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כתובות 15

Soncino English Talmud · Berean Standard Bible

The incident  happened at the springs  of Zepphoris, and the ruling followed R. Ammi, for R. Ammi said: and that is when a company of unfit men passed by there,  and also R. Jannai. for R. Jannai said: if she had intercourse at the springs she is fit for the priesthood. — Do you really mean to say at the springs? — But rather [say]: If she had intercourse at the time of [the people visiting] the springs she is fit for the priesthood. But if someone went  from Zepphoris and had intercourse [with her], the child is a shethuki.  This is according to the following: When R. Dimi came  he said that Ze'iri said [in the name of] R. Hanina, and some say: Ze'iri said [in the name of] R. Hanina:  One goes after the majority of [the inhabitants of] the town and one does not go after the majority of the [passing] company. — Just the reverse! These  move about and those  are stationary!  — But [say thus]: One goes after the majority of the [inhabitants of the] town, but only when there is [also] the majority of the [passing] company with it, but one does not go after the majority of the [inhabitants of the] town alone, nor after the majority of the [passing] company alone.  — What is the reason?  — It is prohibited  [to go after] the majority of the [passing] company in order to prevent  [going after] the majority of [the inhabitants of] the town. But even [in the case of] the majority of [the inhabitants of] the town, if he, went  to her, [let us say that] he who separates himself separates himself from the majority?  — It speaks of a case  when she went to him.  so that he was stationary,  and R. Zera said: All that is stationary is considered as half to half.  But do we require two majorities? Has it not been taught: if nine [meat] shops.  all of them, sell ritually killed meat. and one [shop sells] meat not ritually slaughtered and he bought in  one of them and he does not know in which of them he bought. it is prohibited because of the doubt;  but if [meat] was found,  one goes after the majority?  And if you will say that [it speaks of a case] when the gates of the city are not closed,  so that a majority  came [also] from outside,  did not R. Zera say: even when  the gates of the city are closed? — Where purity of descent is concerned they  put up a higher standard. The text says: 'R. Zera said: All that is stationary is considered as half to half.' [This apparently means] whether it is for leniency or for strictness.  Whence does R. Zera take it? Shall I say from [the Baraitha which teaches that] if nine [meat] shops, all of them, sell ritually killed meat and one [shop sells] meat not ritually slaughtered and he bought in one of them  and he does not know in which of them he bought, it is prohibited because of the doubt; but if [meat] was found, one goes after the majority? There it is for strictness!  But [he derives it] from [the following]: If there were [in a certain place] nine frogs and one reptile  and he touches one of them and he does not know which of them he touched he is unclean because of the doubt? — There also it is for strictness!  — But [rather] from [the following]: If there were [in a certain place] nine reptiles and one frog and he touches one of them and he does not know which of them he touched, [if this happened] on private ground he is unclean because of the doubt, [but] if this happened in a public place,  he is clean because of the doubt. And how do we know this  from the Bible? — The verse says: And if he lie in wait for him and rise up against him,  [that is to say that he is not guilty of murder] until he intended [to kill] him. And the Rabbis? — They said in the school of R. Jannai: This excludes one who throws a stone into [a group of people]. What case do you mean? Do you mean a case when there are nine idolators and one Israelite? Let it be sufficient for him  that the majority are idolators, [and] even if [you will say that it is considered as] half to half, [the rule is that] when there is a doubt in capital cases one takes a lenient view! — It speaks of a case when there are nine Israelites and one idolator, so that the idolator is stationary, and whatever is stationary is considered as half to half. It was stated: R. Hiyya b. Ashi [said that] Rab said [that] the law is according to R. Jose.  And R. Hanan b. Raba [said that] Rab said [that] it was [only] a decision for the hour.  R. Jeremiah argued: And for pure descent we do not require two majorities? Have we not learned:
[If] one found in it  an abandoned  child — if the majority [of the inhabitants of the town consist of] non-Israelites [the child is] a non-Israelite, if the majority [of the inhabitants of the town consist of] Israelites [the child is] an Israelite, [and if the inhabitants of the town are] half to half, [the child is] an Israelite.  And Rab said: They have taught this only with regard to sustaining it,  but not with regard to pure descent. And Samuel said: [They have taught this only] with regard to removing debris  for its sake?  — That which Rab Judah said in the name of Rab  [namely, that] the incident happened at the springs of Zepphoris,  escaped his  attention.  But according to R. Hanan b. Raba who said [that] it was a decision for the hour,  it is difficult!  He who taught this  did not teach that. The [above] text [says]: '[If] one found in it an abandoned child — if the majorlty [of the inhabitants of the town consist of] non-Israelites [the child is] a non-Israelite. if the majority [of the inhabitants of the town consist of] Israelites [the child is] an Israelite, [and if the inhabitants of the town are) half to half [the child is] an Israelite. Rab said: They have taught this only with regard to sustaining it, but not with regard to pure descent. But Samuel said: [They have taught this only] with regard to removing debris for its sake.' But did Samuel say so? Did not R. Joseph say that R. Judah said in the name of Samuel: We do not go with regard to saving life after the majority?  — But the saying of Samuel referred  to the first clause: 'If the majority [of the inhabitants of the town consist of] non-Israelites [the child is] a non-Israelite.' [Upon this] Samuel said: And with regard to removing debris it is not so,  'If the majority [of the inhabitants of the town consist of] non-Israelites [the child is] a non-Israelite' — for what practical purpose [is this taught]? — R. Papa said: To allow him to eat [meat of] animals not ritually slaughtered. — 'If the majority [of the inhabitants of the town consists of] Israelites [the child is] an Israelite,' — for what practical purpose [is this taught]? — R. Papa said: That one returns to him a lost object.  If [the inhabitants of the town are] half to half [the child is] an Israelite' — for what practical purpose [is this taught]? Resh Lakish said: With regard to damages.  How shall we imagine this case? Shall we say that an ox of ours  gored  an ox of his?  [In this case] let him  say to him.  'Bring evidence that you are an Israelite — and take!  It speaks of a case when an ox of his  gored an ox of ours  — one half he  pays, and with regard to the other half he says to them,  'Bring evidence that I am not an Israelite and I will pay  you. MISHNAH. IF A WOMAN BECAME A WIDOW OR WAS DIVORCED  [AND] SHE SAYS, 'THOU DIDST MARRY ME [AS] A VIRGIN,'  AND HE SAYS, 'NOT SO, BUT I MARRIED THEE [AS] A WIDOW,'34-35 — IF THERE ARE WITNESSES THAT SHE WENT OUT  WITH A HINUMA  AND HER HEAD UNCOVERED,  HER KETHUBAH IS TWO HUNDRED [ZUZ.]  R. JOHANAN THE SON OF BEROKA SAYS: ALSO THE DISTRIBUTION OF ROASTED EARS OF CORN IS EVIDENCE.  AND R. JOSHUA ADMITS THAT, IF ONE SAYS  TO HIS FELLOW,  THIS FIELD BELONGED TO YOUR FATHER AND I BOUGHT IT FROM HIM. HE IS BELIEVED,