More Discussions for this daf
1. Human Ashes? 2. Har Ha'Moriah 3. Additions to Shemoneh Esrei
4. Efer Mikleh 5. Switch in the loshon 6. Who Davens for the Chazan?
7. Can the dead repay favors to the living? 8. Second Beraisa 9. Ninveh and Teshuvah
10. Davening in the town square 11. Is Height an influencing factor? Rashi DH "Adam Shel Tzurah" 12. Shofar on a Ta'anis
DAF DISCUSSIONS - TA'ANIS 16

alex lebovits asked:

The Gem. states that the reason they go out to the Beis Hakvoros is to ask the dead to plead to Hash-m on our behalf for mercy. Yet Rashi in Ber 47:29 DH Chesed V'Emes writes that "Chesed SH'Osim im Hamesim Hu Chesed Shel Emes, SH'Eyno metzapeh L'tashlim Gemul". Indicating that dead people cannot repay aany favors that were doen to them!

Kol Tuv

alex lebovits, Toronto, CAnada

The Kollel replies:

I don't think that the above Rashi indicates that dead people cannot be a "Meilitz Yosher" -- "good advocate" for people in this world. It just means that when people take care of the dead, "she'Aino Metzapeh l'Tashlum Gemul" -- "that he does not look forward for payment in kind." Most people who volunteer in a Chevra Kadisha do not take care of the dead in order that they can Daven at their Kevarim, but rather for the Mitzvah. The contrast is doing favors for live people who should have Hakaras ha'Tov for favors done to them by others. It is therefore normal to anticipate possible payment in kind.

Alternatively, even if one would look forward to Davening at a person's grave when burying him, the Gemara's comments regarding the dead person's advocacy for rain does not seem to be relative to whether or not those praying buried him. It is merely that when the dead are "notified" of the difficulties of Klal Yisrael they will (according to this opinion) Daven for rain. This is unlike doing favors for the living, where the favor is repaid in kind due to the favor that was done.

All the best,

Yaakov Montrose