Ketubot

why then was it stated, 'AT THE PLACE WHERE HER MOTHER [LIVES]'?  Consequently it must be inferred that [the place of] a daughter, whether she be of age or a minor, is with her mother. THE TWO HUSBANDS CANNOT PLEAD etc. A certain man once leased his mill to another for [the consideration of the latter's services in] grinding [his corn].  Eventually he became rich and bought another mill and an ass. Thereupon he said to the other, 'Until now I have had my grinding done at your place but now  pay me rent'. — 'I shall', the other replied, 'only grind for you'.  Rabina [in considering the case] intended to rule that it involved the very principle that was laid down in our Mishnah: THE TWO HUSBANDS CANNOT PLEAD, 'WE WILL MAINTAIN HER JOINTLY', BUT ONE MUST MAINTAIN HER AND THE OTHER ALLOWS HER THE COST OF HER MAINTENANCE.  R. 'Awira, however, said to him: Are [the two cases] alike? There [the woman]  has Only one stomach, not two;  but here  [the lessee] might well tell the owner, 'Grind [in your own mill]  and sell; grind [in mine]  and keep'.  This,  however, has been said only in a case where [the lessee] has no [other orders for] grinding at his mill,  but if he has [sufficient orders for] grinding at his mill he may in such circumstances be compelled [not to act] in the manner of Sodom. MISHNAH. SHOULD A WIDOW SAY, 'I HAVE NO DESIRE TO MOVE FROM MY HUSBAND'S HOUSE', THE HEIRS CANNOT TELL HER, GO TO YOUR FATHER'S HOUSE AND WE WILL MAINTAIN YOU', BUT THEY MUST MAINTAIN HER IN HER HUSBAND'S HOUSE  AND GIVE HER A DWELLING BECOMING HER DIGNITY. IF SHE SAID, HOWEVER,  HAVE NO DESIRE TO MOVE FROM MY FATHER'S HOUSE', THE HEIRS ARE ENTITLED TO SAY TO HER, 'IF YOU STAY WITH US YOU WILL HAVE YOUR MAINTENANCE, BUT IF YOU DO NOT STAY WITH US YOU WILL RECEIVE NO MAINTENANCE'. IF SHE BASED HER PLEA  ON THE GROUND THAT SHE WAS YOUNG AND THEY  WERE YOUNG,  THEY MUST MAINTAIN HER WHILE SHE LIVES IN THE HOUSE OF HER FATHER. GEMARA. Our Rabbis taught:  [A widow] may use [her deceased husband's] dwelling as she used it during his  lifetime. [She may also use] the bondmen and bondwomen, the cushions and the bolsters, and the silver and gold utensils as she used them during the lifetime of her husband, for such is the written undertaking he gave her: 'And you shall dwell in my house and be maintained therein out of my estate throughout the duration of your widowhood'. R. Joseph learnt:  'In my house' [implies] 'but not in my hovel'. R. Nahman ruled: If orphans sold a widow's dwelling  their act is legally invalid.  But why [should this case be] different from that of which R. Assi spoke in the name of R. Johanan as follows:  If the male orphans forestalled [the female orphans] and sold  some property of a small estate  their sale is valid?  — There  [the property] Was not pledged to any daughter  during [her father's] lifetime,  but here  [the dwelling] was pledged to the widow  during [her husband's] lifetime. Abaye stated: We have a tradition that if a widow's dwelling  collapsed it is not the duty of the heirs to rebuild it.' So it was also taught: If a widow's dwelling  collapsed it is not the duty of the heirs to rebuild it.  Furthermore, even if she says, 'Allow me and I shall rebuild it at my own expense', she is not granted her request. Abaye asked: What [is the legal position if] she repaired it?  — This is undecided. IF SHE SAID, HOWEVER,'I HAVE NO DESIRE' etc. Why should they not give her maintenance while she lives there?  — This supports [a statement] of R. Huna who said, 'The blessing of a house [is proportionate] to its size'.  Why then can they not give her according to the blessing of the house?  — That is so. Said R. Huna: The sayings  of the Sages [are a source of] blessing, wealth and healing. [As to] 'blessing', [we have] the statement just mentioned. 'Wealth'? — Because we learned: If one sold fruits to another  [and the buyer] pulled  them, though they have not yet been measured,  ownership is acquired. If, however, they have been measured,  but [the buyer] has not pulled them, ownership is not acquired. But if [the buyer] is prudent he rents the place where they are kept.  'Healing'? — For we learned: A man should not chew wheat and put it on his wound during the Passover because it ferments. Our Rabbis taught: When Rabbi  was about to depart [from this life] he said, 'I require [the presence] of my sons'. When his sons entered into his presence he instructed them: 'Take care that you shew due respect to your mother. The light  shall continue to burn in its usual place, the table  shall be laid in its usual place [and my] bed shall be spread in its usual place.  Joseph of Haifa and Simeon of Efrath who attended on me in my lifetime shall attend on me when I am dead'. 'Take care that you shew due respect to your mother'. Is [not this instruction] Pentateuchal, since it is written, Honour thy father and thy mother?  — She was their stepmother.  [Is not the commandment to honour] a stepmother  also Pentateuchal, for it was taught: Honour thy father and thy mother,'  'thy father'  includes  'thy stepmother','and thy mother'  includes  'thy Stepfather',  and the superfluous waw  includes 'thy elder brother'? — This exposition  [was meant to apply] during [one's own parents'] lifetime but not after [their] death. 'The light shall continue to burn in its usual place, the table shall be laid in its usual place [and my] bed shall be spread in its usual place'.  What is the reason? — He used to come home again at twilight every Sabbath Eve. On a certain Sabbath Eve a neighbour came to the door speaking aloud, when his handmaid whispered, 'Be quiet for Rabbi is sitting there'. As soon as he heard this he came no more, in order that no reflection might be cast  on the earlier saints. 'Joseph of Haifa and Simeon of Efrath who attended on me in my lifetime shall attend on me when I am dead'. He was understood to mean, 'In this world'.  When it was seen however, that their biers preceded his  [all] said that the conclusion must be that he was referring to the other  world, and that the reason why he mentioned it  was that it might not be suspected that they were guilty of some offence  and that it was only the merit of Rabbi that protected  them until that moment. 'I require'. he said to them, '[the presence] of the Sages of Israel', and the Sages of Israel entered into his presence. 'Do not lament for me',  he said to them, 'in the smaller towns,