Comentario sobre Taanit 4:1

בשלשה פרקים בשנה וכו' – This is how it should be read: On three periods of time during the year, which are fast days, posts (i.e., divisions of popular representatives of Levites and Israelites deputized to accompany the daily services in the Temple with prayers) and Yom Kippur, that we offer up after this, Kohanim lift their hands [to bless the congregation] in each Amidah, that is, during Shaharit, Minhah and Neilah. And there is one day in each of these periods where they lift their hands four times during the day, and that is Yom Kippur, which has the Musaf prayer. And Our Mishnah is according to Rabbi Meir, who said that there is the lifting of the hands [of the Kohanim] at Minhah on fast days and posts, and every day, what is the reason why they don’t lift their hands at Minhah – because of being drunk, and today, there is no drunkenness. But Rabbi Yosi disputes this and says that we decree that Minhah of fast days is like the Minhah service of every day. And the Halakha is according to Rabbi Yosi on fast days, and on “posts” and on Yom Kippur which has the Neilah prayer, but on those fast days where we do not recite Neilah, Kohanim lift their hands at Minhah of the fast day, since it is near the setting of the sun we recite this prayer – as it is similar to Neilah, and a Minhah like this, we don’t have on every day. Therefore, they did not make decree to do this.

Introduction During regular weekday prayers, the priests offer a priestly benediction as part of the Amidah. This consists of their lifting up their hands and reciting Numbers 6:24-26. The priestly benediction is normally done only during Shacharit, the morning service and not at Minhah. On Shabbatot and holidays that have a Mussaf service, it is also done during Mussaf. It is not normally done during Minhah because it is feared that the kohen may have drunk some wine during the day and it is forbidden to recite the priestly blessing while drunk. Such a concern does not exist on fast days, when the priests would not be drinking wine. The mishnah also teaches that on fast days another service is added, Neilah, which means “closing [of the gates].” This service is added as a special additional supplication.

בתעניות ובמעמדות – And this is how it should be read: And which are the three periods? Fast days, posts and Yom Kippur.

On three occasions during the year, on fast days, on ma’amadot, and on Yom Kippur the priests lift up their hands to bless [the people] four times during the day--at Shaharit, at Mussaf, at Minhah and at Neilah. Ma’amadot is an institution that was mentioned in passing above in 2:7 and will be explained in greater detail in tomorrow’s mishnah. On these three types of days the priests offer the priestly blessing every time there is a prayer service. According to the Babylonian Talmud, the mishnah is not entirely accurate since there is no Mussaf service on fast days or on ma’amadot. What the mishnah means to say is that every time there is a prayer service, the priests lift up their hands four times on Yom Kippur and three times on the other occasions. However, other sources seem to hold that there is a Mussaf service on fast days and on ma’amadot.

ומעמדות – The men of the post would fast four days each week.