting to a place where they are fasting, he should fast with them. If he went from a place where they were fasting to a place where they are not fasting, he should conclude his fast.

The braisa continues that if one ate by mistake in the city that is fasting, he should not appear as if he ate and he should not indulge in more eating since this will promote jealousy from the residents of the city. The Gemora cites a Scriptural verse where Yaakov instructed his sons to go down to Egypt to purchase grain even though they had food because he did not want the neighbors to be jealous.

The Gemora cites a Scriptural verse where Yosef instructed his brothers not to discuss Torah on their way back from Egypt since they might become distracted and lose their way. The Gemora questions this from a statement of Rabbi Ilai who rules that if there are two Torah scholars traveling on the road and they are not discussing Torah, they deserve to be burned. The Gemora answers that one should review his learning on the road since it will not require much attention; however he should not delve into Torah study since that will distract him.

The Gemora cites a braisa which understands Yosef’s instructions differently. Yosef told the brothers not to take long strides which can take away one five-hundredth of a person’s vision. Yosef also told them to arrive at their destination before the sun sets because it is much safer. (10b)