תלמוד בבלי תענית ז.א
אמר רבי אבהו: גדול יום הגשמים מתחיית המתים, דאילו תחיית המתים לצדיקים, ואילו גשמים ־ בין לצדיקים בין לרשעים. ופליגא דרב יוסף, דאמר רב יוסף: מתוך שהיא שקולה כתחיית המתים ־ קבעוה בתחיית המתים. אמר רב יהודה: גדול יום הגשמים כיום שניתנה בו תורה,
Said Rabbi Abahu: The day of rain is greater than the resurrection of the dead, for the resurrection of the dead concerns only the righteous, while the rain concerns both the righteous and the unjust. Rav Yosef disagreed, as Rav Yosef said: since it is equal with the resurrection of the dead -- they fixed it (in the liturgy) with resurrection of the dead. Rav Yehuda said: The day of rain is greater than the day on which the Torah was given.
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1. Why do you think the rabbis mentioned here put so much emphasis on the importance of rain?
2. What does this text say about "unjust" people? What do they deserve despite their unjust ways?
3. What might this text teach us about the importance of food? Is there ever a time when we can deny someone access to food?
Time Period: Rabbinic (Maccabees through the Talmud)