Kiddushin 81a

קידושין פ״א ע״א

Learn Kiddushin 81a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Kiddushin 81a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The laws of יחוד, the punishments connected to it, and stories about the strength of the יצר הרע

Overview

This amud is about יחוד, a man and a woman being alone together. רב rules that two men with a woman are enough in a city, but on the road you need three. The גמרא tries to prove this from the סוטה case and rejects the proof. In a story, רב is strict even with himself and רב יהודה, explaining that 'upright men' means people like רבי חנינא בר פפי. רב rules that בית דין flogs for יחוד, and רב אשי limits this to an unmarried woman so no rumors spread about a married woman's children. רב also allows flogging for a bad rumor. The גמרא then lists cases where יחוד is not a concern: the husband in town, an open door to the street, and room setups, where a ברייתא disagrees with רב כהנא and אביי is strict both ways. Stories about רב עמרם חסידא, רבי מאיר, רבי עקיבא and פלימו show how strong the יצר הרע is. פלימו's story continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (39)

1. ResponseThe scholars know how to warn him
2. StatementOn the road, three men are needed
3. ProofA suggested proof from the סוטה case
4. RejectionThe two scholars are there as witnesses
5. Statementרב tells רב יהודה to hurry away
6. ChallengeDidn't you allow it for trustworthy men?
7. ResolutionWho says we count as upright?
8. QuestionThen who does count?
9. ResponseLike רבי חנינא בר פפי and his friends
10. StatementFlogging for יחוד, but no prohibition
11. StatementNo flogging for יחוד with a married woman
12. Statementמר זוטרא flogs and announces the reason
13. ChallengeWhy doesn't רב אשי also flog and announce?
14. ResolutionSome will hear the flogging but not the reason
15. StatementFlogging because of a bad rumor
16. StatementHow מר זוטרא carried out the flogging
17. StatementHer husband is in town
18. StatementA door open to the street
19. Statementרב ביבי asks to remove the ladder
20. ChallengeBut רבה said a husband in town is enough
21. Resolutionרב ביבי was close with her
22. StatementMen outside, women inside
23. ChallengeA ברייתא teaches the opposite of רב כהנא
24. Conclusionאביי decides to be strict both ways
25. StatementHow אביי and רבא separated men and women
26. StatementThe festival is the riskiest time of year
27. StatementCaptive women stay in רב עמרם's house
28. Statementרב עמרם is tempted and starts climbing
29. StatementHalfway up, רב עמרם stops himself and cries fire
30. StatementThe רבנן feel shamed, and רב עמרם answers
31. Conclusionרב עמרם forces out his יצר הרע and declares victory
32. Statementרבי מאיר is tested by a woman across the river
33. ConclusionHeaven's protection saves רבי מאיר
34. Statementרבי עקיבא is tested by a woman atop a palm tree
35. ConclusionHeaven's protection saves רבי עקיבא
36. Statementפלימו mocks the שטן, who comes as a poor man
37. StatementThe poor man asks to come inside
38. StatementThe poor man asks to sit at the table
39. StatementThe poor man acts disgustingly at the table