daf bit: Ketuvot 96

[cellio]

When a man dies, his sons are his heirs but his widow must be provided for. Who controls the estate while she is still alive? Rabbi Shimon ben Ashi says: Rabbi Yehudah holds that the orphans do, but Rabbi Yossi holds that the widow does. It appears that the question is left unresolved [1], but all agree that the widow may draw from the estate for her maintenance and should keep good records, lest she be seen as a glutton. (96b) [1] I think. I'm having a little trouble following the gemara here.

Comments

[loosecanon.livejournal.com]

I had a long talk about this once. A local interpretation was that the woman may administer the estate if she wishes and is fit, but is not bound to if her offspring is of age, fit, and local.