## Ketubot Daf 77b

###### Ketubot 77b:1
[Ketubot 77b:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ketubot/r/77b:1)

הָתָם, כִּי אָמְרָה ״הָוְיָנָא בַּהֲדֵיהּ״ — שָׁבְקִינַן לַהּ. הָכָא, אַף עַל גַּב דְּאָמְרָה ״הָוְיָנָא בַּהֲדֵיהּ״ — לָא שָׁבְקִינַן לַהּ. וַהֲרֵי מוּכֵּה שְׁחִין, דְּאַף עַל גַּב דַּאֲמָרָהּ ״הָוְיָנָא בַּהֲדֵיהּ״ — לָא שָׁבְקִינַן לַהּ. דִּתְנַן: חוּץ מִמּוּכֵּה שְׁחִין, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁמְּמִקָּתוֹ וְקָתָנֵי!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
but **there,** with regard to the blemishes specified in the mishna, **if she says: I** want **to be with him, we leave her** alone with him and do not force a divorce, whereas **here,** in the case of a woman who has not given birth, **even though she says: I** want **to be with him, we do not leave her** alone, as her husband is neglecting the mitzva to be fruitful and multiply. The Gemara raises a difficulty: **But** there is the case of a husband **afflicted with boils, where even though she says: I** want **to be with him, we do not leave her** alone with him. **As we learned** in the mishna: **Apart from** a situation where her husband is **afflicted with boils, because** it **consumes** his flesh. **And** yet this *halakha* **is taught** in the same mishna as the others, which indicates that our above analysis is incorrect.


###### Ketubot 77b:2
[Ketubot 77b:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ketubot/r/77b:2)

הָתָם כִּי אָמְרָה ״דָּיְירָנָא בַּהֲדֵיהּ בְּסָהֲדֵי״ — שָׁבְקִינַן לַהּ. הָכָא אַף עַל גַּב דְּאָמְרָה ״דָּיְירָנָא בַּהֲדֵיהּ בְּסָהֲדֵי״ — לָא שָׁבְקִינַן לַהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara answers: Even so, there is a difference between these cases, as **there,** with regard to a man with boils, **if she says: I** am willing to **live with him** under the supervision **of witnesses;** that is, I will not seclude myself with him but I will nevertheless remain his wife, **we leave her** alone. However, **here, even though she says: I** will **live with him** under the supervision **of witnesses, we do not leave her** alone, but rather force him to divorce her.


###### Ketubot 77b:3
[Ketubot 77b:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ketubot/r/77b:3)

תַּנְיָא, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי: שָׂח לִי זָקֵן אֶחָד מֵאַנְשֵׁי יְרוּשָׁלַיִם: עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה מוּכֵּי שְׁחִין הֵן, וְכוּלָּן אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים תַּשְׁמִישׁ קָשֶׁה לָהֶן, וּבַעֲלֵי רָאתָן קָשֶׁה מִכּוּלָּן. מִמַּאי הָוֵי? דְּתַנְיָא: הִקִּיז דָּם וְשִׁימֵּשׁ — הָוַיִין לוֹ בָּנִים וִיתִיקִין. הַקִּיזוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם וְשִׁימְּשׁוּ — הָוַיִין לוֹ בָּנִים בַּעֲלֵי רָאתָן. אָמַר רַב פָּפָּא: לָא אֲמַרַן אֶלָּא דְּלָא טָעֵים מִידֵּי, אֲבָל טָעֵים מִידֵּי — לֵית לַן בַּהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**It is taught** in a *baraita*: **Rabbi Yosei said: A certain Elder from** among **the residents of Jerusalem told me** that there **are twenty-four** types of patients **afflicted with boils, and** with regard to **all of them the Sages said** that **sexual relations are harmful to them, and** those **afflicted with *ra’atan*,** a severe skin disease characterized by extreme weakness and trembling, **are harmed** even more **than all of the** others. The Gemara asks: **From where** and how does this disease **come about?** The Gemara answers: **As it is taught** in a *baraita*: One **who let blood and** immediately afterward **engaged in sexual relations will have weak** [***vitaykin***] **children.** If **both of them let blood and** then **engaged in sexual relations, he will have children afflicted with *ra’atan*. Rav Pappa said** in response: **We said** this **only if he did not taste anything** between bloodletting and intercourse, **but** if **he tasted something we have no** problem **with it,** as it is not dangerous.


###### Ketubot 77b:4
[Ketubot 77b:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ketubot/r/77b:4)

מַאי סִימָנֵיהּ? דָּלְפָן עֵינֵיהּ, וְדָיְיבִי נְחִירֵיהּ, וְאָיתֵי לֵיהּ רִירָא מִפּוּמֵּיהּ, וּרְמוּ דִּידְבֵי עִילָּוֵיהּ. וּמַאי אָסוּתֵיהּ? אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: פִּילָא, וְלוּדָנָא, גִּירְדָּא דֶאֱגוֹזָא, וְגִירְדָּא דְּאַשְׁפָּא, וּכְלִיל מַלְכָּא, וּמְתַחְלָא דְּדִיקְלָא סוּמָּקָא. וְשָׁלֵיק לְהוּ בַּהֲדֵי הֲדָדֵי, וּמְעַיֵּיל לֵיהּ לְבֵיתָא דְשֵׁישָׁא. וְאִי לָא אִיכָּא בֵּיתָא דְשֵׁישָׁא — מְעַיֵּיל לֵיהּ לְבֵיתָא דְּשַׁב לִבְנֵי וַאֲרִיחָא,

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara inquires: **What are the symptoms** of *ra’atan*? **His eyes water, his nose runs, drool comes out of his mouth, and flies rest upon him.** The Gemara further inquires: **And what is his cure** to remove the insect found in his head, which is associated with this illness? **Abaye said:** One takes ***pila* and ladanum** [***lodana***], which are types of grasses; **and the ground shell of a nut; and shavings of smoothed hides; and artemisia [*kelil malka*]; and the calyx of a red date palm. And** one **cooks them together and brings** the patient **into a marble house,** i.e., one that is completely sealed. **And if there is no marble house** available, the one performing the treatment **brings** the patient **into a house** whose walls have the thickness **of seven bricks and** one **small brick.**


###### Ketubot 77b:5
[Ketubot 77b:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ketubot/r/77b:5)

וְנָטֵיל לֵיהּ תְּלָת מְאָה כָּסֵי עַל רֵישֵׁיהּ, עַד דְּרָפְיָא אַרְעִיתָא דְמוֹחֵיהּ, וְקָרַע לְמוֹחֵיהּ וּמַיְיתֵי אַרְבַּע טַרְפֵי דְאָסָא וּמַדְלֵי כֹּל חַד כַּרְעָא וּמוֹתֵיב חַד, וְשָׁקֵיל בִּצְבָתָא וְקָלֵי לֵיהּ. דְּאִי לָא — הָדַר עִילָּוֵיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And** the one performing the treatment **pours three hundred cups** of this mixture **on** the patient’s **head until his skull is soft, and** then he **tears** open the patient’s skull **to** expose **his brain, and brings four myrtle leaves and lifts up each** time **one foot** of the insect that is found on the patient’s brain, **and places one** leaf under each foot of the insect so as to prevent it from attempting to cling to his brain when it is forcibly removed, **and** subsequently **takes** it **with tweezers. And** he then **burns** the insect, **because if** he does **not** burn it, it **will return to him.**


###### Ketubot 77b:6
[Ketubot 77b:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ketubot/r/77b:6)

מַכְרִיז רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: הִזָּהֲרוּ מִזְּבוּבֵי (שֶׁל) בַּעֲלֵי רָאתָן. רַבִּי זֵירָא לָא הֲוָה יָתֵיב בְּזִיקֵיהּ. רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר לָא עָיֵיל בְּאֻהְלֵיהּ. רַבִּי אַמֵּי וְרַבִּי אַסִּי לָא הֲווֹ אָכְלִי מִבֵּיעֵי דְּהָהִיא מְבוֹאָה. רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי מִיכְרָךְ בְּהוּ וְעָסֵיק בַּתּוֹרָה. אָמַר: ״אַיֶּלֶת אֲהָבִים וְיַעֲלַת חֵן״, אִם חֵן מַעֲלָה עַל לוֹמְדֶיהָ, אַגּוֹנֵי לָא מַגְּנָא?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rabbi Yoḥanan** would **announce: Be careful of the flies** found **on those afflicted with *ra’atan*,** as they are carriers of the disease. **Rabbi Zeira would not sit** in a spot where the **wind** blew from the direction of someone afflicted with *ra’atan*. **Rabbi Elazar would not enter** the **tent** of one afflicted with *ra’atan*, and **Rabbi Ami and Rabbi Asi would not eat eggs from an alley** in which someone afflicted with *ra’atan* lived. Conversely, **Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi** would **attach himself** to **them and study Torah, saying** as justification the verse: “The Torah is **a loving hind and a graceful doe”** (Proverbs 5:19). **If** it **bestows grace on those who learn it,** does **it not protect** them from illness?


###### Ketubot 77b:7
[Ketubot 77b:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ketubot/r/77b:7)

כִּי הֲוָה שָׁכֵיב, אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ לְמַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת: זִיל, עֲבֵיד לֵיהּ רְעוּתֵיהּ. אֲזַל אִיתְחֲזִי לֵיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אַחְוִי לִי דּוּכְתַּאי. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לְחַיֵּי. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הַב לִי סַכִּינָךְ, דִּלְמָא מְבַעֲתַתְּ לִי בְּאוֹרְחָא. יַהֲבַהּ נִיהֲלֵיהּ. כִּי מְטָא לְהָתָם דַּלְיַיהּ, קָא מַחְוֵי לֵיהּ. שְׁוַור נְפַל לְהָהוּא גִּיסָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**When** Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi **was** on the verge of **dying, they said to the Angel of Death: Go** and **perform his bidding,** as he is a righteous man and deserves to die in the manner he sees fit. The Angel of Death **went** and **appeared to him.** Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi **said to him: Show me my place** in paradise. **He said to him: Very well.** Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi **said to him: Give me your knife** that you use to kill mortals, **lest you frighten me on the way. He gave it to him. When he arrived there,** in paradise, **he lifted** Rabbi Yehoshua so he could see his place, and **he showed it to him.** Rabbi Yehoshua **jumped** and **fell into that** other **side,** thereby escaping into paradise.


###### Ketubot 77b:8
[Ketubot 77b:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ketubot/r/77b:8)

נַקְטֵיהּ בְּקַרְנָא דִגְלִימֵיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: בִּשְׁבוּעֲתָא דְּלָא אָתֵינָא. אֲמַר קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא: אִי אִיתְּשִׁיל אַשְּׁבוּעֲתָא — נֶיהְדַּר. אִי לָא — לָא נֶיהְדַּר. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הַב לִי סַכִּינַאי. לָא הֲוָה קָא יָהֵיב לֵיהּ. נְפַקָא בַּת קָלָא וַאֲמַרָה לֵיהּ: הַב נִיהֲלֵיהּ, דְּמִיתַּבְעָא לְבִרְיָיתָא. מַכְרִיז אֵלִיָּהוּ קַמֵּיהּ: פַּנּוּ מָקוֹם לְבַר לֵיוַאי! פַּנּוּ מָקוֹם לְבַר לֵיוַאי!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Angel of Death **grabbed him by the corner of his cloak.** Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi **said to him: I swear that I will not come** with you. **The Holy One, blessed be He, said: If he** ever in his life **requested** dissolution **concerning an oath** he had taken, **he must return** to this world with the Angel of Death, as he can have his oath dissolved this time also. **If** he did **not** ever request dissolution of an oath, he need **not return.** Since Rabbi Yehoshua had in fact never requested dissolution of an oath, he was allowed to stay in paradise. The Angel of Death **said to him:** At least **give me my knife** back. However, he **did not give** it **to him,** as he did not want any more people to die. **A Divine Voice emerged and said to him: Give** it **to him, as** it **is necessary to** kill **the created** beings; death is the way of the world. **Elijah** the Prophet **announced before him: Make way for the son of Levi, make way for the son of Levi.**


###### Ketubot 77b:9
[Ketubot 77b:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ketubot/r/77b:9)

אֲזַל, אַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ לְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַאי דַּהֲוָה יָתֵיב עַל תְּלָת עֲשַׂר תַּכְטָקֵי פִּיזָּא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אַתְּ הוּא בַּר לֵיוַאי? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הֵן. נִרְאֲתָה קֶשֶׁת בְּיָמֶיךָ? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הֵן. אִם כֵּן, אִי אַתָּה בַּר לֵיוַאי. וְלָא הִיא, דְּלָא הֲוַאי מִידֵּי. אֶלָּא סָבַר: לָא אַחְזֵיק טֵיבוּתָא לְנַפְשַׁאי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi **went** and **found** in paradise **Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai sitting on thirteen golden stools [*takhtekei*].** Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai **said to him: Are you the son of Levi? He said to him: Yes.** Rabbi Shimon said to him: Was **a rainbow** ever **seen in your days? He said: Yes.** Rabbi Shimon retorted: **If so, you are not the son of Levi,** as he is a completely righteous man. During the lifetimes of completely righteous people no rainbows are visible, as they are a sign that the world deserves to be destroyed by a flood; whereas the merit of the righteous protects the world from such things. The Gemara comments: **And that is not so, for there was no** rainbow seen **at all** during the lifetime of Rabbi Yehoshua, **but** he **thought: I do not want to take credit for myself** by presenting myself as such a righteous person.


###### Ketubot 77b:10
[Ketubot 77b:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ketubot/r/77b:10)

רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בַּר פָּפָּא שׁוֹשְׁבִינֵיהּ הֲוָה. כִּי הֲוָה קָא נָיְחָא נַפְשֵׁיהּ, אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ לְמַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת: זִיל עָבֵיד לֵיהּ רְעוּתֵיהּ. אֲזַל לְגַבֵּיהּ וְאִיתְחֲזִי לֵיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: שִׁבְקַי תְּלָתִין יוֹם עַד דְּנַהְדַּר תַּלְמוּדַאי. דְּאָמְרִי: אַשְׁרֵי מִי שֶׁבָּא לְכָאן וְתַלְמוּדוֹ בְּיָדוֹ. שַׁבְקֵיהּ, לְבָתַר תְּלָתִין יוֹמִין אֲזַל אִיתְחֲזִי לֵיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אַחְוִי לִי דּוּכְתַּאי. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לְחַיֵּי. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הַב לִי סַכִּינָךְ דִּלְמָא מְבַעֲתַתְּ לִי בְּאוֹרְחָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: כְּחַבְרָךְ בָּעֵית לְמִיעְבַּד לִי?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara relates a similar incident: **Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa was a friend** of the Angel of Death and would see him frequently. **When** Rabbi Ḥanina **was** on the verge of **dying, they said to the Angel of Death: Go** and **perform his bidding. He went before him and appeared to him. He said to** the angel: **Leave me** for **thirty days until I have reviewed my studies, for they say: Happy is he who comes here,** to paradise, **with his learning in his hand. He left him,** and **after thirty days he** again **went** and **appeared to him. He said to** the Angel of Death: **Show me my place** in paradise. **He said to him: Very well.** Rabbi Ḥanina **said to him: Give me your knife, lest you frighten me on the way.** The Angel of Death **said to him:** Do **you wish to do to me as your friend** Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi did, and escape?


###### Ketubot 77b:11
[Ketubot 77b:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ketubot/r/77b:11)

אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אַיְיתִי סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה וַחֲזִי מִי אִיכָּא מִידֵּי דִּכְתִיב בֵּיהּ דְּלָא קַיֵּימְתֵּיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מִי אִיכָּרַכְתְּ בְּבַעֲלֵי רָאתָן וְאִיעֲסֵקְתְּ בַּתּוֹרָה? וַאֲפִילּוּ הָכִי, כִּי נָח נַפְשֵׁיהּ אַפְסֵיק לֵיהּ עַמּוּדָא דְנוּרָא בֵּין דִּידֵיהּ לְעָלְמָא. וּגְמִירִי דְּלָא מַפְסֵיק עַמּוּדָא דְנוּרָא אֶלָּא לְחַד בְּדָרָא אוֹ לִתְרֵין בְּדָרָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**He said to him: Bring a Torah scroll and see: Is there anything written in it that I have not fulfilled?** I am therefore worthy of entering Paradise alive, as did Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi. **He said to him: But did you attach yourself to those afflicted with *ra’atan* and study Torah,** as he did? The Gemara comments: **And even so,** despite the fact that he was not equal to Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi, **when he passed away a pillar of fire separated him from everyone. And** it **is learned** as a tradition **that a pillar of fire separates** in this manner **only for one in a generation or for two in a generation.**


###### Ketubot 77b:12
[Ketubot 77b:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ketubot/r/77b:12)

קְרַב לְגַבֵּיהּ רַבִּי אֲלֶכְּסַנְדְּרִי, אָמַר: ״עֲשֵׂה בִּשְׁבִיל כְּבוֹד חֲכָמִים״. לָא אַשְׁגַּח. ״עֲשֵׂה בִּשְׁבִיל כְּבוֹד אָבִיךָ״. לָא אַשְׁגַּח. ״עֲשֵׂה בִּשְׁבִיל כְּבוֹד עַצְמְךָ״, אִיסְתַּלַּק. אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: לְאַפּוֹקֵי מִמַּאן דְּלָא קַיֵּים (אֲפִילּוּ אוֹת אַחַת). אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב אַדָּא בַּר מַתְנָא: לְאַפּוֹקֵי מִמָּר דְּלָא אִית לֵיהּ מַעֲקֶה לְאִיגָּרֵיהּ. וְלָא הִיא: מִיהְוָה הֲוָה, וְהָהִיא שַׁעְתָּא הוּא דְּשַׁדְיֵיהּ זִיקָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Due to the pillar of fire they could not go near Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa to attend to his burial. **Rabbi Alexandri approached him** and **said: Make** the pillar of fire disappear **in honor of the Sages.** He did **not pay attention** to him. He said: **Make** it go away **in honor of your father.** Again he did **not pay attention** to him. Finally he said: **Make** it go away **in your own honor,** at which point the pillar **disappeared. Abaye said:** The purpose of the pillar of fire is **to exclude** him **from** the company of **those who have not fulfilled even one letter** of the Torah. **Rav Adda bar Mattana said to him:** It comes **to exclude** him **from the Master** himself, **who does not have a guardrail for his roof.** Rav Adda bar Mattana took this opportunity to rebuke Abaye. The Gemara comments: **And that is not so** as he in fact **did have** a guardrail, **but the wind had** just **blown it off at that time.**


###### Ketubot 77b:13
[Ketubot 77b:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ketubot/r/77b:13)

אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: מִפְּנֵי מָה אֵין בַּעֲלֵי רָאתָן בְּבָבֶל — מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאוֹכְלִין תְּרָדִין, וְשׁוֹתִין שֵׁכָר שֶׁל הִיזְמֵי. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: מִפְּנֵי מָה אֵין מְצוֹרָעִין בְּבָבֶל — מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאוֹכְלִין תְּרָדִין, וְשׁוֹתִין שֵׁכָר, וְרוֹחֲצִין בְּמֵי פְרָת.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rabbi Ḥanina said: For what reason are there no people afflicted with *ra’atan* in Babylonia? Because** the Babylonians **eat beets [*teradin*] and drink beer made from the *hizmei*** plant. **Rabbi Yoḥanan said: For what reason are there no lepers in Babylonia? Because they eat beets, drink beer, and bathe in the waters of the Euphrates,** all of which are good for the body.


###### Ketubot 77b:14
[Ketubot 77b:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ketubot/r/77b:14)

**הֲדַרַן עֲלָךְ הַמַּדִּיר אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ**