Kesubos - Daf 104
- The audio shiur is in the works.
- What happened on the day Rebbe died
The Gemara relates what happened on the day Rebbe died. ההוא יומא דנח נפשיה דרבי גזרו רבנן תעניתא – On that day that Rebbe died, the Rabbanon decreed a fast because of his illness and begged for rachamim, and they said: “Whoever shall say that Rebbe has died shall be pierced by a sword.” The Rishonim explain that they wanted to remain ignorant of Rebbe’s death so they could continue to pray for him on the presumption he is alive, and if possible, bring him back to life. If they had learned he had passed, it would no longer be appropriate to pray for one’s resurrection. Rebbe’s maidservant went up to the roof and said: עליונים מבקשים את רבי ותחתונים מבקשין את רבי – Those above (i.e. the angels) want Rebbe, and those below (i.e. Yisroel) want Rebbe. יהי רצון שיכופו תחתונים את העליונים – “May it be His will that those below overcome those above.” When she then saw Rebbe suffering greatly because of his stomach ailment, she said, “May it be His will that those above overcome those below.” But the Rabbanon did not stop davening for him. So, she took a small earthenware vessel and threw it from the roof to the ground, and when the Rabbis heard the crashing sound, they stopped davening momentarily and Rebbe died.
- What Rebbe said at his final moments
The Gemara continues: בשעת פטירתו של רבי זקף עשר אצבעותיו כלפי מעלה אמר – At the time of Rebbe’s passing he extended his ten fingers heavenward and said: רבונו של עולם גלוי וידוע לפניך – “Master of the Universe. It is revealed and known before You, שיגעתי בעשר אצבעותי בתורה ולא נהנתי אפילו באצבע קטנה – that I toiled with my ten fingers in Torah, but I did not benefit from worldly pleasures even according to the toil of my little finger. יהי רצון מלפניך שיהא שלום במנוחתי – May it be Your will that there be peace in my place of eternal rest.” יצתה בת קול ואמרה – A Bas kol emerged and said: "יבוא שלום ינוחו על משכבותם" – He will come with peace; they will rest upon their resting places. When the Gemara asks why the passuk uses the plural form “resting places” it answers that Rebbe Chiya bar Gamda said in the name of Rebbe Yose ben Shaul regarding this passuk, that when a tzadik leaves this world, the malachei hashareis say to Hakadosh Boruch Hu: Ribbono shel Olam, Tzadik Ploni has come, and He says to them, יבואו צדיקים ויצאו לקראתו – “Let the tzadikim come from their resting places and go out to greet him.” When they come, they said to the tzadik who arrived, "יבא בשלום" – He will come with peace.” ינוחו על משכבותם – And then they return upon their resting places.
- Machlokes regarding how long does an almanah has to collect her kesubah
The next Mishnah states that as long an almanah is in her father’s house, גובה כתובתה לעולם – she collects her kesubah whenever she wants. If she is in her husband’s house living with the heirs, she collects her kesubah for only twenty-five years, for during that period, שתעשה טובה כנגד כתובתה – there are many times she does favors for others with the money of the heirs, that it will equal the amount of her kesubah. These are the words of Rebbe Meir which he stated in the name of Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel. But the Chochomim say that if she is in her husband’s house, she collects her kesubah whenever she wants, and if she is in her father’s house, she collects her kesubah for twenty-five years. Rashi explains that twenty-five years of silence in her father’s house indicates she has forgiven the kesubah debt, but not so in her husband’s house. Since the heirs show her honor, she is embarrassed to collect it. Rav Nachman bar Yaakov rules that if she produces the kesubah while in her father’s house, she has not forgiven the debt, and may collect whenever she wants, and the halachah is like the Chochomim.
