Yevamos 66b

יבמות ס״ו ע״ב

Yevamot 66b

Learn Yevamos 66b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Who keeps the נכסי צאן ברזל (guaranteed dowry property) after a divorce, the wife or the husband? A side discussion asks whether being financially responsible for something makes it count as yours, so that a כהן's animals and slaves may eat תרומה.

Overview

When a marriage ends, who gets the wife's guaranteed dowry items (נכסי צאן ברזל)? רב יהודה says she takes back the actual items, because they carry the honor of her father's family. רב אמי says the husband keeps them and pays their value, because the משנה says he carries their risk and that is why such slaves eat תרומה. רב ספרא answers that the משנה only says he is responsible for them, not that he owns them. The גמרא tests this with a rented cow and an appraised cow, and concludes that full responsibility, not partial, is what counts for תרומה. Next, a ברייתא is brought for each side, and רב נחמן rules like רב יהודה, because his reason is more sensible. Then comes a story: a widow's fine wool robe was used by the orphans as a shroud for her husband. רבא rules that the dead man has acquired it, since before she collects it the robe is still in the husband's possession. The amud ends as the גמרא starts showing that רבא is following his usual reasoning, with a list that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (18)

1. StatementThe dispute: the items go to her or to him
2. StatementWhy רב יהודה sides with the wife
3. ProofWhy רב אמי sides with the husband
4. Rejectionרב ספרא: responsible does not mean owner
5. ChallengeChallenge from the rented cow
6. RejectionA renter is not fully responsible
7. ResolutionGuaranteed property is like the appraised cow
8. StatementEach side has a supporting ברייתא
9. ProofThe ברייתא supporting רבי אמי
10. ProofThe ברייתא supporting רב יהודה
11. Statementרב נחמן rules like רב יהודה
12. Challengeרבא challenges the ruling
13. Resolutionרב יהודה's reason is more sensible
14. StatementThe story of the fine wool robe
15. Statementרבא rules the dead man has acquired the robe
16. ChallengeDoesn't the הלכה follow רב יהודה?
17. ResolutionNot yet collected, so still in the heirs' hands
18. Statementרבא is following his usual reasoning