Taanit

, Let them go up to whichever shrine they desire. R. Mattenah said: It is the day when permission was granted for those killed at Bethar to be buried. R. Mattenah further said: On the day when permission was granted for those killed at Bethar1 to be buried [the Rabbis] at Jabneh instituted [the recitation of] the benediction,2 ‘Who art kind and dealest kindly etc.’; ‘Who art kind’: Because their dead bodies did not become putrid;3 ‘And dealest kindly’: Because permission was granted for their burial. Rabbah and R. Joseph both said: It is the day on which [every year] they discontinued to fell trees for the altar.4 It has been taught: R. Eliezer the elder says: From the fifteenth of Ab onwards the strength of the sun grows less and they no longer felled trees for the altar, because they would not dry [sufficiently]. R. Menashya said: And they called it the Day of the Breaking of the Axe.5 From this day onwards,6 he who increases [his knowledge through study] will have his life prolonged, but he who does not increase [his knowledge] will have his life taken away.7 What is meant by ‘taken away’? — R. Joseph learnt: Him his mother will bury.8 ON THESE DAYS THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM etc. Our Rabbis have taught: The daughter of the king borrows [the garments] from the daughter of the High Priest, the daughter of the High Priest from the daughter of the deputy High Priest,9 and the daughter of the deputy High Priest from the daughter of the Anointed for Battle,10 and the daughter of the Anointed for Battle from the daughter of an ordinary priest, and all Israel borrow from one another, so as not to put to shame any one who may not possess [white garments]. ALL THE GARMENTS REQUIRE RITUAL DIPPING: R. Eleazar said: Even though they lay folded in a box.11 THE DAUGHTERS OF ISRAEL CAME OUT AND DANCED IN THE VINEYARDS. A Tanna taught: Whoever was unmarried repaired thither. THOSE OF THEM WHO CAME OF NOBLE FAMILIES EXCLAIMED, ‘YOUNG MAN etc.’ Our Rabbis have taught: The beautiful amongst them called out, Set your eyes on beauty for the quality most to be prized in woman is beauty; those of them who came of noble families called out, Look for [a good] family for woman has been created to bring up a family; the ugly ones amongst them called out, Carry off your purchase in the name of Heaven, only on one condition that you adorn us with jewels of gold. Ulla Bira'ah said in the name of R. Eleazar: In the days to come the Holy One, blessed be He, will hold a chorus for the righteous and He will sit in their midst in the Garden of Eden and every one of them will point with his finger towards Him, as it is said, And it shall be said in that day: Lo, this is our God, for whom we waited, that He might save us; this is the Lord for whom we waited, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.12 interment.] the sun are not sufficiently strong to dry the fresh-cut logs and therefore the felling of trees for the altar was discontinued as from this date. Cf. Mid. II, 5. proclamations for the exemptions from military service. Cf. Deut. XX, 2ff.