Nedarim 125

An objection is raised: What is the time of the rainfall?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Sc. the winter rain, which generally came in three periods, as explained here. There was also, of course, the Spring rain. V. Ta'an. 6a. ');">¹</span>

The earliest is on the third [of Marheshwan],<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Marheshwan is the eighth month of the year, corresponding to October-November. ');">²</span>

the middle [i.e., the second] on the seventh, and the last on the twenty-third: this is R. Meir's view. R. Judah said: The seventh, the seventeenth, and the twenty-third. R. Jose said: The seventeenth, the twenty-third, and the new moon of Kislew.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Kislew is the ninth month of the year, corresponding to November-December. ');">³</span>

And R. Jose used likewise to rule that individuals must not fast [for rain] until Kislew has commenced.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And rain has not yet fallen. ');">⁴</span>

Now we observed thereon: As for the first rainfall, it is well: [they differ] in respect of petitioning;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For rain. A short prayer for rain — [H] '(give) dew and rain', called she'elah, request or petition, is inserted in the eighth benediction of the 'amidah when the first rainfall is due. V. Ta'an. 10a. ');">⁵</span>

the third [likewise] is in respect of fasting.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A public fast was proclaimed if the drought continued after the time of the third rainfall had arrived. V. Ta'an. I, 4-7: II, 1. ');">⁶</span>

But [as for] the second, in respect of what [is the controversy]? And R. Zera answered: In respect of one who vows.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., if one vows, 'until the rains', it means until the second rainfall: hence the controversy as to when it is due. ');">⁷</span>

Whereon we observed: With whom does the following Baraitha agree: R. Simeon b. Gamaliel said: If the rain descends for seven days in succession, it is counted as the first and second rainfall?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As we have seen, R. Simeon b. Gamaliel's own view is that the line of the rainfall is the deciding factor, whether it actually rains or not. But since the Rabbis maintain that the vow means until it rains, R. Simeon argued that even on their view, if it rains for seven days in succession, it should be considered as two rainfalls, and hence terminates the vow. It is now assumed that no dictinction is here made how he expressed his vow. But on R. Zera's view, that they all agree that where he says 'until the rain', the time of the first rainfall is the deciding factor, R. Simeon b. Gamaliel's remark is irrelevant. ');">⁸</span>

With whom does this agree? With R. Jose!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For in R. Meir's view there are only four days between the two rain-falls, and in R. Judah's there are ten. ');">⁹</span> — That refers to one who vows, 'Until the rains.' <b><i>MISHNAH</i></b>. [IF HE VOWS,] 'KONAM THAT I TASTE NOT WINE FOR A YEAR', IF THE YEAR IS INTERCALATED.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The Jewish year being lunar, an extra month is periodically intercalated to make it agree with the Solar year; v. J.E. art. 'Calendar'. ');">¹⁰</span> HE IS FORBIDDEN DURING THE YEAR AND ITS EXTENSION. [IF HE SAYS.] 'UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF ADAR,'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The twelfth month of the year = February-March. ');">¹¹</span> [IT MEANS] UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF THE FIRST ADAR; 'UNTIL THE END OF ADAR,' UNTIL THE END OF THE FIRST ADAR.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Var. lec.: SECOND ADAR. When a year is intercalated, a month is added after Adar, which is called the second Adar. ');">¹²</span> <b><i>GEMARA</i></b>. Thus we see that by stating Adar, without qualification, the first is meant. Shall we say that our Mishnah reflects R. Judah's views? For it was taught: For the first Adar, one writes 'The first Adar'; for the second, simply 'Adar': this is R. Meir's view. R. Judah said: For the first Adar, one writes 'Adar'; for the second, one writes 'the second Adar'!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This is in reference to the dating of documents. ');">¹³</span> — Abaye said: You may say that it agrees even with R. Meir: the latter is where he knew that it was a leap year; the former [i.e., the Mishnah], if he did not know.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If he knew and stated Adar, without qualification, the second is meant, in R. Meir's view. But if he did not know, he must have meant the first, since he does not wish to be in doubt as to the length of his vow, that he should include the second Adar if the year is subsequently intercalated. ');">¹⁴</span>