## Taanit Daf 26a

###### Taanit 26a:1
[Taanit 26a:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Taanit/r/26a:1)

אֶלָּא עַל נֶפֶשׁ שְׂבֵעָה וְכָרֵס מְלֵאָה. אִינִי? וְהָא רַב פָּפָּא אִיקְּלַע לְבֵי כְּנִישְׁתָּא דַּאֲבִי גוֹבָר וּגְזַר תַּעֲנִית, וְיָרְדוּ לָהֶם גְּשָׁמִים עַד חֲצוֹת, וְאָמַר [לָהֶם: אִמְרוּ] הַלֵּל וְאַחַר כָּךְ אִכְלוּ וּשְׁתוּ! שָׁאנֵי בְּנֵי מָחוֹזָא, דִּשְׁכִיחִי בְּהוּ שִׁכְרוּת.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**only on a satisfied soul and a full stomach.** Consequently, it is preferable to return home to eat and drink so as to recite *hallel* in the proper frame of mind. The Gemara asks: **Is that so? But Rav Pappa happened** to come to **the synagogue of Avi Govar** in Meḥoza, **and he decreed a fast, and rain fell for them before midday, and** yet **he recited *hallel*** immediately, **and** only afterward **they ate and drank.** The Gemara explains: **The inhabitants of** the city of **Meḥoza are different, as drunkenness is common among them.** Had Rav Pappa told them to go home to eat and drink, they would have become drunk and been unable to pray.


###### Taanit 26a:2
[Taanit 26a:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Taanit/r/26a:2)

**הֲדַרַן עֲלָךְ סֵדֶר תַּעֲנִיּוֹת אֵלּוּ**


###### Taanit 26a:3
[Taanit 26a:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Taanit/r/26a:3)

**בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה פְּרָקִים** בְּשָׁנָה כֹּהֲנִים נוֹשְׂאִין אֶת כַּפֵּיהֶן אַרְבַּע פְּעָמִים בַּיּוֹם; בַּשַּׁחֲרִית, בַּמּוּסָף, בַּמִּנְחָה, וּבִנְעִילַת שְׁעָרִים: בְּתַעֲנִיּוֹת, וּבְמַעֲמָדוֹת, וּבְיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**MISHNA:** **At three times in the year priests raise their hands** to recite the Priestly Benediction **four times in** a single **day, in the morning prayer, in the additional prayer, in the afternoon prayer, and** in the evening **in the closing of the gates,** i.e., the *ne’ila* prayer. And these are the three times: **During** communal **fasts** held due to lack of rain, on which the closing prayer is recited; **and during non-priestly watches [*ma’amadot*],** when the Israelite members of the guard parallel to the priestly watch come and read the act of Creation from the Torah, as explained below; **and on Yom Kippur.**


###### Taanit 26a:4
[Taanit 26a:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Taanit/r/26a:4)

אֵלּוּ הֵן מַעֲמָדוֹת. לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״צַו אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת קׇרְבָּנִי לַחְמִי״, וְכִי הֵיאַךְ קׇרְבָּנוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם קָרֵב וְהוּא אֵינוֹ עוֹמֵד עַל גַּבָּיו?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**These are** the **non-priestly watches: Since it is stated: “Command the children of Israel** and say to them: **My offering of food,** which is presented to Me made by a fire, of a sweet savor to Me, you shall guard the sacrifice to Me in its due season” (Numbers 28:2), this verse teaches that the daily offering was a communal obligation that applied to every member of the Jewish people. The mishna asks: **But how can a person’s offering be sacrificed when he is not standing next to it?**


###### Taanit 26a:5
[Taanit 26a:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Taanit/r/26a:5)

הִתְקִינוּ נְבִיאִים הָרִאשׁוֹנִים עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה מִשְׁמָרוֹת, עַל כָּל מִשְׁמָר וּמִשְׁמָר הָיָה מַעֲמָד בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם שֶׁל כֹּהֲנִים שֶׁל לְוִיִּם וְשֶׁל יִשְׂרְאֵלִים.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The mishna explains: Since it is impossible for the entire nation to be present in Jerusalem when the daily offering is brought, **the early prophets,** Samuel and David, **instituted** the division of the priests into **twenty-four priestly watches,** each of which served for approximately one week, twice per year. **For each and every priestly watch there was** a corresponding **non-priestly watch in Jerusalem of priests, Levites, and Israelites** who would stand by the communal offerings for that day to represent the community.


###### Taanit 26a:6
[Taanit 26a:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Taanit/r/26a:6)

הִגִּיעַ זְמַן הַמִּשְׁמָר לַעֲלוֹת, כֹּהֲנִים וּלְוִיִּם עוֹלִים לִירוּשָׁלַיִם, וְיִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁבְּאוֹתוֹ מִשְׁמָר מִתְכַּנְּסִין לְעָרֵיהֶן, וְקוֹרְאִין בְּמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית. וְאַנְשֵׁי הַמַּעֲמָד הָיוּ מִתְעַנִּין אַרְבָּעָה יָמִים בַּשָּׁבוּעַ מִיּוֹם שֵׁנִי וְעַד יוֹם חֲמִישִׁי. וְלֹא הָיוּ מִתְעַנִּין עֶרֶב שַׁבָּת — מִפְּנֵי כְּבוֹד הַשַּׁבָּת, וְלֹא בְּאֶחָד בְּשַׁבָּת — כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יֵצְאוּ מִמְּנוּחָה וְעוֹנֶג לִיגִיעָה וְתַעֲנִית וְיָמוּתוּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**When** the **time arrived** for the members of a certain **priestly watch to ascend,** the **priests and Levites** of that watch would **ascend to Jerusalem** to perform the Temple service. **And** as for **the Israelites** assigned **to that priestly watch,** some of them went up to Jerusalem, while the rest of them **assembled in their towns and read the act of Creation. And the members of the non-priestly watch,** who represented the entire community that week, **would fast four days a week, from Monday until Thursday. And they would not fast on Shabbat eve, in deference to Shabbat,** as they did not wish to start Shabbat while fasting. **And** they did **not** fast on Sunday, **so as not to go from rest and delight** immediately **to exertion and fasting, and** run the risk that they might **die** as a result of the abrupt change.


###### Taanit 26a:7
[Taanit 26a:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Taanit/r/26a:7)

בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן: בְּרֵאשִׁית, וִיהִי רָקִיעַ. בַּשֵּׁנִי: יְהִי רָקִיעַ, וְיִקָּווּ הַמַּיִם. בַּשְּׁלִישִׁי: יִקָּווּ הַמַּיִם, וִיהִי מְאֹרֹת. בָּרְבִיעִי: יְהִי מְאֹרֹת, וְיִשְׁרְצוּ הַמַּיִם. בַּחֲמִישִׁי: יִשְׁרְצוּ הַמַּיִם, וְתוֹצֵא הָאָרֶץ. בַּשִּׁשִּׁי: תּוֹצֵא הָאָרֶץ, וַיְכֻלּוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Which portions of the Torah would the members of the non-priestly watch read on each day? **On Sunday** they would read the portions starting with: **“In the beginning” and “Let there be a firmament”** (Genesis 1:1–8). **On Monday** they would read: **“Let there be a firmament” and “Let the waters be gathered”** (Genesis 1:9–13). **On Tuesday** they would read: **“Let the waters be gathered” and “Let there be lights”** (Genesis 1:14–19). **On Wednesday: “Let there be lights” and “Let the waters swarm”** (Genesis 1:20–23). **On Thursday: “Let the waters swarm” and “Let the earth bring forth”** (Genesis 1:24–31). **On Friday: “Let the earth bring forth”** and **“And the heaven** and the earth **were finished”** (Genesis 2:1–3).


###### Taanit 26a:8
[Taanit 26a:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Taanit/r/26a:8)

פָּרָשָׁה גְּדוֹלָה קוֹרִין אוֹתָהּ בִּשְׁנַיִם, וְהַקְּטַנָּה בְּיָחִיד. בַּשַּׁחֲרִית וּבַמּוּסָף. וּבַמִּנְחָה נִכְנָסִין וְקוֹרִין עַל פִּיהֶן, כְּקוֹרִין אֶת שְׁמַע. עֶרֶב שַׁבָּת בַּמִּנְחָה לֹא הָיוּ נִכְנָסִין — מִפְּנֵי כְּבוֹד הַשַּׁבָּת.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**A long passage,** consisting of six verses or more, **is read by two** people, **and a short** passage is read **by one,** as one cannot read fewer than three verses from the Torah together. They read from the Torah **in the morning prayer and in the additional prayer. In the afternoon prayer** the members of the non-priestly watch **enter** the synagogue **and read** the daily portion **by heart, just as one recites *Shema*** every day. On **Shabbat eve at the afternoon prayer, they would not enter** the synagogue for the communal Torah readings, **in deference to Shabbat.**


###### Taanit 26a:9
[Taanit 26a:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Taanit/r/26a:9)

כׇּל יוֹם שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ הַלֵּל — אֵין מַעֲמָד בַּשַּׁחֲרִית, קׇרְבַּן מוּסַף — אֵין בַּנְּעִילָה, קׇרְבַּן עֵצִים — אֵין בַּמִּנְחָה. דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The mishna states a principle: On **any day that has** the recitation of ***hallel*,** but on which the additional offering was not sacrificed, e.g., Hanukkah, **there is no** reading of the Torah by the **non-priestly watch in the morning prayer.** On days that have both *hallel* and **an additional offering,** such as Festivals, the non-priestly watch would also **not** read from the Torah **at the closing prayer.** When **a wood offering** was brought, as explained below, there was **no** non-priestly watch **in the afternoon prayer.** This is **the statement of Rabbi Akiva.**


###### Taanit 26a:10
[Taanit 26a:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Taanit/r/26a:10)

אָמַר לוֹ בֶּן עַזַּאי, כָּךְ הָיָה רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ שׁוֹנֶה: קׇרְבַּן מוּסַף — אֵין בַּמִּנְחָה, קׇרְבַּן עֵצִים — אֵין בַּנְּעִילָה. חָזַר רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא לִהְיוֹת שׁוֹנֶה כְּבֶן עַזַּאי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Ben Azzai said to** Rabbi Akiva that **this is how Rabbi Yehoshua would teach** this *halakha*: On days when **an additional offering** was sacrificed, there was **no** non-priestly watch **in the afternoon prayer.** When **a wood offering** was brought, there was **no** non-priestly watch **in the closing prayer.** Upon hearing this, **Rabbi Akiva retracted** his ruling and began **to teach in accordance with** the opinion of **ben Azzai.**


###### Taanit 26a:11
[Taanit 26a:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Taanit/r/26a:11)

זְמַן עֲצֵי כֹהֲנִים וְהָעָם, תִּשְׁעָה: בְּאֶחָד בְּנִיסָן בְּנֵי אָרַח בֶּן יְהוּדָה, בְּעֶשְׂרִים בְּתַמּוּז בְּנֵי דָוִד בֶּן יְהוּדָה, בַּחֲמִשָּׁה בְּאָב בְּנֵי פַרְעוֹשׁ בֶּן יְהוּדָה, בְּשִׁבְעָה בּוֹ בְּנֵי יוֹנָדָב בֶּן רֵכָב, בַּעֲשָׂרָה בּוֹ בְּנֵי סְנָאָה בֶּן בִּנְיָמִין, בַּחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר בּוֹ בְּנֵי זַתּוּא בֶּן יְהוּדָה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The mishna details the **times** for **the wood** offering **of priests and the people.** These were private holidays specific to certain families, on which their members would volunteer a wood offering for the altar. There were **nine** such days and families: **On the first of Nisan, the descendants of Araḥ ben Yehuda; on the twentieth of Tammuz, the descendants of David ben Yehuda; on the fifth of Av, the descendants of Parosh ben Yehuda; on the seventh of** Av, **the descendants of Jonadab ben Rechab; on the tenth of** Av, **the descendants of Sena’a ben Binyamin; on the fifteenth of** Av, **the descendants of Zattu ben Yehuda.**


###### Taanit 26a:12
[Taanit 26a:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Taanit/r/26a:12)

וְעִמָּהֶם כֹּהֲנִים וּלְוִיִּם, וְכׇל מִי שֶׁטָּעָה בְּשִׁבְטוֹ, וּבְנֵי גּוֹנְבֵי עֱלִי וּבְנֵי קוֹצְעֵי קְצִיעוֹת.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And** included **with** this group of Zattu ben Yehuda’s descendants **were** other **priests; and Levites; and anyone who erred with regard to his tribe,** i.e., Israelites who did not know which tribe they were from, **and the descendants of those who deceived** the authorities **with a pestle; and the descendants of those who packed dried figs.** These last groups and their descriptions are explained in the Gemara.


###### Taanit 26a:13
[Taanit 26a:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Taanit/r/26a:13)

בְּעֶשְׂרִים בּוֹ בְּנֵי פַּחַת מוֹאָב בֶּן יְהוּדָה, בְּעֶשְׂרִים בֶּאֱלוּל בְּנֵי עָדִין בֶּן יְהוּדָה, בְּאֶחָד בְּטֵבֵת שָׁבוּ בְּנֵי פַרְעוֹשׁ שְׁנִיָּה. בְּאֶחָד בְּטֵבֵת לֹא הָיָה בּוֹ מַעֲמָד, שֶׁהָיָה בּוֹ הַלֵּל וְקׇרְבַּן מוּסַף וְקׇרְבַּן עֵצִים.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The mishna resumes its list. **On the twentieth of** Av, **the descendants of Paḥat Moav ben Yehuda; on the twentieth of Elul, the descendants of Adin ben Yehuda; on the first of Tevet, the descendants of Parosh returned** to bring wood for **a second** time; likewise **on the first of Tevet, there was no non-priestly watch, as** it is Hanukkah, **on which *hallel* is** recited, **and** it is the New Moon, on which **an additional offering** is sacrificed, **and** there was also **a wood offering.**


###### Taanit 26a:14
[Taanit 26a:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Taanit/r/26a:14)

חֲמִשָּׁה דְּבָרִים אֵירְעוּ אֶת אֲבוֹתֵינוּ בְּשִׁבְעָה עָשָׂר בְּתַמּוּז, וַחֲמִשָּׁה בְּתִשְׁעָה בְּאָב. בְּשִׁבְעָה עָשָׂר בְּתַמּוּז

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The mishna discusses the five major communal fast days. **Five** calamitous **matters occurred to our forefathers on the seventeenth of Tammuz, and five** other disasters happened **on the Ninth of Av. On the seventeenth of Tammuz**