## Taanit Daf 8b

###### Taanit 8b:1
[Taanit 8b:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Taanit/r/8b:1)

נֶאֶמְרָה עֲצִירָה בְּאִשָּׁה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי עָצֹר עָצַר ה׳ בְּעַד כׇּל רֶחֶם״, וְנֶאֶמְרָה עֲצִירָה בִּגְשָׁמִים, דִּכְתִיב: ״וְעָצַר אֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Reish Lakish elaborates: **Closing up is stated with regard to a woman** who cannot give birth, **as it is stated: “For the Lord has fast closed up all the wombs”** (Genesis 20:18), **and closing up is stated with regard to rains, as it is written: “And He will close up the heavens”** (Deuteronomy 11:17).


###### Taanit 8b:2
[Taanit 8b:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Taanit/r/8b:2)

נֶאֱמַר לֵידָה בְּאִשָּׁה וְנֶאֱמַר לֵידָה בִּגְשָׁמִים, נֶאֱמַר לֵידָה בְּאִשָּׁה, דִּכְתִיב: ״וַתַּהַר וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן״, וְנֶאֱמַר לֵידָה בִּגְשָׁמִים, דִּכְתִיב: ״וְהוֹלִידָהּ וְהִצְמִיחָהּ״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Likewise, an expression of **giving birth is stated with regard to a woman, and** an expression of **giving birth is** also **stated with regard to rain.** Specifically, **giving birth is stated with regard to a woman, as it is written** in the case of Rachel, when God had mercy on her: **“And she conceived and gave birth to a son”** (Genesis 30:23). **And giving birth is stated with regard to rain, as it is written:** “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and does not return there, except it waters the earth **and causes it to give birth and bud”** (Isaiah 55:10).


###### Taanit 8b:3
[Taanit 8b:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Taanit/r/8b:3)

נֶאֱמַר פְּקִידָה בְּאִשָּׁה, וְנֶאֱמַר פְּקִידָה בִּגְשָׁמִים. נֶאֱמַר פְּקִידָה בְּאִשָּׁה, דִּכְתִיב: ״וַה׳ פָּקַד אֶת שָׂרָה״, וְנֶאֱמַר פְּקִידָה בִּגְשָׁמִים, דִּכְתִיב: ״פָּקַדְתָּ הָאָרֶץ וַתְּשֹׁקְקֶהָ רַבַּת תַּעְשְׁרֶנָּה פֶּלֶג אֱלֹהִים מָלֵא מָיִם״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Lastly, an expression of **remembering is stated** in connection **with a woman, and** an expression of **remembering is** also **stated** in connection **to rain. Remembering is stated** in connection **with a woman, as it is written: “And the Lord remembered Sarah”** (Genesis 21:1), **and remembering is stated** in connection **to rain, as it is written: “You have remembered the earth and have watered it; greatly enriching it, with the pool of God that is full of water”** (Psalms 65:10).


###### Taanit 8b:4
[Taanit 8b:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Taanit/r/8b:4)

מַאי ״פֶּלֶג אֱלֹהִים מָלֵא מַיִם״? תָּנָא: כְּמִין קוּבָּה יֵשׁ בָּרָקִיעַ, שֶׁמִּמֶּנָּה גְּשָׁמִים יוֹצְאִין.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks a question with regard to this verse. **What** is the meaning of the phrase: **“With the pool of God that is full of water”?** The Gemara answers that it was **taught** in a *baraita*: **There is a kind of vault [*kuba*] in the sky, out of which the rain falls.**


###### Taanit 8b:5
[Taanit 8b:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Taanit/r/8b:5)

אָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָנִי, מַאי דִּכְתִיב: ״אִם לְשֵׁבֶט אִם לְאַרְצוֹ אִם לְחֶסֶד יַמְצִאֵהוּ״. ״אִם לְשֵׁבֶט״ — בְּהָרִים וּבִגְבָעוֹת, ״אִם לְחֶסֶד יַמְצִאֵהוּ לְאַרְצוֹ״ — בְּשָׂדוֹת וּבִכְרָמִים.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said: What is** the meaning of that **which is written:** “Whatever he commands them upon the face of the habitable world, **whether it is for correction, or for His earth, or for mercy that He causes it to come”** (Job 37:12–13)? The phrase **“whether it is for correction”** means that if the people are judged unfavorably, the rain will fall **on the mountains and on the hills.** The phrase “or for His earth” indicates that if they have been judged **“for mercy,” He will cause it to come “for His earth,” on the fields and on the vineyards.**


###### Taanit 8b:6
[Taanit 8b:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Taanit/r/8b:6)

״אִם לְשֵׁבֶט״ — לְאִילָנוֹת, ״אִם לְאַרְצוֹ״ — לִזְרָעִים, ״אִם לְחֶסֶד יַמְצִאֵהוּ״ — בּוֹרוֹת שִׁיחִין וּמְעָרוֹת.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Alternatively, the phrase **“whether it is for correction”** means that the rain will provide benefit only **for the trees; “or for His earth”** indicates that rain will fall solely for the benefit **of seeds;** and **“or for mercy that He causes it to come”** means that rain will fill the **cisterns, ditches, and caves** with enough water to last the dry season.


###### Taanit 8b:7
[Taanit 8b:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Taanit/r/8b:7)

בִּימֵי רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָנִי הֲוָה כַּפְנָא וּמוֹתָנָא, אָמְרִי: הֵיכִי נַעֲבֵיד? נִיבְעֵי רַחֲמֵי אַתַּרְתֵּי — לָא אֶפְשָׁר. אֶלָּא לִיבְעֵי רַחֲמֵי אַמּוֹתָנָא, וְכַפְנָא נִיסְבּוֹל. אֲמַר לְהוּ רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָנִי: נִיבְעֵי רַחֲמֵי אַכַּפְנָא, דְּכִי יָהֵיב רַחֲמָנָא שׂוּבְעָא — לְחַיֵּי הוּא דְּיָהֵיב, דִּכְתִיב: ״פּוֹתֵחַ אֶת יָדֶךָ וּמַשְׂבִּיעַ לְכׇל חַי רָצוֹן״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ The Gemara relates: **In the days of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani there was a famine and a plague.** The Sages **said: What** should we **do? Should we pray for mercy for two** troubles, both the famine and the plague? This is **not possible,** as it is improper to pray for the alleviation of two afflictions at once. **Rather, let us pray for mercy for the plague, and** as for the **famine, we** must **bear** it. **Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said to them:** On the contrary, **let us pray for mercy for the famine, as when the Merciful One provides plenty, He gives it for** the sake of **the living,** i.e., if God answers this prayer then he will certainly bring an end to the plague as well, **as it is written: “You open Your hand and satisfy every living thing with favor”** (Psalms 145:16).


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

וּמְנָלַן דְּלָא מְצַלִּינַן אַתַּרְתֵּי — דִּכְתִיב: ״וַנָּצוּמָה וַנְּבַקְשָׁה מֵאֱלֹהֵינוּ עַל זֹאת״, מִכְּלָל דְּאִיכָּא אַחֲרִיתִי. בְּמַעְרְבָא אָמְרִי מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי חַגַּי מֵהָכָא: ״וְרַחֲמִין לְמִבְעֵא מִן קֳדָם אֱלָהּ שְׁמַיָּא עַל רָזָא דְּנָה״, מִכְּלָל דְּאִיכָּא אַחֲרִיתִי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara explains: **And from where do we** derive **that** one should not pray **for two** troubles simultaneously? **As it is written: “So we fasted and beseeched our God for this”** (Ezra 8:23). **From the fact** that the verse states: “For this,” it may be inferred **that there is another** trouble about which the people did not pray. **In the West,** Eretz Yisrael, **they say in the name of Rabbi Ḥaggai** that this idea comes **from here: “That they might ask mercy of the God of Heaven concerning this secret”** (Daniel 2:18). **From the fact** that the verse states: “This secret,” it may be inferred **that there is another** trouble about which they did not pray.


###### Taanit 8b:9
[Taanit 8b:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Taanit/r/8b:9)

בִּימֵי רַבִּי זֵירָא גְּזוּר שְׁמָדָא, וּגְזוּר דְּלָא לְמֵיתַב בְּתַעֲנִיתָא. אֲמַר לְהוּ רַבִּי זֵירָא: נְקַבְּלֵיהּ עִילָּוַון, וּלְכִי בָּטֵיל שְׁמָדָא לֵיתְבֵיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
In a similar vein, the Gemara relates: **In the days of Rabbi Zeira a decree of** religious **persecution** was decreed against the Jews. **And** as the **decree** was **that they were not** allowed **to fast,** the Jews were certainly unable to fast and pray for the nullification of the decree itself. **Rabbi Zeira said to** the people: **Let us take** a fast **upon ourselves,** despite the fact that in practice we cannot observe it, **and when** the decree of religious **persecution is annulled we will observe the fast.**


###### Taanit 8b:10
[Taanit 8b:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Taanit/r/8b:10)

אָמְרִי לֵיהּ: מְנָא לָךְ הָא? אֲמַר לְהוּ, דִּכְתִיב: ״וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלַי אַל תִּירָא דָנִיֵּאל כִּי מִן הַיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן אֲשֶׁר נָתַתָּ אֶת לִבְּךָ לְהָבִין וּלְהִתְעַנּוֹת לִפְנֵי אֱלֹהֶיךָ נִשְׁמְעוּ דְבָרֶיךָ״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**They said to him: From where do you** know **this,** the fact that one may take a fast upon himself that he cannot observe? Rabbi Zeira **said to them** that the reason is **as it is written: “Then he said to me: Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to fast before your God, your words were heard”** (Daniel 10:12). This verse indicates that from the moment one turns his heart to fast, his prayers are heard.


###### Taanit 8b:11
[Taanit 8b:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Taanit/r/8b:11)

אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: אֲפִילּוּ שָׁנִים כִּשְׁנֵי אֵלִיָּהוּ, וְיָרְדוּ גְּשָׁמִים בְּעַרְבֵי שַׁבָּתוֹת — אֵינָן אֶלָּא סִימַן קְלָלָה. הַיְינוּ דְּאָמַר רַבָּה בַּר שֵׁילָא: קָשֶׁה יוֹמָא דְמִיטְרָא כְּיוֹמָא דְּדִינָא. אָמַר אַמֵּימָר: אִי לָא דִּצְרִיךְ לִבְרִיָּיתָא, בָּעֵינַן רַחֲמֵי וּמְבַטְּלִינַן לֵיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara returns to the topic of rain. **Rabbi Yitzḥak said: Even** in **years like the years of Elijah,** when God decreed that no rain would fall, if **rain falls on Shabbat eves it is nothing other** than **a sign of a curse,** as the rain disrupts the preparations for Shabbat. **This is** the same as that **which Rabba bar Sheila said: A rainy day is as difficult as a judgment day. Ameimar** even **said: Were** it **not** for the fact **that** rain is needed **by people, we would pray for mercy and** to **annul it,** due to the nuisances that rain causes.


###### Taanit 8b:12
[Taanit 8b:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Taanit/r/8b:12)

וְאָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: שֶׁמֶשׁ בְּשַׁבָּת — צְדָקָה לַעֲנִיִּים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְזָרְחָה לָכֶם יִרְאֵי שְׁמִי שֶׁמֶשׁ צְדָקָה וּמַרְפֵּא״. וְאָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: גָּדוֹל יוֹם הַגְּשָׁמִים, שֶׁאֲפִילּוּ פְּרוּטָה שֶׁבַּכִּיס מִתְבָּרֶכֶת בּוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״לָתֵת מְטַר אַרְצְךָ בְּעִתּוֹ וּלְבָרֵךְ אֵת כׇּל מַעֲשֵׂה יָדֶךָ״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And Rabbi Yitzḥak said: Sun on Shabbat is charity for the poor,** who are then able to enjoy the outdoors without suffering from cold. **As it is stated: “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness shall arise with healing in its wings”** (Malachi 3:20). **And Rabbi Yitzḥak** further **said: The day of the rains is great, as even a *peruta* in** one’s **pocket is blessed on it, as it is stated: “To give the rain of your land in its due time, and to bless all the work of your hand”** (Deuteronomy 28:12).


###### Taanit 8b:13
[Taanit 8b:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Taanit/r/8b:13)

וְאָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: אֵין הַבְּרָכָה מְצוּיָה אֶלָּא בְּדָבָר הַסָּמוּי מִן הָעַיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״יְצַו ה׳ אִתְּךָ אֶת הַבְּרָכָה בַּאֲסָמֶיךָ״. תָּנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל: אֵין הַבְּרָכָה מְצוּיָה אֶלָּא בְּדָבָר שֶׁאֵין הָעַיִן שׁוֹלֶטֶת בּוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״יְצַו ה׳ אִתְּךָ אֶת הַבְּרָכָה בַּאֲסָמֶיךָ״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And** apropos blessings, **Rabbi Yitzḥak said: A blessing is found only in an object that is hidden [*samui*] from the eye,** not in an item visible to all, as public miracles are exceedingly rare. **As it is stated: “The Lord will command His blessing upon you in your barns [*ba’asamekha*]”** (Deuteronomy 28:8). Rabbi Yitzḥak’s exposition is based on the linguistic similarity between *samui* and *asamekha*. Likewise, **the school of Rabbi Yishmael taught: A blessing is found only in an object that is not exposed to the eye, as it is stated: “The Lord will command His blessing upon you in your barns.”**


###### Taanit 8b:14
[Taanit 8b:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Taanit/r/8b:14)

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: הַנִּכְנָס לָמוֹד אֶת גׇּרְנוֹ, אוֹמֵר: ״יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ שֶׁתִּשְׁלַח בְּרָכָה בְּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדֵנוּ״. הִתְחִיל לָמוֹד, אוֹמֵר: ״בָּרוּךְ הַשּׁוֹלֵחַ בְּרָכָה בַּכְּרִי הַזֶּה״. מָדַד וְאַחַר כָּךְ בֵּירַךְ — הֲרֵי זוֹ תְּפִלַּת שָׁוְא, לְפִי שֶׁאֵין הַבְּרָכָה מְצוּיָה לֹא בְּדָבָר הַשָּׁקוּל, וְלֹא בְּדָבָר הַמָּדוּד, וְלֹא בְּדָבָר הַמָּנוּי, אֶלָּא בְּדָבָר הַסָּמוּי מִן הָעַיִן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**The Sages taught: One who enters to measure** produce **in his granary recites: May it be Your will, Lord our God, that You send a blessing upon the work of our hands.** After he has **begun to measure, he recites: Blessed** is He **who sends a blessing upon this pile.** If one first **measured and afterward recited the blessing, it is a prayer** in **vain, as a blessing is not found either in an object that is weighed or in an object that is measured or in an object that is counted,** as these would constitute open miracles. **Rather,** a blessing is found only **in an object that is hidden from the eye.**


###### Taanit 8b:15
[Taanit 8b:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Taanit/r/8b:15)

קִבּוּץ, גְּיָיסוֹת, צְדָקָה, מַעֲשֵׂר, פַּרְנָס סִימָן. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: גָּדוֹל יוֹם הַגְּשָׁמִים כְּיוֹם קִבּוּץ גָּלִיּוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״שׁוּבָה ה׳ אֶת שְׁבִיתֵנוּ כַּאֲפִיקִים בַּנֶּגֶב״, וְאֵין ״אֲפִיקִים״ אֶלָּא מָטָר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיֵּרָאוּ אֲפִקֵי יָם״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ The Gemara cites five statements of Rabbi Yoḥanan, in accordance with the following **mnemonic: Ingathering; armies; charity; tithe; sustainer. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: The day of the rains is as great as the day of the ingathering of the exiles, as it is stated: “Turn our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the dry land”** (Psalms 126:4), **and “streams”** means **nothing other** than **rain, as it is stated: “And the streams of the sea appeared”** (II Samuel 22:16).


###### Taanit 8b:16
[Taanit 8b:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Taanit/r/8b:16)

וְאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: גָּדוֹל יוֹם הַגְּשָׁמִים, שֶׁאֲפִילּוּ גְּיָיסוֹת פּוֹסְקוֹת בּוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״תְּלָמֶיהָ רַוֵּה נַחֵת גְּדוּדֶיהָ״. וְאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: אֵין הַגְּשָׁמִים נֶעֱצָרִין אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל פּוֹסְקֵי צְדָקָה בָּרַבִּים וְאֵין נוֹתְנִין, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״נְשִׂיאִים וְרוּחַ וְגֶשֶׁם אָיִן אִישׁ מִתְהַלֵּל בְּמַתַּת שָׁקֶר״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And Rabbi Yoḥanan said: The day of the rains is great, as even armies stop fighting on it** due to the rain and mud. **As it is stated: “Watering its ridges abundantly; settling down its furrows [*gedudeha*]”** (Psalms 65:11). As the word *gedudim* can mean both furrows or armies and is spelled identically with each meaning, this alludes to the idea that during the rainy season soldiers become entrenched in place. **And Rabbi Yoḥanan** further **said: Rain is withheld only due to those who pledge charity in public but do not give** it, **as it is stated: “As vapors and wind without rain, so is he who boasts of a false gift”** (Proverbs 25:14).


###### Taanit 8b:17
[Taanit 8b:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Taanit/r/8b:17)

וְאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, מַאי דִּכְתִיב:

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And Rabbi Yoḥanan said: What is** the meaning of that **which is written:**