Taanit

A girl who has reached adolescence1 may not make herself unsightly during the days of mourning for her father.2 This implies that a girl who has not reached adolescence may [make herself unsightly]. And in which respect [may she neglect herself]? By not bathing. [This being so], in what water? Shall I say in warm? [Then how can you say that] a girl who has not reached adolescence may not neglect herself [in this respect]? Did not R. Hisda say: A mourner may not put even his finger in warm water? Therefore [it must speak of] cold water!3 — No; [it speaks of] painting the eyelids and dyeing the hair. Shall we say that the following supports Raba: R. Abba the Priest said in the name of R. Jose the Priest: It happened that the sons of R. Jose b. Hanina died and he bathed in cold water throughout the seven days [of mourning]. The answer is, in his case one bereavement followed close on the other. For it has been taught: Where a man suffers one bereavement close upon another and his hair weighs heavy upon him he may thin them out with a razor and he may also wash his clothes in water. R. Hisda said: With a razor, but not with scissors, In water, but not in natron, nor in sand nor in aloe. Some say. Raba said: The mourner may not [bathe] in cold water all the seven days. Why this differentiation [between bathing in cold water] and partaking of meat and wine?4 — Of these [the mourner] may partake in order to counteract his fear.5 Shall we say that support may be adduced from the following passage: A girl who has reached adolescence may not make herself un-sightly [during the days of mourning for her father]. This implies that one who has not reached adolescence may? And in what respect may she neglect herself? [By not bathing]. [This being so], in what water? Is it in warm water? Then how can you say that a girl who has reached adolescence may not neglect herself in this respect? Did not R. Hisda say: A mourner may not put even his finger in warm water? Therefore [it must speak of] cold water! — No; it speaks of painting the eyelids and dyeing the hair. R. Hisda said this proves6 that a mourner is forbidden to wash his clothes throughout the seven days of mourning.7 The law is, a mourner is forbidden to bathe his whole body either in warm or in cold water all the seven days; his face, hands and feet he may not [wash] in warm water but in cold water he may; anointing is not permitted at all; if, however, it is to remove the dirt it is permissible. Where is the prayer for the fast day8 inserted?9 Rab Judah brought his son R. Isaac [to the school]10 and he expounded as follows: An individual who has taken upon himself a fast should recite the prayer for the fast day. And where does he insert it? Between the benediction for ‘Redemption’ and the benediction for ‘Healing’.11 R. Isaac demurred to this [saying]: Is it proper that an individual should insert [in his prayers] a special benediction for himself? Therefore said R. Isaac: [He includes it] in the benediction ‘Thou hearkenest to the prayer’.12 And so, too, said R. Shesheth: [In the benediction] ‘Thou hearkenest to the prayer’. An objection was raised [against this]: The only difference between [the Order of Prayer] of an individual on a fast day and a community is that the former recites eighteen benedictions and the latter recite nineteen. Now what is [meant by] an ‘individual’ and what by a ‘community’? Shall we say that [by] an ‘individual’ [is meant] literally and [by] ‘community’ the Representative of the community [leading in prayer]?13 If so, are the benedictions [recited by the latter] nineteen? Are they not rather twenty-four?14 Therefore the [Baraitha quoted] should read thus: The only difference between an individual who has undertaken a private fast and an individual who has undertaken a public fast is that the former recites eighteen [benedictions] and the latter nineteen.15 From which one may infer that an individual may insert a special benediction for himself.16 No; [by ‘community’ is definitely meant], the Representative of the Community and as to your difficulty, that the Representative recites twenty-four benedictions [and not nineteen]. [this refers] to the first three fasts when the twenty-four are not [recited]. But is this so? Is it not stated that the only difference between the first three [fasts] and the middle three [fasts] is that work is permissible on the former and forbidden on the latter? Does this not imply that with regard to the recital of the twenty-four [benedictions] both are alike?-The Tanna [of the Baraitha] has stated only one [difference] and has left out [others] — What other differences has he left out besides this one?17 And further, does he not explicitly state: The only difference etc.? — The Tanna speaks only of differences with regard to things forbidden on the fast days and not [of differences with regard to] prayers. And if you like, I can say that even on the middle three fasts the twenty-four benedictions are also not recited. But is this so? Has it not been taught: ‘The only difference between the second three [fasts] and the last seven is that on the latter the alarm is sounded and the shops are closed.’ Does this not imply that in all other respects they are alike? And should you reply that here too [the Tanna] stated one difference only and left out [others], I would object on the ground that it explicitly states, ‘The only difference’! — Do you assume the expression, ‘The only difference etc.’ contradicts Raba.] v. D.S. a.l.] 29a); (b) Put the words in his mouth (R. Hananel, ibid.) i.e., prepared for him the exposition; (c) Gave him permission (Epstein J.N. MGWJ, LXIII, p. 258, adopted by Malter a.I.)