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Why must women marry on Wednesday? The Gemara (גמרא) requires this but labels it takanas chachamim while the Rambam (רמב"ם) calls it minhag chachamim. The shiur develops how Rashi (רש"י), Tosafos (תוספות), and Rambam disagree fundamentally about whether this creates a new obligation or simply guides optimal timing.
This shiur analyzes the Gemara (גמרא)'s requirement that women marry on Wednesday, focusing on why Rashi (רש"י) calls it "takanas chachamim" and what that phrase signifies. The discussion begins with the apparent contradiction between the Rambam (רמב"ם)'s terminology - using "takanas chachamim" for the seven-day celebration but only "minhag chachamim" for Wednesday weddings - and Rashi's consistent use of "takanas chachamim." The shiur develops three fundamentally different approaches to this law. According to Tosafos (תוספות), there is a real concern of nesakar adayin (being talked out of separation) specifically for an eishes kohen, who is forbidden to her husband if found to be a zonah. Since the woman has a vested interest in staying married (to avoid losing her kesubah and being thrown out), she will work to convince her husband not to separate from her. The takanas chachamim creates a lo plug - extending the Wednesday requirement to all women even though only eishes kohen actually needs beis din involvement.
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Kesubos 2a
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