For the source text click/tap here: Ketubot 62
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The Mishna discusses the frequency with which such relations are required and concludes that depending on the husband’s job – which determines how often he is home – there are greater or lesser expectations.
Thus, an unemployed man may be expected to sleep with his wife every night, while a sailor is only obligated to do so once every six months.
Our Gemara discusses the obligation of married talmidei hakhamim – individuals who have dedicated themselves to the study of Torah.
Rav Yehuda quotes Shmuel as ruling that talmidei hakhamim are obligated to have marital relations every Friday night.
We examine the conflict between studying Torah vs family responsibility as well as the etymology of the term Onah from Ex 21:10 through its interpreters Ibn Ezra and RADAK.
We end with the current gendered discourse in Israeli religious and secular society and Judith Hauptman’s revision of women’s role in the talmud narratives.