Kiddushin 78b

קידושין ע״ח ע״ב

Learn Kiddushin 78b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Which widows and converts' daughters a כהן may marry, whether parents are believed about a child's status (יכיר), and the start of the משנה about a father and his agent betrothing his daughter.

Overview

The amud opens by finishing רבא's reading of the פסוק in יחזקאל about widows. Its first half is about a כהן גדול and its second half is about a regular כהן. He proves that a פסוק can switch subjects like this from the פסוק about שמואל lying 'in the היכל'. The גמרא then explains that 'מכהן יקחו' means the rest of the כהנים may marry a widow. רבי יהודה disagrees: a כהן may marry only the widow of a man whose daughter could marry a כהן, which fits his strict view about a convert's daughter. The הלכה follows רבי יוסי, who says even the daughter of two converts may marry a כהן. In practice we advise against such a marriage ahead of time, but we do not break it up once it has happened. Next comes a new משנה: parents are not believed to call their child a ממזר, but רבי יהודה says they are, based on the word 'יכיר' about a בכור. The גמרא then works out what 'יכיר' teaches according to the חכמים. The amud ends with the start of a משנה about a father and his agent who both betroth his daughter, and it continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (25)

1. ChallengeCan one verse switch from a High Priest to a regular priest?
2. Responseרבא stands by his reading
3. ChallengeIs any verse actually written this way?
4. ProofProof from שמואל sleeping 'in the Sanctuary'
5. ChallengeOnly a priest's widow, not an Israelite's?
6. Resolution'Of a priest' means the other priests may marry her
7. ProofA ברייתא says the same thing
8. Statementרבי יהודה's different reading
9. Statementרבי יהודה follows his own view about a convert's daughter
10. StatementThe הלכה follows רבי יוסי
11. StatementPriests took on a stricter practice after the Temple's destruction
12. ConclusionBefore marriage we advise strictness; after marriage we do not separate
13. StatementNew משנה: a parent is not believed to call a child a ממזר
14. QuestionWhat do the words 'and even both of them' add?
15. ResponseFirst point: even the mother, who knows for sure, is not believed
16. ResponseSecond point: even about a fetus, who has no presumed status yet
17. ProofThe source for רבי יהודה: the word 'יכיר'
18. Statementרבי יהודה extends the rule to a son with a flawed status, and the חכמים disagree
19. ChallengeWhat does 'יכיר' teach according to the חכמים?
20. Resolution'יכיר' is for when nobody knows who the בכור is
21. ChallengeFor the double portion, the father is believed anyway because of מיגו
22. ResolutionThe פסוק covers property the father gets later
23. ChallengeAccording to רבי מאיר, why is the פסוק needed?
24. ResolutionThe פסוק covers property that came while the father was dying
25. StatementNew משנה: a father and his agent both betroth his daughter