daf bit: Ketubot 59
The mishna teaches that, just as a man owes maintenance to his wife, she
owes certain work to him. The following are the kinds of work which a
wife must do for her husband: grinding corn, baking bread, washing clothes,
cooking, suckling her child, making ready his bed, and working in wool.
But if she brings bondwomen into the household these tasks are reduced:
with one bondwoman she doesn't have to grind corn, bake bread, or wash
clothes; with a second she also need not cook or suckle her child;
with a third she also need not make ready his bed or work in wool; with
four she may lounge in an easy chair. But R. Eliezer said that even
if she brings a hundred bondwomen he may still require her to work in
wool, because idleness leads to unchastity. (59b)
The question arose this morning of whether he is required to support the bondwomen, or if that is somehow her responsibility. I don't yet know the answer to that.
The question arose this morning of whether he is required to support the bondwomen, or if that is somehow her responsibility. I don't yet know the answer to that.