Kiddushin

all over the dough,1 the matter is in suspense: it may neither be eaten [as clean] nor burnt [as unclean].2 R. Joshua b. Levi said: We learnt this only of white [i.e., colourless] liquid; but as for red liquid, had it [the fowl] picked at the dough,3 it would certainly be known. Yet perhaps the dough absorbed it? — Said R. Johanan: Beribbi4 heard this thing, but not its explanation [which is this]: We learned this only of clear fluid in which a child's reflection may be seen but not of turbid fluid. 5 MISHNAH. A MAN MAY NOT BE ALONE WITH TWO WOMEN, BUT ONE WOMAN MAY BE ALONE WITH TWO MEN. R. SIMEON SAID: EVEN ONE MAN MAY BE ALONE WITH TWO WOMEN, IF HIS WIFE IS WITH HIM,6 AND HE MAY SLEEP WITH THEM IN AN INN, BECAUSE HIS WIFE WATCHES HIM. A MAN MAY BE ALONE WITH HIS MOTHER AND HIS DAUGHTER, AND HE MAY SLEEP WITH THEM IN IMMEDIATE BODILY CONTACT;7 BUT WHEN THEY GROW UP, SHE MUST SLEEP IN HER GARMENT AND HE IN HIS. GEMARA. What is the reason? — Tanna debe Eliyahu8 [states]: Because women are temperamentally light-headed.9 How do we know it?10 Said R. Johanan on the authority of R. Ishmael, Where do we find an allusion to yihud11 in the Torah? — For it is written: If thy brother, the son of thy mother, entice thee [etc.]:12 does then only a mother's son entice, and not a father's son? But it is to tell you: a son may be alone with his mother, but not with any other woman interdicted in the Torah. To what does the plain meaning of the verse refer?13 — Said Abaye, It [Scripture] proceeds to a climax.14 Thus: It goes without saying [that one should disregard] his father's son, for he may hate him15 and give him evil counsel. But as for his mother's son, who does not hate him,16 I might say, let him obey him. Therefore we are told [that it is not so]. Our Mishnah does not agree with Abba Saul. For it was taught: Within the first thirty days [of a child's birth] it may be carried out [for burial] in one's bosom,17 and buried by one woman and two men,18 but not by one man and two women. Abba Saul said: Even by one man and two women! — You may even say [that it agrees with] Abba Saul: in the time of grief one's passions are subdued.19 But the Rabbis hold with R. Isaac, who said: Wherefore doth a living man mourn, a man that is in his sins?20 even in a man's grief, his lusts prevail against him.21 And Abba Saul?22 — That is written with reference to one who complains of His [God's] measures, and this is its meaning: Why should he complain of His dispensation; has he then prevailed over his sin?23 The life which I gave him is sufficient for him.24 And the Rabbis?25 — Even as the story of a certain woman: It once happened that she took him out.26 BUT ONE WOMAN. Rab Judah said in Rab's name: We learnt this only of respectable persons; but as for profligates, [she may not be alone] even with ten. It once happened that ten men carried her [a married woman] out on a bier.27 R. Joseph said: The proof is that ten people assemble and steal a joist, yet are not ashamed of each other. Shall we say that the following supports him: Two scholars were sent with him,28 lest he has intercourse with her on the way.29 Thus, Only scholars, but not men in general?30 — Scholars are different, because they know liquid still dripping on their beaks. Since this and the case of the child are bracketed together, it follows that there too the matter is in suspense, which agrees with R. Johanan. must leave some traces; hence it is clean. inn etc.’] (small) respectively. the difficulty. desire for sin. R. Han. explains it otherwise. pronounced innocent she was interdicted to her husband too, and when he took her to Jerusalem for the ordeal two scholars accompanied him.