Baba Metzia Siyum Fast of the Firstborn 5784

(א) שְׁנַיִם אוֹחֲזִין בְּטַלִּית, זֶה אוֹמֵר אֲנִי מְצָאתִיהָ וְזֶה אוֹמֵר אֲנִי מְצָאתִיהָ, זֶה אוֹמֵר כֻּלָּהּ שֶׁלִּי וְזֶה אוֹמֵר כֻּלָּהּ שֶׁלִּי, זֶה יִשָּׁבַע שֶׁאֵין לוֹ בָהּ פָּחוֹת מֵחֶצְיָהּ, וְזֶה יִשָּׁבַע שֶׁאֵין לוֹ בָהּ פָּחוֹת מֵחֶצְיָהּ, וְיַחֲלֹקוּ.

Mishnah Bava Metzia 1:1

Two hold a garment, and this says: I found it, and that says: I found it; this says: All of it is mine, and that says: All of it is mine; This takes an oath that he does not have less than half of it, and that takes an oath that he does not have less than half of it, and they divide it.

בבא מציעא י״ז א:ז׳-ח׳

אָמַר רַבָּה בַּר בַּר חָנָה אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: ״מָנֶה לִי בְּיָדְךָ״, וְהַלָּה אוֹמֵר: ״אֵין לְךָ בְּיָדִי כְּלוּם״, וְהָעֵדִים מְעִידִים אוֹתוֹ שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ, וְחָזַר וְאָמַר: ״פָּרַעְתִּי״ – הוּחְזַק כַּפְרָן לְאוֹתוֹ מָמוֹן.

כִּי הָא דְּשַׁבְּתַאי בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי מָרִינוּס כְּתַב לַהּ לְכַלְּתֵיהּ אִיצְטְלָא דְמֵילָתָא בִּכְתוּבְּתַהּ, וְקַבְּלַהּ עֲלֵיהּ. אִירְכַס כְּתוּבְּתַהּ. אֲמַר לַהּ: ״לָא הָיוּ דְּבָרִים מֵעוֹלָם״. אֲתוֹ סָהֲדֵי וְאָמְרִי: אִין כְּתַב לַהּ. לְסוֹף אֲמַר לְהוּ: ״פְּרַעְתִּיהָ״. אֲתָא לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרַבִּי חִיָּיא, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הוּחְזַקְתָּ כַּפְרָן לְאוֹתָהּ אִיצְטְלָא.

Bava Metzia 17a:7-8

Rabba bar bar Ḥanna says that Rabbi Yoḥanan says: If one says to another: I have one hundred dinars in your possession that you borrowed from me, and the other says in response: Nothing of yours is in my possession, and the witnesses testify that, , he does have such a debt, and subsequently the debtor said: I repaid the debt, in that case the debtor assumes the presumptive status of one who denies his debts with regard to that money. It is like the ruling in this case, where Shabbtai, son of Rabbi Marinus, wrote a pledge to give his daughter-in-law a cloak [itztela] of fine wool [demileta] in her marriage contract, and he accepted upon himself the status of a guarantor for the contract. Her marriage contract was lost. Shabbtai said to her: These matters never occurred; I never wrote that I would give you such a cloak. Witnesses then came and said: Yes, he did write her this pledge. He then said to them: I paid it, i.e., I gave her the cloak. This case came before Rabbi Ḥiyya. He said to Shabbtai: You have assumed the presumptive status of one who denies his debts with regard to that cloak.

בבא מציעא כ׳ א:ד׳-ו׳

מַתְנִי׳ מָצָא אִיגְּרוֹת שׁוּם וְאִיגְּרוֹת מָזוֹן, שְׁטָרֵי חֲלִיצָה וּמֵיאוּנִין, וּשְׁטָרֵי בֵירוּרִין, וְכׇל מַעֲשֵׂה בֵּית דִּין – הֲרֵי זֶה יַחְזִיר. מָצָא בַּחֲפִיסָה אוֹ בִדְלוֹסְקָמָא, תַּכְרִיךְ שֶׁל שְׁטָרוֹת אוֹ אֲגוּדָּה שֶׁל שְׁטָרוֹת – הֲרֵי זֶה יַחְזִיר. וְכַמָּה אֲגוּדָּה שֶׁל שְׁטָרוֹת – שְׁלֹשָׁה קְשׁוּרִין זֶה בָּזֶה. רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר: אֶחָד הַלֹּוֶה מִשְּׁלֹשָׁה – יַחְזִיר לַלֹּוֶה. שְׁלֹשָׁה הַלֹּוִין מִן הָאֶחָד – יַחְזִיר לַמַּלְוֶה. מָצָא שְׁטָר בֵּין שְׁטָרוֹתָיו וְאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ מָה טִיבוֹ – יְהֵא מוּנָּח עַד שֶׁיָּבוֹא אֵלִיָּהוּ. אִם יֵשׁ עִמָּהֶן סִמְפּוֹנוֹת, יַעֲשֶׂה מָה שֶׁבַּסִּמְפּוֹנוֹת.

Bava Metzia 20a:4-6

MISHNA: If one found documents of appraisal of a debtor’s property for the purpose of debt collection; or documents concerning food, which were drawn up when one accepted upon himself to provide sustenance for another; documents of ḥalitza; or documents of refusal of a girl upon reaching majority to remain married to the man to whom her mother or brothers married her as a minor after the death of her father; or documents of beirurin, a concept that will be explained in the Gemara; or any court enactment, e.g., a promissory note that has been authenticated by the court, in all of these cases, the finder must return the document to its presumed owner.

If one found documents in a ḥafisa or in a deluskema, both of them types of containers, or if he found a roll of documents or a bundle of documents, he must return them. And how many documents are considered to be a bundle of documents? It is three that are tied together.

Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: If the documents make reference to loans of one person who borrowed money from three people, the finder must return them to the debtor.

If the documents make reference to loans of three people who borrowed money from one person, he must return them to the creditor.

If one found a document among his documents that were given to him by other people as a trustee, and he does not know what its nature is, i.e., he does not remember who gave it to him or whether the debt mentioned in it has been paid, the document is placed aside until Elijah the prophet comes and clarifies the issue through his prophecy.

בבא מציעא כ״ג א:ב׳-ג׳

וְרָבָא מְתָרֵץ לְטַעְמֵיהּ בְּמָקוֹם: כְּרִיכוֹת בִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ שֶׁלּוֹ – דְּמִינַּשְׁתְּפָא. בִּרְשׁוּת הַיָּחִיד חַיָּיב לְהַכְרִיז – דְּלָא מִינַּשְׁתְּפָא. וְהָאֲלוּמּוֹת, בֵּין בִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים, וּבֵין בִּרְשׁוּת הַיָּחִיד – נוֹטֵל וּמַכְרִיז, כֵּיוָן דְּיַקִּירֵי לָא מִינַּשְׁתְּפָא. תָּא שְׁמַע: כִּכָּרוֹת שֶׁל נַחְתּוֹם – הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ שֶׁלּוֹ. הָא שֶׁל בַּעַל הַבַּיִת חַיָּיב לְהַכְרִיז. שֶׁל בַּעַל הַבַּיִת מַאי טַעְמָא? כֵּיוָן דְּאִית בְּהוּ סִימָן, דְּמִידָּע יְדִיעַ רִפְתָּא דְאִינִישׁ אִינִישׁ הוּא. וְלָא שְׁנָא רְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים וְלָא שְׁנָא רְשׁוּת הַיָּחִיד – נוֹטֵל וּמַכְרִיז, אַלְמָא סִימָן הֶעָשׂוּי לִידָּרֵס הָוֵי סִימָן, תְּיוּבְתָּא דְּרַבָּה!

Bava Metzia 23a:2-3

And Rava explains, according to his line of reasoning, that the baraita is referring to bundles whose location is their distinguishing mark: If one finds bundles of grain in a public area, these belong to him due to the fact that they are kicked and they consequently roll to a different location than where they were placed. If he finds them in a secluded area, he is obligated to proclaim his find. Due to the absence of pedestrian traffic they are not kicked and do not roll, and they therefore remain in the location where they were placed. And with regard to the sheaves, whether he finds them in a public area or whether he finds them in a secluded area, the finder takes them and proclaims his find. Since they are heavy, they do not roll when kicked. The Gemara suggests: Come and hear a proof from the mishna: If one found baker’s loaves, these belong to him. The Gemara infers: But if one finds loaves of a homeowner, he is obligated to proclaim his find. What is the reason? When one finds loaves of a homeowner he is obligated to proclaim his find because there is a distinguishing mark on the loaves. As each person shapes his loaves in a unique manner, it is known that the loaves of a person belong to that person. And there is no difference if the loaves were found in a public area, and there is no difference if the loaves were found in a secluded area; the finder takes the item and proclaims his find. Apparently, the legal status of a distinguishing mark that is prone to be trampled is that of a distinguishing mark. This is a conclusive refutation of the opinion of Rabba.

בבא מציעא כ״ד ב:ו׳-ז׳

רַב יְהוּדָה הֲוָה שָׁקֵיל וְאָזֵיל בָּתְרֵיהּ דְּמָר שְׁמוּאֵל בְּשׁוּקָא דְּבֵי דַיְסָא, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מָצָא כָּאן אַרְנָקִי, מַהוּ? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ שֶׁלּוֹ. בָּא יִשְׂרָאֵל וְנָתַן בָּהּ סִימָן, מַהוּ? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: חַיָּיב לְהַחְזִיר. תַּרְתֵּי! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לִפְנִים מִשּׁוּרַת הַדִּין. כִּי הָא דַּאֲבוּהּ דִּשְׁמוּאֵל אַשְׁכַּח הָנָךְ חֲמָרֵי בְּמַדְבְּרָא וְאַהְדְּרִינְהוּ לְמָרַיְיהוּ לְבָתַר תְּרֵיסַר יַרְחֵי שַׁתָּא, לִפְנִים מִשּׁוּרַת הַדִּין. רָבָא הֲוָה שָׁקֵיל וְאָזֵיל בָּתְרֵיהּ דְּרַב נַחְמָן בְּשׁוּקָא דְגִלְדָּאֵי, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ בְּשׁוּקָא דְרַבָּנַן, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מָצָא כָּאן אַרְנָקִי, מַהוּ? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ שֶׁלּוֹ. בָּא יִשְׂרָאֵל וְנָתַן בָּהּ סִימָן, מַהוּ? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ שֶׁלּוֹ. וַהֲלֹא עוֹמֵד וְצוֹוֵחַ! נַעֲשָׂה כְּצוֹוֵחַ עַל בֵּיתוֹ שֶׁנָּפַל וְעַל סְפִינָתוֹ שֶׁטָּבְעָה בַּיָּם.

Bava Metzia 24b:6-7

The Gemara relates: Rav Yehuda was moving along behind Mar Shmuel in the market where pounded grain was sold. Rav Yehuda said to Shmuel: If one found a purse [arnakei] here, what is the halakha? Shmuel said to him that the halakha is as the mishna states: These belong to him. Rav Yehuda asked him: If a Jew came and provided a distinguishing mark to describe it, what is the halakha? Shmuel said to him: The finder is obligated to return it. Rav Yehuda asked: These are two contradictory rulings. Shmuel said to him: By law, it belongs to him. When I said the finder is obligated to return it if he learns the identity of the owner, that was beyond the letter of the law. This is like that incident where Shmuel’s father found these donkeys in the desert and returned them to their owner after the passage of twelve months of the year, as he acted beyond the letter of the law. The Gemara relates: Rava was moving along behind Rav Naḥman in the tanner’s market, and some say in the marketplace frequented by the Sages. Rava said to Rav Naḥman: If one found a purse here, what is the halakha? Rav Naḥman said to him that the halakha is as the mishna states: These belong to him. Rava asked him: If a Jew came and provided a distinguishing mark to describe it, what is the halakha? Rav Naḥman said to him that in this case as well, the halakha is as the mishna states: These belong to him. Rava asked: But isn’t the owner justifiably standing and screaming that the purse belongs to him? Rav Naḥman said to him: He becomes as one who screams to no avail about his house that collapsed or about his ship that sank in the sea.

בבא מציעא מ״ב א:א׳

מַתְנִי׳ הַמַּפְקִיד מָעוֹת אֵצֶל חֲבֵרוֹ, צְרָרָן וְהִפְשִׁילָן לַאֲחוֹרָיו, אוֹ שֶׁמְּסָרָם לִבְנוֹ וּלְבִתּוֹ הַקְּטַנִּים, וְנָעַל בִּפְנֵיהֶם שֶׁלֹּא כָּרָאוּי – חַיָּיב, שֶׁלֹּא שִׁימֵּר כְּדֶרֶךְ הַשּׁוֹמְרִים. וְאִם שִׁימֵּר כְּדֶרֶךְ הַשּׁוֹמְרִים – פָּטוּר.

Bava Metzia 42a:1

MISHNA: In the case of one who deposited coins with another, and that bailee bound it in a cloth and slung it behind him, or conveyed them to his minor son or daughter for safeguarding, or locked the door before them in an inappropriate, i.e., insufficient, manner to secure them, the bailee is liable to pay for the coins, as he did not safeguard the coins in the manner typical of bailees. But if he safeguarded the money in the manner that bailees safeguard items and it was nevertheless stolen, he is exempt.

בבא מציעא מ״ב א:ו׳-ז׳

אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: כְּסָפִים אֵין לָהֶם שְׁמִירָה אֶלָּא בַּקַּרְקַע. אָמַר רָבָא: וּמוֹדֵי שְׁמוּאֵל בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת בֵּין הַשְּׁמָשׁוֹת, דְּלָא אַטְרְחוּהּ רַבָּנַן. וְאִי שְׁהָא לְמוֹצָאֵי שַׁבָּת שִׁעוּר לְמִקְבְּרִינְהוּ וְלָא קַבְרִינְהוּ – מְחַיַּיב. וְאִי צוּרְבָּא מֵרַבָּנַן הוּא סָבַר: דִּלְמָא מִיבְּעֵי לֵיהּ זוּזֵי לְאַבְדַּלְתָּא. וְהָאִידָּנָא דִּשְׁכִיחִי גָּשׁוֹשָׁאֵי – אֵין לָהֶן שְׁמִירָה אֶלָּא בִּשְׁמֵי קוֹרָה. וְהָאִידָּנָא דִּשְׁכִיחִי פָּרוֹמָאֵי – אֵין לָהֶם שְׁמִירָה אֶלָּא בֵּינֵי אוּרְבֵי. אָמַר רָבָא: וּמוֹדֶה שְׁמוּאֵל בְּכוֹתֶל, אִי נָמֵי בֵּין הַקְּרָנוֹת. וְהָאִידָּנָא דִּשְׁכִיחִי טָפוֹחָאֵי – אֵין לָהֶן שְׁמִירָה אֶלָּא בְּטֶפַח הַסָּמוּךְ לַקַּרְקַע, אוֹ בְּטֶפַח הַסָּמוּךְ לִשְׁמֵי קוֹרָה.

Bava Metzia 42a:6-7

§ Shmuel says: There is safeguarding for money only in the ground. Rava said: And Shmuel concedes if one received a deposit on Shabbat eve at twilight, that the Rabbis did not impose upon him to bury it in the ground immediately. And if, at the conclusion of Shabbat, he delayed and did not bury the money within the period of time needed to bury it, he is liable to pay the owner if it is stolen. And if the one who deposited the money is a Torah scholar and the bailee thought: Perhaps he requires money for havdala, and that is the reason that he did not bury the money immediately, then he may delay burying the money a bit longer. The Gemara comments: And now that rummagers, who dig to find and steal buried property, are commonplace, there is safeguarding for money only in the beams of the roof of a house. The Gemara comments: And now that dismantlers, who attempt to find and steal property hidden in beams, are commonplace, there is safeguarding for money only between the bricks of a wall. Rava said: And Shmuel concedes that money can be safeguarded in the wall or, alternatively, between the corners of the house. And now that tappers, who tap on walls to find and steal property hidden there, are commonplace, there is safeguarding for money only in the handbreadth of the wall adjacent to the ground or in the handbreadth of the wall adjacent to the ceiling, as tapping on the wall will not reveal their existence.

בבא מציעא מ״ט א:ט״ו-ט״ז

הָהוּא גַּבְרָא דִּיהַיב זוּזֵי אַשּׁוּמְשְׁמֵי. לְסוֹף אִיַּיקַּר שׁוּמְשְׁמֵי. הֲדַרוּ בְּהוּ וַאֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: לֵית לַן שׁוּמְשְׁמֵי, שְׁקוֹל זוּזָךְ. לָא שְׁקֵיל זוּזֵיהּ, אִיגְּנוּב. אֲתוֹ לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרָבָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: כֵּיוָן דְּאָמְרִי לָךְ שְׁקוֹל זוּזָךְ וְלָא שְׁקַלְיתְּ, לָא מִבַּעְיָא שׁוֹמֵר שָׂכָר דְּלָא הָוֵי, אֶלָּא אֲפִילּוּ שׁוֹמֵר חִנָּם נָמֵי לָא הָוֵי. אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ רַבָּנַן לְרָבָא: וְהָא בָּעֵי לְקַבּוֹלֵי עֲלֵיהּ ״מִי שֶׁפָּרַע״? אֲמַר לְהוּ: הָכִי נָמֵי. אָמַר רַב פַּפֵּי, אָמַר לִי רָבִינָא: לְדִידִי אֲמַר לִי הָהוּא מֵרַבָּנַן וְרַב טָבוּת שְׁמֵיהּ, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ רַב שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר זוּטְרָא שְׁמֵיהּ, דְּאִי הֲווֹ יָהֲבִי לֵיהּ כֹּל חֲלָלָא דְעָלְמָא לָא (הֲוֵי קָא) [הָוֵה] מְשַׁנֵּי בְּדִבּוּרֵיהּ. בְּדִידִי הֲוָה עוֹבָדָא: הָהוּא יוֹמָא אַפַּנְיָא דְּמַעֲלֵי שַׁבְּתָא הֲוָה, וַהֲוָה יָתֵיבְנָא, וַאֲתָא הָהוּא גַּבְרָא וְקָאֵי אַבָּבָא. אֲמַר לִי: אִית לָךְ שׁוּמְשְׁמֵי לְזַבּוֹנֵי?

Bava Metzia 49a:15-16

The Gemara relates: There was a certain man who gave money as payment for sesame. Ultimately, the price of sesame increased, and the sellers reneged and said to him: We have no sesame; take your money. The buyer did not take his money, and the money was stolen. They came before Rava to adjudicate the case. Rava said to the buyer: Once they said to you: Take your money, and you did not take it, it is not necessary to say that their legal status is not that of a paid bailee. But my ruling is that their legal status is not even that of an unpaid bailee. The Sages said to Rava: But aren’t the sellers who reneged required to accept upon themselves the curse: He Who exacted payment? Rava said to them: Indeed, they must pay or accept the curse.

בבא מציעא מ״ז ב:ט״ז

תְּנַן: אֲבָל אָמְרוּ, מִי שֶׁפָּרַע מִדּוֹר הַמַּבּוּל – הוּא עָתִיד לִיפָּרַע מִמִּי שֶׁאֵינוֹ עוֹמֵד בְּדִיבּוּרוֹ.

Bava Metzia 47b:16

We learned in the mishna: But the Sages said: He Who exacted payment from the people of the generation of the flood, and from the generation of the dispersion, will in the future exact payment from whoever does not stand by his statement.

בבא מציעא נ״ח ב:ו׳

מַתְנִי׳ כְּשֵׁם שֶׁאוֹנָאָה בְּמִקָּח וּמִמְכָּר, כָּךְ אוֹנָאָה בִּדְבָרִים. לֹא יֹאמַר לוֹ: בְּכַמָּה חֵפֶץ זֶה? וְהוּא אֵינוֹ רוֹצֶה לִיקַּח. אִם הָיָה בַּעַל תְּשׁוּבָה, לֹא יֹאמַר לוֹ: זְכוֹר מַעֲשֶׂיךָ הָרִאשׁוֹנִים. אִם הוּא בֶּן גֵּרִים, לֹא יֹאמַר לוֹ: זְכוֹר מַעֲשֵׂה אֲבוֹתֶיךָ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְגֵר לֹא תוֹנֶה וְלֹא תִלְחָצֶנּוּ״.

Bava Metzia 58b:6

MISHNA: Just as there is a prohibition against exploitation [ona’a] in buying and selling, so is there ona’a in statements, i.e., verbal mistreatment. The mishna proceeds to cite examples of verbal mistreatment. One may not say to a seller: For how much are you selling this item, if he does not wish to purchase it. He thereby upsets the seller when the deal fails to materialize. The mishna lists other examples: If one is a penitent, another may not say to him: Remember your earlier deeds. If one is the child of converts, another may not say to him: Remember the deeds of your ancestors, as it is stated: “And a convert shall you neither mistreat, nor shall you oppress him” (Exodus 22:20).

בבא מציעא נ״ח ב:ח׳-ט׳

הָא כֵּיצַד? אִם הָיָה בַּעַל תְּשׁוּבָה, אֵל יֹאמַר לוֹ: ״זְכוֹר מַעֲשֶׂיךָ הָרִאשׁוֹנִים״. אִם הָיָה בֶּן גֵּרִים, אַל יֹאמַר לוֹ: ״זְכוֹר מַעֲשֵׂה אֲבוֹתֶיךָ״. אִם הָיָה גֵּר וּבָא לִלְמוֹד תּוֹרָה, אַל יֹאמַר לוֹ: ״פֶּה שֶׁאָכַל נְבֵילוֹת וּטְרֵיפוֹת, שְׁקָצִים וּרְמָשִׂים, בָּא לִלְמוֹד תּוֹרָה שֶׁנֶּאֶמְרָה מִפִּי הַגְּבוּרָה״? אִם הָיוּ יִסּוּרִין בָּאִין עָלָיו, אִם הָיוּ חֳלָאִים בָּאִין עָלָיו, אוֹ שֶׁהָיָה מְקַבֵּר אֶת בָּנָיו, אַל יֹאמַר לוֹ כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁאָמְרוּ לוֹ חֲבֵירָיו לְאִיּוֹב: ״הֲלֹא יִרְאָתְךָ כִּסְלָתֶךָ תִּקְוָתְךָ וְתֹם דְּרָכֶיךָ. זְכׇר נָא מִי הוּא נָקִי אָבָד״.

Bava Metzia 58b:8-9

How so? If one is a penitent, another may not say to him: Remember your earlier deeds. If one is the child of converts, another may not say to him: Remember the deed of your ancestors. If one is a convert and he came to study Torah, one may not say to him: Does the mouth that ate unslaughtered carcasses and animals that had wounds that would have caused them to die within twelve months [tereifot], and repugnant creatures, and creeping animals, comes to study Torah that was stated from the mouth of the Almighty? If torments are afflicting a person, if illnesses are afflicting him, or if he is burying his children, one may not speak to him in the manner that the friends of Job spoke to him: “Is not your fear of God your confidence, and your hope the integrity of your ways? Remember, I beseech you, whoever perished, being innocent?” (Job 4:6–7). Certainly you sinned, as otherwise you would not have suffered misfortune.

בבא מציעא פ״ג ב:ג׳-י״ב

דָּרֵשׁ רַבִּי זֵירָא וְאָמְרִי לַהּ תָּנֵי רַב יוֹסֵף מַאי דִּכְתִיב תָּשֶׁת חֹשֶׁךְ וִיהִי לָיְלָה בּוֹ תִרְמֹשׂ כׇּל חַיְתוֹ יָעַר תָּשֶׁת חֹשֶׁךְ וִיהִי לָיְלָה זֶה הָעוֹלָם הַזֶּה שֶׁדּוֹמֶה לְלַיְלָה בּוֹ תִרְמֹשׂ כׇּל חַיְתוֹ יָעַר אֵלּוּ רְשָׁעִים שֶׁבּוֹ שֶׁדּוֹמִין לְחַיָּה שֶׁבַּיַּעַר תִּזְרַח הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ יֵאָסֵפוּן וְאֶל מְעוֹנֹתָם יִרְבָּצוּן תִּזְרַח הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ לַצַּדִּיקִים יֵאָסֵפוּן רְשָׁעִים לְגֵיהִנָּם וְאֶל מְעוֹנֹתָם יִרְבָּצוּן אֵין לָךְ כׇּל צַדִּיק וְצַדִּיק שֶׁאֵין לוֹ מָדוֹר לְפִי כְבוֹדוֹ יֵצֵא אָדָם לְפׇעֳלוֹ יֵצְאוּ צַדִּיקִים לְקַבֵּל שְׂכָרָן וְלַעֲבֹדָתוֹ עֲדֵי עָרֶב בְּמִי שֶׁהִשְׁלִים עֲבוֹדָתוֹ עֲדֵי עָרֶב רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אַשְׁכַּח לְהָהוּא פַּרְהַגְוָנָא דְּקָא תָפֵיס גַּנָּבֵי אֲמַר לֵיהּ הֵיכִי יָכְלַתְּ לְהוּ לָאו כְּחֵיוָתָא מְתִילִי דִּכְתִיב בּוֹ תִרְמֹשׂ כׇּל חַיְתוֹ יָעַר אִיכָּא דְּאָמְרִי מֵהַאי קְרָא קָאָמַר לֵיהּ יֶאֱרֹב בַּמִּסְתָּר כְּאַרְיֵה בְסֻכֹּה דִּלְמָא שָׁקְלַתְּ צַדִּיקֵי וְשָׁבְקַתְּ רַשִּׁיעֵי אֲמַר לֵיהּ וּמַאי אֶעֱבֵיד הַרְמָנָא דְמַלְכָּא הוּא אֲמַר תָּא אַגְמְרָךְ הֵיכִי תַּעֲבֵיד עוּל בְּאַרְבַּע שָׁעֵי לְחָנוּתָא כִּי חָזֵית אִינִישׁ דְּקָא שָׁתֵי חַמְרָא וְקָא נָקֵיט כָּסָא בִּידֵיהּ וְקָא מְנַמְנֵם שְׁאוֹל עִילָּוֵיהּ אִי צוּרְבָּא מֵרַבָּנַן הוּא וְנָיֵים אקַדּוֹמֵי קַדֵּים לְגִרְסֵיהּ אִי פּוֹעֵל הוּא קָדֵים קָא עָבֵיד עֲבִידְתֵּיהּ וְאִי עֲבִידְתֵּיהּ בְּלֵילְיָא רַדּוֹדֵי רַדֵּיד וְאִי לָא גַּנָּבָא הוּא וְתִפְסֵיהּ אִישְׁתְּמַע מִילְּתָא בֵּי מַלְכָּא אֲמַרוּ קַרְיָינָא דְאִיגַּרְתָּא אִיהוּ לֶיהֱוֵי פַּרְוַנְקָא אַתְיוּהּ לְרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן וְקָא תָפֵיס גַּנָּבֵי וְאָזֵיל שְׁלַח לֵיהּ רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן קׇרְחָה חוֹמֶץ בֶּן יַיִן עַד מָתַי אַתָּה מוֹסֵר עַמּוֹ שֶׁל אֱלֹהֵינוּ לַהֲרִיגָה שְׁלַח לֵיהּ קוֹצִים אֲנִי מְכַלֶּה מִן הַכֶּרֶם שְׁלַח לֵיהּ יָבֹא בַּעַל הַכֶּרֶם וִיכַלֶּה אֶת קוֹצָיו יוֹמָא חַד פְּגַע בֵּיהּ הָהוּא כּוֹבֵס קַרְיֵיהּ חוֹמֶץ בֶּן יַיִן אָמַר מִדַּחֲצִיף כּוּלֵּי הַאי שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ רַשִּׁיעָא הוּא אֲמַר לְהוּ תִּפְסוּהּ תַּפְסוּהּ לְבָתַר דְּנָח דַּעְתֵּיהּ אֲזַל בָּתְרֵיהּ לְפָרוֹקֵיהּ וְלָא מָצֵי קָרֵי עֲלֵיהּ שֹׁמֵר פִּיו וּלְשׁוֹנוֹ שֹׁמֵר מִצָּרוֹת נַפְשׁוֹ זַקְפוּהּ קָם תּוּתֵי זְקִיפָא וְקָא בָכֵי אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ רַבִּי אַל יֵרַע בְּעֵינֶיךָ שֶׁהוּא וּבְנוֹ בָּעֲלוּ נַעֲרָה מְאוֹרָסָה בְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים הִנִּיחַ יָדוֹ עַל בְּנֵי מֵעָיו אָמַר שִׂישׂוּ בְּנֵי מֵעַי שִׂישׂוּ וּמָה סְפֵיקוֹת שֶׁלָּכֶם כָּךְ וַדָּאוֹת שֶׁלָּכֶם עַל אַחַת כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה מוּבְטָח אֲנִי בָּכֶם שֶׁאֵין רִמָּה וְתוֹלֵעָה שׁוֹלֶטֶת בָּכֶם וַאֲפִילּוּ הָכִי לָא מְיַיתְּבָא דַּעְתֵּיהּ אַשְׁקְיוּהּ סַמָּא דְשִׁינְתָּא וְעַיְּילוּהּ לְבֵיתָא דְשֵׁישָׁא וּקְרַעוּ לִכְרֵיסֵיהּ הֲווֹ מַפְּקִי מִינֵּיהּ דִּיקּוּלֵי דִּיקּוּלֵי דְּתַרְבָּא וּמוֹתְבִי בְּשִׁמְשָׁא בְּתַמּוּז וְאָב וְלָא מַסְרְחִי

Bava Metzia 83b:3-12

With regard to the aforementioned psalm, the Gemara notes: Rabbi Zeira interpreted a verse homiletically, and some say that Rav Yosef taught in a baraita: What is the meaning of that which is written: “You make darkness and it is night, in which all the beasts of the forest creep forth” (Psalms 104:20)? “You make darkness and it is night”; this is referring to this world, which resembles nighttime. “In which all the beasts of the forest creep forth”; these are the wicked in this world, who resemble a beast of the forest, as the wicked have great influence in this world. With regard to the World-to-Come, the verse states: “The sun rises; they slink away and couch in their dens” (Psalms 104:22). “The sun rises” for the righteous, and “they slink away,” i.e., the wicked go to Gehenna. As for the phrase: “And couch in their dens,” it is interpreted as follows: You will not have a single righteous person who will not have his own residence in the World-to-Come, as befitting his dignity. With regard to the phrase: “Man goes forth to his work,” it indicates that the righteous go forth to receive their reward. Finally, the phrase: “And to his labor until the evening” (Psalms 104:22), teaches that the verse is referring to one who has completed his labor by the evening, i.e., before the evening of his lifetime, his death. The Gemara relates a story that involves rising early. Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon, found a certain officer [parhagavna] whose responsibility was to arrest thieves. He said to the officer: How are you able to arrest them? Aren’t they likened to beasts, as it is written: “You make darkness and it is night, in which all the beasts of the forest creep forth” (Psalms 104:20)? There are those who say that he said to him a proof from this verse: “He lies in wait in a secret place as a lion in his lair, he lies in wait to catch the poor; he catches the poor when he draws him up in his net” (Psalms 10:9). Since the wicked are so devious, perhaps you apprehend the righteous and leave the wicked alone? The officer said to him: But what should I do? It is the king’s edict [harmana] that I must arrest thieves, and I am perform-ing my job to the best of my ability. Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon, said to him: Come and I will instruct you how you should do it. At the fourth hour of the day enter the tavern. When you see someone drinking wine, holding his cup in his hand, and dozing, inquire about his background. If he is a Torah scholar and is dozing, assume that he rose early in the morning for his studies. If he is a daytime laborer, assume that he rose early and performed his work. And if his work is at night and no one heard him working, it is possible that this is because he draws copper wires, which is a form of labor that does not produce noise. And if he is none of these, he is a thief, and you should arrest him, as it can be assumed that he was awake the previous night because he was stealing, and that is why he is now dozing off. This matter of the advice of Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon, was heard in the king’s palace. The king’s ministers said: Let the reader of the letter be its messenger [parvanka], i.e., since Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon, offered this advice, he should be the one to implement it. They brought Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon, to the authorities who appointed him to this task, and he proceeded to arrest thieves. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korḥa sent Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon, the following message: You are vinegar, son of wine, i.e., you are wicked in comparison to your father, the righteous Rabbi Shimon, just as vinegar is spoiled wine. Until when will you inform on the nation of our God to be sentenced to execution by a gentile king’s court? Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon, sent a message back to him: I am merely eradicating thorns from the vineyard, i.e., I am removing the wicked from the Jewish people. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korḥa sent back to him: Let the Owner of the vineyard, i.e., God, come and eradicate His own thorns. It is not your place to do this. The Gemara relates: One day, a certain laundryman met Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon, and called him vinegar, son of wine. Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon, said: From the fact that this man acted so insolently by vilifying a Torah scholar, one can conclude that he is a wicked person. He told the authorities: Arrest that man. They arrested him and condemned him to death. After his mind settled, i.e., when his anger abated, Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon, regretted his hasty decision. He went after the laundryman in order to ransom him and save him from execution, but he was unable to do so. He read the verse about him: “Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue, keeps his soul from troubles” (Proverbs 21:23), i.e., had the laundryman not issued his derogatory comment he would have been spared this fate. Ultimately, they hanged the laundryman. Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon, stood beneath the gallows and wept. Those who were present said to him: Our teacher, let it not be bad in your eyes that you caused his death, as this laundryman was a wholly wicked person; you should know that he and his son both engaged in intercourse with a betrothed young woman on Yom Kippur. Upon hearing this, Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon, placed his hand upon his belly, over his innards, and said: Rejoice, my innards, rejoice! If your mere suspicions are so accurate, all the more so your certainties must be correct. If the condemnation of this man based upon the suspicions raised by his insolence proved to be correct, the identification of thieves in accordance with logical reasoning must certainly be accurate. I am assured about you, my innards, that worm and maggot will not affect you, which is a sign of a completely righteous person. Nevertheless, his mind was not calmed. He decided to test himself. He arranged for people to give him a sedative to drink, and they brought him into a house of marble, where surgeries were performed, and cut open his belly. They removed baskets upon baskets of fat from it, placed them in the hot sun in the summer months of Tammuz and Av, and the fat did not putrefy. In this manner, Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon, received proof that his decisions were correct and that he was a wholly righteous individual.

בבא מציעא פ״ו א:ג׳-י״א

אָמַר רַב כָּהֲנָא אִישְׁתַּעִי לִי רַב חָמָא בַּר בְּרַתֵּיה דְּחַסָּא רַבָּה בַּר נַחְמָנִי אַגַּב שְׁמָדָא נָח נַפְשֵׁיהּ אֲכַלוּ בֵּיהּ קוּרְצָא בֵּי מַלְכָּא אֲמַרוּ אִיכָּא חַד גַּבְרָא בִּיהוּדָאֵי דְּקָא מְבַטֵּל תְּרֵיסַר אַלְפֵי גַּבְרֵי מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל יַרְחָא בְּקַיְיטָא וְיַרְחָא בְּסִתְוָא מִכְּרָגָא דְּמַלְכָּא שַׁדַּרוּ פְּרֵיסְתְּקָא דְמַלְכָּא בָּתְרֵיהּ וְלָא אַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ עֲרַק וַאֲזַל מִפּוּמְבְּדִיתָא לְאַקְרָא מֵאַקְרָא לְאַגְמָא וּמֵאַגְמָא לְשִׁחִין וּמִשִּׁחִין לִצְרִיפָא וּמִצְּרִיפָא לְעֵינָא דְמַיִם וּמֵעֵינָא דְמַיִם לְפוּמְבְּדִיתָא בְּפוּמְבְּדִיתָא אַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ אִיקְּלַע פְּרֵיסְתְּקָא דְמַלְכָּא לְהָהוּא אוּשְׁפִּיזָא דְּרַבָּה קָרִיבוּ תַּכָּא קַמֵּיהּ וְאַשְׁקוּהוּ תְּרֵי כָּסֵי וְדַלְיוּהּ לְתַכָּא מִקַּמֵּיהּ הֲדַר פַּרְצוּפֵיהּ לַאֲחוֹרֵיהּ אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ מַאי נַעֲבֵיד לֵיהּ גַּבְרָא דְמַלְכָּא הוּא אֲמַר לְהוּ קָרִיבוּ תַּכָּא לְקַמֵּיהּ וְאַשְׁקוּהּ חַד כָּסָא וְדַלְיוּהּ לְתַכָּא מִקַּמֵּיהּ וְלִתַּסֵּי עֲבַדוּ לֵיהּ הָכִי וְאִתַּסִּי אֲמַר מִידָּע יָדַעְנָא דְּגַבְרָא דְּקָא בָעֵינָא הָכָא הוּא בְּחֵישׁ אַבָּתְרֵיהּ וְאַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ אֲמַר אָזֵלְינָא מֵהָא אִי מִקְטָל קָטְלוּ לְהָהוּא גַּבְרָא לָא מְגַלֵּינָא וְאִי נַגֹּידֵי מְנַגְּדִין לֵיהּ מְגַלֵּינָא אַתְיוּהּ לְקַמֵּיהּ עַיְּילֵיהּ לְאִדְּרוֹנָא וְטַרְקֵיהּ לְבָבָא בְּאַנְפֵּיהּ בְּעָא רַחֲמֵי פְּרַק אֲשִׁיתָא עֲרַק וַאֲזַל לְאַגְמָא הֲוָה יָתֵיב אַגִּירְדָּא דְּדִקּוּלָא וְקָא גָרֵיס קָא מִיפַּלְגִי בִּמְתִיבְתָּא דִרְקִיעָא אִם בַּהֶרֶת קוֹדֶמֶת לְשֵׂעָר לָבָן טָמֵא וְאִם שֵׂעָר לָבָן קוֹדֵם לַבַּהֶרֶת טָהוֹר סָפֵק הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אוֹמֵר טָהוֹר וְכוּלְּהוּ מְתִיבְתָּא דִרְקִיעָא אָמְרִי טָמֵא וְאָמְרִי מַאן נוֹכַח נוֹכַח רַבָּה בַּר נַחְמָנִי דְּאָמַר רַבָּה בַּר נַחְמָנִי אֲנִי יָחִיד בִּנְגָעִים אֲנִי יָחִיד בְּאֹהָלוֹת שַׁדַּרוּ שְׁלִיחָא בָּתְרֵיהּ לָא הֲוָה מָצֵי מַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת לְמִקְרַב לֵיהּ מִדְּלָא הֲוָה קָא פָסֵיק פּוּמֵּיהּ מִגִּרְסֵיהּ אַדְּהָכִי נְשַׁב זִיקָא וַאֲוַושׁ בֵּינֵי קְנֵי סְבַר גּוּנְדָּא דְפָרָשֵׁי הוּא אֲמַר תִּינַח נַפְשֵׁיהּ דְּהָהוּא גַּבְרָא וְלָא יִמְּסַר בִּידָא דְמַלְכוּתָא כִּי הֲוָה קָא נָיְחָא נַפְשֵׁיהּ אֲמַר טָהוֹר טָהוֹר יָצָאת בַּת קוֹל וְאָמְרָה אַשְׁרֶיךָ רַבָּה בַּר נַחְמָנִי שֶׁגּוּפְךָ טָהוֹר וְיָצָאתָה נִשְׁמָתְךָ בְּטָהוֹר נְפַל פִּתְקָא מֵרְקִיעָא בְּפוּמְבְּדִיתָא רַבָּה בַּר נַחְמָנִי נִתְבַּקֵּשׁ בִּיְשִׁיבָה שֶׁל מַעְלָה נְפַקוּ אַבָּיֵי וְרָבָא וְכוּלְּהוּ רַבָּנַן לְאִיעֲסוֹקֵי בֵּיהּ לָא הֲווֹ יָדְעִי דּוּכְתֵּיהּ אֲזַלוּ לְאַגְמָא חֲזוֹ צִפְּרֵי דִּמְטַלְּלִי וְקָיְימִי אָמְרִי שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ הָתָם הוּא סַפְדוּהּ תְּלָתָא יוֹמֵי וּתְלָתָא לֵילָוָתָא נְפַל פִּתְקָא כׇּל הַפּוֹרֵשׁ יְהֵא בְּנִידּוּי סַפְדוּהּ שִׁבְעָה יוֹמֵי נְפַל פִּתְקָא לְכוּ לְבֵיתְכֶם לְשָׁלוֹם הָהוּא יוֹמָא דְּנָח נַפְשֵׁיהּ דַּלְיֵיהּ זַעְפָּא וּדְרִי לְהָהוּא טַיָּיעָא כִּי רְכִיב גַּמְלָא מֵהַאי גִּיסָא דִּנְהַר פָּפָּא וְשַׁדְיֵיהּ בְּהָךְ גִּיסָא אֲמַר מַאי הַאי אָמְרִי לֵיהּ נָח נַפְשֵׁיהּ דְּרַבָּה בַּר נַחְמָנִי אָמַר לְפָנָיו רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם כּוּלֵּי עָלְמָא דִּידָךְ הוּא וְרַבָּה בַּר נַחְמָנִי דִּידָךְ אַתְּ דְּרַבָּה וְרַבָּה דִּידָךְ אַמַּאי קָא מַחְרְבַתְּ לֵיהּ לְעָלְמָא נָח זַעְפָּא

Bava Metzia 86a:3-11

§ The Gemara relates another story discussing the greatness of the Sages. Rav Kahana said: Rav Ḥama, son of the daughter of Ḥasa, told me that Rabba bar Naḥmani died due to the fear of a decree of religious persecution. The Gemara explains: His enemies accused him [akhalu beih kurtza] of disloyalty in the king’s palace, as they said: There is one man from among the Jews who exempts twelve thousand Jewish men from the king’s head tax two months a year, one month in the summer and one month in the winter. Since many people would study in Rabba’s study hall during the months of Adar and Elul, he was being blamed for preventing those people from working during those months. They sent a messenger [peristaka] of the king after him, but he was not able to find him. Rabba bar Naḥmani fled and went from Pumbedita to Akra, from Akra to Agma, from Agma to Shiḥin, from Shiḥin to Tzerifa, from Tzerifa to Eina Demayim, and from Eina Demayim back to Pumbedita. Ultimately, he was found in Pumbedita, as the king’s messenger arrived by chance at that same inn where Rabba bar Naḥmani was hiding. The inn attendants placed a tray before the messenger and gave him two cups to drink. They then removed the tray from before him and his face was miraculously turned backward. The attendants said to Rabba bar Naḥmani: What should we do with him? He is the king’s man, and we cannot leave him like this. Rabba bar Naḥmani said to them: Place a tray before him and give him one cup to drink, and then remove the tray from before him and he will be healed. They did this, and he was healed. The messenger said: I am certain that the man I seek is here, as this unnatural event must have befallen me on his account. He searched for Rabba bar Naḥmani and found out where he was. The messenger said that they should tell Rabba bar Naḥmani: I will leave this inn and will not disclose your location. Even if they will kill that man, i.e., me, I will not disclose your location. But if they will beat him, me, I will disclose your whereabouts, as I cannot bear being tortured. With that guarantee, they brought Rabba bar Naḥmani before the messenger. They took him into a small vestibule [le’idrona] and closed the door before him. Rabba bar Naḥmani prayed for mercy, and the wall crumbled. He fled and went to hide in a swamp. He was sitting on the stump of a palm tree and studying Torah alone. At that moment, the Sages in the heavenly academy were disagreeing with regard to a halakha of leprosy. In general, a leprous spot includes two signs of impurity, a bright white spot and a white hair. The basic halakha is that if the snow-white leprous sore [baheret] preceded the white hair then the afflicted person is ritually impure, but if the white hair preceded the baheret, he is pure. The heavenly debate concerned a case of uncertainty as to which came first, the spot or the hair. The Holy One, Blessed be He, says: The individual is pure, but every other member of the heavenly academy says: He is impure. And they said: Who can arbitrate in this dispute? They agreed that Rabba bar Naḥmani should arbitrate, as Rabba bar Naḥmani once said: I am preeminent in the halakhot of leprosy and I am preeminent in the halakhot of ritual impurity imparted by tents. They sent a messenger from heaven after him to take his soul up to the heavenly academy, but the Angel of Death was unable to approach Rabba bar Naḥmani, as his mouth did not cease from his Torah study. In the meantime, a wind blew and howled between the branches. Rabba bar Naḥmani thought that the noise was due to an infantry battalion [gunda] about to capture him. He said: Let that man, i.e., me, die and not be given over to the hands of the government. The Angel of Death was therefore able to take his soul. As he was dying, he said in response to the dispute in heaven: It is pure; it is pure. A Divine Voice emerged from heaven and said: Happy are you, Rabba bar Naḥmani, as your body is pure and your soul left you with the word: Pure. A note [pitka] fell from heaven and landed in the academy of Pumbedita. The note read: Rabba bar Naḥmani was summoned to the heavenly academy, i.e., he has died. Abaye and Rava and all of the other Rabbis went out to tend to his burial; however, they did not know the location of his body. They went to the swamp and saw birds forming a shade and hovering over a certain spot. The Rabbis said: We can conclude from this that he is there. The Rabbis lamented him for three days and three nights. A note fell from heaven, upon which was written: Anyone who removes himself from the lamentations shall be ostracized. Accordingly, they lamented him for seven days. Another note fell from heaven, stating: Go to your homes in peace. On that day when Rabba bar Naḥmani died, a hurricane lifted a certain Arab [taya’a] merchant while he was riding his camel. The hurricane carried him from one side of the Pappa River and threw him onto the other side. He said: What is this? Those present said to him: Rabba bar Naḥmani has died. He said before God: Master of the Universe! The entire world is Yours and Rabba bar Naḥmani is also Yours. You are to Rabba and Rabba is to You, i.e., you are beloved to each other. If so, why are You destroying the world on his account? The storm subsided.

בבא מציעא קי״ד א:י׳

אַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ רַבָּה בַּר אֲבוּהּ לְאֵלִיָּהוּ דְּקָאֵי בְּבֵית הַקְּבָרוֹת שֶׁל גּוֹיִם אֲמַר לֵיהּ מַהוּ שֶׁיְּסַדְּרוּ בְּבַעַל חוֹב אֲמַר לֵיהּ גָּמַר מִיכָה מִיכָה מֵעֲרָכִין גַּבֵּי עֲרָכִין כְּתִיב וְאִם מָךְ הוּא מֵעֶרְכֶּךָ גַּבֵּי בַּעַל חוֹב כְּתִיב וְכִי יָמוּךְ אָחִיךָ

Bava Metzia 114a:10

§ The Gemara relates: Rabba bar Avuh found Elijah standing in a graveyard of gentiles. Rabba bar Avuh said to him: What is the halakha with regard to making arrangements for the debtor? Elijah said to him: A verbal analogy is derived from the usage of the term “poor” written in the context of a debtor and the term “poor” written in the context of valuations. With regard to valuations, it is written: “But if he is too poor [makh] for your valuation” (Leviticus 27:8), and with regard to a creditor, it is written: “But if your brother be poor [yamukh]” (Leviticus 25:35).

בבא מציעא קי״ד ב:א׳-ד׳

מִנַּיִן לְעָרוֹם שֶׁלֹּא יִתְרוֹם דִּכְתִיב וְלֹא יִרְאֶה בְךָ עֶרְוַת דָּבָר אֲמַר לֵיהּ לָאו כֹּהֵן הוּא מָר מַאי טַעְמָא קָאֵי מָר בְּבֵית הַקְּבָרוֹת אֲמַר לֵיהּ לָא מַתְנֵי מָר טְהָרוֹת דְּתַנְיָא רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַי אוֹמֵר קִבְרֵיהֶן שֶׁל נׇכְרִים אֵין מְטַמְּאִין שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְאַתֵּן צֹאנִי צֹאן מַרְעִיתִי אָדָם אַתֶּם אַתֶּם קְרוּיִין אָדָם וְאֵין נׇכְרִים קְרוּיִין אָדָם אֲמַר לֵיהּ בְּאַרְבְּעָה לָא מָצֵינָא בְּשִׁיתָּא מָצֵינָא אֲמַר לֵיהּ וְאַמַּאי אֲמַר לֵיהּ דְּחִיקָא לִי מִילְּתָא דַּבְרֵיהּ וְעַיְּילֵיהּ לְגַן עֵדֶן אֲמַר לֵיהּ פְּשׁוֹט גְּלִימָךְ סְפִי שְׁקוֹל מֵהָנֵי טַרְפֵי סְפָא שְׁקַל כִּי הֲוָה נָפֵיק שְׁמַע דְּקָאָמַר מַאן קָא אָכֵיל לְעָלְמֵיהּ כְּרַבָּה בַּר אֲבוּהּ נְפַץ שְׁדָנְהוּ אֲפִילּוּ הָכִי אַתְיֵיהּ לִגְלִימֵיהּ סְחַט גְּלִימָא רֵיחָא זַבְּנֵיהּ בִּתְרֵיסַר אַלְפֵי דִּינָרֵי פַּלְגִינְהוּ לְחַתְנָווֹתֵיהּ

Bava Metzia 114b:1-4

Rabba bar Avuh now asks Elijah another question: From where is it derived with regard to a naked person that he may not separate teruma? He replied: As it is written: “And He see no unseemly thing in you” (Deuteronomy 23:15). This verse indicates that one may not recite any words of sanctity, including the blessing upon separating teruma, in front of one who is naked. The amora proceeded to ask Elijah a different question and said to him: Is not the Master a priest? What is the reason that the Master is standing in a cemetery? Elijah said to him: Has the Master not studied the mishnaic order of Teharot? As it is taught in a baraita: Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai says that the graves of gentiles do not render one impure, as it is stated: “And you, My sheep, the sheep of My pasture, are man” (Ezekiel 34:31), which teaches that you, i.e., the Jewish people, are called “man,” but gentiles are not called “man.” Since the Torah states with regard to ritual impurity imparted in a tent: “If a man dies in a tent” (Numbers 19:14), evidently impurity imparted by a tent does not apply to gentiles. Rabba bar Avuh said to him: How could I be familiar with that baraita? If I cannot be proficient in the more commonly studied four orders of the Mishna, can I be knowledgeable in all six? Elijah said to him: Why are you not learned in them all? Rabba bar Avuh said to him: The matter of a livelihood is pressing for me, and I am therefore unable to study properly. Elijah led him and brought him into the Garden of Eden and said to him: Remove your cloak, gather up and take some of these leaves lying around. Rabba Bar Avuh gathered them up and took them. When he was exiting, he heard a voice that declared: Who else consumes his World-to-Come like Rabba bar Avuh, who takes his merit of the next world for his use in the present one? He spread out his cloak and threw away the leaves. Even so, when he brought his cloak back, he discovered that the cloak had absorbed such a good scent from those leaves that he sold it for twelve thousand dinars. Since he knew that this was taken from his portion in the World-to-Come, he did not want to benefit from it himself, and he therefore divided the sum among his sons-in-law.

בבא מציעא קי״ח ב:י״א-י״ב

מַתְנִי׳ שְׁתֵּי גַּנּוֹת זוֹ עַל גַּב זוֹ וְהַיָּרָק בֵּינְתַיִם רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר שֶׁל עֶלְיוֹן רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר שֶׁל תַּחְתּוֹן אָמַר רַבִּי מֵאִיר אִם יִרְצֶה הָעֶלְיוֹן לִיקַּח אֶת עֲפָרוֹ אֵין כָּאן יָרָק אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אִם יִרְצֶה הַתַּחְתּוֹן לְמַלֹּאות אֶת גִּנָּתוֹ אֵין כָּאן יָרָק אָמַר רַבִּי מֵאִיר מֵאַחַר שֶׁשְּׁנֵיהֶן יְכוֹלִין לְמַחוֹת זֶה עַל זֶה רוֹאִין מֵהֵיכָן יָרָק זֶה חַי אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן כׇּל שֶׁהָעֶלְיוֹן יָכוֹל לִפְשׁוֹט אֶת יָדוֹ וְלִיטּוֹל הֲרֵי הוּא שֶׁלּוֹ וְהַשְּׁאָר שֶׁל תַּחְתּוֹן:

Bava Metzia 118b:11-12

MISHNA: In the case of two gardens that were located one above the other, i.e., a garden on a plateau that borders another garden below, and vegetables grew in-between, out of the wall of soil resulting from the difference in height between the two gardens, Rabbi Meir says: These vegetables belong to the owner of the upper garden. Rabbi Yehuda says: They belong to the owner of the lower one. Rabbi Meir said in explanation of his ruling: If the owner of the upper garden would want to dig and take his dirt and does so, no vegetables would grow here, as that wall made of soil would not exist. The vegetables therefore belong to him. In response, Rabbi Yehuda said: If the owner of the lower garden would want to fill his garden with dirt and does so, thereby raising its level, no vegetables would grow here, as that wall made of soil would not exist. The vegetables therefore belong to him. Rabbi Meir said: Since the two of them can object to each other, as they each have the ability to prevent the vegetable growth, nothing can be decided based on such considerations. Instead, the court considers from where this vegetable lives and derives nourishment, whether from above or from below. Rabbi Shimon said: Any vegetables that the owner of the upper garden can stretch out his hand and take, those vegetables are his, and the rest belong to the owner of the lower garden.

בבא מציעא קי״ט א:ג׳-ה׳

אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן כֹּל שֶׁהָעֶלְיוֹן יָכוֹל לִפְשׁוֹט [וְכוּ׳]: אָמְרִי דְּבֵי רַבִּי יַנַּאי וּבִלְבַד שֶׁלֹּא יֵאָנֵס בָּעֵי רַב עָנָן וְאִיתֵּימָא רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה מַגִּיעַ לְנוֹפוֹ וְאֵין מַגִּיעַ לְעִיקָּרוֹ מַגִּיעַ לְעִיקָּרוֹ וְאֵין מַגִּיעַ לְנוֹפוֹ מַאי תֵּיקוּ: אָמַר אֶפְרַיִם סָפְרָא תַּלְמִידוֹ שֶׁל רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ מִשּׁוּם רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ הֲלָכָה כְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אַמְרוּהָ קַמֵּיהּ דְּשַׁבּוּר מַלְכָּא אֲמַר לְהוּ אָפְרִין נִמְטְיֵיהּ לְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן:

Bava Metzia 119a:3-5

§ The mishna teaches: Rabbi Shimon said: Any vegetables that the owner of the upper garden can stretch out his hand and take, those vegetables are his, and the rest belong to the owner of the lower garden. In the school of Rabbi Yannai they say: And this is only so provided that he does not force himself, but simply stretches out his hand in the usual manner. Rav Anan, and some say it was Rabbi Yirmeya, raised a dilemma: If the owner of the upper garden can reach its leaves, but he cannot reach its roots, or if he can reach its roots but he cannot reach its leaves, what is the halakha? Is the plant considered to be within his reach or not? No answer was found for this question, and the Gemara concludes: The dilemma shall stand unresolved. Efrayim the scribe, a student of Reish Lakish, says in the name of Reish Lakish: The halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Shimon. They stated this case before the Persian King Shapur, who expressed an interest in this legal issue, and he said to them: Let us offer a palanquin [apiryon] to Rabbi Shimon. He too felt that this was the best resolution.

הדרן

(א) הֲדְרָן עֲלָךְ מַסֶּכֶת (יאמר שם המסכת) וְהֲדְרָךְ עֲלָן. דַּעְתָּן עֲלָךְ מַסֶּכֶת (יאמר שם המסכת) וְדַעְתָּךְ עֲלָן. לָא נִתְנְשֵׁי מִינָךְ מַסֶּכֶת (יאמר שם המסכת) וְלֹא תִתְנְשֵׁי מִינָן, לָא בְּעָלְמָא הָדֵין וְלֹא בְּעָלְמָא דְאַָתֵי:

(ב) יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֶאֱלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁתְּהֵא תּוֹרָתְךָ אֻמָּנוּתֵנוּ בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וּתְהֵא עִמָּנוּ לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. חֲנִינָא בַּר פָּפָּא, רָמִי בַּר פָּפָּא, נַחְמָן בַּר פָּפָּא, אַחַאי בַּר פָּפָּא, אַבָּא [מָרִי] בַּר פָּפָּא, רַפְרָם בַּר פָּפָּא, רָכִישׁ בַּר פָּפָּא, סוּרְחָב בַּר פָּפָּא, אַדָּא בַּר פָּפָּא, דָּרוּ בַּר פָּפָּא:

(ג) הַעֲרֵב נָא יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, אֶת דִּבְרֵי תּוֹרָתְךָ בְּפִינוּ וּבְפִיפִיּוֹת עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְנִהְיֶה כּוּלָנוּ אֲנַחְנוּ וְצֶאֱצָאֵינוּ וְצֶאֱצָאֵי עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, כּוּלָנוּ יוֹדְעֵי שְׁמֶךָ וְלוֹמְדֵי תּוֹרָתְךָ. מֵאֹיְבַי תְּחַכְּמֵנִי מִצְו‍ֹתֶךָ כִּי לְעוֹלָם הִיא לִי. יְהִי לִבִּי תָמִים בְּחֻקֶּיךָ לְמַעַן לֹא אֵבוֹש. לְעוֹלָם לֹא אֶשְׁכַּח פִּקּוּדֶיךָ כִּי בָם חִיִּיתָנִי. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ לַמֽדֵנִי חֻקֶּיךָ. אָמֵן אָמֵן אָמֵן סֶלָה וָעֶד:

(ד) מוֹדִים אֲנַחְנוּ לְּפָנֶיךָ יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֶאֱלֹהֵי אַבוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁשַּׂמְתָּ חֶלְקֵנוּ מִיּוֹשְׁבֵי בֵּית הַמִּדְרָשׁ, וְלֹא שַׂמְתָּ חֶלְקֵנוּ מִיּוֹשְׁבֵי קְרָנוֹת. שֶׁאָנוּ מַשְׁכִּימִים וְהֵם מַשְׁכִּימִים. אָנוּ מַשְׁכִּימִים לְדִבְרֵי תּוֹרָה וְהֵם מַשְׁכִּימִים לִדְבָרִים בְּטֵלִים. אָנוּ עֲמֵלִים וְהֵם עֲמֵלִים. אָנו עֲמֵלִים וּמְקַבְּלִים שָׂכָר וְהֵם עֲמֵלִים וְאֵינָם מְקַבְּלִים שָׂכָר. אָנוּ רָצִים וְהֵם רָצִים. אָנוּ רָצִים לְחַיֵּי הָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, וְהֵם רָצִים לִבְאֵר שַׁחַת. שֶׁנֱאמַר: וְאַתָּה אֱלֹהִים תּוֹרִדֵם לִבְאֵר שַׁחַת אַנְשֵׁי דָמִים וּמִרְמָה לֹא יֶחֱצוּ יְמֵיהֶם וַאֲנִי אֶבְטַח בָּךְ:

(ה) יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יְיָ אֱלֹהַי, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁעֲזַרֽתַּנִי לְסַיֵים מַסֶּכֶת (יאמר שם המסכת), כֵּן תּֽעַזְרֵנִי לְהַתְחִיל מַסֶּכְתּוֹת וּסֽפָרִים אַחֵרִים וּלְסַיֵימָם, לִלְמֹד וּלְלַמֵּד, לִשְׁמֹר וְלַעֲשׂוֹת וּלְקַיֵּם אֶת כָּל דִּבְרֵי תַלְמוּד תּוֹרָתֶךָ בְּאַהֲבָה, וּזְכוּת כָּל הַתַּנָּאִים וַאַמוֹרָאִים וּתַלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים יַעֲמוֹד לִי וּלְזַרְעִי שֶׁלֹא תָּמוּש הַתּוֹרָה מִפִּי וּמִפִּי זַרְעִי עַד עוֹלָם. וַיִתְקַיֵים בִּי: בְּהִתְהַלֶּכְךָ תַּנְחֶה אֹתָךְ בְּשָׁכְבְּךָ תִּשְׁמֹר עָלֶיךָ וַהֲקִיצוֹתָ הִיא תְשִׂיחֶךָ. כִּי בִי יִרְבּוּ יָמֶיךָ וְיוֹסִיפוּ לְּךָ שְׁנוֹת חַיִּים. אֹרֶךְ יָמִים בִּימִינָהּ בִּשְׂמֹאולָהּ עֹשֶׁר וְכָבוֹד. יְיָ עֹז לְעַמּוֹ יִתֵּן יְיָ יְבָרֵךְ אֶת עַמּוֹ בַשָּׁלוֹם:

(ו) יִתְגַּדַּל וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא. בְּעָלְמָא דִּי הוּא עָתִיד לְאִתְחַדְתָּא. וּלְאַחֲיָאה מֵתַיָּא. וּלְאַסָּקָא יַתְּהוֹן לְחַיֵּי עָלְמָא. וּלְמִבְנָא קַרְתָּא דִּי יְרוּשְלֵם. וּלְשַׁכְלְלָא הֵיכָלֵהּ בְּגַוָּהּ. וּלְמֶעֱקַר פּוּלְחָנָא נוּכְרָאָה מִן אַרְעָה. וּלְאָתָבָא פּוּלְחָנָא דִּי שְׁמַיָּא לְאַתְרָהּ. וְיַמְלִיך קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בּמַלְכוּתֵה וִיקָרֵהּ. בְּחַיֵּיכוֹן וּבְיוֹמֵיכוֹן וּבְחַיֵּי דְכָל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן. יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא. יִתְבָּרַךְ וְיִשְׁתַּבַּח וְיִתְפָּאַר וְיִתְרוֹמַם וְיִתְנַשֵּׂא וְיִתְהַדָּר וְיִתְעַלֶּה וְיִתְהַלָּל שְׁמֵהּ דְּקֻדְשָׁא. בְּרִיךְ הוּא. לְעֵלָּא (בעשי"ת לְעֵלָּא לְעֵלָּא מִכָּל) מִן כָּל בִּרְכָתָא וְשִׁירָתָא תֻּשְׁבְּחָתָא וְנֶחֱמָתָא דַּאֲמִירָן בְּעָלְמָא. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן. [עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְעַל רַבָּנָן וְעַל תַּלְמִידֵיהוֹן וְעַל כָּל תַּלְמִידֵי תַלְמִידֵיהוֹן וְעַל כָּל מַאן דְּעָסְקִין בְּאוֹרַיְתָא דִּי בְאַתְרָא [בא"י: קַדִּישָׁא] הָדֵין וְדִי בְכָל אֲתַר וַאֲתַר. יִהֵא לְהוֹן וּלְכוֹן שְׁלָמָא רַבָּא חִנָּא וְחִסְדָּא וְרַחֲמֵי וְחַיֵּי אֲרִיכֵי וּמְזוֹנֵי רְוִיחֵי וּפֻרְקָנָא מִן קֳדָם אֲבוּהוֹן דִּי בִשְׁמַיָא (וְאַרְעָא) וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:] יְהֵא שְׁלָמָא רַבָּא מִן שְׁמַיָּא וְחַיִּים עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם (בעשי"ת הַשָּׁלוֹם) בִּמְרוֹמָיו הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:

Hadran

(1) We will return to you, Tractate ____ [fill in the name of the tractate], and you will return to us; our mind is on you, Tractate ____, and your mind is on us; we will not forget you, Tractate ____, and you will not forget us – not in this world and not in the next world.

(2) May it be Your will, our G-d, and the G-d of our fathers, that we should be loyal to Your Torah in this world, and it should be with us in the next world. Chaninah bar Pappa, Rami bar Pappa, Nachman bar Pappa, Achai bar Pappa, Aba bar Pappa, Rafram bar Pappa, Rachish bar Pappa, Sorchav bar Pappa, Ada bar Pappa, Daro bar Pappa.

(3) Please make it sweet, G-d our G-d, the words of Your Torah. In our mouths, and in the mouths of your nation the House of Israel. And it should be that we, all of us, our children and the children of your nation the House of Israel, that we should all know Your name and learn Your Torah. [Psalms 119:98] "Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me." [Psalms 119:80] "Let my heart be complete in Your statutes, in order that I may not be put to shame." [Psalms 119:93] "I will never forget Your precepts; for with them You have quickened me." [Psalms 119:12] "Blessed are You O G-d, teach me Your statutes." (and forever)

(4) We give thanks before You, Lord, our G-d and G-d of our fathers, for you gave us a share among those who sit in the study hall, and not among those who sit on street corners. For we arise early, and they arise early; we arise for words of Torah, and they arise for words of emptiness. We work, and they work; we work and receive a reward, and they work and do not receive a reward. We run, and they run; we run towards eternal life, and they run to a pit of desolation. As it says: (Psalms 55:24) "And You, O Lord, bring them down into a pit of desolation, people of blood and deceit will not live out half of their days; and I, I will trust in You."

(5) May it be your will, Lord my G-d, just as You have helped me to complete tractate _____, so too may you help me to start other tractates and books, and to complete them, to learn and to teach, to observe and to enact and to fulfill all the words of the teaching of your Torah with love. And may the merit of all of the Tannaim and Amoraim and Torah scholars be present for me and for my descendants, to ensure that the Torah does not depart from my mouth and from the mouths of my descendants for all eternity. And may the following be fulfilled for me: (Proverbs 6:22) "When you walk, it will lead you, when you lie down, it will watch over you. When you awake, it will speak with you." (Proverbs 9:11) "For through me your days will be multiplied, and the years of your life will be increased." (Proverbs 3:16) "Length of days is in her right hand; in her left, riches and honor." (Psalms 29:11) "G-d will give strength to his nation, G-d will bless his nation with peace."

(6) May your great name be made holier and greater, in this world that he is destined to renew and to give life to the dead and raise them to eternal life, to build the city of Yerushalayim, and complete the Beis HaMikdosh in its midst. And to uproot idol worship from the Land, return the service of the Heaven to its place, and the Holy One Blessed Be He shall rule in his majesty and splendor in our lives, and in the lifetime of the entire household of Israel, swiftly and in the near future; and say, Amen. May his great name be blessed, forever and ever. Blessed, praised, glorified, exalted, extolled, honored elevated and lauded be the Name of the holy one, Blessed is he- above and beyond any blessings and hymns, Praises and consolations which are uttered in the world; and say Amen. May there be abundant peace from Heaven, and life, upon us and upon all Israel; and say, Amen.