Talmud Bavli
Talmud Bavli

Commentary for Kiddushin 98:2

ע"מ שאני תלמיד אין אומרים כשמעון בן עזאי וכשמעון בן זומא אלא כל ששואלין אותו בכ"מ דבר אחד בלימודו ואומרו ואפילו במסכתא דכלה על מנת שאני חכם אין אומרים כחכמי יבנה כר' עקיבא וחביריו אלא כל ששואלים אותו דבר חכמה בכל מקום ואומרה

'On condition that I am a disciple [talmid],' we do not say, such as Simeon B''Azzai and Simeon B'Zoma,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' These, though disciples, i.e., not ordained as Rabbis, were renowned for their wide erudition. Cf. Sotah, 49b, Yeb. 63b. urnutu');"><sup>2</sup></span> but one who when asked a single question on his studies in any place can answer it,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [ Lit., 'he says it', Kaplan, op. cit. p. 203 explains this term as denoting the ability to discuss the point in question, and not merely to quote correctly from some text.]');"><sup>3</sup></span> even in the Tractate Kallah.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' One of the extra-canonical tractates. Rashi: though it is short and not difficult, it is enough if he can answer a question in it. Others (v. Tosaf. Ri) the laws of Festivals (Kallah was the name given to the general assemblies in Elul and Adar, when the laws of the Festivals were popularly vkf ,u,fxn expounded.) , in which most people were well-versed. V. J.E. s.v. Kallah; v. [Higger, M. pp. 13ff.].');"><sup>4</sup></span>

Daf Shevui to Kiddushin

Modern talmudic historians interpret “kallah” here as referring to a gathering of sages that took place for two months out of the year in Babylonia. During this gathering they would learn one tractate. Thus this tractate was the freshest one on people’s minds. But knowing something even from that particular tractate would qualify one to be a “talmid.”
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Daf Shevui to Kiddushin

In all of these cases, we take the most minimal possible meaning of the word. We should note that this does not necessarily mean that one who, for instance, is able to answer one matter of wisdom is truly considered wise. Rather, the issue is that with betrothal, we need to err on the side of caution. If we consider her betrothed and she is not, the consequences are minimal. But if we consider her not betrothed and she is, and then she marries someone else, her kids are mamzerim.
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