Sotah 21b

סוטה כ״א ע״ב

Learn Sotah 21b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Teaching Torah to a daughter, and the meaning of חסיד שוטה and רשע ערום in the משנה

Overview

The גמרא goes back to the end of the משנה, where בן עזאי says a father must teach his daughter Torah and רבי אליעזר objects. The גמרא first softens רבי אליעזר's harsh wording to 'as if' he taught her תיפלות. רבי אבהו then gives his source, 'אני חכמה שכנתי ערמה': wisdom brings cunning with it. The רבנן read the same פסוק as teaching that Torah lasts only in someone who 'strips himself bare' for it, and רבי יוחנן adds that Torah lasts only in a truly humble person. Next the גמרא explains רבי יהושע's line that a woman prefers less food with her husband's closeness over more food with separation. It then defines the people the משנה says wear away the world. A חסיד שוטה is a man who won't save a drowning woman because he would have to look at her. Several אמוראים give different definitions of a רשע ערום, from clever legal tricks to hypocrisy, and עולא's definition continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (24)

1. Statementבן עזאי and רבי אליעזר on teaching a daughter Torah
2. ChallengeCan Torah really be called promiscuity?
3. ResolutionRead it as 'as if' he taught her promiscuity
4. Proofרבי אבהו's source: wisdom brings cunning
5. QuestionHow do the רבנן read this פסוק?
6. Responseרבי יוסי ברבי חנינא: Torah lasts in one who is 'bare' for it
7. Statementרבי יוחנן: Torah lasts in one who sees himself as nothing
8. Statementרבי יהושע's statement in the משנה
9. QuestionWhat does רבי יהושע mean?
10. ResponseOne קב with closeness over nine קבין with separation
11. StatementThe next line of the משנה: the foolish pious man
12. QuestionWhat is a foolish pious man?
13. ResponseThe man who won't save a drowning woman
14. QuestionWhat is a sly wicked person?
15. ResponseSpeaking to the judge before the other side arrives
16. ResponseGiving a poor man one דינר to make him lose his gifts
17. ProofThe משנה about the 200 זוז cutoff
18. ResponseAdvising orphans to sell a small estate
19. ProofProof that the orphans' sale is valid
20. ResponseAdvising a sale following רבן שמעון בן גמליאל
21. ProofThe ברייתא about 'my property to you, and after you to someone else'
22. ResponseSomeone who pulls others into his ways
23. ResponseEasy on himself, strict on others
24. Responseעולא begins his definition