Mishna Bruriah - Installment Two

amother

Green

Fri, Sep 25 2015, 12:09 pm

(anonymous because I posted it on Facebook)

When is a woman exempt from hosting guests due to children?
When a child is too young, too rowdy, or the presence of guests will interrupt their schedule.
When is a child too young?
Rabbanit Elisheva said six weeks.
Rabbanit Miriam said six months.
Rabbanit Rivka said six years.
A story. Once she was offered guests for a Yom Tov meal but she turned them down because of her baby. Her friend visited her in her home but found neither cradle nor swing. Where is your baby? She asked. She indicated a boy of about 5 [years old] and replied "behold." And he was jumping from the furniture.
When is a child too rowdy? Devorah bas Cheftziva was known for her open table. Once, guests became reluctant to eat there. They investigated and found that her children were wont to tie shoelaces together, spill soup and scream unceasingly. Only mesivta bochurim were willing to sit at her table.
Such [a family] is exempt.
A when is their schedule interrupted?
Rus the Gatherer says from when guests will wake them from their sleep.
Rabbanit Elka said when their mother is uncomfortable to feed them in front of guests.
But could she not go out [to nurse in another room]? If this will cause her pain from feeling left out, she is exempt.
When does she feel left out? Upon hearing a burst of laughter or exclamation of delight.
Sarah bas Yocheved had guests on the condition that no one said anything interesting when she was not in the room.
Indeed, her chicken soup was so tasty, that for a while not one word was spoken at all. And she was praised both for her Hachnosat Orchim and chicken soup.