Kesuvos Chart #4
Chart for Kesuvos Daf 7a
THE NUMBER OF DAYS OF BERACHAH
AND SIMCHAH AFTER THE WEDDING
| (A) BESULAH |
(B) ALMANAH (2) |
||
| 1 | BACHUR | Berachah: 7 days Simchah : 7 days |
Berachah: 7 days Simchah : 3 or 7 days (4) |
| 2 | ALMON (widower) | Berachah: 7 days Simchah : 7 days (3) |
Berachah: 1 day Simchah : 3 days |
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FOOTNOTES:
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(1) Simchah includes an Isur of working. (Tosefta)
(2) This refers to any Be'ulah, and not only an Almanah.
(3) This Halachah is not explained by the Gemara, but the Rishonim (in the name of the RI MIGASH) conclude that seven days of Simchah are observed for every Besulah, based on the Gemara later (17b).
(4) The opinion which says three days of Simchah are observed holds that the two versions in the Gemara are not arguing, and they are both true. Therefore, both a Bachur and an Almon who marry an Almanah observe only three days of Simchah (RAMBAM, RAMBAN, and other Rishonim). However, others (RASHBA) maintain that the two versions in the Gemara are arguing, and that the Halachah follows the view that holds that only an Almon who marries an Almanah observes three days of Simchah, while a Bachur who marries an Almanah observes seven days of Simchah. The logic behind this is that the days of Simchah cannot be less than the days of Berachah. (The Girsa of the Rashba put this answer of the Gemara second, unlike our Girsa, and he writes that the Halachah ought to follow the second answer.) Even the Rishonim who disagree with the Rashba's ruling write that this was the common practice.
The SHULCHAN ARUCH (EH 64:2) cites both opinions and does not decide between the two.