"כ א ניס תשע”ה Friday, April 10 2015

כתובות ס ז” OVERVIEW of the Daf Distinctive INSIGHT 1) The daughter of Nakdimon ben Guryon (cont.) The particular needs of the poor man נעניתי ל קו אכול The Gemara offers two explanations why Nakdimon ben Guryon’s wealth was lost. A Baraisa records another incident related to Nakdimon T he Gemara tells the story of a poor man who came to ben Guryon’s daughter. and asked for food. When Rava asked him what he needed, the man told him that he wanted a fattened chicken and old wine. 2) Recording gold into the kesubah Rava was surprised that the man expected the community funds R’ Yochanan is cited as ruling that gold is recorded into to cover such an expensive meal. The poor man pointed out the kesubah for its present value. that the verse (Tehillim 145:15) teaches that Hashem provides .at the proper time ” בעתו “ This ruling is challenged on two accounts. for each creature its needs The second challenge is resolved but the first challenge is Nevertheless, Rava still did not feel that this poor man should left unanswered. be afforded the elaborate meal that he was requesting. Sud- A possible resolution to the first challenge is suggested. denly, the sister of Rava, whom he had not seen for thirteen 3) The kesubah years, came to visit at that very moment, and she happened to Different explain how to record other items bring with her a fattened chicken and some old wine. Rava un- into the kesubah. derstood this was a sign from heaven that these delicacies were Rava explains the evolution of his thinking regarding the meant for the hungry, poor man who had come to ask for help. collection of the kesubah from cash or land. Rava exclaimed, “I accept your request, come and eat!”

4) MISHNAH: The Mishnah discusses the minimum value Maharsha explains that this poor man was not accustomed of the kesubah and the husband’s responsibility to provide for to eat such fine foods, and Rava was correct in his reluctance to his wife if her father does not provide her with a dowry. accede to his request. However, at the moment he came to Rava, this poor man was in need of a special meal for whatever 5) Clarifying the Mishnah reason. It could be that he was ill, or that he felt weak. This is asserts that the fifty zuz mentioned in the Mishnah why the man himself evoked the verse in Tehillim from where refers to the cheaper currency. we see that Hashem provides for every creature its needs at the This assertion is demonstrated from the last ruling of the precise moment of need. Mishnah. At first, Rava did not agree with the poor man. Anaf Yosef,

6) Tzedaka for orphans in his commentary to Ein Yaakov, explains that Rava derived A Baraisa presents guidelines for distributing tzedaka to other lessons from the verse in Tehillim. He understood that orphans. Hashem provides every creature with its diet at the proper time. Another related Baraisa is cited that expounds on the For example, people eat lighter foods in the morning, and heav- ier foods, such as meat, at night. Other creatures have other . די מחסרו words (needs at different times, as well, as we find (Sanhedrin 108b . די מחסרו Another Baraisa expounds on the words A Baraisa gives an example of providing someone poor that the animals in the ark of Noach had different needs at vari- with his unique needs. ous times. Rava later realized that the poor man was correct.  Two more incidents pertaining to providing personal needs are presented.

7) Taking steps to avoid embarrassing the poor REVIEW and Remember A Baraisa discusses how to distribute tzedaka without em- 1. How is gold appraised in a kesubah? barrassing the poor. ______Another Baraisa is cited that identifies the pesukim that 2. What is the minimum amount one must give his daugh- serve as the source for these rulings. ter for her dowry? Three incidents are recorded that relate Mar Ukva’s cau- ______tion to avoid embarrassing the poor when distributing tzedaka 3. What happened to the pauper who was given beans rather to them . than fatty meat and aged wine? Another incident, involving R’ Abba, is presented. ______8) The individual needs of the pauper 4. Why did Mar Ukva and his wife jump into a burning The Gemara presents an incident related to providing the oven? individual needs of the pauper.  ______כתובות ס ז” –Number 983

,On the other hand .( חכ שמחל על כבודו כבודו מחול ) to him HALACHAH Highlight that principle only allows the scholar to waive the honor that others should accord to him but it does not allow him Is a Torah scholar permitted to play an instrument at a to disgrace himself and perhaps playing music at a wedding wedding? is considered disgraceful to his honor. Chavos Yair suggests that there is a distinction to make לא מצא עבד לרו לפניו ור לפניו שלשה מילי [One time Hillel the Elder] could not find a slave to run in front of between the mitzvah of returning lost objects and the him (the pauper from a distinguished family) and he (Hillel the chessed one does by playing music at a wedding. Returning Elder) ran before him for three mil. lost objects is in its origin a mitzvah that exists in the realm as ( מצוה בי אד לחברו ) of interpersonal relationships R av Yaakov Reisher 1, the Shvus Yaakov, wondered why opposed to the mitzvah of celebrating at a wedding which is it was permitted for Hillel the Elder to run before this pau- categorized as a mitzvah between the person and Hashem ( When it comes to fulfilling mitzvos in the .( בי אד למקו per. Even though there is an obligation to provide a pauper with all of his needs, nevertheless, Hillel the Elder should second category it is permissible for a Torah scholar to dis- be exempt from that responsibility since it is beneath his grace himself while fulfilling those mitzvos. dignity, as the Nasi, to run before others. Rav Yaakov Em- Accordingly, Rav Chaim Yosef Dovid Azulai 5, the Gaon den 2 suggests that the incident that is recorded in our Ge- Chida, suggests as a resolution to Shvus Yaakov’s inquiry mara occurred before Hillel the Elder became the Nasi. Rav that the reason it was permitted for Hillel the Elder to run Elchonon Wasserman 3 asserts that it was permitted because before this pauper while fulfilling this type of mitzvah is that the incident took place in a location where Hillel the Elder it is permitted for a Torah scholar to disgrace himself in ful- was not recognized, thus it was not a disgrace to his stature. fillment of Hashem’s mitzvos.  4 1. עיו יעקב לסוגייתינו. Rav Chaim Yair Bachrach , the Chavos Yair, was asked .2 דבריו נדפסו בשו" ת חכ צבי ליקוטי תשובות סי ' .ב"קי whether someone who is an outstanding Torah scholar is .3 קוב שיעורי אות רכ .ו" permitted to play musical instruments at a wedding. On the .4 "שו ת חוות יאיר סי "ר' .ה one hand one could argue that it should be permitted since .5 בספרו מראית העי ד" ה אמרו עליו .  a Torah scholar is permitted to waive the honor that is due

to be maspid, since only a prophet on hearts and our pockets and donate as STORIES Off the Daf the level of Yirmiyahu could give a much as we can to build an orphanage eulogy for such kedoshim. But surely for these wretched souls! The speaker The Jewish Urge to Give we must do something in their mem- before me suggested each person do- ory! So what can we do? Stand a few nate a prutah for a foundation to " המבזבז אל יבזבז יתר מחומש ..." moments of silence? Light candles? Per- promulgate their memory. Rabbosai, O nce there was an assembly called haps we should fast? Surely those un- this is far from sufficient! The Gemara in Tel Aviv to memorialize the millions der the Kanfei HaShechinah who share in Kesuvos 67b states that in Ushah of innocents heartlessly killed at the the heavenly chamber of the greatest they decreed that one refrain from giv- hands of the Nazi murderers. Blazoned martyrs, Rebbi Akiva and his col- ing more than 20% of one’s earnings in big letters on the poster proclaiming leagues, have no need of any action on to charity. When a Jewish heart is the event was a list of speakers. In- our part. However, there is one thing opened, the urge to give is so powerful cluded in this list was the Rav of Pon- they would beg us to do for them. We that had to make a proclama- evezh, zt”l. can become the parents of all their or- tion that one hold back from giving When someone mentioned this to phaned children! All these holy de- everything to . Let us give in the Rav he looked very surprised. parted souls are pleading with us, this spirit in memory of the Ke- “That’s odd. No one asked me to ‘Please! Don’t let them raise our chil- doshim!” speak!” However, he decided to accept dren as goyim! Make sure our children The astronomical sum of 17,400 the public invitation and attend. not forget the mainstays of Judaism British Pounds Sterling was immedi- The Rav’s speech literally moved such as Shema Yisrael.’ ately raised, far more than a prutah per the people to tears. “I will not even try “My brothers! Let us all open our person! 

Daf Digest is published by the Chicago Center for Torah and Chesed, under the leadership of HaRav Yehoshua Eichenstein, shlit”a HaRav Pinchas Eichenstein, Nasi; HoRav Zalmen L. Eichenstein, Rov ; Tzvi Bider, Executive Director, edited by Rabbi Ben-Zion Rand. Daf Yomi Digest has been made possible through the generosity of Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Ruben.