Julian Ungar-Sargon

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Daf Ditty

A wide-ranging commentary on the daily page of Talmud.

The Artist's Servants by William Hogarth

Ketubot 26: Hostages

jyungar August 1, 2022

For the source text click/tap here: Ketubot 26

To download, click/tap here: PDF

A woman was imprisoned by non-Jews: if for the sake of money, she is permitted to her husband, and if in order to take her life, she is forbidden to her husband.

Rabbi Zechariah ben Ha-katzav said: “By this temple! Her hand did not move out of my hand from the time that the non-Jews entered Jerusalem until they departed.”

When a woman is imprisoned by non-Jewish authorities, there may be a fear that she had relations with one of them. According to our mishnah, if she was taken in order to collect money, the captors assumedly did not have relations with her, because they will fear that if they rape her they will not get the money they want. In this case, she is not prohibited to her husband, even if he is a priest.

However, if they took her and intended to execute her, and then she somehow escapes or is let free, she is prohibited to her husband, even if he is an Israelite.

We explore the history of hostage taking and wartime rape in the Roman Empire including Josephus’ War, The First Jewish revolt...

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Julian Ungar-Sargon

This is Julian Ungar-Sargon's personal website. It contains poems, essays, and podcasts for the spiritual seeker and interdisciplinary aficionado.​