Р. Йоханан б. Гудгеда показал, что глухонемой, чей отец женился на ней, разводят. [Несмотря на то, что она была добросовестной замужней женщиной, ее отец принял ее помолвку, когда она была несовершеннолетней, тем не менее, она получает вознаграждение, и она получает ее, когда она глухонемая, хотя ее согласие не хватает. За женщиной можно разводиться, поэтому ее согласие не требуется.]; и (он свидетельствовал), что несовершеннолетняя дочь израильтянина [сирота, чей брак запрещен в соответствии с библейскими (а не библейскими) санкциями), ест терумах [терумах, утвержденных раввинами, против которых не было вынесено постановления по причине (возможности ее прихода поесть). Библейские мандаты); и что если она умрет, ее муж унаследует ее; и что если кто-то построил балку, которую он украл, в здание, то денежных возмещений достаточно [для блага кающегося; ибо если бы он был вынужден снести свое здание и вернуть сам луч, он не смог бы покаяться.]; и что похищенная жертва за грех, которая не была известна общественности [как украденная], искупает [и другого не нужно приносить], для «блага жертвенника», [чтобы коханим не был огорчен (мысль о съедая хуллин (непосвященную пищу) от (животного), убитого в азаре (Храмовом дворе), и жертвенник будет «опустошен», Коханим воздерживается от выполнения (жертвенного) служения.]
Bartenura on Mishnah Eduyot
על החרשת שהשיאה אבות (this section of the Mishnah is also taught in Tractate Gittin, Chapter 4, Mishnah 5; this part of the Mishnah is also taught in Tractate Yevamot, Chapter 14, Mishnah 2) – even though she is a completely married woman, for her father received her betrothal when she was a small girl/minor, even so, she is divorced with a Jewish bill of divorce, and she receives her Jewish bill of divorce when she is a deaf-mute, and even though she lacks knowledge, because a woman can be divorced against her will. Therefore, we do not require her knowledge.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
English Explanation of Mishnah Eduyot
Introduction
The final mishnah of chapter nine contains four testimonies given by Rabbi Nehunia ben Gudgada.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Bartenura on Mishnah Eduyot
ועל קטנה בת ישראל שנשאת לכהן – and she is an orphan and her marriage was not other than from the Rabbis, and she eats priest’s due from the Rabbis and we don’t make the decree regarding priest’s due of the Rabbis because of the priest’s due of the Torah.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
English Explanation of Mishnah Eduyot
Rabbi Nehunia ben Gudgada testified concerning a deaf-mute whose father had given her in marriage, that she could be sent away with a bill of divorcement; As we have learned in other places, the Rabbis considered a deaf-mute to lack intelligence, probably because in their time the deaf-mute had little way of communicating with the outside world. Usually a person who lacks intelligence, such a deaf-mute, minor or insane person, cannot enter into legally binding contracts, because they don’t understand their ramifications. However, as Rabbi Nehunia testifies, a deaf-mute can be divorced. (She was married off by her father). The reason is that divorce is not dependent upon the woman’s acquiescence; she can be divorced against her will. Since her will is irrelevant, even one who lacks awareness can be divorced. Although this might sound harsh, as if the Rabbis are going out of their way to allow a deaf-mute to be divorced, it may have also worked in her benefit. If men couldn’t divorce deaf-mutes, perhaps they might refrain from marrying them. By allowing a “way out” the Rabbis might actually be encouraging their marriage.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Bartenura on Mishnah Eduyot
מריש – beam
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
English Explanation of Mishnah Eduyot
And concerning a minor, daughter of an Israelite who married a priest, that she could eat terumah, and if she died her husband inherited from her; This section deals with an orphaned minor girl of a non-priestly, Israelite family, who marries a priest. Generally this type of marriage is considered to be valid only rabbinically (derabanan) and not valid through Torah law (deoraita). Deoraita a minor can only be married off by her father. Only when she reaches majority she can marry herself off without her father’s aid. Despite the fact that this is really only a “derabanan” marriage, Rabbi Nehunya testifies that it is sufficient for her to be allowed to eat terumah and for her husband to inherit her, should she die. Even though these are usually rights only given to a valid “deoraita” marriage, Rabbi Nehunya testifies that the husband does receive these rights.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Bartenura on Mishnah Eduyot
בירה – large house
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
English Explanation of Mishnah Eduyot
And concerning a stolen beam that had been built into a palace, that it might be restored by the payment of its value; Usually one who steals an item must return the actual stolen item, as long as the item still exists. If one stole a beam and then used it in the foundation of a castle, legally he is bound to take down the castle and return the beam. Obviously this will discourage people from admitting that they stole, an essential part of making atonement for their crime. To allow people to more easily make atonement, the robber is allowed to pay back the value of the beam.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Bartenura on Mishnah Eduyot
מפני תקנת השבים – for if we would require him to take down the entire group of buildings and to return the beam itself, he might be prevented from repenting.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
English Explanation of Mishnah Eduyot
And concerning a sin-offering that had been stolen, and this was not known to many, that it caused atonement because of the welfare of the altar. If it were forbidden to use animals that might have been stolen as sacrifices, the priests would never sacrifice an animal, lest it be stolen. Therefore, the mishnah rules that stolen animals can be used as sin-offerings, and that they do procure atonement for the one bringing them, as long as the theft is not publicly known. This mishnah is not permission to steal an animal and bring it as a sacrifice. Rather it is permission to use an animal without being concerned that it is stolen property. The mishnah teaches that if it was stolen property and the person who brought it did not know that it was stolen, that it is effective in bringing atonement.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Bartenura on Mishnah Eduyot
שלא נודעה לרבים – which is stolen
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
English Explanation of Mishnah Eduyot
Questions for Further Thought: • Is there any common denominator to these four testimonies of Rabbi Nehunia ben Gudgada?
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Bartenura on Mishnah Eduyot
שהיא מכפרת – and there is no need to bring another.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy
Bartenura on Mishnah Eduyot
מפני תיקון מזבח – the there would not be sad Kohanim when they ate non-sacred food that was slaughtered in the Temple courtyard. And it is found that the altar is void for they are prevented from performing the Divine Worship.
