Study Rosh Hashanah folio 18B with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
As Rav Ḥana bar Bizna said that R' Shimon Ḥasida said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “Thus said YHWH of hosts: The fast of the 4th month, and the fast of the fifth, and fast of the 7th, and the fast of the tenth, shall become times of joy and gladness, and cheerful seasons, to the h
Rav Pappa said that this is what it is saying: When there is peace in the world and the Temple is standing, these days will be times of joy and gladness; when there is persecution and troubles for the Jewish people, they are days of fasting; and when there is no persecution but still no peace, ne
The Talmud asks: If so, the 9th of Av should also be like the other fast days, that sometimes it is observed and sometimes not, depending upon the wishes of the community at the time. Why does the Mishnah state that messengers go out for the month of Av? Rav Pappa said: The 9th of Av is different, s
§ The rabbis disagreed about the fasts alluded to in the words of the prophet, as it is taught in a baraita. R' Shimon said: R' Akiva would expound 4 verses, but I would not expound the texts as he did. One of the disputes relates to the fasts mentioned by Zechariah. R' Akiva would expound the vers
“The fast of the fifth,” this is the 9th of Av, on which the Temple of our God was burnt. And why does he call it the fast of the fifth? Because it falls in the fifth of the months. “The fast of the 7th,” this is the third of Tishrei, on which Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, was killed. And who killed him