Taanit

And where [on the head] does he put [the ashes]?-R. Isaac said: On the place of the phylacteries, as it is said, To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them a garland for ashes.1 (Mnemonic: open space, Ark, sackcloth, wood-ashes, dust, cemetery, Moriah.) Why do they go out to the open space [of the city]?R. Hiyya b. Abba said: In order to express thereby [the idea], We have prayed in private but we have not been answered; we will [therefore] humiliate ourselves in public. Resh Lakish said: We have exiled ourselves [from the House of God] may our exile atone for us. What is the difference between the two explanations? — The difference is when they move from one synagogue to another.2 And why do they take out the Ark to the open space of the city? — R. Joshua b. Levi said: In order to express thereby [the idea], We had a vessel which we kept hidden and now because of our sins it has been rendered common. And why do they clothe themselves in sackcloth? — R. Hiyya b. Abba said: In order to express thereby [the idea], We consider ourselves animals3 [before God]. And why do they place wood-ashes upon the Ark? — R. Judah b. Pazzi said: As if to say, I will be with him in trouble.4 Resh Lakish said: [As if to say] In all their afflictions He was afflicted.5 R. Zera said: When I first saw the rabbis placing wood-ashes on the Ark my whole body shook. And why does everyone else put ashes on his head?- With regard to this there is a difference of opinion between R. Levi b. Hama and R. Hanina. One says: [To signify thereby], We are merely like ashes before Thee; and the other says: That [God] may remember for our sake the ashes of Isaac.6 What is the difference between them? — The difference is with regard to [the use of] ordinary dust.7 Why do they go to the cemetery? — With regard to this there is a difference of opinion between R. Levi b. Hama nad R. Hanina. One says: [To signify thereby], We are as the dead before Thee; and the other says: In order that the dead should intercede for mercy on our behalf. What is the difference between them? — The difference is with regard to going to the cemetery of Gentiles.8 What is [the meaning of] ‘Mount Moriah’?9 — With regard to this there is a difference of opinion between R. Levi b. Hama and R. Hanina.10 [One says] because from this mountain instruction went forth unto Israel;11 and the other says: Because it is the mountain whence fear12 came upon the heathens. THE ELDER AMONG THEM ADDRESSES THEM WITH WORDS OF ADMONITION. Our Rabbis have taught: If there is an elder present he addresses them; if not, then a scholar addresses them; and if there is no scholar present then a distinguished looking man addresses them. Does the term ‘elder’ here used denote one who is not a scholar? — Abaye replied: This is what is meant: If there is present an elder who is also a scholar then he addresses them, and if not, then a [younger] scholar addresses them, and if not, a distinguished looking man addresses them. [And this is what he says], ‘Our brethren, neither sackcloth nor fastings are effective but only penitence and good deeds, for we find that of the men of Nineveh Scripture does not say, And God saw their sackcloth and their fasting, but, God saw their works that they turned from their evil way.’ But let them be covered with sackcloth, both man and beast.13 How did they act? — They separated the animals from their young and they said, Master of the Universe, if Thou wilt not have mercy upon us we will not show mercy to these. And let them cry mightily unto God.14 What did they say? — They said, Master of the Universe, If one is submissive and the other is not, if one is righteous and the other is not, who of them should yield?15 Let them turn everyone from his evil way and from the violence that is in their hands.16 What is the meaning of, ‘From the violence that is in their hands’? — Samuel said: Even if one had stolen a beam and built it into his castle he should raze the entire castle to the ground and return the beam to its owner. R. Adda b. Ahaba said: One who has sinned and confesses his sin but does not repent may be compared to a man holding a dead reptile in his hand, for although he may immerse himself in all the waters of the world his immersion is of no avail unto him; but if he throws it away from his hand then as soon as he immerses himself in forty se'ahs of water,17 immediately his immersion becomes effective, as it is said, But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall obtain mercy.18 And it is further said, Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens. 19 WHEN THEY STAND UP TO PRAY THEY PLACE BEFORE THE ARK [AS READER] AN OLD MAN etc. Our Rabbis have taught: When they stand up to pray, although there may be present an elder and a scholar, they place before the Ark [as Reader] only a man conversant with the prayers. (Who is considered conversant with prayers)?20 — R. Judah says: One having a large family21 and has no means of support, and who draws his subsistence from [the produce of] the field,22 and whose house is empty, whose youth was unblemished, who is meek and is acceptable to the people; who is skilled in chanting, who has a pleasant voice, and possesses a thorough knowledge of the Torah, the Prophets and the Hagiographa, of the Midrash, Halachoth and Aggadoth and of all the Benedictions. Thereupon the Rabbis gazed on R. Isaac b. Ammi.23 XXIV, 17. them. of this passage. people had its seat in the Temple Mount.] man who humiliates himself before him. relevant as a definition of ‘one conversant with prayers’. The words are omitted in MS.M.] prayers].