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1) WHY THE FIRST ACT OF RELATIONS MAY NOT BE ON SATURDAY NIGHT

(a) Answer#1 (R. Zeira): He will make calculations for the party on Shabbos.
(b) Question (Abaye): On Shabbos, one may make calculations for a Mitzvah!

1. Rav Chisda and Rav Hamnuna said this explicitly.
2. (R. Elazar): We may apportion Tzedaka to the poor on Shabbos.
3. (R. Yakov): We go to shuls and Beis Medrashes to oversee communal concerns on Shabbos.
4. (R. Yakov Bar Idi): We oversee mortal issues on Shabbos.
5. (R. Shmuel Bar Nachmani): We go to theaters and stadiums to oversee communal concerns on Shabbos
6. (R. Menashiya): We arrange engagements for one's daughter, and contract teachers (for Torah and a trade) for one's son on Shabbos.

(c) Answer#2 (R. Zeira): It is a decree, lest one slaughter a small bird on Shabbos (in preparation for the feast).
(d) Question (Abaye): If so, we should not allow Yom Kipur to fall on Monday, lest one slaughter a small bird on Shabbos (in preparation for the festive meal of Erev Yom Kipur)!
(e) Answer#1: We are only concerned when one is busy preparing a meal for others.
(f) Answer#2: The meal for the Chupah is right after Shabbos; the meal of Erev Yom Kipur is the following day, and he is not rushed.
(g) This same concern also explains why the first relations may not be on Shabbos night (and we need not say the concern is wounding, as we said above).

(a) (Mishnah): A virgin is married on Wednesday.
(b) Question: May they have relations that day?

1. Are we confident that if he finds that she is not a virgin, his anger will not subside so quickly, and he will go to Beis Din the next day?
2. Or, are we concerned that he will quickly calm down, and therefore require that they postpone relations until the evening?

(c) Answer: The former, as we infer from the following teaching.

1. (Bar Kapara): A virgin is married on Wednesday, and they have relations at night, because the blessing to fish was given on Thursday;
2. A non-virgin is married on Thursday, and they have relations at night, because the blessing to man was said on Friday.

(d) We see that the only concern is the blessing, not that his anger will subside.
(e) Question: If the blessing to fish is so important, a non-virgin should also have relations on Wednesday!
(f) Answer#1: The blessing to man is preferable.
(g) Answer#2 (Beraisa): A non-virgin is married on Thursday, and relations are at night, in order that the Chasan should spend 3 days with her before he returns to his work.

1. If relations were by day, the fondness would pass sooner, and he might go to work the next day.

(h) Question: Why do we need both answers?
(i) Answer: If a man is idle, or if Yom Tov falls on Friday, there is no concern that he will go to his job the next day.

(a) The deeds of Tzadikim are greater than the creation of Heaven and earth.

1. A verse says that one hand of Hash-m made earth, one hand made Heaven, but the Beis ha'Mikdash is considered the work of both hands.

(b) Question (R. Chiya): "His hands formed the dry land"!
(c) Answer: In Psalms, the verse is *written* "his hand".
(d) Question: But it says "Yatzru" (they formed)!
(e) Answer (Rav Nachman Bar Yitzchak): His fingers formed the land.

1. We see that the moon and stars are referred to as the work of Hash-m's fingers.

(f) Question: "The firmament tells the work of Hash-m's hands"!
(g) Answer: The verse means, the firmament tells of the work of the hands of Tzadikim.

1. This work is rain (which Tzadikim pray for).

(h) (Bar Kapara): "You should have a shovel with Aznecha (your weapons)" - we expound Aznecha to Oznecha (your ears), that one should stick his finger in his ear if he hears something improper.

(i) Rhetorical question (R. Elazar): Why do man's fingers resemble pegs?
(j) He cannot be asking, why are the fingers separated from each other - we know, each has its own purpose!

1. The pinkie is the measure of the Choshen (breastplate of the Kohen Gadol).
2. The ring finger is used to take a handful (of incense or a flour-offering).
3. The middle finger is used to define an Amah; this measure appears in the Mishkan, Beis ha'Mikdash and their vessels.
4. The index finger is used to drop blood of a sin-offering on the corners of the altar.
5. The thumb is where we pour blood and oil on a leper; or, it evens out the handful of incense or flour.

(k) Rather, why are fingers slanted like pegs?
(l) Answer: If one hears something improper, he can stick his fingers in his ears.
(m) (Tana d'Vei R. Yishmael): The ear is hard, but the lobe is soft, so if one hears improper things, he can fold the lobe over the ear.
(n) (Beraisa): One should not let his ears here idle words, since they are the first limbs to be singed (in Gehenom).

(a) Question: Is (virginal) blood stored up - or, is it attached (i.e. it comes from a wound made by first relations)?

1. If it is stored - does a man want the blood (and relations are allowed), or does he want to create an opening (which is forbidden).

i. If he wants the blood, and he is not concerned about the opening - is the law as R. Shimon, who permits something unintended, or as R. Yehudah, who prohibits it?
ii. If the law is as R. Yehudah - do we say that making an opening is destructive (and permitted) or constructive (and prohibited)?

2. Some learn as follows: If the blood is attached - does a man want the blood (and relations are forbidden), or is he intending for his own pleasure (and relations are allowed)?

i. If he intends for his own pleasure, and the blood comes by itself - is the law as R. Yehudah, who prohibits something one does not intend for, or as R. Shimon, who permits it?
ii. If the law is as R. Yehudah - is the wound destructive (and permitted) or constructive (and prohibited)?

(b) If it is destructive - is the law as R. Yehudah who permits this, or as R. Shimon who prohibits this?