Commentary for Taanit 2:3
וְאֵלּוּ הֵן, זִכְרוֹנוֹת, וְשׁוֹפָרוֹת, אֶל ה' בַּצָּרָתָה לִּי קָרָאתִי וַיַּעֲנֵנִי (תהלים קכ), אֶשָּׂא עֵינַי אֶל הֶהָרִים וְגוֹ' (שם קכא), מִמַּעֲמַקִּים קְרָאתִיךָ ה' (שם קל), תְּפִלָּה לְעָנִי כִי יַעֲטֹף (שם קב). רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, לֹא הָיָה צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר זִכְרוֹנוֹת וְשׁוֹפָרוֹת, אֶלָּא אוֹמֵר תַּחְתֵּיהֶן, רָעָב כִּי יִהְיֶה בָאָרֶץ (מלכים ב ח), דֶּבֶר כִּי יִהְיֶה וְגוֹ', אֲשֶׁר הָיָה דְבַר ה' אֶל יִרְמְיָהוּ עַל דִּבְרֵי הַבַּצָּרוֹת (ירמיה יד). וְאוֹמֵר חוֹתְמֵיהֶן:
These [extra blessings] are as follows: (1) [The blessing of] Remembrances, (2) [The blessing of] Shofars, (3) [Psalm 120,] "Hashem is my G-d in times of distress to me," (4) [Psalm 121,] "I lift my eyes up to the mountains," (5) [Psalm 130,] "From the depths I have called to you, O G-d," (6) [Psalm 102,] "A prayer of the impoverished, when he wraps himself [in a <em>Tallit</em>]. Rabbi Yehudah says, "It was not necessary to say [the blessings of] Remembrances and Shofars, but rather he says in their place, "When there is famine in the land, when there is pestilence in the land (I Kings 8:37)," and, "The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the droughts (Jer. 14:1)." And he says their conclusions:
Bartenura on Mishnah Taanit
English Explanation of Mishnah Taanit
Zikhronot,
“If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence” (I Kings 8:37).
Shofarot,
“The word of the Lord which came to Jeremiah concerning the droughts” (Jeremiah 14).
“In my distress I called to the Lord and He answered me” (Psalm 120).
“I turn my eyes to the mountains” (Psalm 121).
“Out of the depths I call you, O Lord” (Psalm 130).
“A prayer of lowly man when he is faint” (Psalm 102). Rabbi Judah says: he need not recite the zikhronot and shofarot, but instead he should recite [the following]: And he ends each [of the additional six] sections with its appropriate concluding benediction.
There are six additional benedictions listed in our mishnah. Our mishnah provides the scriptural verses that are recited as part of these benedictions. In the following mishnah we will learn the additional liturgy attached to each benedictions, liturgy based on verses but composed by the rabbis.
Section A: The first two benedictions are the same as two of the three benedictions recited on Rosh Hashanah zikhronot, remembrances and shofarot. These are appropriate for fast days because we are asking God to remember us and deliver us rain and we blow the shofar. Malkhuyot, kingship, the other special benediction for Rosh Hashanah would not be appropriate for a fast day.
The other four benedictions consist of Psalms. While the mishnah only mentions the first verse, the meaning is that the entire Psalm is recited.
Section B: Rabbi Judah disagrees with the recitation of the zikhronot and shofarot and instead offers two other appropriate biblical verses.
Section C: Each section is ended with an appropriate concluding benediction. These are explicated in tomorrow’s mishnah.