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Taanis Chapter 3, Mishnah 5: When to Blow the Shofar

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Taanis, Chapter 3, Mishnah 5. The Mishnah lists the calamities for which the alarm is sounded everywhere.

"Al eilu masri'in b'chol makom" - for the following things the shofar or the trumpets are sounded in every place.

  • "Al hashidafon" - a blight caused by an extremely strong wind or by harsh weather.

  • "V'al hayerakon" - a type of disease that strikes the grain crop.

  • "Al ha'arbeh v'al hechasil" - species of locusts that descend upon the fields.

  • "V'al hachayah" - a wild and dangerous animal that has come out and is liable to harm people.

  • "V'al hacherev" - invading armies.

For all of these - "masri'in aleha" - everywhere the shofar is sounded and a fast is declared.

"Mipnei shehi makkah mehaleches" - these are roving calamities, which are liable to strike anywhere, and therefore everyone is required to take part.

In summary: The Mishnah lists the calamities for which the alarm is sounded everywhere - blight, crop disease, the two species of locusts, dangerous animals and the sword - and explains that this is because each is a "makkah mehaleches," a roving calamity that is not confined to one place, and therefore the alarm and the fast are incumbent upon all.