Kesubos 56b

כתובות נ״ו ע״ב

Ketubot 56b

Learn Kesubos 56b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Kesubos 56b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Does רבי יהודה require a written document to give up a rabbinic money right, or is saying it enough? אביי answers by splitting common matters from uncommon ones, and the גמרא tests that answer with the case of the donkey drivers (חמרים).

Overview

The גמרא finishes a contradiction in רבי יהודה. He seems to require writing to change a כתובה, but he lets a husband give up the produce (פירות) of his wife's property just by saying so. אביי answers that the רבנן reinforced common matters like the כתובה and not rare ones like פירות. The גמרא challenges this from the donkey drivers (חמרים), a common case where רבי יהודה adds no safeguard. אביי then splits definite rabbinic laws from doubtful ones, and רבא says the רבנן were simply lenient with דמאי. Next the גמרא explains רבי מאיר in the משנה: a stipulation to lower the כתובה is void, because he holds the כתובה is from the Torah. Still, the wife does not feel secure, so the relationship is like בעילת זנות. A ברייתא brings רבי יוסי, who allows lowering the כתובה. The גמרא asks how this fits with his worry about movable property losing value, and answers that here the woman knowingly gives up the money. The amud ends by starting a story about רמי בר חמא's sister, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (16)

1. ChallengeWriting really means saying
2. ResolutionCommon matters got extra strength, uncommon ones did not
3. ChallengeDonkey drivers are common, yet no reinforcement
4. ProofThe משנה about the donkey drivers
5. Resolutionאביי: The רבנן strengthen a definite law, not a doubtful one
6. Resolutionרבא: The רבנן were lenient with דמאי
7. Statementרבי מאיר: Lowering the כתובה even by agreement
8. Challengeרבי מאיר's rule: stipulations against the Torah are void
9. Resolutionרבי מאיר holds the כתובה is from the Torah
10. Statementברייתא: רבי מאיר, רבי יוסי and רבי יהודה on lowering the כתובה
11. ChallengeDoes רבי יוסי really allow lowering the כתובה?
12. ChallengeThe first opinion seems to say the same thing
13. ResolutionThey argue about movables backed by a guarantee
14. ChallengeIf a possible loss worries him, surely a certain loss does
15. ResolutionShe agreed to the loss here, but not there
16. StatementA new story: רמי בר חמא's sister