Taanit

Shall we say it is R. Joshua, who said, From the time when the Lulab is disvow annulled by appealing to Phinehas who was in Gilead for a remission of the vow; cf. Gen. Rab. LX, .] carded? — Raba replied: You can even say that it is R. Eliezer; ‘praying’, however, is one thing and ‘making mention’ is another, R. JUDAH SAYS: THE LAST TO STEP BEFORE THE ARK etc. The following was cited in contradiction to this: Until when do we [continue] to pray for rain? R. Judah says: Until Passover is over; R. Meir says, Until the end of Nisan! — R. Hisda replied: The two statements [of R. Judah] are not contradictory; the one refers to ‘praying’ and the other to ‘making mention’; ‘praying’1 one continues [until] the end of Passover] but ‘making mention’ is discontinued on the first day [of Passover]. ‘Ulla said: This [solution of the contradiction] by R. Hisda is as difficult as vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke for the eyes. If one makes mention of rain at such times when it is not permissible to pray for2 [it], how much more so should one make mention of rain when it is permissible to pray for it? — It must be, says ‘Ulla, that [there is a dispute] between two Tannaim as to the opinion of R. Judah. R. Joseph said: What is the meaning of, ‘Until Passover is over’? Until the first reader on the first day of Passover is over [with his prayers].3 Said Abaye to him: Is there then a place in the Festival [Tefillah] for inserting the prayer for rain? He replied to him: Yes, the Meturgeman4 ‘prays’ — Does then the Meturgeman ever pray for something of which the community has no need? Therefore, the better solution is that of ‘Ulla. Rabbah said: What is the meaning of, ‘Until Passover is over’? Until the time limit for the slaughtering of the Paschal offering has passed;5 and as at its beginning6 so at its end; just as at its beginning one makes mention [of rain] although one has not yet [begun] to pray,7 so too at its end he makes mention although he no longer has to pray.8 Abaye replied: I can understand that one should make mention at the beginning, seeing that making mention is a form of propitiation [prefatory to prayer] but as for the end, what place is there for such propitiation? Therefore, the better solution is that of ‘Ulla. R. Assi said in the name of R. Johanan, The halachah is according to R. Judah. Thereupon R. Zera asked R. Assi: Could then R. Johanan [really] have said so? Have we not learnt: We [begin] to pray for rain on the third of Marcheshvan; Rabban Gamaliel said: On the seventh of the same month — And with reference to this R. Eleazar declared: The halachah is according to Rabban Gamaliel. He [R. Assi] replied to him: You set one authority against another!9 Moreover, if you like I will say there is no contradiction; the one [case] speaks of ‘praying’ and the other of ‘making mention’.10 But did not R. Johanan say: Whenever one prays one should also make mention? That [rule] applies only to the discontinuation [of ‘praying’].11 But did not R. Johanan say: When one begins to make mention one should also [begin] to pray; when one discontinues to pray one should also cease to make mention? — There is really no contradiction; one statement refers to us [Babylonians] and the other to them [Palestinians],12 Why should we be different? — Is it because we have produce in the field?13 They also have Pilgrims?14 -R. Johanan speaks [of con — ditions] after Temple times.15 Now that you have arrived at this conclusion [I can say], Both teachings apply equally to them [Palestinians] and there is no contradiction; the one speaks [of conditions] in Temple times and the other [of conditions] after Temple times. But as for us who observe two days [of the festival],16 what shall our practice be? — Rab says: He begins [to make men-tion] in the Additional Service of the Eighth Day of the Feast, he discontinues in the Afternoon Service and in the Evening Service and in the Morning Service but resumes in the Additional Service of the second day. Samuel said to them [to the scholars]: Go and say to Abba:17 After you have declared the day holy18 can you declare it again a weekday?19 — Therefore Samuel said: He begins [to make mention] in the Additional Service and in the Afternoon Service and discontinues in the Evening Service and in the Morning Service [of the following day], and resumes it in the Additional Service Tefillah Synagogue in a popular manner and to enlarge upon the theme of the rabbi lecturing. Rashi, feeling that in our passage no such official could be referred to, explains that here the lecturing rabbi and interpreter are one and the same person, he who lectures on the first day of Passover, and that he included in his address a prayer for rain. V. however, the commentary of R. Hananel ad loc. the beginning of the rainy season we commence with the making mention of rain and at a later date we also add the formal prayer for rain. later]. before the rains set in. MISHNAH. UNTIL WHEN DO WE PRAY FOR RAIN? R. JUDAH SAYS: UNTIL THE PASSOVER IS OVER. R. MEIR SAYS: UNTIL half holiday.]