Kiddushin 34a

קידושין ל״ד ע״א

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Topic

Women and time-bound positive מצוות: how firm the rule is, and where it comes from

Overview

The ברייתא finishes its examples of time-bound positive מצוות with תפילין, then lists מצוות that apply at all times, such as מזוזה and מעקה. The גמרא challenges the משנה's rule. Women must keep some time-bound מצוות, like מצה, שמחה and הקהל, and they are exempt from some that are not time-bound, like תלמוד תורה. רבי יוחנן answers that general rules in a משנה are not exception-free, even when they say 'חוץ', and the גמרא proves this from the עירוב list. Next the גמרא gives the source of the exemption. All time-bound מצוות are learned from תפילין, and תפילין is learned from תלמוד תורה, since the two are written side by side twice in שמע. Women are still obligated in מזוזה, because its reward of long life applies to them too. The גמרא then asks why סוכה needed the word האזרח to exempt women. אביי explains that without it we might have thought a סוכה is like a home shared by husband and wife. רבא begins a different answer, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (17)

1. StatementExamples of time-bound and non-time-bound positive מצוות
2. ChallengeTime-bound מצוות that women must still do
3. ChallengeNon-time-bound מצוות that women do not have to do
4. ResolutionGeneral rules are not meant to be exception-free
5. ProofProof from a list about עירובין
6. ChallengeThe list is missing truffles and mushrooms
7. ConclusionSo general rules are not complete
8. QuestionWhere do we learn the exemption for time-bound מצוות?
9. ResponseLearned from תפילין
10. Responseתפילין is learned from תלמוד תורה
11. ChallengeWhy not compare תפילין to מזוזה?
12. ResolutionThe link to תלמוד תורה is stronger
13. ChallengeThen compare מזוזה to תלמוד תורה
14. Rejectionמזוזה promises life, which women need too
15. ChallengeWhy does סוכה need a special word to exempt women?
16. Resolutionאביי: סוכה is like a home, so a special word was needed
17. Resolutionרבא begins a different answer