Taanit 24

A sleep which is no sleep, a wakefulness which is no wakefulness, he answers when he is called, but cannot recall an argument; when, however, he is reminded of something he remembers it. R'Kahana said in the name of Rab: An individual who has undertaken a fast is forbidden to wear shoes because we fear that perhaps he has undertaken a public fast.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And therefore he must observe the fast with all the strictness of a public fast. V. supra 10a. hhct');">¹</span>

How shall he declare his vow [to be able to wear shoes]? -Rabbah B'Shila said: He should make the following declaration, 'To-morrow I shall observe before Thee a private fast'. The Rabbis said to R'Shesheth: We have seen Rabbis who come to an Assembly on a fast day wearing their shoes.

Thereupon he became angry and asked them, Perhaps they even eat? Abaye and Raba used to come [to the Assembly] wearing shoes<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [MS.M 'Used to wear shoes.' V. Tosaf. s.v. .]');">²</span>

without soles. Meremar and Mar Zutra used to change the right [shoe] to the left [foot] and the left to the right.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To show that they had not forgotten that it was a fast day.');">³</span>

The scholars of the school of R'Ashi wore their shoes as usual; they were of the same opinion as Samuel who said: In Babylonia except for the Fast of the Ninth of Ab there are no public fasts.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. note on supra 11 b.');">⁴</span> Rab Judah said in the name of Rab: One may borrow a fast and repay it [on another day]; When I repeated this [statement] before Samuel he said to me, Did he then take a vow upon himself that he must pay it? -He merely undertook to afflict himself, if he is able he afflicts himself, if not he does not do so.

Some say, Rab Judah said in the name of Rab: One may borrow his fast and repay it. When I repeated this before Samuel he said to me, This is self-evident; even if it is merely a vow, would he not have to pay a vow on the next day or on a later day?

R'Joshua, the son of R'Idi chanced to be with R'Assi, and after they had prepared in his honour a three-year-old calf<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Another explanation is: a calf the third born of its mother.');">⁵</span> they said to him, 'Will the Master partake of it? ' He replied.'

I am fasting'. They said to him, 'Let the Master borrow and repay [the fast later]'.

Is the Master not in agreement with the view of Rab Judah, who said in the name of Rab: One may borrow a fast and repay it? - He replied: [Mine] is a fast for a [bad] dream, and Rabbah B'Mehasiah said in the name of R'Hama B'Guriah, in the name of Rab: Fasting is as efficacious for the bad dream as fire is for tow, and upon this R'Hisda commented: And [the fast must be] on the same day; and R'Joseph added: Even if [the day] is the Sabbath. What amends shall he make [for having fasted on the Sabbath]? - He should observe an additional fast.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'He should observe a fast for his fast'.');">⁶</span>

<big><b>MISHNAH: </b></big>IF THESE FAST DAYS PASSED AND THERE WAS NO ANSWER TO THEIR PRAYERS, THE BETH DIN ORDAIN UPON THE COMMUNITY THREE FURTHER FASTS; [ON DAYS PRECEDING THESE FASTS] THEY MAY EAT AND DRINK [ONLY] WHILST IT IS STILL DAY, AND THEY MAY NOT [ON THESE FAST DAYS] DO WORK, NOR BATHE, NOR ANOINT THEMSELVES WITH OIL, NOR WEAR SHOES, NOR HAVE MARITAL, RELATIONS; AND THE BATHS TOO ARE CLOSED. IF THESE [DAYS] PASSED AND THERE WAS [STILL] NO ANSWER TO THEIR PRAYERS THE BETH DIN ORDAIN UPON THE COMMUNITY A FURTHER SEVEN [FASTS].

MAKING THIRTEEN IN ALL. [IN THIS RESPECT ARE] THE LATTER MORE STRINGENT THAN THE FORMER<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [Var lec., In what respect are the latter more stringent than the former? in that on them etc.]');">⁷</span>

IN THAT ON THEM THE ALARM IS SOUNDED AND THE SHOPS ARE CLOSED. ON MONDAYS THE SHUTTERS [OF THE SHOPS] ARE OPENED A LITTLE WHEN IT GETS DARK, BUT ON THURSDAYS THEY ARE PERMITTED<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. GEMARA:');">⁸</span>

[THE WHOLE DAY]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Mishnah text in the GEMARA:');">⁹</span> IN HONOUR OF THE SABBATH.

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>