Taanit

between the [baking] oven and the [cooking] stove1 and eat and he would drink with it a pitcher full of water and he would appear as if a near relation were lying dead before him. Elsewhere we have learnt: Where it is the custom to do work on the Ninth of Ab we may do work, but where it is not the custom we may not; and everywhere the Scholars refrain from work. R. Simeon b. Gamaliel says: [In this respect] a man should always consider himself a scholar. It has been taught likewise: R. Simeon b. Gamaliel says: [In this respect] let a man always consider himself a scholar that he may feel more strongly the fast. A [Baraitha] taught: R. Simeon b. Gamaliel says: Any one who eats or drinks on the Ninth of Ab is as if he ate and drank on the Day of Atonement. R. Akiba says: Any one who does work on the Ninth of Ab will never see in his work any sign of blessing. And the Sages say: Any one who does work on the Ninth of Ab and does not mourn for Jerusalem will not share in her joy, as it is said, Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her; rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her.2 From this originates what they [the Rabbis] have said: Everyone who mourns for Jerusalem merits to share in her joy, and any one who does not mourn for her will not share in her joy. It has also been taught likewise: Of him who eats meat and drinks wine on the Ninth of Ab Scripture says: And their iniquities are upon their bones. 3 R. JUDAH MAKES IT OBLIGATORY TO TURN THE BED OVER, BUT THE WISE DID NOT AGREE WITH HIM IN THIS. It has been taught: [The Sages] said to R. Judah: If your view is followed what will happen to pregnant women and nursing mothers?4 — He replied to them: I too meant my statement to apply only where it is possible. It has also been taught likewise: R. Judah agrees with the Sages where it is not possible [to overturn the beds]; and the Sages agree with R. Judah where it is possible. What is the real difference between them? The difference between them arises in the case of other beds [not used for sleeping]. As it has been taught: When the Rabbis said that a man should turn over the bed, they meant not only his own bed but also all the beds [in the house]. Raba said: The halachah is according to our Tanna, but the Sages would not accept his [R. Judah's] view at all. R. SIMEON B. GAMALIEL SAID: THERE NEVER WERE IN ISRAEL GREATER DAYS OF JOY THAN THE FIFTEENTH OF AB AND THE DAY OF ATONEMENT. I can understand the Day of Atonement, because it is a day of forgiveness and pardon and on it the second Tables of the Law were given,5 but what happened on the fifteenth of Ab? — Rab Judah said in the name of Samuel: It is the day on which permission was granted to the tribes to inter-marry.6 Whence may this be adduced? — Scripture says, This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded concerning the daughters of Zelophehad etc.,7 [meaning] ‘this thing’ shall hold good for this generation only. R. Joseph said in the name of R. Nahman: It is the day on which the tribe of Benjamin was permitted to re-enter the congregation [of Israel], as it is said, Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying: There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.8 From what was their exposition?9 — Rab said: From the phrase ‘any of us’ which was interpreted to mean, ‘but not from any of our children’. Rabbah b. Bar Hanah said in the name of R. Johanan: It is the day on which the generation of the wilderness ceased to die out. For a Master said: So long as the generation of the wilderness10 continued to die out there was no divine communication to Moses,11 as it is said, So it came to pass, when all the men of war were consumed and dead . . . that the Lord spake unto me.12 [Only then] came the divine communication ‘unto me’. ‘Ulla said: It is the day on which Hosea the son of Elah removed the guards which Jeroboam the son of Nebat had placed on the roads to prevent Israel from going [up to Jerusalem] on pilgrimage,13 and he proclaimed beginning with the seventh of Sivan and ending on the tenth of Tishri when he came down on earth with the Second Tables.]