Sukkah, Daf Kaf Heh, Part 2

 

Introduction

In yesterday’s section we learned that anyone going to perform a mitzvah, is exempt from other mitzvot occurring at the same time. But the baraita quoted said that a man is exempt from the Shema only if he is marrying a virgin. If he is marrying a widow/divorcee he is obligated. Our section questions that distinction.

 

אי הכי אפילו כונס את האלמנה נמי! כונס את הבתולה טריד כונס אלמנה לא טריד.

 

If so, even one who marries a widow should also be exempt?

One who marries a virgin is pre-occupied but one who marries a widow, his mind is not preoccupied.

 

The answer is that one who marries a virgin has his mind quite preoccupied. I think the assumption is that usually this is also his first marriage. One can understand just how nervous he is, and in light of that, he can’t think about reciting the Shema. One who is marrying a woman with some experience will be less worried or preoccupied. Therefore, he is liable to recite the Shema.

 

וכל היכא דטריד ה"נ דפטור? אלא מעתה טבעה ספינתו בים דטריד הכי נמי דפטור? וכי תימא ה"נ והאמר ר‘ אבא בר זבדא אמר רב אבל חייב בכל המצות האמורות בתורה חוץ מן התפילין שהרי נאמר בהן פאר.

 

And whenever one’s mind is pre-occupied he is exempt?

If so, if his ship was sinking, so that his mind is preoccupied is he also exempt?

And if you will say, It is indeed so , did not R. Abba b. Zabda say in the name of Rav: A mourner is obligated by all the commandments that are in the Torah, except for tefillin because the word beauty was said about them?

 

The problem with the above solution is that it implies that anyone preoccupied with anything is exempt from the Shema. If this were really true, then even one standing on the shore watching his ship sink would be exempt from the Shema. But we know this is not true because a mourner is obligated for the Shema. He is only exempt from wearing tefillin because Ezekiel calls them "beautiful" (this is based on a midrash) and a mourner is not supposed to make himself look beautiful. But despite the fact that his thoughts are also occupied with other matters, he is liable to recite the Shema. So too in general anyone who is preoccupied with something is still obligated.

 

הכא טריד טירדא דמצוה, התם טריד טירדא דרשות.

 

Here he is preoccupied with concern about a mitzvah; there he is preoccupied with concern about an optional activity.

 

The answer is that there is an important distinction between being preoccupied with performing a mitzvah and being simply upset. If someone is preoccupied with performing a mitzvah such as marriage, he is exempt from the Shema. But if he is preoccupied with an optional activity, such as worrying about his ship, he is liable.

Note that it is a mitzvah to marry either a virgin or a widow. But if he marries a widow he is not preoccupied. Therefore, despite the fact that he is going to perform a mitzvah, he is liable for Shema.