Gemara Clarity

Kesubos 62a

כתובות ס״ב ע״א

Ketubot 62a

Learn Kesubos 62a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Kesubos 62a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

How often a husband owes his wife עונה and how long he may be away learning Torah, with side discussions on sighing and on the strength of the men of ארץ ישראל.

Overview

The גמרא asks how long a man may fairly be away from home learning Torah. רב says one month away and one month home, learning from דוד המלך's army rotations. רבי יוחנן says one month away and two months home, learning from the workers in the לבנון who prepared materials for the בית המקדש. Each explains why he did not use the other's פסוק. The same two אמוראים also argue whether a sigh breaks half the body or the whole body, and a story about a Jew and a gentile shows that an old, familiar sorrow does not crush like a new one. The גמרא then returns to the משנה's schedule of עונה and defines the טיילין as comfortable, worry-free men, with stories about the great strength of the men of ארץ ישראל. It explains that פועלים owe twice a week when they work in their own city and once a week when they work elsewhere. Finally, רבה בר רב חנן asks whether the one-week vow rule matters only for a טייל and a פועל, and אביי's answer continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

אוֹרְחָא דְמִילְּתָא כַּמָּה?

The normal way of the matter, how much?

אָמַר רַב:

Rav said:

חֹדֶשׁ כָּאן, וְחֹדֶשׁ בַּבַּיִת.

A month here, and a month at home.

שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״לְכׇל דְּבַר הַמַּחְלְקוֹת

As it is said: "In every matter of the divisions

The steps (30)

  1. QuestionHow long is the normal time away?
  2. Statementרב: one month away, one month home
  3. Statementרבי יוחנן: one month away, two months home
  4. ChallengeWhy didn't רב learn from the Temple workers?
  5. ResolutionBuilding the Temple could be done by others
  6. ChallengeWhy didn't רבי יוחנן learn from the army?
  7. ResolutionThe soldiers earned money
  8. Statementרב: a sigh breaks half the body
  9. Statementרבי יוחנן: a sigh breaks the whole body
  10. ChallengeBut the פסוק says 'breaking of loins'!
  11. ResolutionThe breaking starts at the loins
  12. ChallengeBut the next פסוק describes the whole body!
  13. ResolutionNews of the Temple's destruction is exceptional
  14. StatementA Jew and a gentile walking together
  15. ChallengeThe gentile asks why the sigh did not weaken him
  16. ResolutionA familiar sorrow does not crush like a new one
  17. QuestionWho are the טיילין in the משנה?
  18. Responseרבא: students who study close to home
  19. Challengeאביי: Torah students work too hard to be called men of leisure
  20. Responseאביי following רב: a wealthy man with no worries
  21. Responseרבין: the pampered men of ארץ ישראל
  22. Statementרבי אבהו saves himself and two servants
  23. Statementרבי יוחנן saves himself and his two students
  24. QuestionThe Rabbis ask why he needs support
  25. ResponseSaving strength for old age
  26. ChallengeLaborers: twice a week or once a week?
  27. ResolutionWorking in their own city versus another city
  28. ProofA ברייתא that says this split openly
  29. ChallengeWas the one-week rule only for a טייל and a פועל?
  30. Resolutionאביי begins his answer: No