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Yevamos 65b

יבמות ס״ה ע״ב

Yevamot 65b

Learn Yevamos 65b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Yevamos 65b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Miscarriage claims in the ten-year rule, whether a woman is commanded in פריה ורביה, and teachings on rebuke and peace

Overview

The amud opens by finishing the discussion of a couple married ten years without children. In two cases the wife is believed, because her claim gives her a worse status: she would not falsely call herself an עקרה, or falsely claim three miscarriages. Then a new משנה teaches that only the man is commanded in פריה ורביה, while רבי יוחנן בן ברוקה says both are commanded. The גמרא learns the first view from "וכבשוה", which is spelled as singular, and רב יוסף learns it from the singular "פרה ורבה" said to יעקב. Next the גמרא gathers more teachings of רבי אילעא: hold back rebuke that will not be heard, and you may change the facts for the sake of peace, as even הקדוש ברוך הוא did. Back on the משנה, רבי יוחנן and רבי יהושע בן לוי argue whether the הלכה follows רבי יוחנן בן ברוקה, and a story about רבי אמי and רבי אסי shows that רבי יוחנן ruled against him. A ruling of רבי יוחנן ordering a divorce with כתובה is pushed aside, since a woman can claim she needs children to care for her in old age. The amud ends with the story of יהודית, wife of רבי חייא, and that story continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

הוּא אָמַר: אַפִּלַת בְּגוֹ עֲשַׂר.

He said: You miscarried within the ten [years].

וְהִיא אָמְרָה: לָא אַפֵּלִית.

And she said: I did not miscarry.

אָמַר רַבִּי אַמֵּי: אַף בְּזוֹ הִיא נֶאֱמֶנֶת.

Rabbi Ami said: Even in this case she is believed.

דְּאִם אִיתָא דְּאַפִּלָה —

For if it were true that she miscarried,

The steps (27)

  1. StatementHe says she miscarried, she says she did not: she is believed
  2. StatementThree miscarriages create a set status
  3. StatementHe says two miscarriages, she says three: she is believed
  4. StatementThe משנה: only the man is commanded to have children
  5. Statementרבי יוחנן בן ברוקה: both are commanded
  6. QuestionThe גמרא asks for the source that a woman is exempt
  7. Response"And conquer it": the command is aimed at the man
  8. ChallengeBut 'And conquer it' sounds plural
  9. ResolutionThe word is spelled as singular
  10. ResponseA different source: 'פרה ורבה' in the singular
  11. StatementSay what will be heard, hold back what won't
  12. Statementרבי אבא: holding back is an obligation
  13. StatementAllowed to change the truth for peace
  14. Statementרבי נתן: changing for peace is a מצוה
  15. StatementEven ה׳ changed words for the sake of peace
  16. StatementDispute over whether the הלכה follows רבי יוחנן בן ברוקה
  17. ProofProof that רבי יוחנן ruled against רבי יוחנן בן ברוקה
  18. StatementAnother version: רבי חייא בר אבא was the one who reported it
  19. Challengeרב פפא: Why stay silent if it was רבי חייא בר אבא?
  20. QuestionWhat was the final outcome?
  21. Proofרבי יוחנן ordered a divorce with כתובה payment
  22. RejectionPerhaps she came with a different claim
  23. ProofThe woman before רבי אמי: who will care for me when I am old?
  24. ProofThe woman before רב נחמן: a staff and a hoe
  25. StatementBackground: the twins יהודה and חזקיה
  26. Proofיהודית asks רבי חייא and drinks a sterility potion
  27. Statementרבי חייא wishes for one more set of twins