שאלה

שְׁאֵלָה, שְׁאִי׳f. (b. h.; שָׁאַל) 1) request, esp. shelah, prayer for rain, inserted in the ninth section of the Prayer of Benedictions. Ber.V, 2 (33a), v. שָׁאַל. Ib. 26b; 29a טעה … ש׳ בברכת השנים (v. Ms. M. in Rabb. D. S. a. l.) if by mistake … he omitted the prayer for rain in the ninth section; (Tosef. ib. III, 9 ולא שאל את הגשמים). Taan.4b ש׳ לחוד והזכרה לחוד prayer for rain is one thing, and reference to rain (in the second section) is another thing, v. הַזְכָּרָה. Ib. 2b משעה שמפסיק לש׳וכ׳ when you cease to insert the prayer for rain, you must also cease to insert the reference to rain; a. fr. 2) question, problem. B. Kam. 116a זו ש׳ היא Ms. H. (ed. וזו שאילה) this is indeed a question (worth asking); Zeb.30b; 92b. Sabb.31a ש׳ גדולה שאלת thou hast asked a great question; a. fr. 3) (v. שָׁאַל, Nif.) ritual question, esp. case of absolution from a vow brought before a scholar. Nam. R. s. 113> אם באת … על הדין ועל הש׳וכ׳ when a woman comes to thee at college to ask concerning a law or a vow, consider her as if she were thy own daughter. Ned.60a צריך ש׳ לחכם this requires absolution by a scholar. Ib. 69a יש ש׳ בהקם can absolution from confirmation be applied for? Ib. 78a; B. Bath. 120b יש ש׳ בהקדש absolution from consecration of an object may eventually be had; אין ש׳וכ׳ is not admissible; a. fr.Pl. שְׁאֵלוֹת, שְׁאֵי׳. Gen. R. s. 82; Yalk. ib. 136 שלש ש׳ אניוכ׳ I shall ask yon three questions; if you answer them, it is right Gen. R. s. 49, v. עִרְבּוּב; a. e. 4) שְׁאֵלָה or שַׁאֲלָה, loan, v. שְׁאֵילָה.