עברית
Women
The Obligations of a Wife to Her Husband
Question
Hello, the husband commits to several obligations to the wife in the ketubah. I would like to know if there are any obligations that the wife has to the husband (the husband is obligated to provide for her—can he also ask the wife to work? He commits to "ona"—is the wife also obligated to the husband, and can she withhold from him)? If so, why is this not mentioned in the ketubah or anywhere in the marriage process? Thank you, Efrat.
Answer
Dear questioner,
Apologies for the delay in the response.
Refer to the responsibilities of the wife, Siman 80, sections 4-6:
"Every wife washes her husband's face, hands, and feet, pours him a cup (of water), prepares the bed for him... grinds, bakes, launders, cooks, and nurses her child, etc."
The reason these obligations are not written explicitly is because they are not mandated through a document, but rather they are established by rabbinic authority due to the inherent nature of the marital property that the bride consents to at the time of the kiddushin (marriage ceremony).
Furthermore, she is obligated to fulfill the mitzvah of marital relations; see Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat Siman 75-2, and at the beginning of Siman 82.
Best regards,
Rabbi Nachum
