Kiddushin 75a

קידושין ע״ה ע״א

Learn Kiddushin 75a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Who disqualifies a woman from כהונה, the אלמנת עיסה, doubtful versus definite flawed lineage (שתוקי), and whether a כותי may marry a כותית

Overview

The amud opens with רבן שמעון בן גמליאל's test: if a כהן may marry a man's daughter, he may also marry that man's widow. The גמרא shows that the תנא קמא, רבי יוסי and רבן שמעון בן גמליאל all learn from a כהן גדול with an אלמנה, but each picks a different feature of that case. That is why they disagree about a מצרי שני and about a male convert from עמון or מואב. רב חסדא then rules that all three agree an אלמנת עיסה is unfit for כהונה. This goes against רבי יהושע and רבי יהודה בן בתירא, who allow her because of ספק ספיקא. Next, רב rules like רבי אליעזר that people whose flaw is doubtful may not marry those whose flaw is definite, and שמואל objects from הלל's version. This leads to a contradiction about the child of a pregnant ארוסה. The גמרא solves it either by switching the opinions or by reading the word שתוקי in several new ways. The amud ends with רבי אלעזר's ruling that a כותי may not marry a כותית. אביי rejects רב יוסף's reason for it, and רב דימי begins a new reason based on רבי ישמעאל, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (42)

1. StatementIf you may marry his daughter, you may marry his widow
2. QuestionWhat is the difference between the first opinion and רבי יוסי?
3. Responseרבי יוחנן: they differ about a second-generation Egyptian
4. ResponseThe first opinion: any forbidden relationship disqualifies
5. Responseרבי יוסי: only a man whose children are unfit disqualifies
6. ProofWhy a second-generation Egyptian does not disqualify for רבי יוסי
7. Statementרבן שמעון בן גמליאל: Daughter and widow go together
8. QuestionHow is this different from רבי יוסי?
9. Responseעולא: The difference is an Ammonite or Moabite convert
10. Responseרבי יוסי's reading: His children are unfit
11. Responseרבן שמעון בן גמליאל's reading: All his children, even daughters
12. ProofProof that עמוני and מואבי daughters are allowed
13. Statementרב חסדא: Everyone agrees about אלמנת עיסה
14. ProofProof from the most lenient opinion
15. ConclusionThe second half of his rule is about אלמנת עיסה
16. StatementThe תנאים Who Disagree With רב חסדא
17. ResponseWhy the Widow Is Allowed: A Double Doubt
18. StatementQuoting רבי אליעזר: Definite With Definite Is Allowed
19. Statementרב Rules Like רבי אליעזר
20. Challengeשמואל Objects Using הלל's Version
21. ChallengeSetting Up a Contradiction: The Pregnant ארוסה
22. ChallengeSpelling Out the Contradiction
23. ResolutionSwitch the Names
24. QuestionWhy do we need the dispute twice?
25. ResponseFirst reason both are needed: the unmarried woman's case alone
26. ResponseSecond reason both are needed: the ארוסה's case alone
27. ResolutionAnother answer: keep the opinions and explain רב's word ממזר
28. ChallengeThen שמואל is saying the same as רב
29. Resolutionשתוקי means kept out of כהונה
30. ChallengeThat is obvious
31. Resolutionשתוקי means kept out of his father's property
32. ChallengeThat is obvious too: we don't know who his father is
33. ResolutionThe case is where the child seized the property
34. Resolutionשתוקי means 'checked': the mother is asked and believed
35. ChallengeDidn't שמואל already rule like רבן גמליאל?
36. ResolutionBoth rulings are needed: most men are fit for a single woman, but unfit for a betrothed one
37. Statementרבי אלעזר: a כותי may not marry a כותית
38. QuestionWhat is the reason?
39. Responseרב יוסף: a כותי is treated like a convert's descendant after ten generations
40. StatementSome say: until the memory of idol worship is forgotten
41. Rejectionאביי shows the convert comparison does not fit
42. Responseרב דימי gives a new reason: רבי אלעזר follows רבי ישמעאל