Study Rosh Hashanah folio 19A with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
ותיפוק ליה דהוה ליה יום שנהרג בו גדליה בן אחיקם! אמר רב: לא נצרכה אלא לאסור את שלפניו.
The Talmud raises a difficulty: But if this was at the time that the Temple was standing, derive the prohibition against fasting on the third of Tishrei from the fact that it is the day that Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, was killed. During the time of the Temple the biblical fast days were celebrated as days of joy. Rav said: It was only necessary to include the third of Tishrei in Megillat Ta’anit in order to prohibit fasting on the preceding day as well. Fasting was forbidden not only on the actual days listed in Megillat Ta’anit, but also on the preceding day and the following day.
שלפניו נמי, תיפוק ליה דהוה ליה יום שלאחר ראש חדש! ראש חדש דאורייתא, ודאורייתא לא בעי חיזוק.
The Talmud raises another difficulty: With regard to the prohibition against fasting on the preceding day, the second of Tishrei, also derive it because it is the day after Rosh Chodesh, and fasting is forbidden not only on festive days, but also on the preceding day and the following day. The Talmud rejects this argument: Rosh Chodesh is by Torah law, and festive days that are by Torah law do not require reinforcement. Therefore no decree was ever enacted prohibiting fasting on the days before and after.
דתניא: הימים האלה הכתובין במגילת תענית אסורין, בין לפניהם בין לאחריהם. שבתות וימים טובים — הם אסורים, לפניהן ולאחריהן מותרין. מה הפרש בין זה לזה? הללו דברי תורה, ואין דברי תורה צריכין חיזוק. הללו דברי סופרים, ודברי סופרים צריכין חיזוק.
As it is taught in a baraita: These days that are written in Megillat Ta’anit are days on which fasting is prohibited, as are both the day before them and the day after them. With regard to Shabbatot and Festivals, fasting on them is forbidden, but on the day before them and the day after them fasting is permitted. What is the difference between this class of days and that class of days? These days, Shabbatot and Festivals, are by Torah law, and Torah laws do not need reinforcement, and therefore even if a fast day were decreed on the day before or after them, the Festival itself would not be nullified; whereas those days mentioned in Megillat Ta’anit are by rabbinic law, and rabbinic laws need reinforcement, and therefore fasting is prohibited even on the day before and the day after.