Ta'anit (Talmud)

Ta'anit / תענית (Eng. " fast day " ) is a treatise of the Mishnah in order Mo'ed ( feasts, feast day ).

Name and position in the Seder

The usual designation תענית / day of fasting is found in the Babylonian text tradition of the Mishnah. In contrast, the treatise bears in the eretz - jisra'elischen tradition the name תעניות / holidays.

The tract is within the order Moed usually in ninth place after Rosh Hashanah and before Megillah, both of which also have four chapters. Only in the Talmud manuscript Munich is Ta'anit the eleventh by Megilla and before Moed Qatan.

Content

As the name of the treaty suggests questions to be dealt with fast days mainly. Foremost among these publicly proclaimed fast days are at a lack of rainfall. Clarify the first two chapters, when a fast is to be proclaimed or which days are unsuitable as fast days (eg, new moons, Hanukkah and Purim ), and liturgical pieces which are to recite.

In the third chapter are fast days that are declared due to natural disasters, epidemics or the threat of war, treated. In it there is a famous anecdote about Honi the Circle Overcoat, which is also mentioned by Josephus:

" It happened that one to Honi the Circle puller said," Pray for rain to fall " He said to them: "Fast and brings in the Pessachöfen, so they do not weaken! " He prayed, but no rain fell. He drew a circle, put into it, and said, " Rabbuni Your children have turned their faces on me, because I am like a son of the house in front of you I swear by your great name, that I am not from here soft until you! . away your children will have mercy, since it began dropwise to rain Then he said: . " Not such a thing have I desired, but filled rain, wells, channels and cisterns. " Since the rain fell with Zornesgewalt Then he said: . " Not such a I asked, but rain of the pleasure of blessing and boon " as the rain fell, as it should be, to Israel from Jerusalem went up to the Temple Mount because of ( amount) of rain they said to him: ".. What you prayed to the falling of the rain, so pray for the cessation of the rain, " he said to them:". .. fasts and see if the erring stone has dissolved " Since Shimon ben Shetach sent to him, he said to him: " One would have to banish you. But what shall I do with you? You're behaving indecently in front of the place, like a son who behaves unseemly to his father, but that does according to his will. About you the Scripture says: It would be your father and your mother, and rejoices that gave birth to you. (Proverbs 23.25 ). " "

Only in the fourth chapter of the Days of Remembrance as Tisha Beav ( 9th of Av ), or Shiva Assar beTammus ( 17 Tammuz ) are treated.

To Ta'anit exists a Tosefta tractate as a Gemara in the Jerusalem or Palestinian Talmud and the Babylonian Talmud.