Q&A: Mishnah Keritot 2:5
Mishnah Keritot 2:5
Question
Hello and blessings!
In Mishnah Keritot 2:5, Rabbi Ishmael’s view is brought that a designated maidservant is a full Canaanite maidservant. Rabbi Kehati wrote: betrothed to a Hebrew slave. But I did not understand his words—if she is truly a maidservant, then betrothal does not take effect for her, does it?!
With faithful regards
Answer
According to Rabbi Ishmael, betrothal does take effect for a maidservant, at least if the one betrothing her is a Hebrew slave.
Discussion on Answer
What is stated at the beginning of Kiddushin? Rabbi Ishmael says it is speaking about a maidservant; that is clear from his own words. But if she is designated to a man, we see that even though she is a Canaanite maidservant, she can still be designated to a man, and the Sages understood that the intention is betrothal. If so, Scripture makes it clear that she is eligible for betrothal to a Hebrew slave.
From where? After all, she is an actual maidservant, as stated at the beginning of tractate Kiddushin….