Wednesday is the Day to Wed
Mazal tov to all those who finished Maseches Yevamos. We began Maseches Kesuvos on Friday. I remember that a few minutes after I was engaged and we had a mock l’chayim ceremony, my future shvigger opened her notebook.
Seder Nashim · dafim 2–112
Kesubos
Finished October 26, 2022 in this cycle. 16 articles, 11 stories
Map of the dafim
Articles, in daf order
Machmir Or Make Cool?
What’s black and white and cold all over? A Lakewood bachur in the freezer. It was the first Shabbos after Tu B’Shevat. Someone suggested to a Lakewood bachur that he go on a Shabbos stroll for a first date.
Sheva Brachos Shailos
In the first perek of Kesuvos, there is a lengthy exposition on Sheva Brachos. What follows is some selected halachos regarding Sheva Brachos with a focus on the psakim of Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l.
Stealing to Save a Life?
Rav Shlomo Halberstam, zt”l, the Bobover Rebbe, was instrumental in saving many lives during the Holocaust. The Bobover Rebbe borrowed whatever money he could to secure visas and travel documents for would-be victims.
Kohen Conundrums
A visitor to the Munkacser beis midrash might see a bizarre sight. He might notice his friend Mr. Katz davening Shacharis there on Monday morning.
Love Thy Neighbor
It says in the Torah, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The Talmud (Kesubos 37b) has a very peculiar application of this verse. The Talmud discusses the proper manner of a court-mandated execution.
To Save a Life
One mantra that is often repeated in halacha is that nothing supersedes saving a life. Therefore, it is somewhat surprising that a recent Gemara (Kesubos 39a) seems to take a contrarian view.
Kesubah Conundrums
An individual was applying for a rabbinic position upon the receipt of his semichah. Apparently, the members of the congregation with the open position weren’t too learned.
Draining the Swamp
Very often, the Gemara pairs together totally unrelated topics because they have one common denominator. Recently on the daf, we had a collection of unrelated beraisos.
More Than Twenty Percent
The story is told of a man who approached a rabbi. He said to him, “Why are you always so machmir? Every time I ask you a question, the answer is always that it is forbidden.” The rabbi said, “I’m surprised to hear you…
Charity with Uncharitable Intentions
One time, when all of Bnei Yisrael came up on pilgrimage (oleh regel) to Jerusalem, there was no water available for drinking. Nakdimon ben Gurion approached a certain lord and said to him: “Loan me 12 wells of water…
A G-d-Based Moral Bucket List
David Brooks, a columnist for the New York Times, wrote an article entitled “The Moral Bucket List.” Soon after it was published, it climbed to number one on the list of New York Time’s most emailed articles.
The Accidental Aveirah
Unfortunately, there was recently a restaurant that was found to be serving treif under the guise of kosher. Rav Moshe, zt”l, ruled that if an individual had a halachic basis to believe a restaurant was kosher and it…
A Ring of Truth
Devin McLean and his store manager were about to close the AutoZone in York County, Virginia, when a gunman barged into the store. McLean was left in a restroom while the gunman made the manager open the store safe.
Paying It Forward (And Back)
Devin McLean and his store manager were about to close the AutoZone store in York County, Virginia, where they work when a gunman barged in.
Can a Kohen Go to a Tzaddik’s Funeral?
The great Rishon Rabbeinu Chaim HaKohen once remarked that had he already been born when Rabbeinu Tam passed away, he would have become tamei and gone to his funeral.
Stories in Kesubos
Rav Elyashiv and the Klausenberger Rebbe's Sheva Brachos
Invited to recite a beracha at the Klausenberger Rebbe's last Sheva Brachos, Rav Elyashiv declined over the time of sunset, until the Rebbe promised to finish early.
The Bobover Rebbe's Holocaust Rescue Loans
The Bobover Rebbe borrowed to buy visas that saved lives in the Holocaust. When a lender demanded full repayment after the war, Rav Moshe Feinstein ruled on the case.
Kalba Savua Gives Rabbi Akiva Half His Wealth
After 24 years, Kalba Savua asks the great Rabbi Akiva to annul his vow, learns Rabbi Akiva is his son-in-law, and gives him half his money.
Mar Ukva's Charity Records
On his deathbed, Mar Ukva finds he gave 7,000 gold dinars to charity. "My provisions are light," he says, and gives away half his remaining wealth.
Rav Dovid Feinstein and the Flight Over a Cemetery
A kohen learned his flight home from Israel would pass over a Jewish cemetery. Rav Dovid Feinstein ruled he must spend whatever it took to avoid it, so he bought a new ticket.
Rav Dovid Feinstein and the Shabbos Hospital Discharge
A new mother faced discharge from hospital on Shabbos. Rav Dovid Feinstein told the couple to offer all their money to stay, to avoid even a rabbinic prohibition.
Nakdimon ben Gurion and the Twelve Wells
Nakdimon ben Gurion borrows twelve wells of water for the pilgrims, and when the lender demands payment, his prayers bring rain and then make the sun break through.
Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai and Nakdimon's Daughter
Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai meets Nakdimon ben Gurion's daughter gathering barley from dung, and asks where her father's great wealth has gone.
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi and the Rainbow
In Gan Eden, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai asks Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi if a rainbow was seen in his lifetime. Out of humility, he says yes, though none was.
Rava Trusts His Wife but Not Rav Papa
Rava changes a ruling on his wife's word about a litigant, but rejects Rav Papa's lone testimony. Rav Ada bar Masna asks him why.
The Orphans' Fifty Zuz and Abaye's Ruling
Orphans pay a creditor 50 zuz to buy back their father's land, but he keeps it, and Abaye rules their unspecified payment counted toward the debt.