Commentary for Taanit 24:14

IF THESE PASSED AND THERE WAS [STILL] NO ANSWER TO THEIR PRAYERS THEN BUSINESS IS RESTRICTED AS ALSO IS BUILDING, PLANTING, BETROTHAL AND MARRIAGE; AND MEN GREET ONE ANOTHER AS PEOPLE LABOURING UNDER DIVINE DISPLEASURE. THE YEHIDIM<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. supra p. 44, n. 9.');">¹⁰</span> BEGIN THEIR FASTING ANEW AND CONTINUE UNTIL THE END OF NISAN; IF NISAN PASSES AND RAIN FALLS THIS IS A SIGN OF DIVINE ANGER, AS IT IS WRITTEN, IS IT NOT WHEAT HARVEST TO-DAY, etc.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I Sam. XII, 17.');">¹¹</span> <big><b>GEMARA: </b></big>It is reasonable that all the other restrictions [should be forbidden] because they give pleasure, but why work which is a source of pain? - R'Hisda replied in the name of R'Jeremiah B'Abba: Scripture says. Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Joel I, 14.');">¹²</span> This means that [the fast day is to be treated] like a solemn assembly. Just as it is not permissible to do work on a solemn assembly it is likewise not permissible to do work on a fast day. Perhaps just as on the solemn assembly work is forbidden from the preceding evening so too on a fast day work should close on the preceding evening? - R'Zeira replied: R'Jeremiah B'Abba explained the matter to me thus: Scripture says, Gather the elders'; it is to be like a gathering of elders, as the elders foregather by day so too the fast commences on the day. Perhaps [it commences] from noon? - R'Shisha B'Idi replied: This is a support for R'Huna who said: The assembly [of the community on a fast day] takes place in the morning. How do they spend [the day]? -Abaye replied: From morning to midday they look into the affairs of the city;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To find out if the citizens were guilty of any dishonesty or whether in the city there were men of violence (Maimonides) . V. Buchler, Moses Maimonides, viii Centenary Memorial Volume, ed. by I. Epstein, pp. 13-55.');">¹³</span> from then onwards they read for a quarter of the day from the Torah and the Prophets and the rest of the day [is spent] in praying for mercy, as it is said, And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the Law of the Lord their God a fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed and prostrated themselves before the Lord their God.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Neh. IX, 3.');">¹⁴</span>

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