Talking Talmud

Some reflections by the sages on how bad it is to lend with interest - where the mishnah seemed to allow it after all, at least with regard to non-Jews. The distinction between righteous people and regular people provides good food for thought. Also, what happens when one has lend funds with a guarantor, and how interest can apparently become part of the transaction, including when a non-Jew decid...

How being an orphan (minor) changes the terms of the prohibition against interest. Also, a new mishnah: fixed costs on what becomes a loan (via caring for an animal as an investment) cannot be paid back differently - to a Jew. When dealing with a non-Jew, extra payment is indeed allowed.

More on the partnerships of yesterday's daf, but in story form. Plus, a new mishnah on appraising animals and their progeny, and when adding sums to the costs smacks of interest and when it doesn't at all.

Rav Ashi shares a halacha about pledged property from the sages of Mechoza and explains the root of the word mishkanta. A new mishnah introduces iska and how it relates to a concern about interest.

A case where a woman instructs a man to go buy property from her relatives on her behalf, which gives rise to the relative's question whether he'll be able to buy the property back, if and when he gets the money to do so. Which in turn gives rise to a discussion of whether that re-purchase can happen, and then the fruits of the field in the interim is either fully fixed interest or possibly a "hin...

The daf discusses different scenarios where a states condition may or may not be binding. The terms asmachta is used but in a way that is different than how it has been used before.

The daf has two mishnayiot. The first describes circumstances when a higher price is allowed to be paid. The second discusses partial payment on a field and does the buyer or seller have access to the produce.

More on advance payments... Where the product has to already be in one's tradition (in contrast to gourds, for example, that still need to grow). Plus, a specified amount as an advance discount that isn't used immediately is later considered interest. Also, a new mishnah! One who borrows money from another cannot allow the lender to stay in his courtyard, for example, lest it smack of interest (wi...

Who is Rabbi Oshaya l, an amora, and what is his relationship with tannaitic literature. The daf discusses how a seller can use produce to pay a debt.

Is interest recoverable? It's a machloket, of course. Plus, how that plays out in the Jewish vs. non-Jewish courts, and the ways they functioned differently. Also, elaborating on the mishnah's case of rising market price, and a trade for another product, which (in this specific case) turns the seller into the borrower...

Chapter 5! A new mishnah, a new topic - moneylending, and the prohibition against taking interest. Also, the sidebar explanation for addressing the exodus from Egypt in the context of interest.

The final two mishnahs of the fourth perek deal with deceptive practices shopkeepers may not do because they hurt the buyer.

The daf tells one of the most famous stories in the Gemara - Tanur Shel Akhnai. But why this story appears and the lessons to be learned from the disagreement between Rabbi Eliezer and the sages are often misunderstood. So why does this story appear in Bava Metzia and what does it teach us?

Consecrated items for which one bears responsibility are subject to price fraud, but when one is not responsible, price fraud is irrelevant. But what does it mean for the consecrated property to belong to God? What about the human dimension? Plus, taking advantage of market demands, for better and worse. Also, a new mishnah - on "ona'at devarim" -- oppression or exploitation or just plain obnoxiou...

When is the capacity to take advantage of another not relevant? And if there's no risk of exploitation, is there any recourse to cancel the transaction for other reasons? Note the exceptions of consecrated property (hekdesh) and land... Also, what if transactions or loans are made in conjunction with consecrated property? The Temple has some flexibility with fluctuations in the costs of things - w...

A Mishnah lists cases where onaah does not apply and the Gemara discusses the scriptural sources for these categories.

2 mishnayot - Mishnah 1: Determining the differential to be considered exploitative, the amount to swear, and the amount to admit to owing money. Plus, 5 cases that depend on the equivalent of one perutah. Also, Mishnah 2: 5 halakhic categories for which "one-fifth" is relavant as an element of the halakhah.

The daf discusses a variety if different aspects about the chomesh.

The daf discusses what to do if one’s maaser sheini produce is worth less thana perutah and need to deconsecrate it onto coins.

A new mishnah! The erosion of minted coins, and its diminished value, with the potential for fraud in using it, as the metal is worn away. Subject to a dispute between our mishnah and a beraita. Also, the Gemara in the second part of the mishnah - garments vs. coins, and how they're handled in the village vs. cities, where the moneylenders were available to check the coins. Plus, the application o...

A mishnah discusses if there is a time limit to claim price fraud. Also discussed if fraud can be committed by a person irrespective of a business or both? Rav and Shmuel debate if a seller can make a stipulation about price fraud in a sale.

Establishing ona'ah at pricing that is a sixth over the value - with that time frame to consult and complain as temporary recourse. When is the sale considered final? Is that time limit really necessary? Also, once there's fraud, does it matter how extreme the fraud is? (Yes) Or how long the deadline really is? A close reading of the mishnah helps explain the overcharge.

Reneging on a verbal commitment toward a sale - illustrative stories. Also, a new mishnah! On "ona'ah" - cases of taking advantage of another in a measurable way that is already determined to be problematic. Plus, terms whereby a customer can walk back terms that smack of ona'ah.

The daf explores the idea of Mi Sh’Para and what happens of someone reneges on a sale and the beit din cannot enforce the sale.

Defining "kinyan sudar" - a handkerchief version of halipin. Plus, "kinyan agav," where the act of acquisition is secondary and along the way of the acquisition of something else, usually movable items along with a purchase of land. Also, using exchange when you have no money or anything else of value to use for purchase.