Kesubos - Daf 111
- שלש ושש שבועות
Rebbe Zeira holds that three pesukim in Shir HaShirim represent שלש שבועות – three oaths that Hashem made to keep the Jewish people in exile among the nations until the Final Redemption:
a.אחת שלא יעלו ישראל בחומה – One is that He was משביע the Jewish people should not go up to Eretz Yisroel in a wall of force. Rashi explains that they should not go to Eretz Yisroel “together with a mighty hand.” They are permitted to go up as individuals.
b.אחת שלא ימרדו באומות העולם – One is that He was משביע the Jewish people should not rebel against the nations of the world.
c.אחת שלא ישתעבדו בהן בישראל יותר מדאי – One is that He was משביע the idolaters not to subjugate the Jewish people more than necessary.
Rebbe Levi said that there were six oaths administered. The three just mentioned, plus:
d.שלא יגלו את הקץ – That the nevi’im should not reveal the End, referring to the Final Redemption.
e.שלא ירחקו את הקץ – That the Jewish people should not distance the End through their sins.
f.שלא יגלו הסוד לעובדי כוכבים – That they should not reveal the secret to the idolaters. Rashi explains that some say this is calculation of the lunar cycle, and others say it is סוד טעמי התורה – the reasons behind the mitzvos.
- Burial in Eretz Yisroel vs. Chutz l’Aretz
Rav Anan said: כל הקבור בארץ ישראל כאילו קבור תחת המזבח – Whoever is buried in Eretz Yisroel is considered as if he were buried under the mizbeyach. The Maharsha explains that he attains atonement and returns to his source in his pristine state, with great purity. Rebbe Elazar said: מתים שבחוץ לארץ אינם חיים – The dead who are buried outside of Israel will not be resurrected. When the Gemara asks if tzadikim buried outside of Israel will not be resurrected, Rebbe Il’a said: על ידי גלגול – they will be zocheh to resurrection through rolling, meaning their bones will roll to Eretz Yisrael and come to life there. When Abba Sala Rabba asked why they should suffer through the rolling, Abaye answered: מחילות נעשות להם בקרקע – There will be tunnels formed for the tzadikim in the earth. Rashi explains that when they will be resurrected, they will stand on their feet and travel in the tunnels to Eretz Yisroel and then arise out of the ground there. The Gemara continues to teach that Yaakov asked to be buried in Eretz Yisroel,שמא לא יזכה במחולות – for fear that he would not be zocheh to get to Eretz Yisroel through the tunnels. Yosef requested to buried in Eretz Yisroel as well, out of the same concern.
- The miraculous productivity of the land in future times
The Gemara brings numerous statements regarding the miraculous productivity of the land in future times. Rav Chiya bar Yosef said: עתידה ארץ ישראל שתוציא גלוסקאות וכלי מילת – The soil of Eretz Yisroel is destined to produce ready-made baked goods and fine woolen clothes. It was taught in a Baraisa: The passuk states: "יהי פיסת בר בארץ בראש הרים" – There will be abundant grain on the earth, on the mountaintops. This means that a stalk of wheat is destined to grow up straight like a palm tree until its top is so high it is level with the mountaintops. If one might say that it will be trouble to harvest it, Hakadosh Boruch Hu will bring a wind from His storehouses and cause it to blow on the wheat stalk, causing fine flour to fall from it. A person will go out to the field and bring back a palmful to support his entire household. In the future, a kernel of wheat is destined to be as large as the two kidneys of a large ox.
