Taanit 4
אליה אלהים ויפתח את רחמה מפתח של תחיית המתים מנין דכתיב (יחזקאל לז, יג) וידעתם כי אני ה' בפתחי את קברותיכם
to her, and opened her womb.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Gen. XXX, 22. R. Joshua stresses the connection between key (lit., opener') and the verb to open, in the verses cited.');"><sup>1</sup></span> The Key of the Revival of the Dead, for it is written, And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ezek. XXXVII, 13.');"><sup>2</sup></span>
במערבא אמרי אף מפתח של פרנסה דכתיב (תהלים קמה, טז) פותח את ידך וגו' ור' יוחנן מאי טעמא לא קא חשיב להא אמר לך גשמים היינו פרנסה:
In Palestine they said: Also the Key of Sustenance, for it is said, Thou openest thy hand etc.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ps. CXLV, 16.');"><sup>3</sup></span> Why does not R'Johanan include also this [key]? - Because in his view sustenance is [included in] Rain.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since it comes through rain.');"><sup>4</sup></span>
ר' אליעזר אומר מיום טוב הראשון של חג כו': איבעיא להו ר' אליעזר מהיכא גמיר לה מלולב גמר לה או מניסוך המים גמר לה
R'ELIEZER SAYS: ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE FEAST etc. The question was asked, Whence did R'Eliezer derive this? Did he learn it from Lulab<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The Palm-branch. Term applied to the Four Plants used in the service on Tabernacles. Cf. Lev. XXIII, 40.');"><sup>5</sup></span>
מלולב גמר לה מה לולב ביום אף הזכרה ביום או דלמא מניסוך המים גמר לה מה ניסוך המים מאורתא דאמר מר (במדבר כט, יח) ומנחתם ונסכיהם אפילו בלילה אף הזכרה מאורתא
or from the Libation of Water?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [The vessel for the Water Libation was filled the preceding evening, v. Suk. 51 b. Aliter: The drink-offerings of wine brought in conjunction with animal sacrifices could be offered on the evening following the animal sacrifice, v. p. 4, n.1.]');"><sup>6</sup></span> If he learnt it from Lulab, then just as the obligation of the use of the Lulab comes into force on the [first] day of Tabernacles, so too should we begin to make mention of rain on that day.
תא שמע דאמר רבי אבהו לא למדה ר' אליעזר אלא מלולב איכא דאמרי ר' אבהו גמרא גמיר לה ואיכא דאמרי מתניתא שמיע ליה
Or perhaps he learnt it from Libation. [If so, then] just as Water Libation may be [carried out] on the evening [preceding the first day] - (for a Master [interpreting the verse], And the meal-offering thereof and their drink-offerings,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Num. XXIX, 18.');"><sup>7</sup></span>
מאי היא דתניא מאימתי מזכירין על הגשמים רבי אליעזר אומר משעת נטילת לולב ר' יהושע אומר משעת הנחתו
said, Even by night) -so too should one begin to make mention of rain on that evening!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [On this first interpretation of Rashi this verse is irrelevant and is to be omitted, v. Rashi. On the second interpretation the argument will run as follows: Should R. Eliezer deduce his opinion from the Water Libation, the mention of rain would have to be mentioned in the evening, seeing that the evening is a time at which drink-offerings (of wine) may be offered. Once, however, it is granted that the mention of rain starts on the evening, it will have to be the preceding, so as to be on the same day as the Water Libation (the night always being counted with the following thgcht day) . V. Tosaf, s.v. On this interpretation the text should read as 'Libation (not 'Water Libation') may be on the evening', v. Me'iri a.I. where also other interpretations of this difficult passage are given.]');"><sup>8</sup></span> - Come and hear: R'Abbahu said: R'Eliezer deduced it from Lulab only.
אמר לו ר' יהושע והלא גשמים בחג אינו אלא סימן קללה אמר לו ר' אליעזר אף אני לא אמרתי לשאול אלא להזכיר וכשם שתחיית המתים מזכיר כל השנה כולה ואינה אלא בזמנה כך מזכירים גבורות גשמים כל השנה ואינן אלא בזמנן לפיכך אם בא להזכיר כל השנה כולה מזכיר רבי אומר אומר אני משעה שמפסיק לשאלה כך מפסיק להזכרה
Which is the Baraitha? - It has been taught: 'When do we [begin to] make mention of Rain? R'Eliezer says: From the time of the taking up of the Lulab; R'Joshua says, From the time when the Lulab is discarded.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' On the seventh day of the Feast.');"><sup>9</sup></span>
ר' יהודה בן בתירה אומר בשני בחג הוא מזכיר ר' עקיבא אומר בששי בחג הוא מזכיר ר' יהודה משום ר' יהושע אומר העובר לפני התיבה ביום טוב האחרון של חג האחרון מזכיר הראשון אינו מזכיר ביום טוב ראשון של פסח הראשון מזכיר האחרון אינו מזכיר
Said R'Eliezer: Seeing that these Four Species are intended only to make intercession for water,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Suk. 37b.');"><sup>10</sup></span> therefore as these cannot [grow] without water so the world [too] cannot exist without water.
אלא גשמים כל אימת דאתיין זמנייהו היא והתנן יצא ניסן וירדו גשמים סימן קללה הם שנאמר (שמואל א יב, יז) הלא קציר חטים היום וגו'
And just as one makes mention of the Revival of the Dead all the year round<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the second benediction.');"><sup>11</sup></span> although it will take place only in its proper time, so too should mention be made of the Power of Rain all the year round although it comes only in its due season.
ר' יהודה בן בתירה אומר בשני בחג הוא מזכיר מ"ט דרבי יהודה בן בתירה דתניא רבי יהודה בן בתירה אומר
Therefore if one desires to make mention all the year round he may do so. Rabbi says: I hold the view that when one ceases to pray [for rain]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' On the first day of Passover.');"><sup>12</sup></span>
הרי מ"ם יו"ד מ"ם הרי כאן מים מכאן רמז לניסוך המים מן התורה
R'Akiba says: On the sixth day of the Feast. R'Judah says in the name of R'Joshua: The last to step before the Ark on the last day of the Feast makes mention, the first does not; on the first day of Passover the first makes mention, the last does not.
ומאי שנא בשני דנקט דכי רמיזי להו בקרא בשני הוא דרמיזי הלכך בשני מדכרינן
Did not then R'Eliezer reply well to R'Joshua? - R'Joshua can answer you: It is quite in order to make mention of the Revival of the Dead [all the year round], since any day may be its time, but is rain seasonable at all times? Have we not learnt: Should Nisan terminate and then rain fall it is a sign of [God's] anger, for it is said, Is it not wheat harvest to-day etc.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I Sam. XII, 17.');"><sup>13</sup></span>
ואימא תרוייהו דחמרא סבר לה כר' יהודה בן בתירה דאמר רמיזי מיא
What is R'Judah B'Bathyra's reason? - It has been taught: R'Judah B'Bathyra says, Of the second day of the Feast, Scripture Says, we-niskehem,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Num. XXIX, 18.');"><sup>14</sup></span> ['and their drink-offerings'] and of the sixth day, u-nesakeah<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. 31.');"><sup>15</sup></span> ['and its drink-offerings'] and of the seventh day, kemishpatam<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. 33. n ovhfxb h vhfxb n oypanf ohn');"><sup>16</sup></span> [according to their rule]. Note [the letters] Mem, Yod, Mem which form the word mayim ['water'].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The of , the of , and the of taken, together spell the word, water.');"><sup>17</sup></span> Here you have the biblical allusion to the Libation of Water. And what makes him [R'Judah B'Bathyra] fix it on the second day? - Because [the first of the allusions to the Water Libation] is found in connection [with the order for] the second day. Hence why we should [begin] to make mention on the second day. R'Akiba says: On the sixth day of the Feast one [begins] to make mention, for of the sixth day Scripture says, And its drink-offerings.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The plural form implies (at least) two drink-offerings. [It is taken to refer to the festival, in contradistinction to the phrase, 'their drink-offering' mentioned in the sixth day where 'their' has reference to the sacrifices.]');"><sup>18</sup></span> Scripture thus speaks of two libations,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' On the Festival of Tabernacles.');"><sup>19</sup></span> the Libation of Water and the Libation of Wine. Perhaps both Libations must be of wine? - He [R'Akiba] is of the same opinion as R'Judah B'Bathyra who said, There is an allusion to water.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., he accepts the allusion supplied by the letters Mem, Yod, Mem.');"><sup>20</sup></span>