Kiddushin, Daf Mem Daled, Part 3

 

Introduction

This section continues to refer to the dispute between R. Yohanan and Resh Lakish. To recall, all hold that both the father and the betrothed na arah can receive the girl s divorce, but they disagree over betrothal. Resh Lakish holds that the rule is the same, whereas R. Yohanan holds that only the father may receive it.

 

ר’ אסי לא על לבי מדרשא אשכחיה לרבי זירא אמר ליה מאי אמור האידנא בי מדרשא

אמר ליה אף אנא לא עייל ר’ אבין הוא דעייל ואמר חברותא כולה כר’ יוחנן וצווח ריש לקיש כי כרוכיא (דברים כד, ב) ויצאה והיתה וליכא דאשגח ביה

 

R. Assi did not go to the Bet Hamidrash. He found R. Zera. He said to him, What was said just now in the Bet Midrash?

He said back, I also did not go, but R. Abin went, and he told me that the entire community agreed with R. Yohanan; and Resh Lakish cried like a bird, And she goes out and she becomes another man s wife (Deuteronomy 24:2) but no one listened to him.

 

I always love it when we get a description of rabbis playing hooky from the Bet Midrash and having FOMO over what they missed. In this case, they missed Resh Lakish crying out with a prooftext when everyone agreed with R. Yohanan. The prooftext is often brought out to prove that the same rules apply for both divorce and marriage.

 

אמר ליה רבי אבין בר סמכא הוא

אמר ליה אין כמין ימא לטיגני הוא

 

He asked him, Is R. Abin reliable? He replied, Yes. He is as from the sea into the frying pan!

 

R. Assi wonders if R. Abin is reliable should we believe him that everyone agreed with R. Yohanan. Yup, responds R. Zera. His word is as fresh as a fish pulled straight from the sea and plopped into the frying pan. This is definitely a saying I m going to try to use more.

אמר רב נחמן בר יצחק אנא לא רבי אבין ברבי חייא ולא רבי אבין בר כהנא אלא רבי אבין סתם

למאי נפקא מינה למירמא דידיה אדידיה

 

R. Nahman b. Yitzchak said: I [read in this story] neither R. Abin b. R. Hiyya nor R. Abin b. Kahana, but simply R. Abin.

What is the implication? In raising self-contradictions.

 

R. Nahman b. Yitzchak makes sure we know which R. Abin this is so that if we ever see a statement from another R. Abin that contradicts this statement, we will know which it is.