[If] they had been fasting, and rain began to fall before sunrise, they need not complete [the fast]. [If the rain began to fall] after sunrise, they must complete [the fast]. R' Eliezer says: [If it began to rain] before midday, they need not complete [the fast, but if the rain began] after midday, they must complete [the fast]. It once happened that a fast was decreed in Lod and rain fell before midday. R' Tarfon said to them, “Go out, eat and drink, and proclaim a holiday.” They then went out, ate, drank, and proclaimed a holiday. In the afternoon, they returned [to the synagogue] and recited the Great Hallel.

On three junctures of the year the Kohanim raise their hands [to bless the people] four times during the day —- at Shacharis, Musaf, Minchah, and Ne'ilah —- on fast days, on maamados, and on Yom Kippur.

These are the maamados: Since the Torah states: Command the Children of Israel and say to them, “My sacrifice, my bread ...” Now, how can a person's sacrifice be offered when he is not present? The early prophets instituted twenty-four mishmaros. Corresponding to every single mishmar, there was a maamad in Jerusalem of Kohanim, Leviim, and Yisraelim. When the time approached for the mishmar to ascend, the Kohanim and the Leviim would ascend to Jerusalem, and the Yisraelim assigned to that mishmar would assemble in their cities, and read from the Story of Creation.

The men of the maamad would fast four days of the week, from Monday through Thursday. They would not fast on Friday, because of the honor due the Sabbath; nor on Sunday lest they go from rest and pleasure to toil and fast, and become faint.  On Sunday [they would read]: In the beginning, and Let there be a firmament. On Monday: Let there be a firmament, and Let the waters gather. On Tuesday: Let the waters gather, and Let there be luminaries. On Wednesday: Let there be luminaries, and Let the waters swarm. On Thursday: Let the waters swarm, and Let the earth bring forth. On Friday: Let the earth bring forth, [and] the heaven was completed.  A long portion would be read by two [people] and a short one by one [person] —- at Shacharis and at Musaf. At Minchah, they would enter [the synagogue] and recite [the verses] by heart, like those who read the Shema. On Friday at Minchah they would not enter [the synagogue], because of the honor due the Sabbath.

On any day when Hallel is recited there is no maamad at Shacharis. [Whenever there is] a musaf-sacrifice, there is no [maamad even] at Ne'ilah. [Whenever there is] a wood-offering, there is no [maamad] at Minchah. [This is] R' Akiva's view. Ben Azzai said to him, “R' Yehoshua would learn this way: `[Whenever there is a] musaf-sacrifice, there is no [maamad] at Minchah; [whenever there is] a wood-offering, there is no [maamad] at Ne'ilah.' ” R' Akiva retracted in order to comply with Ben Azzai.

The wood festival of the Kohanim and the people [was celebrated] nine times [a year]. On the first of Nissan, the family of Arach of the tribe of Judah [did so]. On the twentieth of Tammuz, the family of David of the tribe of Judah [did so]. On the fifth of Av, the family of Parosh of the tribe of Judah [did so]. On the seventh of that [month], the family of Jonadab, the son of Rechab [did so]. On the tenth of that [month], the family of Senaah of the tribe of Benjamin [did so]. On the fifteenth of that [month], the family of Zattu of the tribe of Judah [did so], and along with them were Kohanim and Leviim, and anyone who was uncertain of his tribe, and the family of the pestle-smugglers, the family of the fig-cutters [did so]. On the twentieth of that [month], the family of Pachas-Moav of the tribe of Judah [did so]. On the twentieth of Elul, the family of Adin of the tribe of Judah [did so]. On the first of Teves, the family of Parosh returned a second time. On the first of Teves, there was no maamad, since Hallel [was recited] and a musaf-sacrifice and a wood-offering [were brought] thereon.

Five incidents befell our ancestors on the Seventeenth of Tammuz, and five on the Ninth of Av. On the Seventeenth of Tammuz, the Tablets were broken, the con-tinual [daily] sacrifice was discontinued, the city [wall] was breached, Apostumos burned the Torah, and placed an image in the Sanctuary.  On the Ninth of Av, it was decreed upon our ancestors that they would not enter the Land, the Temple was destroyed for the first time and the second time, Bethar was conquered, and the city was plowed under.  Therefore, when Av begins, we curtail joy.

During the week of Tishah B'Av, it is forbidden to cut hair or launder [clothes]. However, on Thursday it is permitted, because of the honor due the Sabbath. On the afternoon before Tishah B'Av, a person may not eat two cooked foods, nor may one eat meat or drink wine. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: He need [merely] make some variance. R' Yehudah requires overturning the beds, but the Sages did not agree with him.

Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel said: Israel had no days as festive as the Fifteenth of Av and Yom Kippur, for on those days the maidens of Jerusalem would go out [dressed] in white, borrowed garments —- in order not to embarrass one who had none. All the garments [worn on these occasions] required immersion.  The maidens of Jerusalem would go out and dance in the vineyards. And what would they say? Young man, lift up your eyes and see what you choose for yourself. Do not consider beauty; consider family. Grace is false and beauty is vain; a woman who fears Hashem, she shall be praised. And it is stated: Give her but the fruits of her own hands, and let her be praised in the gates by her very own deeds. Similarly, it says: Go forth and gaze, O daughters of Zion, upon King Shlomo, adorned with the crown His nation made Him on the day of His wedding and on the day of His heart's gladness. On the day of His wedding —- this is the giving of the Torah; and on the day of His heart's gladness —- this is the building of the Holy Temple. May it be rebuilt speedily in our days! Amen.