Monday, January 22, 2007

Daf Yomi - Taanis 14 - SHOFAR OR TRUMPETS ON A FAST DAY

The Mishna had stated that they would cry out during the last seven fasts. The Gemora presents a dispute as to the meaning of “cry out.” Rav Yehuda maintains that they would cry out by sounding the shofar and it was said in the name of Rav that they would cry out by reciting aneinu. It is evident from this Gemora that shofaros were used on a fast day.

The Rishonim ask that from the Gemora in Rosh Hashanah (27a), it would seem that they blew chatzotzros (trumpets) on a fast day. The braisa there states that outside of the Beis Hamikdosh, whenever there is an obligation for shofar (Rosh Hashanah), there are no trumpets and whenever there is an obligation for trumpets, a shofar is not blown. Rashi learns that the day we are referring to is a fast day.

The Ramban (in Milchamos R”H) disagrees with Rashi in Rosh Hashanah and explains that the Gemora in Rosh Hashanah is not referring to a fast day; rather it is referring to a time of war as the passuk there explicitly states. The obligation of sounding the trumpets is only by matters that are relevant to the entire Klal Yisroel. In the Beis Hamikdosh, where a large representation of Klal Yisroel was present, there also was a mitzva to sound the chatzotzros. Even though, other sufferings are derived from that passuk, nevertheless the obligation for trumpets is exclusive to a war. Therefore, only the shofar is blown on a fast day, and not the chatzotzros.

The Raavad answers that there are actually two distinct times that we blow on a fast day. The Gemora in Rosh Hashanah is referring to the blowing during the Shemoneh Esrei and the obligation was to sound the trumpets then. There were additional blowings after the Shemoneh Esrei when they recited additional supplications and prayers; this is what our Gemora is referring to when it states that they sounded the shofaros.

The Ritva answers that when our Gemora uses the term “shofar,” it actually means the chatzotzros. This is based on the Gemora Shabbos which states that what was once called a chatzotzarta is now referred to as a shofar, and what was called shofar is now referred to as chatztortzta.

The Meiri writes that that perhaps our Gemora is referring to the times after the destruction of the Beis Hamikdosh and nowadays only a shofar is blown and not chatzotzros.

The Mitzapeh Eisan answers that our Gemora is referring to a fast on account of a drought and since we daven and recite the blessing of shofaros, a shofar is used. The Gemora in Rosh Hashanah is referring to fast days for other sufferings and there the chatzotzros are sounded.

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