Chayei Sarah 24:61 · unit 2

Parashas Chayei Sarah · Passuk 24:61

The Complete Passuk

וַתָּ֨קׇם רִבְקָ֜ה וְנַעֲרֹתֶ֗יהָ וַתִּרְכַּ֙בְנָה֙ עַל־הַגְּמַלִּ֔ים וַתֵּלַ֖כְנָה אַחֲרֵ֣י הָאִ֑ישׁ וַיִּקַּ֥ח הָעֶ֛בֶד אֶת־רִבְקָ֖ה וַיֵּלַֽךְ׃

Then Rivkah and her maids arose, mounted the camels, and followed the man. So the servant took Rivkah and went his way.

Torah Temimah points to Berachos 61a. E-Daf · Sefaria — Berachos 61a

TT lemma: אחרי האיש.

אַחֲרֵי הָאִישׁ וְלֹא לִפְנֵי הָאִישׁ; מְלַמֵּד שֶׁלֹּא יְהַלֵּךְ אָדָם אֲחוֹרֵי אִשָּׁה.

“After the man” and not before the man — this teaches that a person should not walk behind a woman.

On the daf / in context: The phrase is read as instructing proper order of walking so as to avoid improper thoughts.

Custom (Bavli — not walking behind a woman)

A man should not walk behind a woman; the verse’s “after the man” models the proper order of travel.