Kesubos 5:4-5

Kesubos 5:4

If a husband consecrates his wife’s handiwork, she can reject this and support herself from her handiwork. Rabbi Meir says that if the husband consecrates the surplus from her handiwork, it is valid; Rabbi Yochanan HaSandlar says that it remains unconsecrated.

Kesubos 5:5

A wife performs the following tasks for her husband: she grinds flour, bakes, washes clothes, cooks, nurses the children, makes the bed and works with wool. If she brings a servant with her into the marriage, she need not grind, bake or launder; if two, she need not cook or nurse; if three, she need not make the bed or work with wool (but she must still perform some household tasks herself); if she brings four servants into the marriage, she may lounge in an easy chair. Rabbi Eliezer says that even if a woman brings 100 servants with her, her husband can still compel her to work with wool because being idle can lead one to act improperly. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says that if a man takes a vow prohibiting his wife from working, he must divorce her and pay her the value of her kesubah because being idle will lead one to lose their sanity.