בבא מציעא צד

A שדכן was working on making a שידוך for a wealthy man’s daughter, whose engagement had broken up after the boy’s family learned of her reputation. The girl’s father told the שדכן: “Look at the difference between the שדכנים of past generations and those of today. In the past, the שדכנים were honest and trustworthy brokers who made זיווגים של קיימא and it was only one in a thousand that תנאים would be annulled. Now, however, the שדכנים are not trustworthy and תנאים get annulled every day.” The שדכן responded: “I’m afraid you’re mistaken. It’s not the שדכנים who are untrustworthy, but the משודכים, the couples themselves. The גמרא says: תנאי קודם למעשה, הרי זה תנאי; מעשה קודם לתנאי, – אינו תנאי.” In past generations, the תנאים preceded the מעשה and therefore the זיווגים were זיווגים של קיימא. Now, however, where the מעשה comes first, the תנאים get annulled.”

06/10/2021