Kesubos 17a

כתובות י״ז ע״א

Ketubot 17a

Learn Kesubos 17a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Honoring a כלה (praising her, dancing before her, giving her the right of way) and honoring Torah scholars

Overview

This amud is about honoring a כלה and honoring Torah scholars. It opens with בית שמאי and בית הלל arguing over how to praise a bride. בית הלל say every כלה is called 'fair and graceful,' because once a choice is made you praise it and do not hurt anyone's feelings. The גמרא then brings songs of praise sung for brides in ארץ ישראל, songs sung when rabbis received סמיכה, and the song the emperor's maids sang for רבי אבהו. Next come stories of sages who danced before brides, including רב שמואל בר רב יצחק, whose juggling earned him a pillar of fire at his death, and רב אחא, who allowed carrying a bride only for someone to whom she is like a wooden beam. The גמרא rejects רבי יונתן's permission to look at a bride's face. It teaches that a funeral gives way to a bride and both give way to a king, and it explains why אגריפס was praised for yielding. It ends by teaching that one stops Torah study to escort the dead or a bride, and it measures how big a crowd is 'enough.' That last discussion continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (29)

1. StatementTwo ways to praise a bride
2. ChallengeIsn't that a lie?
3. ResolutionPraise what someone already bought
4. ConclusionAlways be on good terms with people
5. StatementThe bridal song in ארץ ישראל
6. StatementThe same song for רבי זירא
7. StatementThe song for רבי אמי and רבי אסי
8. StatementThe emperor's maids sing for רבי אבהו
9. Statementרבי יהודה בר אילעאי dances before the bride
10. Statementרב שמואל בר רב יצחק juggles three branches
11. Challengeרבי זירא objects that this is embarrassing
12. RejectionA pillar of fire honors him at his death
13. Conclusionרבי זירא admits the branch earned him reward
14. Statementרב אחא dances with the bride on his shoulders
15. QuestionThe חכמים ask if they may do the same
16. ResponseOnly if she is like a wooden beam to you
17. Statementרבי יונתן allows looking at a bride for seven days
18. ConclusionThe הלכה does not follow רבי יונתן
19. StatementA funeral moves aside for a bride, and both move aside for a king
20. StatementKing Agrippas moved aside for a bride and was praised
21. ChallengeHow can a king be praised for giving up his honor?
22. ResolutionIt happened at a crossroads
23. StatementStopping Torah study for a funeral or a bride
24. StatementOnly when there are not enough people already
25. QuestionHow many people count as 'enough'?
26. ResponseTwelve or thirteen thousand men with שופרות
27. ResponseA line of people from the city gate to the cemetery
28. ResponseTaking away the Torah needs as many as receiving it
29. StatementThis applies to someone who learned מקרא and משנה