For Times of Isolation and Plague

Go, my people, enter your chambers, And lock your doors behind you. Hide but a little moment, Until the indignation passes.

1 These are the troubles of the community about which we fast and sound [trumpets]: About haters of Israelites making troubles for Israelites; about the sword (foreign troops); about a plague; about evil (dangerous) animals; about [the two main types of] locusts; about blight; about chlorosis; about collapse; about sicknesses; about [the lack of] provisions; and about the rain.

2 Any city that has one of these troubles should fast and sound [trumpets] until the trouble passes. And all surrounding it should fast, but not sound [trumpets]. However they should request mercy [of God] (pray) for them. And in every place, we do not cry out nor sound [trumpets] on Shabbat - as we have said. [This is] except for the trouble of [the lack of] provisions - for we cry out about it even on Shabbat. But we do not sound trumpets about it on Shabbat.

5 About a plague - how is this? What is a plague? A city that has five hundred footmen and three of them are eliminated and died in three days - one after [the other] - this is surely a plague. If they were eliminated in one day or in four days, it is not a plague. If there were a thousand and six of them were eliminated in three days - one after [the other - this is] a plague. If they were eliminated in one day or in four days, it is not a plague. And so forth, according to this calculation. And women, minors and old men that have stopped from working are not in the count of the people of the province regarding this matter.

6 [If] there was a plague in the Land of Israel, the rest of the exiles of Israel should fast about them. If there was a plague in a province and there are caravans coming from it to another province - both of them should fast, even though they are far from one [another].

13 About sicknesses - how is this? See that [if] a sickness came down upon many people in one city - such as diphtheria or violent fever and that which is similar to them - and they were dying from this sickness, it is surely a communal trouble. So we decree a fast for it and sound [trumpets]. And likewise do we fast and sound [trumpets] for damp scabs (chikhukh). But we only cry out for dry scabs.

The Gemara raises a difficulty against this conclusion. But isn’t it taught in a baraita: And with regard to all other types of calamities than drought that break out, for example scabs, plagues of locusts, flies, or hornets, or mosquitoes, or infestations of snakes or scorpions, they would not sound the alarm, but they would cry out. From the fact that crying out is, according to all opinions, a prayer recited with one’s mouth, it follows that sounding an alarm must be with shofarot. This baraita indicates that sounding the alarm with shofarot is the response to a serious situation, whereas the Aneinu prayer is recited on less worrisome occasions.

See our affliction and contend for our strife, and redeem us quickly for the sake of Your Name, for You are a strong redeemer. Blessed are You, O Lord, Redeemer of Israel.

(On Fast Days include: (Answer us, O Lord, answer us, in the day of our fast, because we are in great distress. Do not regard our wickedness; do not hide Your face from us, and do not ignore our supplication. Please be near to our cry; please treat us kindly and comfort us; before we call to You, answer us, as it is said, 'And it will be that before they call, I will answer them, and while they are still speaking, I will hear.' For You, O Lord, answer in the time of distress; You redeem and deliver in every time of woe and distress. Blessed are You, O Lord, Who responds in the time of distress.)

Heal us, O Lord, and we shall be healed, save us and we shall be saved, for You are our praise. Bring complete healing to all our wounds,