Ketubot 79

אתאי לקמיה דרב נחמן קרעיה רב נחמן לשטרא אזל רב ענן לקמיה דמר עוקבא אמר ליה חזי מר נחמן חקלאה היכי מקרע שטרי דאינשי אמר ליה אימא לי איזי גופא דעובדא היכי הוה

The mother came before Rav Naḥman for judgment. Rav Naḥman tore the document, accepting her claim that she did not intend to transfer ownership of her property. Rav Anan went before Mar Ukva, the Exilarch, and said to him: Let the Master observe Naḥman the farmer, how he tears people’s documents. Rav Anan was upset that Rav Naḥman destroyed a legitimate document. Mar Ukva said to him: Tell me, please, what was the actual incident?

אמר ליה הכי והכי הוה אמר ליה שטר מברחת קא אמרת הכי אמר רב חנילאי בר אידי אמר שמואל מורה הוראה אני אם יבא שטר מברחת לידי אקרענו

Rav Anan said to Mar Ukva: This and that transpired; i.e., he apprised him of all the details. Mar Ukva said to him: Are you saying it was a document of evasion? This is what Rav Ḥanilai bar Idi said that Shmuel said: I am an authority who issues rulings and have issued the following directive: If a document of evasion comes to my hand, I will tear it, as it is clear that it was not intended for the actual transfer of property but merely to distance it from someone else.

אמר ליה רבא לרב נחמן טעמא מאי דלא שביק איניש נפשיה ויהיב לאחריני הני מילי לאחריני אבל לברתה יהיבא אפילו הכי במקום ברתה נפשה עדיפא לה

After seeing Rav Naḥman tear the document, Rava said to Rav Naḥman: What is the reason for your actions? Is it that you assume that it was not a wholehearted gift because a person does not abandon his own interests and give a gift to others? That applies only when it is given to others who are strangers, but to her daughter a mother would give property wholeheartedly. Rav Naḥman replied: Even so, where her interests clash with those of her daughter, her own interests are preferable to her, and therefore she did not intend to waive her rights.

מיתיבי הרוצה שתבריח נכסיה מבעלה כיצד היא עושה כותבת שטר פסים לאחרים דברי רבן שמעון בן גמליאל

The Gemara raises an objection: With regard to one who seeks to distance her property from her husband, how does she proceed? She writes in a document of agreement that her property should be given to others, who agree not to acquire the property. This document prevents her husband from gaining access to her property. This is the statement of Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel.

וחכמים אומרים רצה מצחק בה עד שתכתוב לו מהיום ולכשארצה

And the Rabbis say: This solution is flawed, because if the recipient wishes, he can deceive her and retain the property by virtue of the valid document in his possession. That possibility cannot be avoided until she writes to him in the document that the gift is granted from today and the gift is in effect only while I still wish to give it. In that case, if the one to whom she gave the gift comes to take possession of it, she can say that she no longer wants to give the gift and can thereby invalidate the document.

טעמא דכתבה ליה הכי הא לא כתבה ליה הכי קננהי לוקח

The Gemara infers: The reason she can ultimately retain her property is due to the fact that she wrote this to him; but if she did not write this to him, the purchaser has acquired it. This indicates that a document of evasion is legally valid.

אמר רבי זירא לא קשיא הא בכולה הא במקצתה

Rabbi Zeira said: This is not difficult, as this, the ruling that the document of evasion is void, is in a case where the document was written about all of the property, as clearly a person does not give away all his property as a gift and leave himself with nothing. Conversely, that ruling that the document is not canceled is in a case where the document was written about only part of the property, and therefore a clause must be added ensuring that the recipient cannot retain possession of the gift.

ואי לא קננהי לוקח ניקנינהו בעל אמר אביי עשאום כנכסים שאין ידועין לבעל ואליבא דרבי שמעון

The Gemara raises a difficulty: And in the case where the document is invalid because all of the property was included, if the purchaser does not acquire the property, the husband should acquire it. Abaye said: The Sages rendered this property given as a gift like property that is unknown to the husband, and this is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Shimon in the mishna that if she sold such property after her marriage, the sale is valid. Therefore, the husband does not have access to the property.

מתני׳ נפלו לה כספים ילקח בהן קרקע והוא אוכל פירות פירות התלושין מן הקרקע ילקח בהן קרקע והוא אוכל פירות

MISHNA: If money was bequeathed to a woman as an inheritance while she was married, land is acquired with it, and the husband consumes the produce of the land while the principal remains hers. If she inherited produce that is detached from the ground, it is considered like money; therefore, land is acquired with it and he consumes the produce of the land.

[פירות] המחוברים בקרקע אמר רבי מאיר שמין אותה כמה היא יפה בפירות וכמה היא יפה בלא פירות ומותר ילקח בהן קרקע והוא אוכל פירות וחכמים אומרים המחוברים לקרקע שלו והתלושין מן הקרקע שלה וילקח בהן קרקע והוא אוכל פירות

With regard to produce that is attached to the ground, Rabbi Meir says: One evaluates how much the land is worth with the produce, and how much it is worth without the produce, and the difference between these sums is the surplus value that belongs to the woman. Land is then acquired with the surplus and he consumes the produce. And the Rabbis say: That which is attached to the ground is his, as he is entitled to the produce from her property and he may therefore eat from it. And that which is detached from the ground is hers, like all other money she brings to the marriage, and land is acquired with it and he consumes the produce.

רבי שמעון אומר מקום שיפה כחו בכניסתה הורע כחו ביציאתה מקום שהורע כחו בכניסתה יפה כחו ביציאתה כיצד פירות המחוברים לקרקע בכניסתה שלו וביציאתה שלה והתלושין מן הקרקע בכניסתה שלה וביציאתה שלו

Rabbi Shimon says: In a case where his right is superior upon her entrance to the marriage, his right is inferior upon her exit if he divorces her. Conversely, in a case where his right is inferior upon her entrance, his right is superior upon her exit. How so? With regard to produce that is attached to the ground, if she married while owning such produce, upon her entrance it is his, in accordance with the opinion of the Rabbis, and upon her exit, when he divorces her, it is hers, as it is considered part of her property. But in the case of produce that is detached from the ground, upon her entrance it is hers, and if such produce is detached before their divorce, upon her exit it is his, as he was already entitled to all the produce of her property.

גמ׳ פשיטא ארעא ובתי ארעא בתי ודיקלי בתי דיקלי ואילני דיקלי אילני וגופני אילני

GEMARA: The Gemara observes that in the cases in the mishna where land is bought with the money, it is obvious that if one spouse proposes acquiring land and the other proposes buying houses, they must buy land, because it is a more secure purchase. If the decision is between houses and palm trees, they should acquire houses. If the decision is between palm trees or other types of trees, they should buy palm trees. If the decision is between regular trees or grapevines, they should purchase trees. The principle is that they acquire that which lasts longer and will not deteriorate over time.

אבא זרדתא ופירא דכוורי אמרי לה פירא ואמרי לה קרנא כללא דמילתא גזעו מחליף פירא אין גזעו מחליף קרנא

If the wife inherited a forest [abba] of hawthorn [zeradeta] trees, whose produce is inferior, or a fishpond, their status is a matter of dispute: Some say they are considered like produce, and some say they are like the principal, as they do not replenish themselves but eventually wear out. The principle of the matter is as follows: Any tree or plant whose trunk renews itself and grows again after it is cut is considered produce, whereas any tree or plant whose trunk does not renew itself is considered part of the principal.

אמר רבי זירא אמר רבי אושעיא אמר רבי ינאי ואמרי לה אמר רבי אבא אמר רבי אושעיא אמר רבי ינאי הגונב

Rabbi Zeira said that Rabbi Oshaya said that Rabbi Yannai said, and some say Rabbi Abba said that Rabbi Oshaya said that Rabbi Yannai said: One who steals

ולד בהמת מלוג משלם תשלומי כפל לאשה

the offspring of an animal of a woman’s usufruct property must pay payment of double the principal to the woman. Apparently this ruling is based on the assumption that the offspring is not treated as the produce of her property but as the principal, which belongs to the woman.

כמאן לא כרבנן ולא כחנניה דתניא ולד בהמת מלוג לבעל ולד שפחת מלוג לאשה וחנניה בן אחי יאשיה אמר עשו ולד שפחת מלוג כולד בהמת מלוג

The Gemara asks: In accordance with whose opinion was this halakha stated? It is not in accordance with the opinion of the Rabbis, and not in accordance with that of Ḥananya. The Gemara explains the dispute alluded to here: As it is taught in a baraita: The offspring of a usufruct animal belongs to the husband, whereas the child of a usufruct maidservant belongs to the wife. And Ḥananya, son of Yoshiya’s brother, said: They made the status of the child of a usufruct maidservant like that of the offspring of a usufruct animal, which belongs to the husband. Both opinions in the baraita agree that the offspring of a usufruct animal belongs to the husband. Why, then, must the thief pay the double payment to the woman?

אפילו תימא דברי הכל פירא תקינו ליה רבנן פירא דפירא לא תקינו ליה רבנן

The Gemara answers: You can even say that all agree with Rabbi Yannai’s ruling, as there is a difference between the general use of property and the double payment. This is because the Sages instituted for the husband to consume the produce, but the Sages did not institute for him to consume the produce of the produce. The double payment does not have the status of the offspring itself but of produce resulting from its theft, which is considered the produce of the produce and therefore is given to the woman.

בשלמא לחנניה היינו דלא חיישינן למיתה

The Gemara asks: Granted, according to Ḥananya, who equates the halakha of a maidservant’s child to that of an animal’s offspring, this is because we are not concerned about the death of the mother. Therefore, the mother is the principal while its offspring is considered the produce.

אלא רבנן אי חיישי למיתה אפילו ולד בהמת מלוג נמי לא ואי לא חיישי למיתה אפילו ולד שפחת מלוג נמי

But according to the Rabbis, if they are concerned about the death of the mother, and this is why a maidservant’s child belongs to the wife, even the offspring of a usufruct animal should not have the status of produce either. Rather, it should have the status of principal, because if the usufruct animal dies the woman will be left with nothing. Therefore, the offspring should be viewed as a replacement for its mother. And if they are not concerned about the death of the mother, even the child of a usufruct maidservant should also belong to the husband as the produce of her property. Why, then, do they distinguish between these two cases?

לעולם חיישי למיתה ושאני בהמה דאיכא עורה

The Gemara answers: Actually, the Rabbis are concerned about death, but the halakha of an animal is different, as there is still its hide, which remains after death. Therefore, the principal is not entirely lost even if the animal dies.

אמר רב הונא בר חייא אמר שמואל הלכה כחנניה אמר רבא אמר רב נחמן אף על גב דאמר שמואל הלכה כחנניה מודה חנניה שאם נתגרשה נותנת דמים ונוטלתן מפני שבח בית אביה

Rav Huna bar Ḥiyya said that Shmuel said: The halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Ḥananya that the child of a maidservant belongs to the husband. Rava said that Rav Naḥman said: Although Shmuel said that the halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Ḥananya, Ḥananya concedes that if the woman was divorced, she pays money and takes the children of her maidservants, because they are assets of her paternal family, and it is unfitting for the children of her family’s slaves to belong to someone else.

אמר רבא אמר רב נחמן הכניסה לו עז לחלבה ורחל לגיזתה ותרנגולת לביצתה ודקל לפירותיו אוכל והולך עד שתכלה הקרן אמר רב נחמן עיילא ליה גלימא פירא הוי מכסי ביה ואזיל עד דכליא

Rava said that Rav Naḥman said: If she brought in to the marriage for him a goat for its milk, or a sheep for its shearings, or a hen for its eggs, or a palm tree for its produce, the husband continues to consume the produce until the principal is consumed, and there is no concern that the woman will remain with nothing of value. Similarly, Rav Naḥman said: If she brought in for him a cloak as her usufruct property, it is produce, and he may cover himself with it until it is consumed.

כמאן כי האי תנא דתניא המלח והחול הרי זה פירות פיר של גפרית מחפורת של צריף רבי מאיר אומר קרן וחכמים אומרים פירות

The Gemara comments: In accordance with whose opinion is this ruling? It is in accordance with this tanna, as it is taught in a baraita: If a wife’s usufruct property includes a location on the shore from which salt and sand are extracted, this extract is deemed produce. As for a quarry of sulfur or a mine of alum, Rabbi Meir says: These are deemed principal, as the mine contains a finite amount of substance, and the Rabbis say: Extractions from such locations are produce, while the location of the mine is the principal. Rav Naḥman’s ruling that the cloak is deemed produce is in accordance with the opinion of the Rabbis that the extractions are deemed produce.

רבי שמעון אומר מקום שיפה כחו רבי שמעון היינו תנא קמא אמר רבא מחוברין בשעת יציאה איכא בינייהו

§ The mishna stated that Rabbi Shimon says: In a case where his right is superior upon her entrance, his right is inferior upon her exit if he divorces her. Conversely, in the case where his right is inferior upon her entrance, his right is superior upon her exit. The Gemara asks: The statement of Rabbi Shimon is identical to that of the first tanna, i.e., the Rabbis. Why, then, are both necessary? Rava said: The practical difference between them is the status of produce that was attached at the time of her departure from the marriage. The Rabbis, who did not directly address this issue, maintain that it belongs to him, whereas Rabbi Shimon says it belongs to her.

מתני׳ נפלו לה עבדים ושפחות זקנים ימכרו וילקח מהן קרקע והוא אוכל פירות רבן שמעון בן גמליאל אומר לא תמכור מפני שהן שבח בית אביה נפלו לה זיתים וגפנים זקנים ימכרו וילקח בהן קרקע והוא אוכל פירות רבי יהודה אומר לא תמכור מפני שהן שבח בית אביה

MISHNA: If elderly slaves or maidservants were bequeathed to her, they are sold and land is acquired with them, and the husband consumes the produce of the land. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: She need not sell these slaves and maidservants, because they are assets of her paternal family, and it would be shameful to the family if they were sold to others. Likewise, if old olive trees or grapevines were bequeathed to her, they are sold and land is acquired with them, and he consumes the produce. Rabbi Yehuda says: She need not sell them, because they are assets of her paternal family.

גמ׳ אמר רב כהנא אמר רב מחלוקת שנפלו בשדה שלה אבל בשדה שאינה שלה דברי הכל תמכור משום דקא כליא קרנא

GEMARA: Rav Kahana said that Rav said: This dispute concerning olive trees and grapevines is referring to a case when they were bequeathed to her in her field, as they are assets of her paternal family, and therefore Rabbi Yehuda rules that she need not sell them. But if she received them in a field that is not hers, everyone agrees that she must sell them because the principal will be consumed. Since these trees will not yield much produce, they will eventually be uprooted, and transitory property is not included in the category of assets of her paternal family.

מתקיף לה רב יוסף הרי עבדים ושפחות דכי שדה שאינה שלה דמי ופליגי אלא אי איתמר הכי איתמר אמר רב כהנא אמר רב מחלוקת בשדה שאינה שלה אבל בשדה שלה דברי הכל לא תמכור מפני שבח בית אביה

Rav Yosef objects to this: But elderly slaves and maidservants are considered like a field that is not hers, as nothing will remain of the principal, and yet Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel and the first tanna disagree over this case. The Gemara retracts: Rather, if the above statement of Rav Kahana was stated, it was stated as follows: Rav Kahana said that Rav said: This dispute with regard to olive trees and vines is referring to when they are located in a field that is not hers, but if they are located in her field, everyone agrees that she need not sell them, because they are assets of her paternal family.

מתני׳ המוציא הוצאות על נכסי אשתו הוציא הרבה ואכל קימעא קימעא ואכל הרבה מה שהוציא הוציא ומה שאכל אכל הוציא ולא אכל ישבע כמה הוציא ויטול

MISHNA: With regard to one who pays expenditures for his wife’s property in an effort to improve it, if he paid a large amount in expenditures and ate only a small amount of produce before he divorced her, or if he paid a small amount in expenditures and ate a large quantity of produce, that which he spent he has spent, and that which he ate he has eaten. Therefore, none of it need be returned. However, if he paid expenditures for the property and did not eat any part of it, he takes an oath with regard to how much he paid and then takes his expenditures.

גמ׳ וכמה קימעא אמר רבי אסי אפילו גרוגרת אחת והוא שאכלה דרך כבוד אמר

GEMARA: The Gemara asks: And how much is a small amount? Rabbi Asi said: It is even one dried fig, provided he ate it in a dignified manner befitting the owner of the produce and did not eat it by snatching the produce. It was said