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The third and fourth mishnah of our chapter deal with ownership disputes in which two people lay claim to a found object.
If a man was riding on a beast and saw lost property and said to his fellow, “Give it to me”, and the other took it and said, “I have acquired it”, he (the has acquired it. But if after he gave it to him he said, “I acquired it first”, he has said nothing. In the first section of the mishnah a person saw an object while riding on an animal and told his friend to pick it up for him. When his friend picked it up he claimed it for himself. According to the mishnah the person who picked it up can claim title to the object. If, however, the person picked it up and then gave it to his fellow, he cannot subsequently claim title. The person’s claim to ownership must come at the same time that he actually has possession of the object and not after he has already given it to someone else. unable to leave the field; 3) the owner of the field makes a claim of acquisition over the animal.
If a man saw lost property and fell upon it and someone else came along and seized it, he that seized it acquired it. If a person saw a lost object and fell upon it in an attempt to take the object, and someone else came along and took it before the other person got to it, the person that took it gets to keep it. In the previous mishnah we learned that merely a person’s saying that he wished to take the object does not cause it to belong to him. In our mishnah we learn that even physically making a move to get it is also insufficient. The lost object is not his until he actually takes possession.
If a man saw people running [in his field] after lost property [such as] a deer with a broken leg, or pigeons that couldn’t fly, and he said, “My field acquires [them] for me”, he has acquired them. But if the deer was running normally or the pigeons flying, and he said, “My field acquires [them] for me”, he has said nothing. In this section we learn that under certain circumstances a person’s field can acquire something for him. In such a case the animal is acquired not by physical possession by the claimant but by the animal being on his field. If the person sees people running after a lost object in his field and that lost object cannot move off his field he can acquire it by saying that his field acquires it. If, however, the animal can run or fly and therefore is not “stuck” on the person’s field, the field cannot acquire the animal. In other words in order for the field to acquire the animal on behalf of its owner three conditions must be fulfilled: 1) other people have not claimed it (in the mishnah others are running after it but have not reached it; 2) the animal is physically unable to leave the field; 3) the owner of the field makes a claim of acquisition over the animal.
Introduction
Chapter eight of Bava Kamma deals with personal injury law. According to Jewish law when a person injures another person he is obligated for five different payments: 1) compensation for the injury itself; 2) compensation for the pain; 3) payment of medical costs; 4) loss of wages; 5) compensation for indignity caused by the injury. Our mishnah teaches how each of these types of compensation are calculated.
He who wounds his fellow is liable to compensate him on five counts: for injury, for pain, for healing, for loss of income and for indignity. Section one lists the five payments for personal injury, as we explained in the introduction. The remainder of the mishnah explains these payments.
‘For injury’: How so? If he blinded his fellow’s eye, cut off his hand or broke his foot, [his fellow] is looked upon as if he was a slave to be sold in the market and they assess how much he was worth and how much he is worth. Section two Injury is assessed by evaluating the previous and current worth of the person as a slave. The payment is the difference between the two.
‘For pain’? If he burned him with a spit or a nail, even though it was on his fingernail, a place where it leaves no wound, they estimate how much money such a man would be willing to take to suffer so. Section three Compensation for pain is assessed by evaluating how much a person would accept in exchange for having such an injury.
‘Healing’? If he struck him he is liable to pay the cost of his healing. If sores arise on him on account of the blow, he is liable [for the cost of their healing]. If not on account of the blow, he is not liable. If the wound healed and then opened and healed and then opened, he is liable for the cost of the healing. If it healed completely, he is no longer liable to pay the cost of the healing. Section four The person who inflicted the injury is obligated to pay for whatever the costs of healing may be. If sores or other later complications occur, he will be liable as long as the later complications are a result of the original blow. Finally, the person who inflicted the injury will be liable until the wound completely heals.
‘Loss of income’: He is looked upon as a watchman of a cucumber field, since he already gave him compensation for the loss of his hand or foot. Section five loss of income is assessed by evaluating the wage of a person doing the lowest paying job possible, a cucumber patch guard. There is some overlap between this payment and the payment for injury. For instance if the person injured was a blacksmith who earned 100 dollars a month and the injury blinded him, thereby preventing him from continuing in his profession. The payment for the injury will compensate him for this loss. Therefore the payment for the loss of income is compensation only for the loss of ability to do any job, no matter how low paying.
‘Indignity’: All is according to the status of the one that inflicts indignity and the status of the one that suffers indignity. If a man inflicted indignity on a naked man, or a blind man, or a sleeping man, he is [still] liable. If a man fell from the roof and caused injury and inflicted indignity, he is liable for the injury but not for the indignity, as it says, “And she puts forth her hand and grabs him by the private parts”, a man is liable only when he intended [to inflict indignity]. Section six payment for indignity is relative to the person who inflicts the indignity and to the person who incurs it. A person of lower social status will inflict greater indignity and will suffer less indignity. (In Mishnah six of this chapter we will see that Rabbi Akiva disagrees with this idea). For instance, if a poor peasant were to strike the queen, the indignity would be greater, according to the mishnah, than the queen striking a poor peasant. However, the mishnah teaches that indignity payments are applicable even if the person embarrassed is naked (meaning he has brought upon himself indignity) or sleeping (unaware of his indignity) or blind (unable to see his indignity). Finally we learn that a person is obligated to pay for the indignity only if the blow was purposeful. All of the other payments mentioned in the mishnah are obligatory even if the blow was accidental.
‘Indignity’: All is according to the status of the one that inflicts indignity and the status of the one that suffers indignity. If a man inflicted indignity on a naked man, or a blind man, or a sleeping man, he is [still] liable. If a man fell from the roof and caused injury and inflicted indignity, he is liable for the injury but not for the indignity, as it says, “And she puts forth her hand and grabs him by the private parts”, a man is liable only when he intended [to inflict indignity]. Section six payment for indignity is relative to the person who inflicts the indignity and to the person who incurs it. A person of lower social status will inflict greater indignity and will suffer less indignity. (In Mishnah six of this chapter we will see that Rabbi Akiva disagrees with this idea). For instance, if a poor peasant were to strike the queen, the indignity would be greater, according to the mishnah, than the queen striking a poor peasant. However, the mishnah teaches that indignity payments are applicable even if the person embarrassed is naked (meaning he has brought upon himself indignity) or sleeping (unaware of his indignity) or blind (unable to see his indignity). Finally we learn that a person is obligated to pay for the indignity only if the blow was purposeful. All of the other payments mentioned in the mishnah are obligatory even if the blow was accidental.
נוֹחַ לוֹ לְאָדָם שֶׁיָּבוֹא עַל סְפֵק אֵשֶׁת אִישׁ, וְאַל יַלְבִּין פְּנֵי חֲבֵירוֹ בָּרַבִּים. מְנָא לַן? מִדְּדָרֵשׁ רָבָא, דְּדָרֵשׁ רָבָא: מַאי דִּכְתִיב ״וּבְצַלְעִי שָׂמְחוּ וְנֶאֱסָפוּ... קָרְעוּ וְלֹא דָמּוּ״? אָמַר דָּוִד לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, גָּלוּי וְיָדוּעַ לְפָנֶיךָ, שֶׁאִם הָיוּ מְקָרְעִים בְּשָׂרִי, לֹא הָיָה דָּמִי שׁוֹתֵת לָאָרֶץ. וְלֹא עוֹד אֶלָּא, אֲפִילּוּ בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁעוֹסְקִין בִּנְגָעִים וְאֹהָלוֹת, אוֹמְרִים לִי: דָּוִד, הַבָּא עַל אֵשֶׁת אִישׁ, מִיתָתוֹ בַּמֶּה? וַאֲנִי אוֹמֵר לָהֶם: מִיתָתוֹ בְּחֶנֶק, וְיֵשׁ לוֹ חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. אֲבָל הַמַּלְבִּין אֶת פְּנֵי חֲבֵירוֹ בָּרַבִּים, אֵין לוֹ חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. וְאָמַר מָר זוּטְרָא בַּר טוֹבִיָּה אָמַר רַב, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ: אָמַר רַב חָנָא בַּר בִּיזְנָא אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן חֲסִידָא, וְאָמְרִי לָהּ: אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַאי: נוֹחַ לוֹ לְאָדָם שֶׁיַּפִּיל עַצְמוֹ לְכִבְשַׁן הָאֵשׁ וְאַל יַלְבִּין פְּנֵי חֲבֵירוֹ בָּרַבִּים. מְנָא לַן? מִתָּמָר, דִּכְתִיב: ״הִיא מוּצֵאת וְהִיא שָׁלְחָה אֶל חָמִיהָ״. אָמַר רַב חִנָּנָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַב אִידִי: מַאי דִּכְתִיב ״וְלֹא תוֹנוּ אִישׁ אֶת עֲמִיתוֹ״? עַם שֶׁאִתְּךָ בְּתוֹרָה וּבַמִּצְווֹת, אַל תּוֹנֵיהוּ. אָמַר רַב: לְעוֹלָם יְהֵא אָדָם זָהִיר בְּאוֹנָאַת אִשְׁתּוֹ, שֶׁמִּתּוֹךְ שֶׁדִּמְעָתָהּ מְצוּיָה, אוֹנָאָתָהּ קְרוֹבָה. אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: מִיּוֹם שֶׁנֶּחְרַב בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, נִנְעֲלוּ שַׁעֲרֵי תְפִילָּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״גַּם כִּי אֶזְעַק וַאֲשַׁוֵּעַ שָׂתַם תְּפִילָּתִי״. וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁשַּׁעֲרֵי תְפִילָּה נִנְעֲלוּ, שַׁעֲרֵי דְמָעוֹת לֹא נִנְעֲלוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״שִׁמְעָה תְפִלָּתִי יהוה וְשַׁוְעָתִי הַאֲזִינָה, אֶל דִּמְעָתִי אַל תֶּחֱרַשׁ״. וְאָמַר רַב: כׇּל הַהוֹלֵךְ בַּעֲצַת אִשְׁתּוֹ נוֹפֵל בְּגֵיהִנָּם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״רַק לֹא הָיָה כְאַחְאָב וְגוֹ׳״. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב פָּפָּא לְאַבָּיֵי: וְהָא אָמְרִי אִינָשֵׁי, אִיתְּתָךְ גּוּצָא – גְּחֵין וְתִלְחוֹשׁ לָהּ! לָא קַשְׁיָא: הָא בְּמִילֵּי דְעָלְמָא, וְהָא בְּמִילֵּי דְבֵיתָא. לִישָּׁנָא אַחֲרִינָא: הָא בְּמִילֵּי דִשְׁמַיָּא, וְהָא בְּמִילֵּי דְעָלְמָא. אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: כׇּל הַשְּׁעָרִים נִנְעָלִים, חוּץ מִשַּׁעֲרֵי אוֹנָאָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הִנֵּה יהוה נִצָּב עַל חוֹמַת אֲנָךְ וּבְיָדוֹ אֲנָךְ״. אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: הַכֹּל נִפְרָע בִּידֵי שָׁלִיחַ, חוּץ מֵאוֹנָאָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּבְיָדוֹ אֲנָךְ״. אָמַר רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ: שְׁלֹשָׁה אֵין הַפַּרְגּוֹד נִנְעָל בִּפְנֵיהֶם: אוֹנָאָה, וְגָזֵל, וַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה. אוֹנָאָה, דִּכְתִיב: ״וּבְיָדוֹ אֲנָךְ״. גָּזֵל, דִּכְתִיב: ״חָמָס וָשֹׁד יִשָּׁמַע בָּהּ עַל פָּנַי תָּמִיד״. עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, דִּכְתִיב: ״הָעָם הַמַּכְעִיסִים אוֹתִי עַל פָּנַי תָּמִיד וְגוֹ׳״. אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה: לְעוֹלָם יְהֵא אָדָם זָהִיר בִּתְבוּאָה בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ, שֶׁאֵין מְרִיבָה מְצוּיָה בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם אֶלָּא עַל עִסְקֵי תְבוּאָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הַשָּׂם גְּבוּלֵךְ שָׁלוֹם חֵלֶב חִטִּים יַשְׂבִּיעֵךְ״. אָמַר רַב פָּפָּא, הַיְינוּ דְּאָמְרִי אִינָשֵׁי: כְּמִשְׁלַם שְׂעָרֵי מִכַּדָּא, נָקֵישׁ וְאָתֵי תִּגְרָא בְּבֵיתָא. וְאָמַר רַב חִינָּנָא בַּר פָּפָּא: לְעוֹלָם יְהֵא אָדָם זָהִיר בִּתְבוּאָה בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ, שֶׁלֹּא נִקְרְאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל דַּלִּים אֶלָּא עַל עִסְקֵי תְבוּאָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְהָיָה אִם זָרַע יִשְׂרָאֵל וְגוֹ׳״, וּכְתִיב: ״וַיַּחֲנוּ עֲלֵיהֶם וְגוֹ׳״, וּכְתִיב: ״וַיִּדַּל יִשְׂרָאֵל מְאֹד מִפְּנֵי מִדְיָן״. וְאָמַר רַבִּי חֶלְבּוֹ: לְעוֹלָם יְהֵא אָדָם זָהִיר בִּכְבוֹד אִשְׁתּוֹ, שֶׁאֵין בְּרָכָה מְצוּיָה בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל אִשְׁתּוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וּלְאַבְרָם הֵטִיב בַּעֲבוּרָהּ״. וְהַיְינוּ דַּאֲמַר לְהוּ רָבָא לִבְנֵי מָחוֹזָא: אוֹקִירוּ לִנְשַׁיְיכוּ, כִּי הֵיכִי דְּתִתְעַתְּרוּ. תְּנַן הָתָם: חֲתָכוֹ חוּלְיוֹת, וְנָתַן חוֹל בֵּין חוּלְיָא לְחוּלְיָא – רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר מְטַהֵר, וַחֲכָמִים מְטַמְּאִין. וְזֶה הוּא תַּנּוּר שֶׁל עַכְנַאי. מַאי עַכְנַאי? אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: שֶׁהִקִּיפוּ[הוּ] דְּבָרִים כְּעַכְנָא זוֹ, וְטִמְּאוּהוּ. תָּנָא: בְּאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם הֵשִׁיב רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר כׇּל תְּשׁוּבוֹת שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם, וְלֹא קִיבְּלוּ הֵימֶנּוּ. אָמַר לָהֶם: אִם הֲלָכָה כְּמוֹתִי – חָרוּב זֶה יוֹכִיחַ. נֶעֱקַר חָרוּב מִמְּקוֹמוֹ מֵאָה אַמָּה, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ: אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת אַמָּה. אָמְרוּ לוֹ: אֵין מְבִיאִין רְאָיָה מִן הֶחָרוּב. חָזַר וְאָמַר לָהֶם: אִם הֲלָכָה כְּמוֹתִי – אַמַּת הַמַּיִם יוֹכִיחוּ. חָזְרוּ אַמַּת הַמַּיִם לַאֲחוֹרֵיהֶם. אָמְרוּ לוֹ: אֵין מְבִיאִין רְאָיָה מֵאַמַּת הַמַּיִם. חָזַר וְאָמַר לָהֶם: אִם הֲלָכָה כְּמוֹתִי – כּוֹתְלֵי בֵּית הַמִּדְרָשׁ יוֹכִיחוּ. הִטּוּ כּוֹתְלֵי בֵּית הַמִּדְרָשׁ לִיפּוֹל. גָּעַר בָּהֶם רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, אָמַר לָהֶם: אִם תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים מְנַצְּחִים זֶה אֶת זֶה בַּהֲלָכָה, אַתֶּם מָה טִיבְכֶם? לֹא נָפְלוּ מִפְּנֵי כְבוֹדוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, וְלֹא זָקְפוּ מִפְּנֵי כְבוֹדוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר, וַעֲדַיִן מַטִּין וְעוֹמְדִין. חָזַר וְאָמַר לָהֶם: אִם הֲלָכָה כְּמוֹתִי – מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם יוֹכִיחוּ. יָצָאתָה בַּת קוֹל וְאָמְרָה: מָה לָכֶם אֵצֶל רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר, שֶׁהֲלָכָה כְּמוֹתוֹ בְּכׇל מָקוֹם. עָמַד רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ עַל רַגְלָיו וְאָמַר: ״לֹא בַשָּׁמַיִם הִיא!״ מַאי ״לֹא בַּשָּׁמַיִם הִיא״? אָמַר רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה: שֶׁכְּבָר נִתְּנָה תּוֹרָה מֵהַר סִינַי, אֵין אָנוּ מַשְׁגִּיחִין בְּבַת קוֹל, שֶׁכְּבָר כָּתַבְתָּ בְּהַר סִינַי בַּתּוֹרָה ״אַחֲרֵי רַבִּים לְהַטֹּת״. אַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ רַבִּי נָתָן לְאֵלִיָּהוּ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מַאי עָבֵיד קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בְּהַהִיא שַׁעְתָּא? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: קָא חָיֵיךְ וְאָמַר, ״נִצְּחוּנִי בָּנַי! נִצְּחוּנִי בָּנַי!״ אָמְרוּ: אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם הֵבִיאוּ כׇּל טְהָרוֹת שֶׁטִּיהֵר רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר וּשְׂרָפוּם בָּאֵשׁ. וְנִמְנוּ עָלָיו וּבֵרְכוּהוּ, וְאָמְרוּ: מִי יֵלֵךְ וְיוֹדִיעוֹ? אֲמַר לָהֶם רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא: אֲנִי אֵלֵךְ, שֶׁמָּא יֵלֵךְ אָדָם שֶׁאֵינוֹ הָגוּן וְיוֹדִיעוֹ, וְנִמְצָא מַחְרִיב אֶת כָּל הָעוֹלָם כּוּלּוֹ. מָה עָשָׂה רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא? לָבַשׁ שְׁחוֹרִים וְנִתְעַטֵּף שְׁחוֹרִים, וְיָשַׁב לְפָנָיו בְּרִיחוּק אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת. אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר: עֲקִיבָא, מָה יוֹם מִיָּמִים? אָמַר לוֹ: רַבִּי, כִּמְדוּמֶּה לִי שֶׁחֲבֵירִים בְּדֵילִים מִמֶּךָ. אַף הוּא קָרַע בְּגָדָיו וְחָלַץ מִנְעָלָיו, וְנִשְׁמַט וְיָשַׁב עַל גַּבֵּי קַרְקַע. זָלְגוּ עֵינָיו דְּמָעוֹת, לָקָה הָעוֹלָם: שְׁלִישׁ בְּזֵיתִים, וּשְׁלִישׁ בְּחִטִּים, וּשְׁלִישׁ בִּשְׂעוֹרִים. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים: אַף בָּצֵק שֶׁבִּידֵי אִשָּׁה טָפַח. תָּנָא: אַף גָּדוֹל הָיָה בְּאוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם, שֶׁבְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁנָּתַן בּוֹ עֵינָיו רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר – נִשְׂרַף. וְאַף רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל הָיָה בָּא בִּסְפִינָה. עָמַד עָלָיו נַחְשׁוֹל לְטַבְּעוֹ. אָמַר: כִּמְדוּמֶּה לִי שֶׁאֵין זֶה אֶלָּא בִּשְׁבִיל רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן הוּרְקָנוֹס. עָמַד עַל רַגְלָיו וְאָמַר: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, גָּלוּי וְיָדוּעַ לְפָנֶיךָ שֶׁלֹּא לִכְבוֹדִי עָשִׂיתִי, וְלֹא לִכְבוֹד בֵּית אַבָּא עָשִׂיתִי, אֶלָּא לִכְבוֹדְךָ, שֶׁלֹּא יִרְבּוּ מַחְלוֹקוֹת בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל. נָח הַיָּם מִזַּעְפּוֹ. אִימָּא שָׁלוֹם, דְּבֵיתְהוּ דְּרַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר, אֲחָתֵיהּ דְּרַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל הֲוַאי. מֵהָהוּא מַעֲשֶׂה וְאֵילָךְ, לָא הֲוָה שָׁבְקָה לֵיהּ לְרַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר לְמִיפַּל עַל אַפֵּיהּ. הָהוּא יוֹמָא רֵישׁ יַרְחָא הֲוָה, וְאִיחַלַּף לַהּ בֵּין מָלֵא לְחָסֵר. אִיכָּא דְּאָמְרִי: אֲתָא עַנְיָא וְקָאֵי אַבָּבָא, אַפִּיקָא לֵיהּ רִיפְתָּא. אַשְׁכַּחְתֵּיהּ דְּנָפֵל עַל אַנְפֵּיהּ. אֲמַרָה לֵיהּ: קוּם, (קטלית לאחי) [קְטַלְיתֵּהּ לְאָח]. אַדְּהָכִי נְפַק שִׁיפּוּרָא מִבֵּית רַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל דִּשְׁכֵיב. אֲמַר לַהּ: מְנָא יְדַעְתְּ? אֲמַרָה לֵיהּ: כָּךְ מְקוּבְּלַנִי מִבֵּית אֲבִי אַבָּא: כׇּל הַשְּׁעָרִים נִנְעָלִים חוּץ מִשַּׁעֲרֵי אוֹנָאָה. תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: הַמְאַנֶּה אֶת הַגֵּר, עוֹבֵר בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה לָאוִין. וְהַלּוֹחֲצוֹ, עוֹבֵר בִּשְׁנַיִם. מַאי שְׁנָא מְאַנֶּה, דִּכְתִיבִי שְׁלֹשָׁה לָאוִין: ״וְגֵר לֹא תוֹנֶה״, ״וְכִי יָגוּר אִתְּךָ גֵּר בְּאַרְצְכֶם לֹא תוֹנוּ אֹתוֹ״, ״וְלֹא תוֹנוּ אִישׁ אֶת עֲמִיתוֹ״, וְגֵר בִּכְלַל עֲמִיתוֹ הוּא. לוֹחֲצוֹ נָמֵי שְׁלֹשָׁה כְּתִיבִי: ״וְלֹא תִלְחָצֶנּוּ״, ״וְגֵר לֹא תִלְחָץ״, ״וְלֹא תִהְיֶה לוֹ כְּנֹשֶׁה״, וְגֵר בַּכְּלָל הוּא! אֶלָּא, אֶחָד זֶה וְאֶחָד זֶה בִּשְׁלֹשָׁה. תַּנְיָא, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר הַגָּדוֹל אוֹמֵר: מִפְּנֵי מָה הִזְהִירָה תּוֹרָה בִּשְׁלֹשִׁים וְשִׁשָּׁה מְקוֹמוֹת, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ: בְּאַרְבָּעִים וְשִׁשָּׁה מְקוֹמוֹת, בְּגֵר? מִפְּנֵי שֶׁסּוֹרוֹ רַע. מַאי דִּכְתִיב ״וְגֵר לֹא תוֹנֶה וְלֹא תִלְחָצֶנּוּ כִּי גֵרִים הֱיִיתֶם בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם״? תְּנֵינָא, רַבִּי נָתָן אוֹמֵר: מוּם שֶׁבְּךָ אַל תֹּאמַר לַחֲבֵרֶךָ. וְהַיְינוּ דְּאָמְרִי אִינָשֵׁי: דִּזְקִיף לֵיהּ זְקִיפָא בִּדְיוּתְקֵיהּ, לָא נֵימָא לֵיהּ לְחַבְרֵיהּ זְקֵיף בִּינִיתָא. מַתְנִי׳ אֵין מְעָרְבִין פֵּירוֹת בְּפֵירוֹת, אֲפִילּוּ חֲדָשִׁים בַּחֲדָשִׁים.
We learned in a mishna there (Kelim 5:10): If one cut an earthenware oven widthwise into segments, and placed sand between each and every segment, Rabbi Eliezer deems it ritually pure. Because of the sand, its legal status is not that of a complete vessel, and therefore it is not susceptible to ritual impurity. And the Rabbis deem it ritually impure, as it is functionally a complete oven. And this is known as the oven of akhnai. The Gemara asks: What is the relevance of akhnai, a snake, in this context? Rav Yehuda said that Shmuel said: It is characterized in that manner due to the fact that the Rabbis surrounded it with their statements like this snake, which often forms a coil when at rest, and deemed it impure. The Sages taught: On that day, when they discussed this matter, Rabbi Eliezer answered all possible answers in the world to support his opinion, but the Rabbis did not accept his explanations from him.After failing to convince the Rabbis logically, Rabbi Eliezersaid to them: If the halakha is in accordance with my opinion, this carob tree will prove it. The carob tree was uprooted from its place one hundred cubits, and some say four hundred cubits. The Rabbis said to him: One does not cite halakhic proof from the carob tree. Rabbi Eliezerthen said to them: If the halakha is in accordance with my opinion, the stream will prove it. The water in the stream turned backward and began flowing in the opposite direction. They said to him: One does not cite halakhic proof from a stream.Rabbi Eliezerthen said to them: If the halakha is in accordance with my opinion, the walls of the study hall will prove it. The walls of the study hall leaned inward and began to fall. Rabbi Yehoshua scolded the walls and said to them: If Torah scholars are contending with each other in matters of halakha, what is the nature of your involvement in this dispute? The Gemara relates: The walls did not fall because of the deference due Rabbi Yehoshua, but they did not straighten because of the deference due Rabbi Eliezer, and they still remain leaning.Rabbi Eliezerthen said to them: If the halakha is in accordance with my opinion, Heaven will prove it. A Divine Voice emerged from Heaven and said: Why are you differing with Rabbi Eliezer, as the halakha is in accordance with his opinion in every place that he expresses an opinion? Rabbi Yehoshua stood on his feet and said: It is written: “It is not in heaven” (Deuteronomy 30:12). The Gemara asks: What is the relevance of the phrase “It is not in heaven” in this context? Rabbi Yirmeya says: Since the Torah was already given at Mount Sinai, we do not regard a Divine Voice, as You already wrote at Mount Sinai, in the Torah: “After a majority to incline” (Exodus 23:2). Since the majority of Rabbis disagreed with Rabbi Eliezer’s opinion, the halakha is not ruled in accordance with his opinion. The Gemara relates: Years after, Rabbi Natan encountered Elijah the prophet and said to him: What did the Holy One, Blessed be He, do at that time, when Rabbi Yehoshua issued his declaration? Elijahsaid to him: The Holy One, Blessed be He, smiled and said: My children have triumphed over Me; My children have triumphed over Me!
גְּמָ' תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאָמְרוּ הַמְשַׁמֵּשׁ מִטָּתוֹ לְאוֹר הַנֵּר הֲרֵי זֶה מְגוּנֶּה, בֵּית שַׁמַּאי אוֹמְרִים: צְרִיכָה שְׁנֵי עֵדִים עַל כׇּל תַּשְׁמִישׁ, אוֹ תְּשַׁמֵּשׁ לְאוֹר הַנֵּר. וּבֵית הִלֵּל אוֹמְרִים: דַּיָּהּ בִּשְׁנֵי עֵדִים כׇּל הַלַּיְלָה. תַּנְיָא: אָמְרוּ לָהֶם בֵּית שַׁמַּאי לְבֵית הִלֵּל: לְדִבְרֵיכֶם, לֵיחוּשׁ שֶׁמָּא תִּרְאֶה טִיפַּת דָּם כְּחַרְדָּל בְּבִיאָה רִאשׁוֹנָה, וּתְחַפֶּנָּה שִׁכְבַת זֶרַע בְּבִיאָה שְׁנִיָּה. אָמְרוּ לָהֶם בֵּית הִלֵּל: אַף לְדִבְרֵיכֶם, לֵיחוּשׁ עַד שֶׁהָרוֹק בְּתוֹךְ הַפֶּה, שֶׁמָּא נִימּוֹק וְהוֹלֵךְ לוֹ. אָמְרוּ לָהֶם: לְפִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ דּוֹמֶה נִימּוֹק פַּעַם אַחַת, לְנִימּוֹק שְׁתֵּי פְּעָמִים. תַּנְיָא, אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ: רוֹאֶה אֲנִי אֶת דִּבְרֵי בֵּית שַׁמַּאי. אָמְרוּ לוֹ תַּלְמִידָיו: רַבִּי, כַּמָּה הֶאֱרַכְתָּ עָלֵינוּ! אָמַר לָהֶם: מוּטָב שֶׁאַאֲרִיךְ עֲלֵיכֶם בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, כְּדֵי שֶׁיַּאֲרִיכוּ יְמֵיכֶם לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. אָמַר רַבִּי זֵירָא: מִדִּבְרֵי כּוּלָּם נִלְמַד, בַּעַל נֶפֶשׁ — לֹא יִבְעוֹל וְיִשְׁנֶה. רָבָא אָמַר: בּוֹעֵל וְשׁוֹנָה, כִּי תַנְיָא הַהִיא — לִטְהָרוֹת. תַּנְיָא נָמֵי הָכִי: בַּמֶּה דְבָרִים אֲמוּרִים — לִטְהָרוֹת, אֲבָל לְבַעְלָהּ — מוּתֶּרֶת. וּבַמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים — שֶׁהִנִּיחָהּ בְּחֶזְקַת טׇהֳרָה, אֲבָל הִנִּיחָהּ בְּחֶזְקַת טְמֵאָה — לְעוֹלָם הִיא בְּחֶזְקָתָהּ, עַד שֶׁתֹּאמַר לוֹ ״טְהוֹרָה אֲנִי״. אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא, אָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אָשֵׁי, אָמַר רַב: בָּדְקָה בְּעֵד וְאָבַד — אֲסוּרָה לְשַׁמֵּשׁ עַד שֶׁתִּבְדּוֹק. מַתְקֵיף לַהּ רַבִּי אִילָא: אִילּוּ אִיתֵאּ — מִי לָא מְשַׁמְּשָׁה, וְאַף עַל גַּב דְּלָא יָדְעָה? הַשְׁתָּא נָמֵי תְּשַׁמֵּשׁ! אֲמַר לֵיהּ רָבָא: זוֹ מוֹכִיחָהּ קַיָּים, וְזוֹ אֵין מוֹכִיחָהּ קַיָּים. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: אָסוּר לָאָדָם שֶׁיְּשַׁמֵּשׁ מִטָּתוֹ בַּיּוֹם. אָמַר רַב הַמְנוּנָא: מַאי קְרָא? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״יֹאבַד יוֹם אִוָּלֶד בּוֹ וְהַלַּיְלָה אָמַר הוֹרָה גָבֶר״ — לַיְלָה נִיתַּן לְהֵרָיוֹן, וְיוֹם לֹא נִיתַּן לְהֵרָיוֹן. רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ אָמַר מֵהָכָא: ״בּוֹזֵה דְרָכָיו יָמוּת״. וְרֵישׁ לָקִישׁ, הַאי קְרָא דְּרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן מַאי דָּרֵישׁ בֵּיהּ? מִבָּעֵי לֵיהּ לְכִדְדָרֵישׁ רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בַּר פָּפָּא, דְּדָרֵישׁ רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בַּר פָּפָּא: אוֹתוֹ מַלְאָךְ הַמְמוּנֶּה עַל הַהֵרָיוֹן ״לַיְלָה״ שְׁמוֹ, וְנוֹטֵל טִפָּה וּמַעֲמִידָהּ לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, וְאוֹמֵר לְפָנָיו: רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, טִפָּה זוֹ מָה תְּהֵא עָלֶיהָ? גִּבּוֹר אוֹ חַלָּשׁ? חָכָם אוֹ טִיפֵּשׁ? עָשִׁיר אוֹ עָנִי? וְאִילּוּ רָשָׁע אוֹ צַדִּיק לָא קָאָמַר, כִּדְרַבִּי חֲנִינָא. דְּאָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: הַכֹּל בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם, חוּץ מִיִּרְאַת שָׁמַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְעַתָּה יִשְׂרָאֵל מָה יהוה אֱלֹהֶיךָ שׁוֹאֵל מֵעִמָּךְ כִּי אִם לְיִרְאָה וְגוֹ׳״. וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, אִם כֵּן נִכְתּוֹב קְרָא ״גֶּבֶר הוֹרָה״, מַאי ״הוֹרָה גֶּבֶר״? לַיְלָה נִיתַּן לְהֵרָיוֹן, וְיוֹם לֹא נִיתַּן לְהֵרָיוֹן. וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, הַאי קְרָא דְּרֵישׁ לָקִישׁ מַאי דָּרֵישׁ בֵּיהּ? מִבְּעֵי לֵיהּ לִכְדִכְתִיב בְּסֵפֶר בֶּן סִירָא: שְׁלֹשָׁה שָׂנֵאתִי וְאַרְבָּעָה לֹא אָהַבְתִּי — שַׂר הַנִּרְגָּל בְּבֵית הַמִּשְׁתָּאוֹת, וְאָמְרִי לָהּ: ״שַׂר הַנִּרְגָּן״, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ: ״שַׂר הַנִּרְגָּז״. וְהַמּוֹשִׁיב שַׁבָּת בִּמְרוֹמֵי קֶרֶת, וְהָאוֹחֵז בָּאַמָּה וּמַשְׁתִּין מַיִם, וְהַנִּכְנָס לְבֵית חֲבֵירוֹ פִּתְאוֹם. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: וַאֲפִילּוּ לְבֵיתוֹ. אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחַאי: אַרְבָּעָה דְּבָרִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שׂוֹנְאָן, וַאֲנִי אֵינִי אוֹהֲבָן — הַנִּכְנָס לְבֵיתוֹ פִּתְאוֹם, וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר לְבֵית חֲבֵירוֹ, וְהָאוֹחֵז בָּאַמָּה וּמַשְׁתִּין מַיִם,
As Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa interpreted: That angel that is appointed over conception is called: Night. And that angel takes the drop of semen from which a person will be formed and presents it before the Holy One, Blessed be He, and says before Him: Master of the Universe, what will be of this drop? Will the person fashioned from it be mighty or weak? Will he be clever or stupid? Will he be wealthy or poor?The Gemara notes: But this angel does not say: Will he be wicked or righteous? This is in accordance with a statement of Rabbi Ḥanina, as Rabbi Ḥanina said: Everything is in the hand of Heaven, except for fear of Heaven. People have free will to serve God or not, as it is stated: “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you other than to fear the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 10:12). The fact that God asks of the Jewish people to fear Him indicates that it is a person’s choice to do so.
(שמות יג,ג) "וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל הָעָם: זָכוֹר אֶת הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר יְצָאתֶם מִמִּצְרַיִם מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים, כִּי בְּחֹזֶק יָד הוֹצִיא יהוה אֶתְכֶם מִזֶּה, וְלֹא יֵאָכֵל חָמֵץ." אֵין לִי אֶלָּא שֶׁמַּזְכִּירִים יְצִיאַת מִצְרַיִם בַּיָּמִים, בַּלֵּילוֹת מְנַיִן? תִּלְמֹד לוֹמַר: (דברים טז,ג) "לְמַעַן תִּזְכֹּר אֶת יוֹם צֵאתְךָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם כֹּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ", "יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ", הַיָּמִים, "כֹּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ", הַלֵּילוֹת. כְּדִבְרֵי בֶּן זוֹמָא.
(Exodus 13:3) "And Moses said to the people: Remember this day when you went out of Egypt, etc." I know only that the exodus from Egypt is mentioned in the daytime. Whence do I derive (the same for) the nighttime? From (Devarim 16:3) "… so that you remember the day of your going out of Egypt all the days of your life": "the days of your life" — the days; "all the days of your life" — (to include) the nights, according to Ben Zoma.
וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים: "יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ", בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, "כָּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיךָ", לְהָבִיא לִימוֹת הַמָּשִׁיחַ. אָמַר לָהֶם בֶּן זוֹמָא: עֲתִידִין יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁלֹּא לְהַזְכִּיר יְצִיאַת מִצְרַיִם לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: (ירמיה טז,יד-טו) "לָכֵן הִנֵּה יָמִים בָּאִים, נְאֻם יהוה, וְלֹא יֵאָמֵר עוֹד: חַי יהוה, אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלָה אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם! כִּי אִם: חַי יהוה אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱלָה אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מֵאֶרֶץ צָפוֹן!"
The sages say: "the days of your life" — in this world; "all the days of your life" — to include the days of the Messiah.
Bialik, The Book of Legends, Chapter 3, “The Deeds of the Fathers,“ pages 32-33 (a compilation of Midrash following the order of the Tanakh)
Next came a widow, who said to Abraham: I am a poor woman--give me a god as poor as I am. At once Abraham took an image that was on a shelf lower than all the others and said: To suit your poverty, take this god who is humble, placed as he is on a shelf below all the others; but he will not budge until you pay me the money. [So she paid the price] and, as she was about to depart, he asked her: How old are you? She replied: Quite old. Abraham then said: May the breath of such a woman be blasted! To think that one so old prostrates herself before a god who is only one day old. She immediately dropped the god into the basket, got back her money from Abraham, and went her way.
Then Abraham took all the gods and brought them back to his father Terah. Terah's other sons said to their father: This Abraham does not know how to sell gods;come, then, and let us make him a priest. Abraham asked: What is a priest's work? They replied: He waits upon the gods, offers sacrifices to them, and serves them food and drink. So they made him priest. Abraham promptly set food and drink before the images and said to them: Come and eat, come and drink, so that you may be able to bestow good upon human beings. But not one of them took anything at all to eat or to drink. Then Abraham began to recite the verse "They have mouths but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; they have ears, but they hear not; noses have they, but they smell not; they have hands, but they handle not; feet have they, but they walk not" (Ps. 115:5-7).
A woman came carrying a bowl of fine flour and said: Here, offer it to the gods. At that, Abraham seized a stick, smashed all the images, and placed the stick in the hand of the biggest of them. When his father came, he asked: Who did this to the gods? Abraham answered: Would I hide anything from my father? A woman came with a bowl of fine flour and said: Here, offer it up to them. When I offered it, one god said, "I will eat first," and another said, "No, I will eat first." Then the biggest of them rose up and smashed all the others. His father replied: Are you making sport of me? They cannot do anything! Abraham answered: You say they cannot. Let your ears hear what your mouth is saying!
