Daily dose of wisdom, Eruvin 31: building a household for your benefit

The Talmud is discussing making an Eruv techumin by placing food at a different location than your house, establishing that place as your household for Shabbat. This allows you to travel the maximum distance from that place instead of your actual house, so you can travel somewhere that was not within the original techum of your house.

Our sages debate establishing your household on a grave, noting multiple issues with the food becoming ritually contaminated.  Since those issues can he solved, the Gemara concludes there is a more basic problem with using a grave for personal benefit.  The sages stated that you cannot make your house on something you cannot benefit from.  Since an Eruv is for your benefit, you cannot put your temporary household on a grave.

This, gentlemen, is a wise rule.  In modern times men build a house, meaning settle down and marry, for many reasons.  Maybe his family expects it, or she “accidentally” got pregnant, or he feels she is “the one”… These reasons are not for his own benefit.

Our ancient sages remind us that a man cannot build a healthy household without getting personal benefit.  If marriage is not truly to your advantage, don’t do it.  A modern man needs to exercise caution since society will tell you to wife her up to be a “good man”.  You need to decide for yourself what makes you good instead of relying on the default definitions imposed on you from outside.  No one has your best interests at heart except for you and God.

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