Taanit

be like unto thee’. So also with you. With what shall I bless you? With [the knowledge of the Torah?] You already possess [knowledge of the Torah]. With riches? You have riches already. With children? You have children already. Hence [I say], ‘May it be [God's] will that your offspring be like unto you’. Our Rabbis have taught: [‘Former rain is termed] ‘yoreh’,1 because it warns2 people to plaster their roofs and to gather in their fruits and to attend to all their needs.3 Another explanation: It saturates4 the ground and waters it right down to its depths, as it is said, Watering her ridges abundantly, settling down the furrows thereof, thou makest her soft with showers; thou blessest the growth thereof.5 Another explanation: [It is termed] ‘yoreh’ because it comes down6 gently and not heavily. Or perhaps [it is termed] ‘yoreh’ because it causes the fruit to fall7 and it washes away the seed, and the trees? The text [therefore] adds ‘malkosh’ [‘latter rain’];8 just as latter rain is a blessing, so too is former rain. Or perhaps [it is termed] ‘malkosh,’9 because It razes the houses to the ground and it shatters the trees and brings up the crickets? The text [therefore] adds ‘yoreh’; just as former rain is a blessing so too is latter rain. How do we know that ‘yoreh’ itself is a blessing? — For it is written, Be glad then ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God; for He giveth you the former rain [moreh] in just measure and He causeth to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain, at the first.10 Our Rabbis have taught: Former rain [falls] in Marcheshvan and latter rain in Nisan. You say, Former rain in Marcheshvan and latter rain in Nisan; perhaps it is otherwise, former rain in Tishri and latter rain in Iyar? The text [therefore] adds, in its due season.11 R. Nehilai b. Idi said in the name of Samuel: [‘Latter rain’ is termed] ‘malkosh’ because it is a thing that removes the stiff-neckedness of Israel.12 The school of R. Ishmael taught: It is something that fills the stalks with grain.13 In a Baraitha it has been taught: [It is] something which falls both upon the ears and upon the stalks.14 Our Rabbis have taught: Former rain [falls] in Marcheshvan and latter rain in Nisan. You say, Former rain in Marcheshvan; perhaps, on Kislev? The text [therefore] adds, ‘in its due season, former rain and latter rain, as latter rain is that which comes in due season (since should Nisan pass and no rain fall, it is not a sign of blessing)15 so too former is that which comes in due season. Another [Baraitha] teaches: Former rain [falls] in Marcheshvan and latter rain in Nisan; this is the opinion of R. Meir; but the Sages say: Former rain [falls] in Kislev. Who are the Sages?R. Hisda replied: It is R. Jose. For it has been taught: Which is the first rainfall?16 The early [rain] falls on the third of Marcheshvan, the intermediate on the seventh, the late on the seventeenth; this is the opinion of R. Meir. R. Judah says: On the seventh, on the seventeenth, and on the twenty-third. R. Jose says: On the seventeenth, on the twenty-third and on the first of Kislev. And likewise R. Jose used to say: The individuals do not begin to fast until the first day of Kislev. R. Hisda said: The halachah is according to the opinion of R. Jose. Amemar reported R. Hisda's statement in the following version: On the third day of Marcheshvan we pray for rain; Rabban Gamaliel says, On the seventh of the month. R. Hisda said: The halachah is according to Rabban Gamaliel. In accordance with whose view then is the following which has been taught: R. Simeon b. Gamaliel says: If rain falls on seven days in succession you may consider it as the combination of the first, the second [or the second] and the third rainfall?17 — It is in accordance with the opinion of R. Jose.18 R. Hisda said: The halachah is according to R. Jose. The reason for giving a date for the first rainfall is evident seeing that from that date we begin to pray for rain; likewise the date of the third rainfall is given because from that date we begin to fast; but what may be the reason for giving the date of the second rainfall?-R. Zera replied: It has to do with Vows. For we have learnt: in the preceding paragraph after the words, ‘In its due season’ where in point of fact they so occur in some edd.]. due is the point at issue in the discussion that follows. The word ‘first’ is accordingly difficult and is omitted by R. Hananel and MSS. of the Tosef. Ta'an. I from where the passage is quoted.]