Mishnah 1
1)
(a)The Mishnah now discusses the procedure that they follow on the fasts. Which groups of fasts is the Tana referring to?
(b)The first thing they do is to take the Teivah into the street. What is the 'Teivah'?
(c)What is the significance of that act?
(d)Why into the street?
1)
(a)The Mishnah now discusses the procedure that they follow on the fasts - with reference to the last group of seven fasts.
(b)The first thing they do is to take the Teivah - (the Aron ha'Kodesh) into the street ...
(c)... as if to say - 'This is a modest vessel that we have, and it is now bring denigrated on account of our sins.
(d)'Into the street' - to say - 'That we cried out discreetly in Shul, but we were not answered; We will now have to cry disgrace ourselves in public in the main square of the city.
2)
(a)They place 'Eifer Makleh on the Aron. What is Eifer 'Makleh'?
(b)Seeing as Eifer mean 'ashes', why does the Tana add the word 'Makleh'?
(c)What is the reason for doing that? On which Pasuk in Yeshayah is this based?
(d)What is the significance of the ashes
2)
(a)They place 'Eifer Makleh' - (burned ashes) on the Aron.
(b)Although Eifer mean 'ashes', the Tana adds the word 'Makleh' - because it can also mean dust (See Tos.Yom-Tov).
(c)The reason for doing that is based on the Pasuk in Yeshayah - "In all their troubles He (Hash-m, who is represented here by the Seifer-Torah in the Aron) suffers too".
(d)The ashes serve - to remind Hash-m of the merit of Akeidas Yitzchak.
3)
(a)Where, besides on the Aron, do they place ashes?
(b)What do the people then do?
(c)Why do the Nasi and the Av Beis-Din not also place the ashes on their own heads?
3)
(a)Where, besides on the Aron, do they place ashes - on the head of the Nasi and the Av-Beis-Din (See Tos. Yom-Tov).
(b)The people then - take ashes and place them on their heads.
(c)The Nasi and the Av Beis-Din not also place the ashes on their own heads - because the shame is greater when great men such as these are shamed by others than when they shame themselves (See Tos.Yom-Tov).
4)
(a)The leading Talmid-Chacham among them then speaks 'Divrei K'vushin. What are 'Divrei Kevushin'?
(b)What does he say with reference to the men of Ninveh? What does the Pasuk there not say, and what does it say?
(c)He then quotes Divrei Kabalah. What does 'Divrei Kabalah' refer to?
(d)What did the Navi Yo'el advise the people? What should they tear and what should they not tear?
4)
(a)The leading Chacham (Tos. Yom-Tov) among them then speaks 'Divrei K'vushin - (captivating words).
(b)He reminds the people - that it was not their sackcloth and fasting that G-d saw, but "their deeds, that they had repented from their evil ways".
(c)He then quotes Divrei Kabalah - (i.e. Nevi'im [See also Tos. Yom-Tov]) ...
(d)... the Navi Yo'el, who advised the people - "to tear their hearts and not (just their clothes).
Mishnah 2
5)
(a)When they begin to Daven, what sort of person acts as the Shali'ach Tzibur?
(b)Why must he also have children?
(c)Finally, what is the simple meaning of the Tana's statement that his house must be empty?
(d)What else might he mean?
(e)What is the significance of the twenty-four B'rachos that he recites before them?
5)
(a)When they begin to Daven - a Talmid-Chacham who is familiar with the text of Tefilah (See Tos. Yom-Tov and Tiferes Yisrael) acts as the Shali'ach Tzibur.
(b)He must also have children - because only someone who has children, knows the true meaning of the mercy for which he is praying.
(c)Finally, the simple meaning of the Tana's statement that his house must be empty is - that he so poor that has nothing with which to feed his family (since his Tefilos are bound to be sincere).
(d)He might also mean - that his house is empty of sin (that the sins of his youth did not give him a bad name [Se Tos. Yom-Tov]).
(e)The twenty-four B'rachos that he recites before them - comprise the regular eighteen B'rachos plus six special B'rachos that Chazal instituted between 'Go'el' and 'Rofei' for the occasion.
Mishnah 3
6)
(a)The first two of the extra six B'rachos recited by the Shatz are Zichronos and Shofros. What did they comprise?
(b)From which Seifer are the other B'rachos taken?
(c)If the first B'rachah comprise the Kapitel " ... el Hash-m ba'Tzarasah li" and the last one "Tefilah le'Ani ki Ya'atof", what did the remaining middle two comprise?
6)
(a)The first two of the extra six B'rachos recited by the Shatz are Zichronos and Shofros (See Tos. Yom-Tov) - comprising all the Pesukim that one inserts on Rosh ha'Shanah.
(b)The other B'rachos are taken - from Seifer Tehilim.
(c)The first B'rachah comprises the Kapitel " ... el Hash-m ba'Tzarasah li", the last one "Tefilah le'Ani ki Ya'atof", and the remaining middle two - "Esa Einai el he'Harim" and "mi'Ma'amakim".
7)
(a)According to Rebbi Yehudah, two of the B'rachos comprised the Kapitels "Ra'av ki Yih'yeh ba'Aretz, Dever ki Yih'yeh ... " and 'Asher Hayah D'var Hash-m el Yirmiyahu al Divrei ha'Batzros". Which two of the above six did they replace?
(b)How does the Mishnah conclude? What did the Shatz still have to add?
7)
(a)According to Rebbi Yehudah, two of the B'rachos comprised the Kapitels "Ra'av ki Yih'yeh ba'Aretz, Dever ki Yih'yeh ... " and 'Asher Hayah D'var Hash-m el Yirmiyahu al Divrei ha'Batzros" - in place of Zichronos and Shofros (See Tos. Yom-Tov).
(b)The Mishnah concludes - that he had to add the Chasimah of each B'rachah (as we shall now see).
Mishnah 4
8)
(a)The Shatz begins the Chasimah of the six B'rachos with the text 'Mi sha'Anah es Avraham be'Har ha'Moriyah, Hu Ya'aneh eschem Veyishma be'Kol Tza'akaschem ha'Yom ha'Zeh'. How does he conclude?
(b)Seeing as it is not actually part of the six, why does he insert it?
(c)If the first of the actual six insertions begins 'Mi she'Anah es Avoseinu al Yam'Suf ... ', bearing in mind that the Chasimah concludes Zichronos, how does the Shatz end?
(d)In similar vein, if the second Chasimah begins 'Mi she'Anah es Yehoshu'a ba'Gilgal ... ', how does it end, bearing in mind that it concludes Shofros?
8)
(a)The Shatz begins the Chasimah of the six B'rachos with the text 'Mi sha'Anah es Avraham be'Har ha'Moriyah, Hu Ya'aneh eschem Veyishma be'Kol Tza'akaschem ha'Yom ha'Zeh', and he concludes 'Baruch ... Go'el Yisrael' (See Tos. Yom-Tov).
(b)Despite the fact that it is not actually part of the six, he inserts it - as a form of introduction to the additional B'rachos in the B'rachah of 'Go'el Yisrael', which precedes the six B'rachos.
(c)If the first of the actual six insertions begins 'Mi she'Anah es Avoseinu al Yam'Suf ... ', bearing in mind that the Chasimah concludes Zichronos, the Shatz ends - 'Zocher ha'Nishkachos'.
(d)In similar vein, the second Chasimah begins 'Mi she'Anah es Yehoshu'a ba'Gilgal ... ', and bearing in mind that it concludes Shofros, ends - 'Shome'a Teru'ah'.
9)
(a)If the third and fourth Chasimos respectively, refer to Shmuel in Mitzpah and Eliyahu on Har ha'Carmel, to whom does the fifth Chasimah refer to?
(b)And if the first and second of those first two Chasimos Chasimos respectively, end 'Baruch ... Shome'a Tze'akah' and 'Baruch Shome'a Tefilah', how does the third one end, reminiscent of the special B'rachah recites at Minchah on a Ta'anis Tzibur?
(c)The sixth and final Chasimah ends with 'Baruch ... ha'Merachem al ha'Aretz', to whom does it refer?
(d)Seeing as Yonah came after David and Shlomoh, why does the Shatz invert the order?
(e)What is the special connection between David and Shlomoh, and the land?
9)
(a)The third and fourth Chasimos respectively, refer to Shmuel in Mitzpah and Eliyahu on Har ha'Carmel, the fifth - to Yonah in the stomach of the whale (See Tos. Yom-Tov).
(b)The first and second of the first two Chasimos respectively, end 'Baruch ... Shome'a Tze'akah' and Baruch Shome'a Tefilah, respectively, the third one ends 'ha'Oneh be'Eis Tzarah' (similar to the Shatz at Minchah of a Ta'anis Tzibur),
(c)The sixth and final Chasimah ends with 'Baruch ... ha'Merachem al ha'Aretz', with reference to - David and Shlomoh in Yerushalayim.
(d)Despite the fact that Yonah came after David and Shlomoh (See Tos. Yom-Tov), why does the Shatz inverts the order - in order to conclude with the B'rachah for the land ...
(e)... on behalf of which each of them Davened in time of famine.
Mishnah 5
10)
(a)The Mishnah cites an episode concerning Rebbi Chalafta and Rebbi Chananyah ben T'radyon when there was no rain. Where did the episode take place?
(b)After the Shatz concluded the first B'rachah (Go'el Yisrael), what did the people ...
1. ... not answer?
2. ... answer?
(c)Why did they do that?
10)
(a)The Mishnah cites an episode concerning Rebbi Chalafta and Rebbi Chananyah ben T'radyon when there was no rain, that took place in - Tzipori (See Tos. Yom-Tov, indicating that these were two independent occurrences).
(b)After the Shatz concluded the first B'rachah (Go'el Yisrael), the people ...
1. ... did not answer 'Amen!', but ...
2. ... 'Baruch Shem ... '
(c)... just like they did after a B'rachah that was recited in the Beis-ha'Mikdash.
11)
(a)What did the Chazan ha'Kenesses (the Gabai) announce before each of the special B'rachos discussed earlier?
(b)What is the Tana referring to when he cites the Chachamim, who maintain that this was not the accepted Minhag?
(c)Which were the only locations that they did do it?
(d)Why is that?
(e)How do we know that the Tana is not referring to the Minhag of blowing the Trumpets (which immediately precedes his statement)?
11)
(a)Before each of the special B'rachos discussed earlier, the Chazan ha'Kenesses (the Gabai) announced - 'Blow (the Trumpets) Kohanim, blow!' (See Tos. Yom-Tov and Tiferes Yisrael).
(b)When the Tana cites the Chachamim, who maintain that this was not the accepted Minhag, he is referring to - the Minhag to answer 'Baruch Shem' instead of "Amen!' ...
(c)... which they only did - next to the eastern gate of the Har ha'Bayis and of the Azarah ...
(d)... because they mentioned the Holy Name of Hash-m, to which 'Amen' will not suffice.
(e)We know that the Tana is not referring to the Minhag of blowing the Trumpets (which immediately precedes his statement) - since blowing the Trumpets was performed outside the Beis-ha'Mikdash, as we find both in this Masechta and in Rosh ha'Shanah (See also Tos. Yom-Tov).
Mishnah 6
12)
(a)What is the difference between the 'Men of Mishmar' and the 'Men of Beis-Av'?
(b)According to Rebbi Yehoshua, during the first set (See Tiferes Yisrael) of fasts the Men of Mishmar would fast but would not complete it, whereas the Men of Beis-Av did not fast at all. What does he say about ...
1. ... the second set (of three fasts(?
2. ... the third set (of seven fasts)?
(c)The Chachamim however, maintain that during the first set of fasts neither of them fasted at all. What do they say about ...
1. ... the second set of fasts?
2. ... the third set?
(d)Why were the Men of Mishmar exempt from completing any of the fasts, seeing as it was the Men of Beis-Av who performed the Avodah?
12)
(a)The 'Men of Mishmar' refers to the group that served in the Beis-ha'Mikdash throughout the week - the 'Men of Beis-Av' to those of them who served on any particular day of that week.
(b)According to Rebbi Yehoshua, during the first (of three fasts [See Tiferes Yisrael]) the Men of Mishmar would fast but would not complete it, whereas the Men of Beis-Av did not fast at all. He says about ...
1. ... the second set (of three fasts) - that the Men of Mishmar completed the fast, whereas the Men of Beis-Av did not.
2. ... the third set (of seven fasts) -
(c)The Chachamim however, maintain that during the first set of fasts neither of them fasted at all. They say about ...
1. ... the second set of fasts - what Rebbi Yehoshua said about the first set, and about ...
2. ... the third set - what Rebbi Yehoshua said about the second set,
(d)The Men of Mishmar were not exempt from completing any of the fasts, despite the fact that it was the Men of Beis-Av who (initially) performed the Avodah - since if the Avodah turned out to be too difficult for the Men of Beis-Av, the Men of Mishmar would assist them, in which case they needed the strength to perform the Avodah.
Mishnah 7
13)
(a)What distinction does the Tana draw between the men of the Mishmar and the men of the Beis-Av regarding drinking wine?
(b)Why at night are ...
1. ... the men of the Beis-Av prohibited from drinking wine?
2. ... the men of the Mishmar not included in the prohibition?
(c)What has this Halachah to do with Ta'anis?
13)
(a)The Tana - permits the men of the Mishmar to drink wine at night-time but not during the day, but forbids the men of the Beis-Av to drink wine at all (See Tos. Yom-Tov).
(b)The reason that at night ...
1. ... the men of the Beis-Av prohibited from drinking wine is - because of the Mitzvah to pick up any limbs and fat-pieces that have fallen on the floor and return them on to the Mizbe'ach (See also Tos. Yom-Tov).
2. ... the men of the Mishmar not included in the prohibition is - due to the un-likelihood of that solitary Avodah becoming too difficult for the men of the Beis-Av during the night.
(c)This Halachah has nothing to do with Ta'anis - but is connected to the Dinim of the men of the Mishmar, which are currently under discussion.
14)
(a)What other two things are even the men of the Mishmar forbidden to do?
(b)What is the reason for this Halachah?
(c)The same applies to the men of the Ma'amad. Who are 'the men of the Ma'amad?
(d)From which word/Pasuk in Pinchas do we learn the obligation to stand by the Korban as it is being brought?
14)
(a)The other two things that eventhe men of the Mishmar are forbidden to do are - have a hair-cut and wash their clothes ...
(b)... to encourage them to do so before arriving for the Avodah, so as not to appear before Hash-m looking unkempt and dirty.
(c)The same applies to the men of the Ma'amad - groups of appointed Yisre'eilim who represented K'lal Yisrael, who stayed in Yerushalayim and who took turns in standing by the Korban Tamid.
(d)We learn the obligation to stand by the Korban as it is being brought from the word "Tishm'ru" (in the Pasuk in Pinchas "Tishm'ru Lehakriv Li be'Mo'ado").
15)
(a)On which day did the Chachamim waive these prohibitions?
(b)Why is that?
(c)Why on Thursday and not on Friday?
15)
(a)The Chachamim waived these prohibitions - on Thursday ...
(b)... in honor of Shabbos ...
(c)On Thursday and not on Friday - because on Erev Shabbos people are busy preparing for Shabbos.
Mishnah 8
16)
(a)What is 'Megilas Ta'anis'?
(b)On all of those days fasting is forbidden. What did the Chachamim also forbid on some of them?
(c)With regard to the prohibition of eulogizing, why, according to the Tana Kama, did they ...
1. ... extend it to the day before?
2. ... not extend it to the day after?
(d)What does Rebbi Yossi say?
(e)If, according to the Tana Kama, they did not extend the prohibition against fasting beyond the actual Yom-Tov itself, what does Rebbi Yossi say?
16)
(a)'Megilas Ta'anis' is - a book (Tos. Yom-Tov) that lists all the miracles that occurred during the era of the second Beis-ha'Mikdash.
(b)On all of those days fasting is forbidden; on some of them, the Chachamim also forbade eulogizing.
(c)With regard to the prohibition of eulogizing, according to the Tana Kama, they ...
1. ... extended it to the day before - in case one comes to eulogize on the Yom-Tov itself, but ...
2. ... to the day after - because, since the Yom-Tov passed, they were not worried about it.
(d)Rebbi Yossi maintains - that they extended it to the day after as well.
(e)Whereas according to the Tana Kama, they did not extend the prohibition against fasting beyond the actual Yom-Tov itself, Rebbi Yossi maintains - that they did extend it to the day before.
17)
(a)What is the status of Megilas Ta'anis nowadays?
(b)Which are the two exceptions?
(c)What is the Halachah regarding ...
1. ... the day before?
2. ... the day after?
17)
(a)Nowadays, Megilas Ta'anis - is no longer applicable (See Tos. Yom-Tov).
(b)The two exceptions are - Chanukah and Purim ...
(c)... on which both ...
1. ... the day before and ...
2. ... the day after - both eulogizing and fasting are permitted.
Mishnah 9
18)
(a)On which day do the Chachamim not initiate a fast?
(b)What is the basic reason for this?
(c)For which of two reasons are the storekeepers likely to raise their prices if they do?
18)
(a)The Chachamim do not initiate a fast - on Thursday ...
(b)... for fear that when, come Thursday, everybody starts purchasing food for two main meals (one for after the fast and one for Shabbos), the storekeepers will raise their prices ...
(c)... because they think that either a famine has already struck the land or because or Beis-Din would not fix a fast just before Shabbos unless they anticipated a famine (See Tos. Yom-Tov).
19)
(a)According to the Tana Kama, on what days do they decree ...
1. ... the first set of fasts?
2. ... the second set of fasts?
(b)Why is there no problem with initiating the second set of fasts on Thursday?
19)
(a)According to the Tana Kama, they decree ...
1. ... the first set of fasts - on Monday, Thursday and Monday.
2. ... the second set of fasts - on Thursday, Monday and Thursday.
(b)There is no problem with initiating the second set of fasts on Thursday - because the storekeepers already know that the Chachamim initiated the fasts because of a lack of rain (And not because of a famine).
Mishnah 10
20)
(a)On which three dates do the Chachamim not initiate a public fast?
(b)What does Raban Gamliel then mean when it then talks about where they did?
(c)What does he say in a case where they did?
20)
(a)The Chachamim do not initiate a public fast - on Rosh Chodesh (See Tos. Yom-Tov), Chanukah and Purim (Ibid.).
(b)When Raban Gamliel then talks about where they did, it is referred, not to the initial fast, but to where the fast had already begun earlier.
(c)In a case where they did, he says - that one does not break the series of fasts.
21)
(a)According to Rebbi Meir, what does Raban Gamliel concede?
(b)What exactly does Rebbi Meir mean when he says 'Ein Mashlimin'?
(c)To which other day does this latter ruling also apply?
(d)Like whom is the Halachah?
21)
(a)According to Rebbi Meir, Raban Gamliel concede - that one does not complete the fast ('Ein Mashlimin') stops fasting shortly before Sheki'ah
(b)... but may eat shortly before Sheki'ah.
(c)This latter ruling also applies to - Tish'ah be'Av that falls on Friday.
(d)The Halachah is like the Tana Kama (in Raban Gamliel).
