Talking Talmud

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...

A bit more on Takanat Usha. Plus, a man who strikes his slave and the slave dies, the owner is punished with capital punishment. Also, a very long mishnah, with a price list, as it were, for various injuries and the appropriate compensation. Plus, more on Rabbi Akiva (starring in the mishnah), as to whether a witness can be a judge.

The daf entertains the idea that a woman may sell her ketubah to pay damages to someone she injured or to her husband she injured. The daf finally explains why this discussion about ketuvot appears in Bava Kamma.

The daf tried to determine why slaves are disqualified from being witnesses by comparing slaves to other categories of people. In the middle of the daf is an incident with the mother of Rav Shmuel bar Ava if Hegronya and what happened to her melug property after her death.

A new mishnah! It spells out a good number of cases that entail paying the 5 compensations, and when one would be exempt, including what happens when one strikes a parent and does or does not cause a bruise. Also, the Gemara here - beginning with one who injures a minor daughter (vs. an adult son), and carrying through to a trust for a son... and other monetary support.

On Boshet - humiliation. And how this compensation is assessed. Plus, which sage's opinion is represented in the mishnah. Also, a new mishnah- when one humiliates people on specific categories - a naked person, a blind person, and more - depending on when there is intent. The question of the degree of objectivity regarding what is considered humiliating is key. Plus, the Gemara narrows the apparen...

The daf continues the discussion in different types of payments when a person injures another person specifically repui and boshet and how each is calculated.

When the Torah says, "an eye for an eye," how is that the Gemara concludes that the perpetrator compensates for the damage with money, rather than coming after him physically? Also, the deep topic of how to assess damages - to compare the injured party to a slave, which was, perhaps, logical, but nonetheless off-putting. Also, this particular assessment was only done in Israel, and not to be used...

Finishing up chapter 7... With more on the prohibition against Greek wisdom, and the language, as well as other "foreign" languages. Also, starting chapter 8, with the 5 categories of payment for personal injury.

The daf lists the 10 rules set up by Ezra HaSofer when he resettled the land. Plus there is mention of 10 rules only for Jerusalem. The daf returns to the discussion of what animals may not be raised in Eretz Yisroel by sharing an event that may explain why pig is the biggest non-kosher taboo.

A barita describes ten rules established by Yehoshua when Bnei Yisroel settled the land. Another barita discusses how all of the tribes’ portions shared equal topography.