A woman on the verge of the second marriage who wants to keep her property from the clutches, as it were, of the new husband, and makes a gift of it to her unmarried daughter. Then the daughter gets married, the stuff goes to the husband, the daughter gets divorced, and the mother wants her property back. Can she get it back? R. Nachman tears up the document establishing the gift to the daughter. So is it really ever a gift? Also, a new mishnah: if a married woman inherits movable property and l...
Sep 23, 2022•21 min•Season 15Ep. 79
Chapter 8! With a new mishnah, of course. On usufruct property that a wife brings into the marriage, and the husband has the right of the produce of the property. For example, when a woman inherits prior to her betrothal. But what happens if she's already betrothed? It's a machloket between Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai. Plus, an expressed discomfort with the halakhah as it's determined here. Plus, what if he doesn't know about the inheritance?! Also, a mishnah that is compared to Takanat Usha - ...
Sep 22, 2022•15 min•Season 15Ep. 78
3 mishnayot on the daf! The first continues the discussion of blemishes - this time, if the husband develops blemishes, and a possible distinction between major and minor blemishes. Plus, description of an illness, and how they dealt with contagion and efforts at prevention, via both medical and spiritual efforts. Also, the story of R. Yehoshua Ben Levi, and his encounter with the Angel of Death. [Who's Who: Rival/R. Yehoshua Ben Levi]. Including the possibility of death being suspended. And the...
Sep 21, 2022•23 min•Season 15Ep. 77
More on the blemishes. Noting that people with blemishes did indeed get married - even when there was knowledge of them in advance. Plus, some classic Gemara discussion and logic on a husband's claim regarding a preexisting blemish, and why preexisting alone doesn't decide the case. Also, the transactional basis of these marriages - and two parallel cases to them: 1. Transferring ownership of animals. 2. The status of an animal that is examined to be shechted. (With a hint to the much larger dis...
Sep 20, 2022•18 min•Season 15Ep. 76
Physical blemishes that can negate a betrothal - parallel to those of the kohanim and service in the Beit HaMikdash. Which is itself parallel, to some degree, to the animals that are disqualified from being offered as sacrifices. Including - for the woman - sweat, bad breath, moles, a large gap between her breasts, or larger breasts to begin with. Also, a mishnah on these blemishes and when they invalidate the betrothal.
Sep 19, 2022•20 min•Season 15Ep. 75
How betrothal is brought into effect in expected (a ring) and unexpected ways - the benefit of forgiving a loan. Plus, the impact of sexual intimacy on the need for divorce. Also, the role of nedarim or blemishes as conditions in the betrothal. Which is where the chacham, a wise scholar, and a doctor might get involved to change the facts on the ground. Plus, protecting the integrity of the get.
Sep 18, 2022•17 min•Season 15Ep. 74
A machloket between Rav and Shmuel on the previous mishnah: whether a conditional betrothal requires a get if the condition is not met. And the ramifications of those different approaches. Plus, several cases where it would seem clear that a get is not warranted - but that a get is required nonetheless. Possibly at a rabbinic level of requirement, which seems particularly difficult, as compared to the Torah standard that would leave her free to marry anyone.
Sep 17, 2022•23 min•Season 15Ep. 73
A mishnah on the practices of Dat Moshe and Dat Yehudit, and defining them by their practices, in the context of a woman who violates either category, and can then be divorced with her ketubah. Also, another mishnah! Conditional betrothal, and the ramifications when the conditions are not met.
Sep 16, 2022•20 min•Season 15Ep. 72
A puzzle of language. In the context of a discussion about the husband who vows in such a way that his wife is sworn off something to such a degree, and in an unspecified way, that they are supposed to divorce and she gets her ketubah. Namely, the idiom that kicks the oath into effect... Also, a new mishnah! On other vows that the husband might make for his wife - when the vow stands, for how long, and when it leads to divorce/her getting her ketubah. Plus, consideration of the protection of the...
Sep 15, 2022•22 min•Season 15Ep. 71
A new chapter, a new mishnah! If a man takes a vow that his wife won't get any benefit from him, they divorce and she gets the ketubah - with some dispute over the time frame. Likewise, if he swears her off eating from produce, they divorce, she gets the ketubah, and there's dispute over the timeframe. Likewise, a case where he swears her off adornment or perfume. Also, various parallel cases (Gittin, Nedarim) that inform what the husband swears off in these cases - including when one writes a g...
Sep 14, 2022•21 min•Season 15Ep. 70
A dispute and conversation between R. Yehudah HaNasi and Rav on the inheritance and transference of property - with an eye to dowries. Also, the right of a daughter to receive the dowry from the estate when she marries - is she an heir? Or is she a creditor? Plus, another story between R. Huna and a letter - on inheritance from elsewhere. And one final mishnah - using a third party to pay his daughter's dowry.
Sep 13, 2022•25 min•Season 15Ep. 69
The discussion of charity begins in Pe'ah, with a focus on how poor one must be to receive tzedakah, when the expectation is that one downgrade, and when one doesn't have to go that far. Plus, an underage girl who is married off by her mother or brothers can come back and collect the funds from her respective family members. Also, financial advisories for those who don't have money, but live as if they do. Plus, the politics of inheritance. When is a lien placed on property by the court and when...
Sep 12, 2022•20 min•Season 15Ep. 68
A husband's requirement to provide clothing for his wife, even when her father has written her off. Also, stories illustrating these issues. Including those of Mar Ukva, plus [Who's Who: Mar Ukva] With a focus on inheritance, and how to do so in a dignified way.
Sep 11, 2022•24 min•Season 15Ep. 67
A new chapter! A new mishnah! Which provides the text of the "equation" for what each spouse owes the other, including what funds paying back humiliation might come directly to the woman. Except that R. Yehudah Ben Beteira revises that position wholly. Which opens a good deal of discussion in the Gemara. Plus, a variety of humiliating practices that lead to compensatory payment. Also, adding conditions to the ketubah, based on the movable property, and more. Plus, the economics of the ketubah wi...
Sep 10, 2022•26 min•Season 15Ep. 66
To what extent do the provisions for a woman include wine? The answer seems to depend on whether she's accustomed to drinking wine - clearly, some women did drink and others did not. The implications of "too many" cups of wine for her behavior are presented rather dramatically. Plus, a story of Homa, Abaye's widow, who puts in the request with Rava for her wine, even though her husband wasn't accustomed to drink. That interaction leads to drama with Rava's wife, who was the daughter of R. Hisda ...
Sep 09, 2022•25 min•Season 15Ep. 65
More on wives deemed "rebellious." An assortment of rabbis needed to adjudicate a case of a moredet and whether she needs to give up her wardrobe. [What's What: Ika de-amrei] And the answer is not clear at all. Plus, the question of when the moredet can get divorced. Also, a mishnah on what it means to provide for a wife's food, including specifics about the kinds of foods and their amounts. Plus, the implications for a house with tzara'at, food with tzara'at, etc.
Sep 08, 2022•21 min•Season 15Ep. 64
Part of the famous story of Rabbi Akiva - the story of his years of Torah study and his wife's possibly surprising years of support. Also, a new mishnah: a woman who rebels against her husband (or a man who rebels against his wife) is penalized financially, with regard to the ketubah. What is the rebellion? It's a dispute whether she's refusing the marital bed or refusing to fulfill her responsibilities at home (and likewise, a man's refusal would be either conjugal relations or the sustenance/m...
Sep 07, 2022•25 min•Season 15Ep. 63
A few disputes between Rav and R. Yochanan, including how a groan can break your whole body, and how that's a matter of the Jewish condition, in terms of perpetual anguish. Also, a man's obligation for the frequency of a wife's conjugal rights, depending on his profession. Plus, stories of sages who prioritized their studies over the families and the dramatic (and sometime dire) outcomes.
Sep 06, 2022•33 min•Season 15Ep. 62
Dedicated in the memory of Dr. Dodi Tobin z"l. || A series of what amounts to recommendations by the sages for a healthy diet during pregnancy. Including how a mother's diet of etrogim made the child smell good, to the extent that the child was used to spice. Plus, more marriage politics around nursing, which are apparently eternal. Also, just how delectable all kinds of food, meat and wine and mushrooms and turnip and even pomegranates can be, to drive people beyond distraction in their desire ...
Sep 05, 2022•35 min•Season 15Ep. 61
The Gemara discusses its understanding of some developmental milestones and explains how infants recognize their mothers. When can nursing mothers remarry?
Sep 04, 2022•19 min
A husband cannot consecrate a wife's earnings after all. How is this case parallel to swearing off the use of something? Is it really comparable to the terms of marriage? Also, shifting to what the woman has to provide in marriage - with great specificity. Plus, nursing.
Sep 03, 2022•21 min•Season 15Ep. 59
What if a wedding is delayed and one of the couple is a kohen? What happens to the terumah and the woman's ability (or lack thereof) to eat from it? Also, a new mishnah: on whether a husband can consecrate his wife's earnings before she's earned them.
Sep 02, 2022•19 min•Season 15Ep. 58
More on the chuppah, and the end of the marriage ceremony. Also, a new mishnah: preparation for the wedding and marriage could easily take a year in advance. Likewise, can he provide her mezonot from terumah? What happens when kohanim marry non-kohanim? Plus, the Gemara's study of the preparatory period prior to marriage as understood from the biblical Rivka. Also, the given here seems to be planning a marriage to a minor that will take place once she's reached the age of majority, which seems t...
Sep 01, 2022•20 min•Season 15Ep. 57
Reactions to R. Elazar ben Azariah's opinion regarding "umdana," assessment of intent, specifically with regard to the ketubah. Plus, the sages on the sages, specifically on their respective halakhic expertise. Plus, the focus on different scenarios of how those views might play out - including the emotions surrounding the wedding night... Which is normally, indeed, at night, even when the chuppah itself is not necessarily. But pinpointing the moment of being required to pay the additional sum o...
Aug 31, 2022•20 min•Season 15Ep. 56
A new chapter (5), a new mishnah: on the value of the ketubah, and the possibility that the husband add to the baseline sums of 200 dinar for a virgin and 100 for a widow/divorcee. The question of whether she'd get that extra if they were only betrothed is a machloket. Also, the question of whom to follow in that machloket -- spoiler: R. Elazar ben Azariah, on his convincing presumption about the intent to marry. Plus, terumot and ma'aserot, and R. Shimon Shizuri's on intent and assessments.
Aug 30, 2022•16 min•Season 15Ep. 55
Ending chapter 4: beginning with some of the geographic differences in talmudic times - and how different places had different practices. Which leads to a dispute between Rav and Shmuel, which each paskened like the practice in either Jerusalem or Yehudah - that is, the Babylonian communities followed the various Israel practices. With a divide between Nehardea and Mehoza. Plus, a series of cases of what happens when there's a conflict over who inherits how.... Including when different rabbis pa...
Aug 29, 2022•25 min•Season 15Ep. 54
Pre-wedding negotiations, and how they were manifest back in the day. Plus, the economic focus of marriage. Also, the question of how long a man or his estate provides for female children - until she's an adult, until she's married, or both?!
Aug 28, 2022•19 min
When is a husband obligated to redeem his wife? To be sure, it depends, and it's a machloket. Also, more generally, redeeming people for ransom, including the question of redeeming captives for more than they're even worth. Likewise, the discussion veers to whether a husband would need to pay more than the ketubah value. Plus, what does a husband have to pay for a wife's medical treatment? Is there a cap on his monetary obligation? Note also: bloodletting of the world then. Also, a new mishnah, ...
Aug 27, 2022•33 min•Season 15Ep. 52
Truly, a doozy of a daf (again, rape). But first, establishing the minimum standard of the ketubah (a mishnah!). Likewise, the standard that a man has to redeem his captive wife. Note the planning for the captive wife scenario - which seems far beyond the pale today. Also, the Gemara on rape, on Shmuel's father's take on rape, and Rava's sharp and extensive rejection of Shmuel's father's view.
Aug 26, 2022•24 min•Season 15Ep. 51
[What's What: Usha] Also, not giving TOO much tzedakah, and the source for that. Plus, the decree that a man's obligation to educate his son is more gentle before the child is 12, though from 12, the father should harass his son, within every inch of his life. Plus, what should be taught at the age of 6, and when kids start fasting. (Note the "neis nistar," as we have a daf about school curricula as schools start in some US locales, a week before Israel should start, and more). Plus, how Rav pro...
Aug 25, 2022•21 min•Season 15Ep. 50
