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Why is a husband believed to claim pesach (פסח) pasuch (lack of virginity) in Galil but not in Yehuda? The shiur develops the principle of chazakah ein adam toref besula mafsida and shows how yichud assumptions in Yehuda create doubt about whether the husband forgot previous relations. The analysis explores contradictions with earlier Gemara (גמרא) rulings on safek cases.
This shiur analyzes Kesubos 9b regarding the differential treatment of pesach (פסח) pasuch claims between Yehuda and Galil. The Gemara (גמרא) establishes that when a husband claims pesach pasuch matzasi (I found her not a virgin), he is believed in Galil to deprive his wife of her kesubah, but not believed in Yehuda. The fundamental principle underlying this distinction is chazakah ein adam toref besula mafsida - a person doesn't go through the trouble and expense of making a wedding only to divorce his wife afterward. This chazakah establishes his credibility when claiming pesach pasuch. Rashi (רש"י) explains the Yehuda exception based on the assumption that couples engaged in yichud (seclusion) during the betrothal period. In Yehuda, where yichud was common practice, even though the chazakah suggests the husband is telling the truth about finding pesach pasuch, there's a possibility he forgot about previous intimate relations. This doubt (shema shachach) is sufficient to require him to pay the kesubah, even while she remains forbidden to him as an adulteress.
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Kesubos 9b
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