Study Taanit folio 11B with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
כאילו קדוש שרוי בתוך מעיו, שנאמר: ״בקרבך קדוש ולא אבוא בעיר״! לא קשיא: הא — דמצי לצעורי נפשיה, הא — דלא מצי לצעורי נפשיה.
as though a sacred object is immersed in his bowels, which he may not damage, as it is stated: “The sacred is in your midst; and I will not come into the city” (Hosea 11:9). This statement indicates that it is prohibited to take a fast upon oneself. The Talmud answers: This is not difficult. This first ruling, that one who fasts is sacred, is referring to a case where he is able to distress himself without causing bodily harm. That second ruling, that one may not overly burden his body, deals with a situation when he is unable to distress himself while avoiding all harm, and he proceeds to fast nevertheless.
ריש לקיש אמר: נקרא חסיד, שנאמר: ״גמל נפשו איש חסד ועכר שארו וגו׳״. אמר רב ששת: האי בר בי רב דיתיב בתעניתא — ליכול כלבא לשירותיה.
Reish Lakish said: One who fasts is called pious, as it is stated: “The pious man does good [gomel] to his own soul; but he who troubles his own flesh is cruel” (Proverbs 11:17). The verb gomel can also mean weaning, or abstaining from unnecessary pleasure. Accordingly, Reish Lakish derives from this verse that one who abstains from food is called pious. Similarly, Rav Sheshet said: This student of a Torah academy who sits in observance of a fast has let a dog eat his portion. Since his fast weakens him and prevents him from studying Torah, it is considered as though a dog ate his meal, as the student derived no benefit from it.
אמר רב ירמיה בר אבא: אין תענית ציבור בבבל אלא תשעה באב בלבד. אמר רב ירמיה בר אבא אמר ריש לקיש: אין תלמיד חכם רשאי לישב בתענית, מפני שממעט במלאכת שמים.
Rav Yirmeya bar Abba said: There is no completely stringent communal fast in Babylonia, except for the 9th of Av alone. All other fasts, even those which are fixed and routine for the community, are treated as individual fasts, with regard to both the customs of the fast itself and the halakhot of who is obligated to fast. Rav Yirmeya bar Abba said that Reish Lakish said: A Torah scholar is not permitted to sit in observance of a fast, due to the fact that his fasting reduces his strength for the heavenly service of Torah study and mitzvot.