Rosh Hashana 19

The Gemara explains our rabbis' opinions regarding fasting days and their origins.  They note many contributing factors, such as 

• fasting is prohibited on a Festival that was given by Torah law
• fasting is prohibited on the preceding day and the day following such a Festival
• Rosh Hashana and the New Moon are also considered to be Festivals by Torah law and thus fasting is prohibited

One of their stories - explaining why the 28th of Adar is fortuitous for Jews who do not neglect Torah study - stands out.  Yehuda ben Shammua consulted with a "matron" of the Roman upper class for advice.  She was a friend to all of the prominent men of Rome.  At that time the wicked kingdom was forbidding Jews to learn Torah, to circumsize their sons, and to keep Shabbat.  This woman suggested that they cry out at night, "O Heavens! Are we not your brothers; are we not children of one father; are we not children of one mother? How are we different from every nation and tongue that you issue harsh decrees against us?"  And the decrees were annulled.

Of interest to me:

• women could carry that much influence; 
• women knew the appropriate ways of manipulating those in power; 
• women with this power were sympathetic to the Jews; 
• this matron was considered important enough to be quoted in the Talmud

Amud (b) takes us into the land of the Jewish calendar.  This land is a foreign land to me; I find the calendar to be confusing, layered with rules, guidelines, suggestions, and reasons for all of the above.  I found it difficult to keep track of the conversation in today's daf regarding the calendar: why months must have certain numbers of days; what is special about the placement of Rosh Hashana on the calendar; how and why we should adapt some months and not others.  Hopefully this will continue to become more accessible to me as I continue to learn.