Talking Talmud

The decree of the marketplace - takanat ha-shuk. Where something stolen in the marketplace leads to ye'ush (despair) and new ownership, and difficulty in requiring payback by the new owner to the original owner. Also, a new mishnah - when one has a barrel of wine and another has a barrel of honey, and the wine owner pours out the wine to offer the barrel to the slavage the honey. That wine owner c...

A case of a Jew who is excommunicated because he's caused harm to another Jew, but via a non-Jew: selling a field that borders the property of Jew to a non-Jew. Plus, bees! And what happens when an aviary is on the border of one's property. Also, the Gemara's read of the mishnah's case of the bees. And to what extent casual conversation may count as testimony. And a second mishnah: When you see yo...

The daf describes when and how people are excommunicated if they do not listen to the beit din. A new mishnah discussed using funds we assume are stolen. The daf discusses if one may steal from a non-Jew.

When a thief steals food and feeds it to his children... they don't have to pay back. If he leaves it to the children, and they haven't eaten it yet, the question of how much they have to pay, or return, is subject to a dispute. Also, the case with an urgency to be resolved, which provides exceptions for who pays what back to whom, with apparent compassion for the one(s) who has to pay back.

More on the priestly watch families - Yehoyariv and Yedaya - and why each gains or loses, in the event of a robber who swore falsely giving the guilt-offering via one family and the monetary payback via the other. Also, a new mishnah to start the final chapter, chapter 10: When one steals an object, and that object ends up with a third party - that third party doesn't owe the original owner. Plus,...

A new mishnah which discusses the case on a previous daf of a robbed convert and the asham, principal, and chomesh that mist be brought. The Gemara lists the 24 gifts that are given to the Kohanim.

A new mishnah reviews cases where the principal and chomesh are paid. The daf later discusses the unique case of a thief who steals from a convert with no heirs.

More cases of false oaths, paying double, paying a fifth... yet not paying both double and a fifth (only one kind of fine per instance). Also, a case of an unpaid guardian, where the object he's guarding is stolen, and he can take an oath that he wasn't negligent or he can go to court, toe to toe with the thief.

One who falsely claims that a thief stole collateral - the obligation to pay fines for that false claim only once the false claim is proven. Which leads into a discussion of "agreeing to part" of a claim. The discussion is based on the biblical words, "ki hu zeh," which the Gemara explains needs rephrasing. Which is a dramatic statement for us to learn. Also, a review/introduction of the 4 shomeri...

Rav Huna teaches a statement of Rav about payment after one takes an oath and which cases this Rav’s statement applies. Rabbi Yochanon explains the verses in Exodus 22:6-8 and the importance of having certain verses next to each other.

The daf contains an assorted collection of Rava’s teachings. Ben Azzai discusses the case of a witness who could have helped a litigant but swears falsely that he has no information to help him.

What it means when one appoints an agent to receive payment via a repentant thief, for example. Especially if there are witnesses to the appointment. Of course, it's a machloket. Also, delving into the fifth extra that the robber pays his victim. Why does he owe extra? And to whom does he owe extra? Plus, fathers and sons who owe and swear, perhaps falsely.

A story used to assess halakhic stance: flax that is purchased, but not acquired, and then appreciates in value, and the shopkeeper sold it, with the intent to give the money to the original owner (Rav Kahana, in this case). What are the implications for ownership, interest, and the rights to the flax? Plus, how this can come to smack of robbery... Also, a new mishnah, where a thief swears falsely...

A discussion between two Amoriam (Rav Yosef and Rav Huna) reveals that the order of how mishnayot were studied is different than how they were written down. Can a father consecrate his family’s possession? Can tefillin consecrated?

Moving on from dying wool to carpentry: a chair vs. a bench. Also, what is the status of dye once it has been applied to wool - when it's coloring the wool. With cases from shemitah, the jubilee year, orlah, and more. Plus, the limitations on a dead body rendering a home impure - including whether the person bled in the home before he died.

The daf continues its discussion about moneychangers and coins. Finally the daf has the mishnah that has been quoted many times about wool that was dyed the wrong color and other errors made by an expert craftsman.

The Gemara continues to discuss if a craftsman acquires a kli he makes an improvement on and relate this to a disagreement between R. Meir and the Rabbis. The daf also explores the category of shochet as a expert. What knowledge did Shmuel expect from his student?

If one throws another's coin into the Mediterranean Sea, when is that exempt from paying back and when must you? Also, what if one burns a promissory note? Doesn't that cancel the debt, because there's no proof of the loan. Also, the indirect causation of damages - when is one liable for it, and when not (dina de-garmi). Also, the case of bread (chametz) that is stolen and returned after Pesach, s...

Comparing slaves to land and to movable objects - unpleasant comparisons, but useful in trying to understand whether one can steal another's slave. Plus, what happens if one squats in a courtyard of a friend from whom he has borrowed money? It smacks of ribit/interest. Also, more cases about changing money with regime change. Will paying back a loan be based on the coinage or the value of it at th...

When a thief improves what he's stolen and sells it or leaves the object to his heirs... the buyer acquires the right to that improvement. But what about if the thief is an idolator? Plus, what counts as an improvement? (With a palm tree as a case study) Also, a new mishnah, where the change to the animal is that it ages... or is reduced in value because of external reasons. Plus, the Gemara's dis...

The daf explores Rebbe Meir’s approach to the question of whether change to an object effects acquisition. A question to consider: does the robber gain from among an enhancement?

The Daf continues its discussion on shinuy koneh and why the Halacha follow R. Shimon Ben Elazar. R. Yehudah HaNasi constructs a takana to encourage more people who steal to repent.

If one person invites another to injure himself (or herself), both the physical injury and the damage to a family's reputation. Plus, when one invites another to cause damage to that first person's property. Also, a purse of charity funds that was stolen, and the guardian was not liable - but why not? Also, the beginning of chapter 9: with a focus on stealing an object and making changes to it.

Last mishnah of the chapter: When one injures another, and pays compensation, he still isn't forgiven until the victim offers it -- as learned from the interaction between Avraham and Avimelech. At the same time, however, the victim is not allowed to hold a grudge. Also, 17 (18?) teachings or adages that were clearly known in the world that Rabbah bar Mari provides the sources for them in the Tora...

Is there an assessment by the court to establish damages? Certainly, if the injured party is killed, the item is assessed to be a potential tool to kill, but what about if it's just an injury? Recall the "pit" that has a measure at which it's considered potentially killing (10 tefachim), but where less than that, the owner is only responsible for damages, not death. Also, is it permitted for a per...