Talmud Bavli
Talmud Bavli

Commentary for Kiddushin 91:8

ואפילו בקמייתא והא מלוה היא אמר רבי יוחנן הרי שלחן והרי בשר והרי סכין ואין לנו לאכול

<big><b>MISHNAH: </b></big>HE WHO SAYS TO A WOMAN, 'BE THOU BETROTHED UNTO ME WITH THIS DATE, BE THOU BETROTHED UNTO ME WITH THIS ONE' - IF ANY ONE OF THEM IS WORTH A PERUTAH, SHE IS BETROTHED; IF NOT, SHE IS NOT BETROTHED, [IF HE SAYS,] 'WITH THIS AND WITH THIS AND WITH THIS ONE' - AND THEY ARE ALL TOGETHER WORTH A PERUTAH, SHE IS BETROTHED; IF NOT, SHE IS NOT BETROTHED. IF SHE EATS THEM ONE BY ONE, SHE IS NOT BETROTHED UNLESS ONE OF THEM IS WORTH A PERUTAH.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The meaning of this is discussed in the GEMARA:');"><sup>12</sup></span> <big><b>GEMARA: </b></big>Which Tanna taught: 'BE THOU BETROTHED, BE THOU BETROTHED'? - Said Rabbah: R'Simeon, who maintained, Unless he declares ['I take] an oath' to each one separately.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. supra ');"><sup>13</sup></span>

Daf Shevui to Kiddushin

If the first date is worth a perutah, and he keeps giving her dates, the betrothal is not complete until he gives her the last date. The rabbis view the first dates as a loan, because were he to retract his offer, she would have to give the date back. By the time she is betrothed, this date is gone and he is saying to her—if you become betrothed to me, you do not need to give me the loan back. But then this is betrothal through forgiving a loan, and this is not a valid form of kiddushin. R. Yohanan is indeed puzzled by the conundrum and offers a colorful statement to express it.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Previous VerseFull ChapterNext Verse