ביום הראשון בראשית ויהי רקיע: תנא בראשית בשנים יהי רקיע באחד בשלמא יהי רקיע באחד תלתא פסוקי הוו אלא בראשית בשנים (מ"ט) ה' פסוקי הויין (ותנן) הקורא בתורה אל יפחות מג' פסוקים
Why did they not fast on Sunday? - R'Johanan said: Because of the Nazareans.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., Christians, who may take umbrage at the Jews turning their Sabbath into a fast-day. V. Herford, Christianity in Talmud and Midrash, pp. 171-3.');"><sup>10</sup></span> R'Samuel B'Nahmani said: Because it is the third day after the creation of Man.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Man was created on the sixth day (Friday) . Cf. Gen. I, 27. The third day after birth, like the third day after circumcision, was considered a critical period; cf. Gen. XXXIV, 25. ,ca apbhu hu');"><sup>11</sup></span>
Jerusalem Talmud Taanit
It was stated: The people of the watch are fasting every day. On Monday they were fasting for travellers at sea; God commanded, there shall be a spread in midst of the water. On Tuesday they are fasting for road travellers; God commanded, the waters under the sky shall congregate. On Wednesday they are fasting for children that diphteria should not develop in their mouths; God commanded, there shall be lights. “Curses” is written. On Thursday they are fasting that pregnant women should not miscarry and that the children of nursing women should not die; God commanded, let the waters teem with living creepers. They fasted neither on Friday nor on Sunday in order to honor the Sabbath. It was stated: The Great Synhedrion was fasting with them. Can the Synhedrion fast every day? They split themselves into clans. “One does not fast for two reasons simultaneously, from the following: we rose and asked of our God for this.” Rebbi Tanḥuma said, not because of this but because of the following, to ask for mercy from the God of Heaven for this secret. For if there were two reasons, such as a drought and locusts, one blows the shofar about them. When Rebbi Ḥaggai went for a fast, he said before them: Our brothers, even though in our hearts are many worries, this is for what we came.
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