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2 [1] We should fast and sound the trumpets in the [following] situations of communal distress: because of the distress that the enemies of the Jews cause the Jews, because of [the passage of] an armed [force], because of a plague, because of a wild animal [on a rampage], because of various species of locusts, because of the black blight and the yellow blight, because of falling buildings, because of an epidemic, because of [the loss of our source of] sustenance, and because of rain [or a lack of it]. [2] A city afflicted by any of these difficulties should fast and sound the trumpets until the difficulty passes. The inhabitants of the surrounding area should fast, but should not sound the trumpets. They should, however, ask for mercy on [their brethren's] behalf. We do not cry out [to God] or sound the trumpets on the Sabbath, as was explained, except in the case of distress over [the loss of our source of] sustenance. In this instance, we cry out [to God] even on the Sabbath, but we do not sound the trumpets for this reason on the Sabbath. [3] What is meant by "the distress that the enemies of the Jews cause the Jews"? When gentiles come to wage war against the Jews, to impose a tax upon them, to take land away from them, or to pass a decree [restricting the observance of our faith,] even concerning merely a slight mitzvah, we should fast and sound the trumpets until [God shows] mercy.
All the surrounding cities should fast, but they should not sound the trumpets unless they are doing so to gather the people together to come to their aid. [4] What is meant by "[the passage of] an armed [force]"? This applies even to an armed [force] that has peaceful intentions. For example, gentiles were waging war against other gentiles and they passed a Jewish settlement. Although they are not at war with the Jews, this is still considered a time of distress for which we should fast, as [implied by the blessing, Leviticus 26:6] "A sword will not pass through your land." From this, it can be understood that seeing war is itself a sign of distress. [5] "Because of plague." What constitutes a plague? When three people die on three consecutive days in a city that has 500 male inhabitants, this is considered to be a plague. If [this many people] die on one day or on four days, it is not considered a plague.
If a city has 1000 male inhabitants and six people die on three consecutive days, it is considered to be a plague. If [this many people] die on one day or on four days, it is not considered a plague. Similarly, this ratio should be followed [with regard to all cities, regardless of their size].
Women, children, and older men who no longer work are not included in the census in this context. [6] If there is a plague in *Eretz Yisrael*, [the Jews in] the diaspora should fast on [its inhabitants'] behalf. If there was a plague in one country and caravans frequently travel from it to another country, they should both fast, even if they are distant from each other. [7] We do not fast because of a wild animal unless it is on a rampage. What is implied? If it is seen in a city during the day, it is on a rampage. Should it be seen in a field during the day, encounter two men and not flee from them, it is on a rampage. If the field was close to a swamp, and it saw two men and pursued them, it is on a rampage; if it did not pursue them, it is not on a rampage.
If it was in a swamp, even if it pursued them, it is not considered to be on a rampage unless it slew both of them and ate [only] one. If, however, it ate both of them in a swamp, it is not considered to be on a rampage, for this is its place, and it slew them because it was hungry, not because it was on a rampage. [8] When houses are constructed in deserts or in other abandoned areas, since this is a natural place for bands of wild animals, [it is only when] an animal climbs to the top of a roof and takes a baby from a cradle that it is considered to be "on a rampage." Otherwise, it is not considered to be "on a rampage." [The fault lies rather] with these people who endangered their lives and came to a place where wild animals live. [9] When there is a rampage of swarming animals - e.g., snakes or scorpions - or swarming birds that cause injury, we do not fast or sound the trumpets because of them. We do, however, call out [to God] without trumpet blasts. Needless to say, [this applies to swarms of] hornets, mosquitoes, and the like. [10] "Because of various species of locusts." Even if only one fleet is seen in all of *Eretz Yisrael*, [the entire country] should fast and sound the trumpets because of them. [The same applies if] even the slightest amount of *govai* appear. For *chagav*, however, we do not fast or sound the trumpets; nevertheless, we do call out [to God] without sounding the trumpets. [11] "Because of the black blight and the yellow blight." As soon as these affect the crops, even if they affect only a small amount of grain, [an area the size of] the opening of an oven, a fast is called and the trumpets are sounded. [12] What is meant by "because of falling buildings"? When many strong walls that are not located on the banks of a river begin to fall in a city, this is a difficulty [that warrants] fasting and the sounding of the trumpets.
Similarly, we should fast and sound the trumpets because of earthquakes and strong winds that destroy buildings and kill people. [13] What is meant by "because of an epidemic"? When one illness - e.g., a throat infection or polio - affects many people in a city and people die because of this illness, this is considered to be a matter of communal distress. A fast is called and the trumpets are sounded.
Similarly, if running sores affect the majority of the community, it is considered like boils, and they should fast and sound the trumpets. For a dry itch [which affects the entire community], we merely cry out [to God]. [14] What is meant by "because of [the loss of our source of] sustenance"? That the price of the articles on which the livelihood of most of the inhabitants of a city depend - e.g., linen goods in Babylon and wine and oil in *Eretz Yisrael* - has fallen, and the trade in these articles has decreased to the extent that a merchant must offer them for sale at only 60% of their real value in order to be able to find a purchaser. This is considered a communal distress [that warrants] us to raise a clamor and cry out to God, even on the Sabbath. [15] What is meant by "because of rain"? When the rainfall is so abundant that it causes difficulty, prayers should be recited. There is no greater difficulty than this, that homes should fall and become the graves [of their inhabitants].
In *Eretz Yisrael*, we do not pray [for the cessation of the rains] when there is an abundant rainfall. It is a mountainous land, and its houses are made of stone. An abundance of rain is of benefit, and we should not fast to cause a benefit to pass. [16] If, after grain has already sprouted, the rains cease and the produce begins to dry, the people should fast and cry out [to God] until rain descends or the produce dries out entirely.
Similarly, if the Pesach season, which is the time when the trees flower in *Eretz Yisrael*, arrives and there is no rainfall, the people should fast and cry out [to God] until rain that is fit for trees descends or until the season passes. [17] Similarly, if the festival of Sukkot arrived and a sufficient amount of rain had not descended to fill the storage vats, the irrigation ditches, and the caverns, the people should fast until sufficient rain descends for the storage vats.
If the people have no water to drink, they should fast for rain at all times whenever there is no water to drink, even in the summer. [18] When the rains ceased for more than forty days in the rainy season, it is a drought, and the people should fast and cry out [to God] until the rains descend or until the rainy season passes.
Version: Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007
Source: https://www.nli.org.il/he/books/NNL_ALEPH001020101/NLI
License: CC-BY-NC