er proclaimed
thirteen public fasts, but no rain came. At the termination of the last
fast, just as the congregation was leaving the synagogue, he cried
aloud, "Have you then prepared graves for yourselves?" Upon this all the
people burst into bitter cries, and rain came down directly.

_Taanith_, fol. 25, col. 2.

A boy at thirteen years of age is bound to observe the usual fasts in
full, i.e., throughout the whole day. A girl is bound to do so when only
twelve. Rashi gives this as the reason:--A boy is supposed to be weaker
than a girl on account of the enervating effect of much study.

_Kethuboth_, fol. 5, col. 1.

A poor man once came to Rava and begged for a meal. "On what dost thou
usually dine?" asked Rava. "On stuffed fowl and old wine," was the
reply. "What!" said Rava, "art thou not concerned about being so
burdensome to the community?" He replied, "I eat nothing belonging to
them, only what the Lord provides; as we are taught (Ps. cxlv. 15),
'The eyes of all wait upon Thee, and Thou givest them their meat in his
season.' It is not said in their season, for so we learn that God
provides for each individual in his season of need." While they were
thus talking, in came Rava's sister, who had not been to see him for
thirteen years, and she brought him as a present a stuffed fowl and some
old wine also. Rava marveled at the coincidence, and turning to his poor
visitor said, "I beg thy pardon, friend; rise, I pray thee, and eat."

Ibid., fol. 67, col. 2.

So great is circumcision that thirteen covenants were made concerning
it. Tosafoth says that covenant is written thirteen times in the chapter
of circumcision.

_Nedarim_, fol. 31, col. 2.

Rabbi (the Holy) says sufferings are to be borne with resignation. He
himself bore them submissively for thirteen years; for six he suffered
from lithiasis, and for seven years from stomatitis (or, as some say,
six years from the former and seven from the latter). His groans were
heard three miles off.

_Bava Metzia_, fol. 85, col. 1.

The Rabbis have taught thirteen things respecting breakfast
(morning-morsel):--It counteracts the effects of heat, cold or draught;
it protects from malignant demons; it makes wise the simple by keeping
the mind in a healthy condition; it enables a man to come off clear from
a judicial inquiry; it qualifies him both to learn and to teach the law;
it makes him eagerly listened to, to have a retentive memory, etc.

Ibid. fol. 107, col