תענית ח

Two מחותנים came before רבי אייזל חריף to rule upon their dispute concerning whose responsibility it was to provide מזונות for the young couple. The father of the groom argued that the bride’s father is responsible for support because the חתן that he got is a brilliant boy who is studying תורה day and night. The father of the bride countered that every husband is responsible to provide מזונות to his wife and if this אברך can’t do it because he’s learning תורה, then his father is obligated to provide the support. “What is the bride’s name?” רבי אייזל חריף asked. “חיה,” they answered. “If so,” the רבי ruled, “the father of the bride is obligated to provide the מזונות.” Surprised, the bride’s father asked why her name is a consideration in determining who is liable for מזונות. “We find in the גמרא,” the רבי explained, “מאן דיהיב חיי is the one who provides sustenance. That is to say that the one who gives his daughter חיה in marriage is the one who gives מזונות.”

05/10/2021