Kesubos 5b

כתובות ה׳ ע״ב

Ketubot 5b

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Topic

Guarding the ears from improper speech, and the question of a first marital union with a בתולה on שבת

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a teaching about the ear: a person who hears something improper should plug his ears with his finger. The גמרא ties this to רבי אלעזר's question of why fingers look like pegs. It first rejects reading the question as being about fingers being separate, since each finger already has its own job. The real point is that fingers are pointed like pegs, so they can plug the ears. A ברייתא from דבי רבי ישמעאל adds that the soft earlobe can be folded in for the same purpose. Another ברייתא warns not to listen to idle talk. Then the גמרא opens a new topic: may a man have a first union with his בתולה bride on שבת? It builds a chain of questions: is the blood stored or part of the body, does he want the blood, the opening, or his own pleasure, is the opinion of רבי שמעון or רבי יהודה followed for an unintended act, and is the act destructive or constructive. A second version of this chain (איכא דאמרי) is still going when the amud ends, and it continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (15)

1. StatementPut your finger in your ears
2. Proofרבי אלעזר asks why fingers look like pegs
3. QuestionWhat did רבי אלעזר mean?
4. RejectionNot about fingers being separate
5. ResponsePointed like pegs to plug the ears
6. StatementThe soft earlobe can seal the ear
7. StatementDo not listen to idle talk
8. QuestionIs a first union allowed on שבת?
9. QuestionIf the blood is stored: does he want the blood or the opening?
10. QuestionIf he wants only the blood, is the opening an unintended act that is allowed?
11. QuestionEven following רבי יהודה, is making the opening destructive or constructive?
12. QuestionSecond version: if the blood is part of the body, does he want the blood or only his pleasure?
13. QuestionIf he wants only his pleasure, does the halacha follow רבי יהודה or רבי שמעון?
14. QuestionIs causing the wound destructive or constructive?
15. QuestionFor destructive acts, which view does the הלכה follow?