Kesubos 111b

כתובות קי״א ע״ב

Ketubot 111b

Learn Kesubos 111b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The end of the brothers' letter, who will rise at תחיית המתים, and the future abundance of ארץ ישראל

Overview

This amud finishes the letter that רבה's brothers sent him from ארץ ישראל. The letter ends with a saying about support and a report that three sages rule like רבי יהודה: a female mule may mate only with another mule. רבי אלעזר then says that עמי הארץ will not come alive at תחיית המתים. רבי יוחנן objects, and רבי אלעזר answers that anyone who supports תלמידי חכמים counts as cleaving to the שכינה and so has a share in that life. Next, רבי חייא בר יוסף and a series of ברייתות describe the future: צדיקים rising in ירושלים fully dressed, giant wheat, and huge grapes. רב דימי reads יעקב's ברכה to יהודה as a picture of the land's amazing wine, and he also gives the פסוק's plain meaning, which supports רבי יוחנן's teaching about the value of a smile. The amud ends with eyewitness stories of the land's rich produce and its milk and honey, and רבה בר בר חנה's report continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (41)

1. StatementStanding with support is better than sitting without it
2. StatementThree sages agree: the הלכה follows רבי יהודה about mules
3. StatementWhat רבי יהודה ruled: a mule may mate only with its own kind
4. StatementWho the three sages are
5. Statementרבי אלעזר: the unlearned will not come back to life
6. ProofA ברייתא supports him: the verse is about one who weakens himself from Torah
7. Challengeרבי יוחנן objects: that פסוק is about idol worshippers
8. Resolutionרבי אלעזר brings a different פסוק about the light of Torah
9. Statementרבי אלעזר offers a remedy: 'you who cleave to ה׳ are alive'
10. ChallengeCan a person really cleave to the שכינה‎? ה׳ is a consuming fire
11. ResolutionSupporting תלמידי חכמים counts as cleaving to the שכינה
12. ProofA second פסוק about cleaving is read the same way
13. StatementThe righteous will rise up in Jerusalem
14. StatementThe righteous will rise in their clothes
15. StatementThe land will grow cakes and fine wool clothing
16. StatementWheat will grow as tall as a palm tree
17. ChallengeWouldn't such tall wheat be hard to harvest?
18. ResolutionA wind will bring down the flour
19. StatementWheat kernels as big as an ox's kidneys
20. ProofDon't be surprised: the giant turnip
21. ProofThe giant mustard plant in שיחין
22. ProofThe cabbage stalk climbed with a ladder
23. StatementOne grape fills a wagon in the World to Come
24. StatementEvery grape gives thirty jugs of wine
25. StatementEach vine needs a donkey to carry its harvest
26. StatementEven fruitless trees will carry two donkey-loads
27. ResolutionThis fruit will really give wine
28. ResolutionThe wine will be red
29. ResolutionThe future wine will make a person drunk
30. ResolutionThe future wine will taste wonderful
31. ResolutionThe future wine will be good for old people too
32. QuestionWhat does the פסוק mean on a simple level?
33. Responseרב דימי: Israel asks הקב״ה for a loving look and a smile
34. ProofThis supports רבי יוחנן: a smile is better than milk
35. Statementריש לקיש's teacher comes back three days late
36. ResponseThe vine that kept producing smaller amounts each day
37. ConclusionMissing the children's learning cost him wine
38. StatementGoats and figs in בני ברק: milk and honey mixing
39. StatementWalking ankle-deep in fig honey from לוד to אונו
40. Statementריש לקיש saw a huge milk-and-honey area by צפורי
41. Statementרבה בר בר חנה saw the milk and honey of all ארץ ישראל