The Matron

רַבִּי צָדוֹק תְּבַעְתֵּיהּ הָהִיא מַטְרוֹנִיתָא אֲמַר לַהּ חֲלַשׁ לִי לִיבַּאי וְלָא מָצֵינָא אִיכָּא מִידֵּי לְמֵיכַל אֲמַרָה לֵיהּ אִיכָּא דָּבָר טָמֵא אֲמַר לַהּ מַאי נָפְקָא מִינַּהּ דְּעָבֵיד הָא אָכֵול הָא שְׁגַרַת תַּנּוּרָא קָא מַנְּחָא לֵיהּ סָלֵיק וְיָתֵיב בְּגַוֵּיהּ אֲמַרָה לֵיהּ מַאי הַאי אֲמַר לַהּ דְּעָבֵיד הָא נָפֵיל בְּהָא אַמְרַהּ לֵיהּ אִי יָדְעִי כּוּלֵּי הַאי לָא צַעַרְתָּיךְ

Kiddushin 40a:2

To what is this referring? Rabbi Tzadok was enticed by a certain noblewoman to engage in sexual intercourse with her. He said to her: My heart is weak and I am incapable at present; is there something to eat that can strengthen me? She said to him: There is something non-kosher. He said to her: What difference is there? One who performs such an act eats such food as well. She lit the oven and placed the non-kosher food in it to roast. He climbed and sat in the oven. She said to him: What is the meaning of this? He said to her: One who performs this act falls into this, i.e., the fires of Gehenna. She said to him: If I had known that the matter was so serious for you, I would not have caused you such anguish.

The Matron

Rabbi Tzadok was propositioned by a Roman Matron.

He said to her: My Spirit is weak, and I cannot-

Is there something to eat?

She said to him: Yes, there is something impure.

He said to her: What am I to deduce from this? One who acts like this can eat things like that.

She lit the oven and placed (the food) inside.

He got up and sat in the oven.

She said to him: what is the meaning of this?

He said to her: One who does this (immorality) falls into that (the oven).

She said to him: If I had known all that, I would not have tormented you.

B. Kiddushin 40a

From Ruth Calderon's book A Bride For One Night

דף שבועי על קידושין מ׳ א:ב׳

...

Daf Shevui to Kiddushin 40a:2

In this fascinating tale, R. Zadok manages to avoid temptation. A few thoughts on the story:
1) The rabbis here are expressing what I think is a prevalent fantasy for them—that they will be pursued by an attractive, non-Jewish woman, and that at the last minute they will resist temptation. This would amplify their own sense of manliness and at the same time their fealty to the Torah.
2) The connection between food and sex is explicitly made in this story—“one who does this eats this.” Maintaining strict separation in terms of sex is aided, in the end, by maintaining strict separation in terms of food.
3) Rabbis are often running to sit in the oven as a form of self-affliction. Not sure why, but it seems to be a common trope in their culture.

קידושין ל״ט ב:ט״ז

כִּי הָא דְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא בַּר פַּפֵּי תְּבַעְתֵּיהּ הָהִיא מַטְרוֹנִיתָא אֲמַר מִלְּתָא וּמַלִּי נַפְשֵׁיהּ שִׁיחְנָא וְכִיבָא עֲבַדָה הִיא מִילְּתָא וְאִיתַּסִּי עֲרַק טְשָׁא בְּהָהוּא בֵּי בָנֵי דְּכִי הֲווֹ עָיְילִין בִּתְרֵין אֲפִילּוּ בִּימָמָא הֲווֹ מִיתַּזְּקִי לִמְחַר אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ רַבָּנַן מַאן נַטְרָךְ אֲמַר לְהוּ שְׁנֵי

Kiddushin 39b:16

This is like an incident involving Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappi, who was enticed by a certain noblewoman [matronita] to engage in sexual intercourse with her. He said a formula of an incantation and was covered with boils and scabs so as to render himself unattractive to her. She performed an act of magic and he was healed. He fled and hid in a bathhouse that was so dangerous, due to the demons that frequented the place, that when two people entered together even during the day they would be harmed. The next day the Sages said to him: Who protected you in that dangerous place? Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappi said to them: There were angels who appeared like two

רש"י על קידושין מ׳ א:ב׳:א׳

אמר מאי נפקא מינה - דהא מילתא דלא נזדמן לי אלא מאכל טמא יש לי ללמוד מכאן דעביד האי הבועל ארמית ראוי למאכל טמא:

Rashi on Kiddushin 40a:2:1

Explanation for Mai Nafka Mina from Kiddushin 40a

Rabbi Tzadok learned a lesson and morals for himself, Mai Nafka Mina - what do I have to learn from the fact that I had the opportunity to eat unclean food, to order that the Aramaic Baal deserves to eat unclean food.

https://forum-otzar-org.translate.goog/

Guiding Questions:

1. We are learning that Rabbi Tzadok was enticed by a certain noblewoman, implying that this will lead to sexual intimacy (impure intentions). What pulled him to agree to go with her?

2. Why, do you think the Matron possess enough knowledge to know that the food she has in her household is non-kosher?

3. Rabbi Tzadok believes his punishment worthy of the fire of Gehenna (גיהינום) , but is it because of the actual sexual act, the eating of non-kosher food, or is there something deeper that he feels he failed to control?

4. The story does not shed light on Rabbi Tzadok’s marital status. However, if we are to assume that he is married, what in your opinion could possibly cause him to be enticed?

5. In Kiddushin 39b, the story is very similar to the story of Rabbi Tzadok. Here Rabbi Hanina performs an incantation to cause himself to be unattractive to the Noblewoman. Why in your opinion would he go to such lengths if he does not want to engage in immoral behavior?

6. Can you think of a situation where you felt the draw to something even when you knew that you probably should not do it?