Study Taanit folio 11A with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
דיתיב בארבא. אי נמי, דקאזיל מאוונא לאוונא.
is in a case where he is sitting in a boat. The traveler must be concerned about his food supply, but he need not worry that the jostling of the road might force him to exert himself, which has a tendency to cause digestive problems. Alternatively, the practical difference is in a case where he is traveling from station [avna] to station. Here the exertion of the road might cause digestive problems, but one need not be concerned about running out of food, as he can resupply along the way.
רב פפא — כל פרסה ופרסה אכיל חדא ריפתא. קסבר, משום מעיינא.
The Talmud relates that when Rav Pappa traveled, along each and every parasang he would eat one loaf of bread. Rav Pappa did so because he maintained that the prohibition was due to the bowels, and as he was healthy he was not concerned that travel by road would irritate his digestion.
אמר רב יהודה אמר רב: כל המרעיב עצמו בשני רעבון, ניצל ממיתה משונה, שנאמר: ״ברעב פדך ממות״. ״מרעב״ מיבעי ליה, אלא הכי קאמר: בשכר שמרעיב עצמו בשני רעבון — ניצול ממיתה משונה.
Rav Yehuda said that Rav said: Anyone who has food for himself but nevertheless starves himself in years of famine will be saved from an unusual death, as it is stated: “In famine, He will redeem you from death” (Job 5:20). This is derived from the precise wording of the verse. According to its straightforward meaning, instead of “in famine,” it should have said: From famine, as one is delivered from famine. Rather, this is what the verse is saying: As a reward for starving himself in years of famine, Job will be saved from an unusual death.
אמר ריש לקיש: אסור לאדם לשמש מטתו בשני רעבון, שנאמר: ״וליוסף ילד שני בנים בטרם תבוא שנת הרעב״. תנא: חסוכי בנים משמשין מטותיהן בשני רעבון.
Similarly, Reish Lakish said: It is prohibited for a person to have sex in years of famine, so that children not be born during these difficult years. As it is stated: “And to Joseph were born two sons before the year of famine came” (Genesis 41:50). It was taught in a baraita: Nevertheless, those without children may have marital sex in years of famine, as they must strive to fulfill the mitzva to be fruitful and multiply.