Food for Thought - Kesuvos 4 - Daf Yomi

The Gemora cites the following braisa: One whose bread was already baked, his animals were slaughtered, his wine was diluted in preparation for the wedding meal (all these items would spoil if the wedding would be delayed significantly), and the father of the groom or the mother of the bride died, the law is the following: We move the corpse to a room and we bring the groom and the bride to the chupah. (After burial, there would be a seven-day mourning period, in which they would be prohibited to marry.) He then would perform his dutiful marital act with his bride, and then he separates from her. (Immediately afterwards, the burial would take place.) They then observe seven days of the wedding feast, and afterwards, he observes the seven days of mourning. During all those (all fourteen) days, the groom should sleep among all the men, and the bride should sleep among the women (in order that they shouldn’t cohabit with each other; a mourner is forbidden to engage in cohabitation during the shivah days). We do not withhold ornaments for the bride all thirty days. (This is the case that the braisa is referring to; if the father of the groom or the mother of the bride died on a Monday, the marriage takes place immediately.)

*** The reason that we do not postpone the wedding is because otherwise, all the food will be lost. What is the reason that the Rabbis allowed the initial cohabitation? He should be regarded as an onein (one whose close relative has died and has not been buried yet), and the cohabitation should be Biblically prohibited?

*** Why is the initial marital act referred to as a mitzvah-cohabitation? The Chasam Sofer adds: A woman cannot become pregnant from her first act of cohabitation; if anything the second act should be regarded as the mitzvah-cohabitation?

*** During all those (all fourteen) days, the groom should sleep among all the men, and the bride should sleep among the women. How many men are required? How many women are required?

*** The Rambam writes that the thirty days of mourning begin after the seven days of the wedding feast. Why can’t the seven days of the wedding feast be included in the thirty days? This should be similar to the law that the days of the festival are included in the thirty days.