Kesubos 6b

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Ketubot 6b

Learn Kesubos 6b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

May a groom have first relations with his בתולה bride on שבת? The גמרא works through the חתן's exemption from קריאת שמע, a dispute of תנאים, and רבי שמעון's rule of דבר שאין מתכוין.

Overview

The גמרא asks whether a groom may have first relations with his בתולה bride on שבת, even though there may be bleeding. רבא reads the ברייתא about 'four nights until מוצאי שבת' as speaking of a groom who already had relations. On that reading it teaches, like שמואל's narrow opening, that later relations are allowed on שבת. רב יוסף objects from the משנה that a חתן is פטור from קריאת שמע through שבת. אביי answers that the exemption comes from the groom's worry, but רבא shows that worry alone does not exempt anyone, since even an אבל is חייב in all the מצוות. רבא then says the question is a dispute of תנאים, shown by two ברייתות about the third night. The same dispute appears openly in another ברייתא, where the חכמים permit first relations on שבת. רבה explains that the חכמים follow רבי שמעון's rule of דבר שאין מתכוין. He adds that this is not פסיק רישיה, because most men are skilled enough to avoid bleeding, and the groomsmen and sheet only guard against hiding blood. Finally, רבי אמי begins a new challenge from a משנה about draining an abscess on שבת, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (24)

1. ProofProof that first relations are allowed on שבת
2. Rejectionרבא: The ברייתא means every day except שבת
3. Challengeאביי: But the four nights include שבת
4. Resolutionרבא: The ברייתא is about a groom who already had relations
5. ChallengeThen what does the ברייתא teach us?
6. ResolutionIt teaches that relations are allowed on שבת, like שמואל's narrow opening
7. Challengeרב יוסף: The חתן is exempt from שמע through שבת
8. Rejectionאביי: He is worried because he has not yet done it
9. Challengeרבא: Does worry alone exempt a person?
10. ChallengeEven an אבל is חייב in all the מצוות except תפילין
11. Proofרבא: This is a dispute between two ברייתות
12. Rejectionאביי: The ברייתות only disagree about worry
13. ProofThe same dispute appears in another ברייתא
14. QuestionWho are the חכמים who permit it?
15. Responseרבה: it follows רבי שמעון
16. Challengeאביי: רבי שמעון agrees when the result is certain
17. ResolutionSome men are skilled enough to avoid bleeding
18. ChallengeThen why is the חתן worried?
19. ResolutionThe worry is for the unskilled
20. ChallengeThen the rule should separate skilled and unskilled
21. ResolutionMost men are skilled
22. ChallengeThen why groomsmen and a sheet?
23. ResolutionThe checks guard against hiding the evidence
24. Challengeרבי אמי challenges from the case of draining an abscess on שבת