Taanit 10 - November 22, 18 Kislev

Today’s learning is dedicated in memory of Eliyahu Dovid Kay who was murdered yesterday in the Old City. Today's daf is also sponsored anonymously for a friend for a full and speedy recovery. The Gemara brings several statements about the uniqueness of Israel as compared to other countries in the world. A braita is brought regarding the rainwater and it is attributed to Rabbi Yehoshua as it assumes the rainwater comes from the heavens. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says that the world gets all of its rain from the waters that overflow from Gan Eden. A comparison is made between different countries in the world to each other and then to gan Eden and ultimately to Gehenom. From when do we begin to ask for rain? Tana Kama says on 3 Marcheshvan and Rabban Gamliel says on the 7th. Who do we hold like? In Babylonia, we ask for rain much later (60 days after the autumnal equinox) as there is less need for rainfall at the earlier dates. If there is no rain by the 17 of Marcheshvan, individuals begin to fast 3 fasts. Most things, such as wearing leather shoes, etc. are permitted on these fast days as they are less serious. The fast begins in the morning.  If it still doesn't rain by Rosh Chodesh Kislev, the court institutes public fast days. The severity of these fasts are the same as the first set. Who is considered an individual that is allowed to fast on the first set of fasts? If the issue resolved itself during the day that one was fasting, they still fast all day. If one goes from a place where they fast to a place where they are not fasting or the reverse, one acts more stringently in all cases. If one accidentally forgot and ate, one should not eat in a noticeable manner and shouldn't eat a lot of food. This is derived from a verse regarding Yaakov and his sons during the famine. When the brothers leave Egypt to go back home to get Yaakov, Joseph tells them "al tirgazi baderech." This is explained to mean don't speak Torah as you will get lost. But wasn't it said that if two Torah scholars are walking on the road and aren't learning, they should be burned? From where is this derived and how is the contradiction resolved? One should not take long strides and one should get into a city when it is still light.