Kesubos 103a

כתובות ק״ג ע״א

Ketubot 103a

Learn Kesubos 103a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Supporting a stepdaughter, the millstone case and מדת סדום, the widow's housing and support, and רבי's last instructions

Overview

The גמרא first explains why the food goes 'to the place where her mother is': a daughter stays with her mother at any age. It then tells of a millstone that was rented out in exchange for grinding. רבינא compares this case to the משנה, רב עוירא rejects the comparison, and the גמרא rules that if the renter has other grinding work, refusing to pay money is מדת סדום. A new משנה teaches that a widow may stay in her husband's house and be supported there, but the יורשים do not have to support her in her father's house unless she has a good reason. The גמרא spells out her rights: she keeps the same household use, the יתומים cannot sell her home, and a fallen house need not be rebuilt. Using רב הונא's rule that a full house is blessed, the גמרא concludes that a widow living elsewhere still gets the cheaper home amount. Finally, a ברייתא tells of רבי's last instructions to his sons and his summons of the חכמי ישראל, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (40)

1. QuestionWhy does the משנה say 'to the place where her mother is'?
2. ResponseA daughter stays with her mother at any age
3. StatementNext משנה line: the two supporters may not share
4. StatementA millstone rented in exchange for grinding
5. StatementThe owner wants money, the renter offers only grinding
6. Proofרבינא compares the millstone case to the משנה about the two husbands
7. Rejectionרב עוירא rejects the comparison: one stomach versus extra flour
8. ConclusionLimit: if the renter has other grinding work, he must pay money
9. StatementNew משנה: a widow may insist on staying in her husband's house
10. StatementIf the widow wants to stay in her father's house, the heirs can refuse to support her there
11. StatementException: she is young and the heirs are young
12. StatementThe widow keeps using the household as she did during her husband's life
13. Statement'In my house' means a house, not a hut
14. StatementOrphans cannot sell the widow's home
15. ChallengeChallenge from a case where the orphans' sale does count
16. ResolutionThe widow's claim started during the husband's life
17. StatementNo duty to rebuild a collapsed widow's house
18. ProofA ברייתא supports אביי: a fallen house is not rebuilt
19. Questionאביי asks about a house she only repaired, and the question stays open
20. StatementBack to the משנה: the widow who says 'I don't want to'
21. ChallengeWhy not send her the same support she would get at home?
22. Resolutionרב הונא: a full house is blessed, so living apart costs more
23. ChallengeWhy not pay her what she would cost at home?
24. ResolutionYes, that is what the heirs do
25. StatementThe words of the Sages bring blessing, wealth and healing
26. ProofWealth: a smart tip for buying produce
27. ProofHealing: chewed wheat on a wound
28. Statementרבי's last instructions to his sons
29. ChallengeWhy command something the Torah already requires
30. ResolutionShe was their stepmother
31. ChallengeA stepmother must also be honored by Torah law
32. ResolutionHonoring a stepmother applies only while the father lives
33. QuestionWhy keep the lamp, table and bed in place?
34. ResponseHe came home every Friday evening
35. StatementA neighbor nearly found out, so he stopped coming
36. StatementHis two attendants will serve him, and the first understanding
37. RejectionThey died first, so he meant עולם הבא
38. ConclusionWhy רבי said this about his attendants
39. Statementרבי calls for the Sages of Israel
40. StatementDo not eulogize me in the small towns