Talking Talmud

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,...

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 responsibi...

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.

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 mu...

The Gemara discusses its understanding of some developmental milestones and explains how infants recognize their mothers. When can nursing mothers remarry?

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.

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.

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 plann...

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...

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...

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...

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?!

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 ther...

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.

[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...

A new mishnah! On "mezonot" - sustenance - that a father turns out not to be obligated to provide for his daughter. But how can that possibly be? The Gemara distinguishes between obligation and mitzvah. Also, the discussion of a decree that a man provide for his children while they're minors. Which leads to a list of complaints to various sages by community members about particular fathers in thei...

What does a wife owe her husband? What does a husband owe his wife? From her earnings to her conjugal rights. Which term means what? Each sage who weighs in has rationale and verses to back himself up. Plus, how the Jewish couple is enjoined to avoid the "Persian practice," of sexual relations while fully dressed. Also, a new mishnah: granular details on the chuppah, and responsibility.

Contractual relationships that a woman (even a girl) has with her father and then, presumably, eventually, her husband. Including the source for the father's "right" to his daughter's earnings. Also, the "sustenance" (mezonot) that a husband provides for his wife. And again, the transactional dynamic of earnings for provisions, dowry for burial, etc.

More on the case of defamation of a woman by her husband. What happens, practically, when one brings such a case? The husband goes to the court, and then the question is whether there are witnesses to the effect that she was had an affair. Also, doesn't the death sentence on her head contradict her collecting the ketubah money?! Also, what is the relationship between the daughter and the father? W...

The case of Motzi Shem Ra - defamation - from a husband against his wife. Namely, his accusation that she has had an affair and has not slept with the husband. She gets a death sentence, and the question is whether she'll be strangled or stoned. This dynamic of his defamation and her (potential) adultery is both concerning and dramatic. Also, the terms and setting of her stoning. Plus the parallel...

The woman's ketubah can function as a lien, fundamentally, on the man's property. In the case under discussion, of a woman who is betrothed/married twice, do the terms of the second ketubah supplement or replace the terms of the first one? When it comes to regular (non-ketubah) documents, R. Nachman says the second replaces the first. But is that the case for ketubah? Also, a new mishnah: the defa...

R. Avina asks R. Sheshet about the case where a girl's brothers provide for her from the father's estate. Since her father would have gotten her earnings, maybe the brothers should as well... But that's not so clear. Plus, does a man care more for his daughter or his wife, in the precarious circumstances after his death? Also, when the woman has been injured physically in the event if rape.... Plu...

A new chapter, a new mishnah. In the event of a seduction or rape, the compensation for degradation, humiliation, and the fine go to her father. Unless he has died and then there's a machloket whether the funds go to her brothers or to herself. Plus, the Gemara's assumption that seduction involves her decision to participate - and yet he must pay compensation. Which calls into question the assumpt...

Closing the chapter, with a new mishnah. If someone stole, and then comes clean, he doesn't have the pay the additional fine (eg: 2x the object stolen. Basically, those compensation packages that include payment plus fine, the perpetrator can be exempted from the knas (fine). Why isn't rape on this mishnah? Also, the second half of the mishnah takes us into the Laws of Damages, and a goring ox.

3 mishnayot: 1. An orphan who is betrothed and then gets divorced - and is then raped, what penalty does the rapist get? [Who's Who: R. Elazar ben Shamua] Also, defining "boshet"/humiliation. And how to determine the paymenyin compensation for having caused boshet. Plus, the fixed sum as established in the Torah. Also, a father who can sell his minor daughter... and why he can't receive any penalt...