• The right of an arusah engaged to a kohen to eat terumah and why this was later abolished
• The wife's right to support and her obligation to work
• Transferring ownership or sanctifying something which is not yet in existence
• Which services a wife is obligated to render to her husband
• Nursing a baby and the kashrut status of mother's milk
• When a divorced or widowed nursing mother may remarry
• Things which may adversely affect unborn children
• Additional separations required between a husband and his nidah wife
• Consideration for a waiter
• Guidelines for frequency of marital relations
• The long absent Sages and the story of Rabbi Akiva
• The rebellious wife and how she is penalized

A Tale of Two Sighs

"Sigh with the breaking of the loins and with bitterness sigh before their eyes." (Yechezkel 20:11)

This was the prophecy received by the Prophet Yechezkel in regard to the sad tidings concerning the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash.

From this description of the impact of a sigh, the Sage Rav derives his observation that a sigh breaks half the body (till the loins).

His statement is, however, challenged by the description in the very next passage of the response that G-d ordered the prophet to give to those who will ask him for the reason of his signing:

"For the report when it comes when every heart shall melt and all hands will be weak, every spirit will be faint and all knees shall become watery."

Although this passage indicates that a sigh shatters the entire body, Rav explains that this refers to the extraordinary sigh bemoaning the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash.

Tosafot points out that although both of these passages refer to that tragedy the first one relates to the sigh of the prophet upon hearing that there will be destruction and such a sigh is comparable to normal human sighs which only break half the body. The second passage relates to the sigh that will be heaved when it is learned that the tragedy occurred and it will shatter the entire body.

What the Sages Say

"Let her come forward – all that I have achieved and all that you have achieved is due to her."

• Rabbi Akiva to his 24,000 disciples regarding his wife, upon his return home after a 24-year absence while learning and teaching - Ketubot 63a

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