Moed Katan 18b

מועד קטן י״ח ע״ב

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Topic

Writing documents and betrothal on חול המועד, matches decreed by ה׳, and when a rumor is taken seriously

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a discussion about washing linen on חול המועד. אביי says linen may be washed, and he rejects בר הידיא's proof from what people did at ים של טבריה. A new משנה then lists documents that may be written on חול המועד, starting with קידושי נשים. The גמרא brings שמואל's ruling that one may betroth on חול המועד lest another man come first. Two proofs for it are pushed off, and a ברייתא from the school of שמואל finally supports it. The גמרא then explains that the worry is that a rival may pray first, since matches are decided by ה׳, as shown by רבא's story and by פסוקים from תורה, נביאים and כתובים. A side teaching says suspicion always has some basis. The גמרא limits this to a rumor that keeps going for a day and a half, with several conditions. Finally a new משנה lists what may not be written on חול המועד: loan documents, ספרי תורה, תפילין and מזוזות. רבי יהודה's view on this continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (33)

1. ChallengeOnly the listed towels may be washed, not other linen
2. ResolutionThe משנה means towels of any material
3. Proofבר הידיא saw linen being washed at the Sea of Tiberias
4. RejectionWhat people did is not proof of what is allowed
5. StatementDocuments that may be written on חול המועד
6. StatementThe משנה's list of permitted documents concludes
7. Statementשמואל permits betrothal on חול המועד
8. ProofTrying to support שמואל from the משנה's 'betrothal of women'
9. RejectionNo, the משנה means agreement documents
10. Statementרב גידל: marriage money promises bind through words
11. ProofA משנה that forbids only marrying seems to support שמואל
12. RejectionThe משנה may be saying 'needless to say'
13. ProofA ברייתא from the school of שמואל clearly allows betrothal
14. ChallengeWhy worry someone else will betroth her if it is already decided in heaven?
15. ResolutionThe real worry: another man may pray first
16. Proofרבא and the man who prayed for a specific woman
17. ProofA match is from ה׳: proof from תורה, נביאים and כתובים
18. StatementSuspicion usually has some basis
19. ChallengeChallenge from a verse: Israel made up false things about God
20. ResolutionAnswer: they only said it to anger God
21. ChallengeChallenge: the men of Israel suspected משה
22. ResolutionAnswer: they acted out of hatred
23. ChallengeChallenge from רבי יוסי and רב פפא: innocent people are suspected
24. ResolutionAnswer: a rumor that stops versus one that keeps going
25. QuestionHow long must a rumor last?
26. Responseאביי: town gossip lasts a day and a half
27. StatementA rumor that stopped in the middle does not count
28. StatementA stop caused by fear does not count as a stop
29. StatementA rumor that started up again does not count as stopped
30. StatementIf the person has enemies, even a nonstop rumor is dismissed
31. StatementNo writing loan documents on חול המועד, with two exceptions
32. StatementNo writing or correcting ספרים, תפילין, or מזוזות on חול המועד
33. Statementרבי יהודה lets a person write תפילין and מזוזות for himself