Taanit

to him who is despised of men, to him who is abhorred of nations, to a servant of rulers; kings shall see and arise;1 ‘and princes will prostrate themselves,’ for it is written, Princes and they shall prostrate themselves. R. Ze'ira and some say R. Samuel b. Nahmani demurred to this. Had it been written in the verse, ‘And princes shall prostrate themselves’, it would be as you say, but seeing that the verse reads, ‘Princes and they shall prostrate themselves,’ they will perhaps do both. R. Nahman b. Isaac declared: I say furthermore, Not all are destined to share in the light nor all in the gladness. Light shall be for the righteous and gladness for the upright. ‘Light for the righteous’, for it is written, Light is sown for the righteous;2 And gladness for the upright’. for it is written, And gladness for the upright in heart.2 MISHNAH. WHAT IS THE ORDER [OF SERVICE] FOR FAST DAYS?3 THE ARK IS TAKEN OUT TO THE OPEN SPACE4 OF THE CITY, WOOD ASHES ARE PLACED ON THE ARK, ON THE HEAD OF THE NASI5 AND ON THE HEAD OF THE AB-BETH-DIN.6 EVERYONE ELSE PUTS ASHES ON HIS OWN HEAD; THE ELDER AMONG THEM ADDRESSES THEM WITH WORDS OF ADMONITION [TO REPENTANCE] THUS, OUR BRETHREN, SCRIPTURE DOES NOT SAY OF THE PEOPLE OF NINEVEH, AND GOD SAW THEIR SACKCLOTH AND THEIR FASTING, BUT, AND GOD SAW THEIR WORKS, THAT THEY TURNED FROM THEIR EVIL WAY;7 AND IN THE PROPHETS IT IS SAID, AND REND YOUR HEART AND NOT YOUR GARMENTS.8 WHEN THEY STAND UP TO PRAY THEY PLACE [AS READER] BEFORE THE ARK AN OLD MAN CONVERSANT [WITH THE PRAYERS], WHO HAS CHILDREN AND WHOSE HOUSE IS EMPTY [OF FOOD], SO THAT HIS HEART IS CONCENTRATED ON HIS PRAYER; HE RECITES BEFORE THEM TWENTY-FOUR BENEDICTIONS, THE EIGHTEEN RECITED DAILY, TO WHICH HE ADDS SIX AS FOLLOWS, ZIKRONOTH,9 SHOFAROTH,10 AND [THESE PSALMS]: IN MY DISTRESS I CALLED UNTO THE LORD;11 I WILL LIFT UP MINE EYES UNTO THE MOUNTAINS ETC.;12 OUT OF THE DEPTHS HAVE I CALLED THEE, O LORD;13 A PRAYER OF THE AFFLICTED WHEN HE FAINTETH.14 R. JUDAH SAYS: HE NEED NOT RECITE THE ZIKRONOTH AND SHOFAROTH, BUT INSTEAD HE SHOULD RECITE THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURAL, PASSAGES, IF THERE BE IN THE LAND FAMINE, IF THERE BE PESTILENCE;15 THE WORD OF THE LORD THAT CAME TO JEREMIAH CONCERNING THE DROUGHTS;16 AND HE ENDS EACH [OF THE ADDITIONAL SIX] SECTIONS WITH ITS APPROPRIATE CONCLUDING BENEDICTION. THE FIRST HE CONCLUDES WITH, ‘HE WHO ANSWERED ABRAHAM ON MT. MORIAH, HE SHALL ANSWER YOU AND HEARKEN THIS DAY TO THE VOICE OF YOUR CRY. BLESSED ART THOU O LORD WHO REDEEMEST ISRAEL. THE SECOND HE CONCLUDES WITH, ‘HE WHO ANSWERED OUR FATHERS AT THE RED SEA, HE SHALL ANSWER YOU AND HEARKEN THIS DAY TO THE VOICE OF YOUR CRY. BLESSED ART THOU O LORD WHO REMEMBEREST ALL FORGOTTEN THINGS. THE THIRD HE CONCLUDES WITH, HE WHO ANSWERED JOSHUA IN GILGAL, HE SHALL ANSWER YOU AND HEARKEN THIS DAY TO THE VOICE OF YOUR CRY. BLESSED ART THOU O LORD WHO HEAREST THE TRUMPET BLAST. THE FOURTH HE CONCLUDES WITH, ‘HE WHO ANSWERED SAMUEL IN MIZPAH, HE SHALL ANSWER YOU AND HEARKEN THIS DAY TO THE VOICE OF YOUR CRY. BLESSED ART THOU O LORD WHO HEARKENEST TO CRIES. THE FIFTH HE CONCLUDES WITH, ‘HE WHO ANSWERED ELIJAH ON MT. CARMEL, HE SHALL ANSWER YOU AND HEARKEN THIS DAY TO THE VOICE OF YOUR CRY. BLESSED ART THOU O LORD WHO HEARKENEST UNTO PRAYER. THE SIXTH HE CONCLUDES WITH, ‘HE WHO ANSWERED JONAH IN THE BELLY OF THE FISH, HE SHALL ANSWER YOU AND HEARKEN THIS DAY TO THE VOICE OF YOUR CRY. BLESSED ART THOU O LORD WHO ANSWEREST IN TIME OF TROUBLE. THE SEVENTH17 HE CONCLUDES WITH, ‘HE WHO ANSWERED DAVID AND SOLOMON HIS SON IN JERUSALEM, HE SHALL ANSWER YOU AND HEARKEN THIS DAY TO THE VOICE OF YOUR CRY. BLESSED ART THOU O LORD WHO HAST MERCY UPON THE LAND. IT HAPPENED to the Nasi. V. Hor., Sonc. ed. p. 101, n. 6. scriptural verses describing the mindfulness of God for man. The section ends with the prayer that God may show his mindfulness of Israel in their present calamity. Cf. R.H. 32a. which speak of God proclaiming in thunder-notes a message to the world and especially to Israel. The section concludes with the prayer for the great trumpet to be sounded heralding the redemption of Israel. Cf. R.H. 32a.