יום א Date: 7 Iyar, 5775 (4/26/15) – Kesuvos#83 {Tani}

NOW or LATER

[83b top] Abaye: “A small gourd now is better than a large gourd later.” [In regards to a husband who presumably would rather retain his rights now to consuming current produce of a field and withdrew from the right to block a possible future sale.]
Rashi: One is advised is to take a smaller gourd immediately, because one does not know what time will bring later (cf. Tosefos). Consumption of produce from a field provides a steady current income which is more valuable than future sale rights (which might not even ever come to fruition).

Prac-T-cal Tidbits: It is always beneficial to weigh one’s’ options to see what methods are most productive. If immediate action is required, one should not wait to see what will happen. Especially in regards to Mitzvah opportunities, we should always grab hold of what is present before us.