This week’s learning is sponsored by Tova and David Kestenbaum in honor of the recent birth of their grandsons, Tsuri Amiad, born to their children Mira and Etan Kestenbaum, and Yehudah Shalom, born to their children Daniella and Amit Nistenpover. “May their parents merit raising them in the ways of Torah, Mitzvot and good deeds. And may this simcha be a blessing for Am Yisrael.”
Today’s daf is sponsored by the Hadran Women of Long Island in honor of Dora Chana Haar and Evie. “As we share in our Daf sister Dora Chana Haar and family’s joy and gratitude as Evie (Chava Naami bat Daba Chana) completes her chemotherapy. May Evie, all cholei Yisrael and our brothers and sisters in captivity speedily experience רפואות וישועות!”
The Mishna rules that if two potters are walking one behind the other in the street, holding pots, and the first one trips and falls and the second trips on the first, the first is liable for damages caused to the second person. Rabbi Yochanan and Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak both agree that it can be explained even according to the rabbis who hold that one who trips is not considered negligent as the person should have stood up. However, they disagree about the case. Did the person have enough time to warn the other, even though they couldn’t yet get off the ground or if one is focused on getting up off the ground, we don’t anticipate/expect them to be able to warn someone else that they are on the ground. Two sources are brought to prove Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak’s position that the person should have warned the other. But both can be explained according to Rabbi Yochanan as well. If one person trips over another and a third over the second, they are both held responsible according to the tanaim. However, Rava distinguishes between the damage caused by the first and the damage caused by the second. The Gemara attempts to understand exactly the distinction that Rava makes and why.
Bava Kamma 31
Share this shiur:
Bava Kamma
Masechet Bava Kamma is sponsored by the Futornick Family in loving memory of their fathers and grandfathers, Phillip Kaufman and David Futornick.
This month’s learning is sponsored by Beth Balkany in honor of their granddaughter, Devorah Chana Serach Eichel. “May she grow up to be a lifelong learner.”
This month’s learning is dedicated in memory of Rabbi Dr. Raymond Harari z”l, on the occasion of his first yahrzeit. Over the course of his distinguished career as an educator, as principal of the Yeshiva of Flatbush, and as community rabbi, he inspired thousands of students with his wisdom, warmth, and unwavering commitment to Torah.
This week’s learning is sponsored by Mark and Rena Goldstein for refuah shleima of Ben Ezra Septee ben Rena and Aliza Margalit bat Shaina Raya.
Want to dedicate learning? Get started here:
Summary
Bava Kamma
Masechet Bava Kamma is sponsored by the Futornick Family in loving memory of their fathers and grandfathers, Phillip Kaufman and David Futornick.
This month’s learning is sponsored by Beth Balkany in honor of their granddaughter, Devorah Chana Serach Eichel. “May she grow up to be a lifelong learner.”
This month’s learning is dedicated in memory of Rabbi Dr. Raymond Harari z”l, on the occasion of his first yahrzeit. Over the course of his distinguished career as an educator, as principal of the Yeshiva of Flatbush, and as community rabbi, he inspired thousands of students with his wisdom, warmth, and unwavering commitment to Torah.
This week’s learning is sponsored by Mark and Rena Goldstein for refuah shleima of Ben Ezra Septee ben Rena and Aliza Margalit bat Shaina Raya.
Bava Kamma 31
סְלִיקוּסְתָּא!
residue from dates?
בִּשְׁלָמָא רַב אַדָּא בַּר אַהֲבָה – כִּשְׁמַעְתֵּיהּ. אֶלָּא רַב הוּנָא, לֵימָא הֲדַר בֵּיהּ?
The Gemara comments: Granted, Rav Adda bar Ahava acted in accordance with his halakhic opinion that this is the halakha, and a public ruling is issued to that effect. But with regard to Rav Huna, shall we say that he retracted his prior opinion?
הָנְהוּ – מוּתְרִין הֲווֹ.
The Gemara answers: Those owners of the barley were forewarned to remove the barley from the public domain, and they did not comply. Therefore, they were penalized by Rav Huna declaring publicly that their barley was ownerless.
מַתְנִי׳ שְׁנֵי קַדָּרִין שֶׁהָיוּ מְהַלְּכִין זֶה אַחַר זֶה, וְנִתְקַל הָרִאשׁוֹן וְנָפַל, וְנִתְקַל הַשֵּׁנִי בָּרִאשׁוֹן – הָרִאשׁוֹן חַיָּיב בְּנִזְקֵי שֵׁנִי.
MISHNA: In the case of two potters carrying pots who were walking one after the other in the public domain, and the first stumbled on a bump and fell, and the second stumbled over the first and fell too, the first is liable to pay for the damage incurred by the second.
גְּמָ׳ אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: לָא תֵּימָא מַתְנִיתִין רַבִּי מֵאִיר הִיא, דְּאָמַר: נִתְקָל פּוֹשֵׁעַ הוּא – וְחַיָּיב; אֶלָּא אֲפִילּוּ לְרַבָּנַן, דְאָמְרִי אָנוּס הוּא, וּפָטוּר – הָכָא חַיָּיב; שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ לַעֲמוֹד, וְלֹא עָמַד.
GEMARA: Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Do not say that the mishna is the opinion of Rabbi Meir, who says that one who stumbles is considered negligent and therefore liable. Rather, even according to the Rabbis, who say that one who stumbles is generally a victim of circumstances beyond his control and is consequently exempt, here, in the case in the mishna, he is liable, since after falling he had the opportunity to stand up, and he did not stand up.
רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק אָמַר: אֲפִילּוּ תֵּימָא לֹא הָיָה לוֹ לַעֲמוֹד; הָיָה לוֹ לְהַזְהִיר, וְלֹא הִזְהִיר.
Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said: Even if you say that he did not have the opportunity to stand up, he had the opportunity to warn the person behind him, and he did not warn him.
וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר: כֵּיוָן דְּלֹא הָיָה לוֹ לַעֲמוֹד – לֹא הָיָה לוֹ לְהַזְהִיר; דִּטְרִיד.
And Rabbi Yoḥanan could have said in response that since he did not have the opportunity to stand up, he did not have the opportunity to warn the other person either, as he was busy trying to stand up. Therefore, the mishna, which holds him liable, must be referring to a case where he could have stood up.
תְּנַן: הָיָה בַּעַל קוֹרָה רִאשׁוֹן וּבַעַל חָבִית אַחֲרוֹן, נִשְׁבְּרָה חָבִית בַּקּוֹרָה – פָּטוּר, וְאִם עָמַד בַּעַל קוֹרָה – חַיָּיב.
The Gemara attempts to prove that the opinion of Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak is correct. We learned in the next mishna (31b): If the owner of a cross beam was walking in the public domain carrying his beam first, and the owner of a barrel was walking with his barrel last, i.e., behind him, and the barrel was broken by the cross beam, the one who carried the cross beam is exempt. But if the owner of the cross beam stopped, he is liable, since the accident was caused by his stopping.
מַאי, לָאו שֶׁעָמַד לְכַתֵּף – דְּאוֹרְחֵיהּ הוּא, וְקָתָנֵי חַיָּיב, דַּהֲוָה לֵיהּ לְהַזְהִיר?
The Gemara asks: What, is it not referring to a situation where the one carrying the cross beam stopped in order to adjust the load on his shoulder, which is the normative behavior of one carrying a beam, and is not considered negligence? And nevertheless the tanna teaches that he is liable, as, although he had the opportunity to warn the person behind him that he was about to stop, he did not warn him. This supports the opinion of Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak.
לֹא, כְּשֶׁעָמַד לָפוּשׁ.
The Gemara responds: No, it is referring to a situation where he stopped to rest, which could not have been anticipated by the person walking behind him. Consequently, he is liable.
אֲבָל עָמַד לְכַתֵּף מַאי, פָּטוּר? אַדְּתָנֵי סֵיפָא: וְאִם אָמַר לוֹ לְבַעַל חָבִית ״עֲמוֹד״ – פָּטוּר, לִפְלוֹג וְלִיתְנֵי בְּדִידַהּ: בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים – כְּשֶׁעָמַד לָפוּשׁ, אֲבָל עָמַד לְכַתֵּף – פָּטוּר!
The Gemara asks: But according to this interpretation, if he stopped to adjust the load on his shoulder, what is the halakha? Is he exempt? If so, rather than teaching in the latter clause of that mishna: But if he said to the owner of the barrel: Stop, he is exempt, let the tanna distinguish and teach within the former case itself, as follows: In what case is this statement, that he is liable, said? In a case when he stopped to rest. But in a case where he stopped to adjust the load on his shoulder, he is exempt.
הָא קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן – דְּאַף עַל גַּב דְּעָמַד לָפוּשׁ, כִּי קָאָמַר לוֹ לְבַעַל חָבִית: ״עֲמוֹד״ – פָּטוּר.
The Gemara answers: The mishna is presented in this manner because it teaches us this novelty, that even if he stopped to rest, in a case when he says to the owner of the barrel: Stop, he is exempt.
תָּא שְׁמַע: הַקַּדָּרִין וְהַזַּגָּגִין שֶׁהָיוּ מְהַלְּכִין זֶה אַחַר זֶה; נִתְקַל הָרִאשׁוֹן וְנָפַל, וְנִתְקַל הַשֵּׁנִי בָּרִאשׁוֹן, וְהַשְּׁלִישִׁי בַּשֵּׁנִי – רִאשׁוֹן חַיָּיב בְּנִזְקֵי שֵׁנִי, וְשֵׁנִי חַיָּיב בְּנִזְקֵי שְׁלִישִׁי. וְאִם מֵחֲמַת רִאשׁוֹן נָפְלוּ – רִאשׁוֹן חַיָּיב בְּנִזְקֵי כּוּלָּם. וְאִם הִזְהִירוּ זֶה אֶת זֶה – פְּטוּרִין. מַאי, לָאו שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה לָהֶן לַעֲמוֹד?
Come and hear an alternative proof from what is taught in a baraita: With regard to potters and glaziers who were walking one after the other, and the first stumbled and fell, and the second stumbled over the first, sustaining damage, and the third stumbled over the second, also falling and sustaining damage, in this case, the first person is liable to pay for the damage of the second, and the second is liable to pay for the damage of the third. But if they all fell because of the first, the first is liable to pay for the damage of them all. And if they warned each other, i.e., each one warned the next, they are all exempt. The Gemara concludes: What, is it not a case where they did not have the opportunity to stand up, and they are nevertheless liable to pay for not warning the people behind them, in accordance with the opinion of Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak?
לֹא, שֶׁהָיָה לָהֶן לַעֲמוֹד.
The Gemara answers: No, it is a case where they had the opportunity to stand up and they did not do so.
אֲבָל לֹא הָיָה לָהֶם לַעֲמוֹד מַאי, פָּטוּר? אִי הָכִי, אַדְּתָנֵי סֵיפָא: אִם הִזְהִירוּ זֶה אֶת זֶה – פָּטוּר; לִפְלוֹג וְלִיתְנֵי בְּדִידַהּ: בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים – שֶׁהָיָה לָהֶן לַעֲמוֹד, אֲבָל לֹא הָיָה לָהֶן לַעֲמוֹד – פְּטוּרִין!
The Gemara asks: But according to this interpretation, if they did not have the opportunity to stand up, what would be the halakha? Would they be exempt? If so, rather than teaching in the latter clause of the baraita: If they warned one another, they are exempt, let the tanna distinguish and teach within the former case itself, as follows: In what case is this statement, that they are liable, said? It is a case where they had the opportunity to stand up, but if they did not have the opportunity to stand up, they are exempt.
הָא קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן – דְּאַף עַל גַּב דְּהָיָה לָהֶן לַעֲמוֹד, כִּי הִזְהִירוּ זֶה אֶת זֶה – פְּטוּרִין.
The Gemara answers: The baraita is presented in this manner because it teaches us this novelty, that even if they had the opportunity to stand up, in a case when they warned each other they are exempt.
אָמַר רָבָא: רִאשׁוֹן חַיָּיב בְּנִזְקֵי שֵׁנִי – בֵּין בְּנִזְקֵי גוּפוֹ, בֵּין בְּנִזְקֵי מָמוֹנוֹ. שֵׁנִי חַיָּיב בְּנִזְקֵי שְׁלִישִׁי – בְּנִזְקֵי גוּפוֹ, אֲבָל לֹא בְּנִזְקֵי מָמוֹנוֹ.
§ With regard to this halakha, Rava said: The first one who stumbled is liable to pay for the damage of the second, both for damage caused to the second person by his body and for damage caused to him by his property. By contrast, the second is liable to pay for the damage of the third only with regard to damage caused by his body as result of the fall, and not with regard to damage caused by his property.
מִמָּה נַפְשָׁךְ? אִי נִתְקָל פּוֹשֵׁעַ הוּא – שֵׁנִי נָמֵי לִיחַיַּיב! אִי נִתְקָל לָאו פּוֹשֵׁעַ הוּא – אֲפִילּוּ רִאשׁוֹן נָמֵי לִיפְּטַר!
The Gemara questions Rava’s statement: Whichever way you look at it, this is difficult to understand. If Rava maintains that one who stumbles is considered negligent, the second person should also be liable to pay for all forms of damage caused by his negligence. And if Rava maintains that one who stumbles is not considered negligent, even the first should be exempt from liability for the damage incurred by the second.
רִאשׁוֹן – וַדַּאי פּוֹשֵׁעַ הוּא. שְׁנִי – אַגּוּפוֹ מִחַיַּיב, דְּהָיָה לוֹ לַעֲמוֹד וְלֹא עָמַד. אַמָּמוֹנוֹ פָּטוּר, דְּאָמַר לֵיהּ: הַאי בֵּירָא – לָאו אֲנָא כְּרִיתֵיהּ.
The Gemara explains: The first is certainly considered negligent, and is therefore liable to pay for damage caused by both his body and his property. The second is deemed liable to pay for damage caused by his body, as he had the opportunity to stand up and he did not stand up. For damage caused by his property that was lying there and that caused the third person to stumble and fall, he is exempt, as he can say to him: I did not dig this pit, i.e., I did not cause this obstacle. Since it was the first person who stumbled and brought about the situation where the items of the second were lying on the ground, the second is not deemed liable.
מֵיתִיבִי: כּוּלָּן חַיָּיבִין עַל נִזְקֵי גּוּפָן, וּפְטוּרִין עַל נִזְקֵי מָמוֹנָן. מַאי, לָאו אֲפִילּוּ רִאשׁוֹן?
The Gemara raises an objection to Rava’s statement from a baraita that comments on this case: All of them are liable to pay for damage caused by their bodies and exempt from paying restitution for damage caused by their property. What, does this not refer even to the first, indicating that even he is exempt from damage caused by his property?
לָא, לְבַר מֵרִאשׁוֹן. וְהָא ״כּוּלָּם״ קָתָנֵי! אָמַר רַב אַדָּא בַּר אַהֲבָה: ״כּוּלָּן״ – הַנִּיזָּקִין.
The Gemara answers: No, it is referring to all of them except for the first. The Gemara asks: But doesn’t the baraita teach the term all of them, indicating that the first is also included? Rav Adda bar Ahava said: The term all of them refers only to those who incurred damage, and excludes the first one, who only caused damage to others.
הַאי מַאי? אִי אָמְרַתְּ בִּשְׁלָמָא אֲפִילּוּ רִאשׁוֹן – הַיְינוּ דְּקָתָנֵי ״כּוּלָּן״; אֶלָּא אִי אָמְרַתְּ לְבַר מֵרִאשׁוֹן, מַאי ״כּוּלָּן״? לִיתְנֵי ״הַנִּיזָּקִין״!
The Gemara questions this answer: What is this interpretation? Granted, if you say that the term includes even the first, this explanation is consistent with that which is taught: All of them. But if you say that it is referring to all of them except for the first, what is the reason that the misleading term: All of them is used? Let the baraita teach more accurately that those who incurred damage are liable in turn for the damage caused by their bodies, but are exempt from paying restitution for damage caused by their property.
אֶלָּא אָמַר רָבָא: רִאשׁוֹן חַיָּיב – בֵּין בְּנִזְקֵי גוּפוֹ דְּשֵׁנִי, בֵּין בְּנִזְקֵי מָמוֹנוֹ דְּשֵׁנִי; וְשֵׁנִי חַיָּיב בְּנִזְקֵי שְׁלִישִׁי – בְּנִזְקֵי גוּפוֹ, אֲבָל לֹא בְּנִזְקֵי מָמוֹנוֹ. מַאי טַעְמָא? דְּהָוֵה לֵיהּ בּוֹר, וְלֹא מָצִינוּ בּוֹר שֶׁחִיֵּיב בּוֹ אֶת הַכֵּלִים.
Rather, this entire explanation of Rava’s statement should be rejected, and it should be explained as follows: Rava said that the first is liable both for injury caused to the body of the second and for damage caused to the property of the second, and the second is liable to pay for damage incurred by the third with regard to injury to his body but not with regard to damage to his property. What is the reason for the exemption in the last case? It is because after his fall, the body of the second person is effectively a pit, and we do not find that in the category of Pit one is liable to pay restitution for damage caused to vessels.
הָנִיחָא לִשְׁמוּאֵל, דְּאָמַר: כֹּל תַּקָּלָה – בּוֹר הוּא; אֶלָּא לְרַב, דְּאָמַר: אִי אַפְקְרֵיהּ אִין, אִי לָא לָא; מַאי אִיכָּא לְמֵימַר?
The Gemara asks: This works out well according to Shmuel, who says that any obstacle that was placed in the public domain constitutes a pit, i.e., the halakhot of a pit apply to it. But according to Rav, who says that if the one who placed it there renounces ownership of the hazardous object it is considered a pit, but if he does not renounce ownership of it then it is not considered a pit, what is there to say? The second one who fell obviously did not renounce ownership of his body, so why is he exempt from damage he caused to vessels as though he were a pit?
לְעוֹלָם – כִּדְאָמַר מֵעִיקָּרָא, וּדְקַשְׁיָא לָךְ ״כּוּלָּן חַיָּיבִין״ – תַּרְגְּמַהּ רַב אַדָּא בַּר מִנְיוֹמֵי קַמֵּיהּ דְּרָבִינָא: שֶׁהוּזְּקוּ כֵּלִים בְּכֵלִים.
The Gemara answers: Actually, Rava’s statement should be explained as he was understood to have said initially, i.e., that he distinguishes between damage caused by another’s body and damage caused by his property. And as for your difficulty from the statement in the baraita that all of them are liable to pay for the damage caused by their bodies but exempt from paying restitution for the damage caused by their property, apparently including even the first one, contrary to Rava’s opinion, Rav Adda bar Minyumi interpreted it before Ravina as referring to a case where vessels were damaged by vessels. In other words, it is not the body, but the vessels of the second that were damaged by the property of the first, and since the broken vessels of the first have the status of a pit, the owner is exempt from liability for damage caused to the vessels of others.
אָמַר מָר: אִם מֵחֲמַת רִאשׁוֹן נָפְלוּ – רִאשׁוֹן חַיָּיב בְּנִזְקֵי כוּלָּם. מֵחֲמַת רִאשׁוֹן הֵיכִי נָפֵיל? רַב פָּפָּא אָמַר: דְּפַסְקֵהּ לְאוֹרְחֵיהּ כְּשִׁלְדָּא. רַב זְבִיד אָמַר: כְּחוּטְרָא דְסַמְיוּתָא.
The Master said above: If they all fell because of the first, the first is liable to pay for the damage of them all. The Gemara asks: How did they all fall because of the first? Rav Pappa said: It is a case where he blocked the road like a skeleton [keshilda], filling the entire width of the road and causing the rest to stumble over different parts of his body. Rav Zevid said: He fell diagonally like a blind man’s cane, and they all stumbled over him.
מַתְנִי׳ זֶה בָּא בְּחָבִיתוֹ וְזֶה בָּא בְּקוֹרָתוֹ, נִשְׁבְּרָה כַּדּוֹ שֶׁל זֶה בְּקוֹרָתוֹ שֶׁל זֶה – פָּטוּר; שֶׁלָּזֶה רְשׁוּת לְהַלֵּךְ, וְלָזֶה רְשׁוּת לְהַלֵּךְ.
MISHNA: If this person came in the public domain with his barrel, and that person came from the opposite direction with his cross beam, and this one’s jug was broken by that one’s cross beam, the one carrying the cross beam is exempt, because this one had permission to walk in the public domain, and that one also had permission to walk there.
הָיָה בַּעַל הַקּוֹרָה רִאשׁוֹן וּבַעַל חָבִית אַחֲרוֹן; נִשְׁבְּרָה חָבִית בְּקוֹרָה – פָּטוּר בַּעַל הַקּוֹרָה.
If they were walking in the same direction, so that the owner of the cross beam was walking first, in front, and the owner of a barrel last, behind him, and the barrel was broken by the cross beam, the owner of the cross beam is exempt, since the owner of the barrel saw him in front of him and should have been more careful.
Delve Deeper
Broaden your understanding of the topics on this daf with classes and podcasts from top women Talmud scholars.
Zevahim 39: Blood on the Inner Altar
Zevahim 38: When Beit Hillel Turns Stringent and Beit Shammai Lenient
Zevahim 37: Different Interpretations: Meaning and Reading
Zevahim 37: Different Interpretations: Meaning and Reading
Din & Daf: Kodshei Kodashim vs. Kodashim Kalim – What’s the Difference?
Zevachim Daf 22-29 – Daf Yomi: One Week at a Time
Zevahim 36: Invalid Offerings
Zevahim 35: A Fetus, Eggs, and the Separation of Animals
Zevahim 34: Pouring and Disposing of the Dregs
Zevahim 33: The Heavy Laying on of Hands
Zevahim 31: It’s a Measure of Time: Half a Loaf of Bread
Zevahim 32: The Surprising Leniencies and Leeway of Sacrifices
May a Woman Schecht Sacred Animals? – Gefet
Zevahim 30: An Olive’s Measure of Intent
Zevahim 29: More Ways to Offer Offerings Right
New to Talmud?
Check out our resources designed to help you navigate a page of Talmud – and study at the pace, level and style that fits you.
The Hadran Women’s Tapestry
Meet the diverse women learning Gemara at Hadran and hear their stories.
Oceanside NY, United States
I started to listen to Michelle’s podcasts four years ago. The minute I started I was hooked. I’m so excited to learn the entire Talmud, and think I will continue always. I chose the quote “while a woman is engaged in conversation she also holds the spindle”. (Megillah 14b). It reminds me of all of the amazing women I learn with every day who multi-task, think ahead and accomplish so much.
Zichron Yakov, Israel
Berlin, Germany
I started learning Daf Yomi in January 2020 after watching my grandfather, Mayer Penstein z”l, finish shas with the previous cycle. My grandfather made learning so much fun was so proud that his grandchildren wanted to join him. I was also inspired by Ilana Kurshan’s book, If All the Seas Were Ink. Two years in, I can say that it has enriched my life in so many ways.
New York, United States
Studying has changed my life view on הלכה and יהדות and time. It has taught me bonudaries of the human nature and honesty of our sages in their discourse to try and build a nation of caring people .
Kfar Saba, Israel
I was exposed to Talmud in high school, but I was truly inspired after my daughter and I decided to attend the Women’s Siyum Shas in 2020. We knew that this was a historic moment. We were blown away, overcome with emotion at the euphoria of the revolution. Right then, I knew I would continue. My commitment deepened with the every-morning Virtual Beit Midrash on Zoom with R. Michelle.
Zichron Yaakov, Israel
I started learning when my brother sent me the news clip of the celebration of the last Daf Yomi cycle. I was so floored to see so many women celebrating that I wanted to be a part of it. It has been an enriching experience studying a text in a language I don’t speak, using background knowledge that I don’t have. It is stretching my learning in unexpected ways, bringing me joy and satisfaction.
Warwick, Rhode Island, United States
I started learning with rabbis. I needed to know more than the stories. My first teacher to show me “the way of the Talmud” as well as the stories was Samara Schwartz.
Michelle Farber started the new cycle 2 yrs ago and I jumped on for the ride.
I do not look back.
Houston, United States
I decided to give daf yomi a try when I heard about the siyum hashas in 2020. Once the pandemic hit, the daily commitment gave my days some much-needed structure. There have been times when I’ve felt like quitting- especially when encountering very technical details in the text. But then I tell myself, “Look how much you’ve done. You can’t stop now!” So I keep going & my Koren bookshelf grows…
Huntington, United States
I learned daf more off than on 40 years ago. At the beginning of the current cycle, I decided to commit to learning daf regularly. Having Rabanit Michelle available as a learning partner has been amazing. Sometimes I learn with Hadran, sometimes with my husband, and sometimes on my own. It’s been fun to be part of an extended learning community.
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
I began daf yomi in January 2020 with Brachot. I had made aliya 6 months before, and one of my post-aliya goals was to complete a full cycle. As a life-long Tanach teacher, I wanted to swim from one side of the Yam shel Torah to the other. Daf yomi was also my sanity through COVID. It was the way to marking the progression of time, and feel that I could grow and accomplish while time stopped.
Givat Zev, Israel
I started learning after the siyum hashas for women and my daily learning has been a constant over the last two years. It grounded me during the chaos of Corona while providing me with a community of fellow learners. The Daf can be challenging but it’s filled with life’s lessons, struggles and hope for a better world. It’s not about the destination but rather about the journey. Thank you Hadran!
אפרת, Israel
It’s hard to believe it has been over two years. Daf yomi has changed my life in so many ways and has been sustaining during this global sea change. Each day means learning something new, digging a little deeper, adding another lens, seeing worlds with new eyes. Daf has also fostered new friendships and deepened childhood connections, as long time friends have unexpectedly become havruta.
Northwest Washington, United States
Oceanside NY, United States
I decided to give daf yomi a try when I heard about the siyum hashas in 2020. Once the pandemic hit, the daily commitment gave my days some much-needed structure. There have been times when I’ve felt like quitting- especially when encountering very technical details in the text. But then I tell myself, “Look how much you’ve done. You can’t stop now!” So I keep going & my Koren bookshelf grows…
Huntington, United States
With Rabbanit Dr. Naomi Cohen in the Women’s Talmud class, over 30 years ago. It was a “known” class and it was accepted, because of who taught. Since then I have also studied with Avigail Gross-Gelman and Dr. Gabriel Hazut for about a year). Years ago, in a shiur in my shul, I did know about Persians doing 3 things with their clothes on. They opened the shiur to woman after that!
Haifa, Israel
I started learning Daf in Jan 2020 with Brachot b/c I had never seen the Jewish people united around something so positive, and I wanted to be a part of it. Also, I wanted to broaden my background in Torah Shebal Peh- Maayanot gave me a great gemara education, but I knew that I could hold a conversation in most parts of tanach but almost no TSB. I’m so thankful for Daf and have gained immensely.
NJ, United States
Jerusalem, Israel
I attended the Siyum so that I could tell my granddaughter that I had been there. Then I decided to listen on Spotify and after the siyum of Brachot, Covid and zoom began. It gave structure to my day. I learn with people from all over the world who are now my friends – yet most of us have never met. I can’t imagine life without it. Thank you Rabbanit Michelle.
Raanana, Israel
I am a Reform rabbi and took Talmud courses in rabbinical school, but I knew there was so much more to learn. It felt inauthentic to serve as a rabbi without having read the entire Talmud, so when the opportunity arose to start Daf Yomi in 2020, I dove in! Thanks to Hadran, Daf Yomi has enriched my understanding of rabbinic Judaism and deepened my love of Jewish text & tradition. Todah rabbah!
California, United States
Bava Kamma 31
סְלִיקוּסְתָּא!
residue from dates?
בִּשְׁלָמָא רַב אַדָּא בַּר אַהֲבָה – כִּשְׁמַעְתֵּיהּ. אֶלָּא רַב הוּנָא, לֵימָא הֲדַר בֵּיהּ?
The Gemara comments: Granted, Rav Adda bar Ahava acted in accordance with his halakhic opinion that this is the halakha, and a public ruling is issued to that effect. But with regard to Rav Huna, shall we say that he retracted his prior opinion?
הָנְהוּ – מוּתְרִין הֲווֹ.
The Gemara answers: Those owners of the barley were forewarned to remove the barley from the public domain, and they did not comply. Therefore, they were penalized by Rav Huna declaring publicly that their barley was ownerless.
מַתְנִי׳ שְׁנֵי קַדָּרִין שֶׁהָיוּ מְהַלְּכִין זֶה אַחַר זֶה, וְנִתְקַל הָרִאשׁוֹן וְנָפַל, וְנִתְקַל הַשֵּׁנִי בָּרִאשׁוֹן – הָרִאשׁוֹן חַיָּיב בְּנִזְקֵי שֵׁנִי.
MISHNA: In the case of two potters carrying pots who were walking one after the other in the public domain, and the first stumbled on a bump and fell, and the second stumbled over the first and fell too, the first is liable to pay for the damage incurred by the second.
גְּמָ׳ אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: לָא תֵּימָא מַתְנִיתִין רַבִּי מֵאִיר הִיא, דְּאָמַר: נִתְקָל פּוֹשֵׁעַ הוּא – וְחַיָּיב; אֶלָּא אֲפִילּוּ לְרַבָּנַן, דְאָמְרִי אָנוּס הוּא, וּפָטוּר – הָכָא חַיָּיב; שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ לַעֲמוֹד, וְלֹא עָמַד.
GEMARA: Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Do not say that the mishna is the opinion of Rabbi Meir, who says that one who stumbles is considered negligent and therefore liable. Rather, even according to the Rabbis, who say that one who stumbles is generally a victim of circumstances beyond his control and is consequently exempt, here, in the case in the mishna, he is liable, since after falling he had the opportunity to stand up, and he did not stand up.
רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק אָמַר: אֲפִילּוּ תֵּימָא לֹא הָיָה לוֹ לַעֲמוֹד; הָיָה לוֹ לְהַזְהִיר, וְלֹא הִזְהִיר.
Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said: Even if you say that he did not have the opportunity to stand up, he had the opportunity to warn the person behind him, and he did not warn him.
וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר: כֵּיוָן דְּלֹא הָיָה לוֹ לַעֲמוֹד – לֹא הָיָה לוֹ לְהַזְהִיר; דִּטְרִיד.
And Rabbi Yoḥanan could have said in response that since he did not have the opportunity to stand up, he did not have the opportunity to warn the other person either, as he was busy trying to stand up. Therefore, the mishna, which holds him liable, must be referring to a case where he could have stood up.
תְּנַן: הָיָה בַּעַל קוֹרָה רִאשׁוֹן וּבַעַל חָבִית אַחֲרוֹן, נִשְׁבְּרָה חָבִית בַּקּוֹרָה – פָּטוּר, וְאִם עָמַד בַּעַל קוֹרָה – חַיָּיב.
The Gemara attempts to prove that the opinion of Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak is correct. We learned in the next mishna (31b): If the owner of a cross beam was walking in the public domain carrying his beam first, and the owner of a barrel was walking with his barrel last, i.e., behind him, and the barrel was broken by the cross beam, the one who carried the cross beam is exempt. But if the owner of the cross beam stopped, he is liable, since the accident was caused by his stopping.
מַאי, לָאו שֶׁעָמַד לְכַתֵּף – דְּאוֹרְחֵיהּ הוּא, וְקָתָנֵי חַיָּיב, דַּהֲוָה לֵיהּ לְהַזְהִיר?
The Gemara asks: What, is it not referring to a situation where the one carrying the cross beam stopped in order to adjust the load on his shoulder, which is the normative behavior of one carrying a beam, and is not considered negligence? And nevertheless the tanna teaches that he is liable, as, although he had the opportunity to warn the person behind him that he was about to stop, he did not warn him. This supports the opinion of Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak.
לֹא, כְּשֶׁעָמַד לָפוּשׁ.
The Gemara responds: No, it is referring to a situation where he stopped to rest, which could not have been anticipated by the person walking behind him. Consequently, he is liable.
אֲבָל עָמַד לְכַתֵּף מַאי, פָּטוּר? אַדְּתָנֵי סֵיפָא: וְאִם אָמַר לוֹ לְבַעַל חָבִית ״עֲמוֹד״ – פָּטוּר, לִפְלוֹג וְלִיתְנֵי בְּדִידַהּ: בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים – כְּשֶׁעָמַד לָפוּשׁ, אֲבָל עָמַד לְכַתֵּף – פָּטוּר!
The Gemara asks: But according to this interpretation, if he stopped to adjust the load on his shoulder, what is the halakha? Is he exempt? If so, rather than teaching in the latter clause of that mishna: But if he said to the owner of the barrel: Stop, he is exempt, let the tanna distinguish and teach within the former case itself, as follows: In what case is this statement, that he is liable, said? In a case when he stopped to rest. But in a case where he stopped to adjust the load on his shoulder, he is exempt.
הָא קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן – דְּאַף עַל גַּב דְּעָמַד לָפוּשׁ, כִּי קָאָמַר לוֹ לְבַעַל חָבִית: ״עֲמוֹד״ – פָּטוּר.
The Gemara answers: The mishna is presented in this manner because it teaches us this novelty, that even if he stopped to rest, in a case when he says to the owner of the barrel: Stop, he is exempt.
תָּא שְׁמַע: הַקַּדָּרִין וְהַזַּגָּגִין שֶׁהָיוּ מְהַלְּכִין זֶה אַחַר זֶה; נִתְקַל הָרִאשׁוֹן וְנָפַל, וְנִתְקַל הַשֵּׁנִי בָּרִאשׁוֹן, וְהַשְּׁלִישִׁי בַּשֵּׁנִי – רִאשׁוֹן חַיָּיב בְּנִזְקֵי שֵׁנִי, וְשֵׁנִי חַיָּיב בְּנִזְקֵי שְׁלִישִׁי. וְאִם מֵחֲמַת רִאשׁוֹן נָפְלוּ – רִאשׁוֹן חַיָּיב בְּנִזְקֵי כּוּלָּם. וְאִם הִזְהִירוּ זֶה אֶת זֶה – פְּטוּרִין. מַאי, לָאו שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה לָהֶן לַעֲמוֹד?
Come and hear an alternative proof from what is taught in a baraita: With regard to potters and glaziers who were walking one after the other, and the first stumbled and fell, and the second stumbled over the first, sustaining damage, and the third stumbled over the second, also falling and sustaining damage, in this case, the first person is liable to pay for the damage of the second, and the second is liable to pay for the damage of the third. But if they all fell because of the first, the first is liable to pay for the damage of them all. And if they warned each other, i.e., each one warned the next, they are all exempt. The Gemara concludes: What, is it not a case where they did not have the opportunity to stand up, and they are nevertheless liable to pay for not warning the people behind them, in accordance with the opinion of Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak?
לֹא, שֶׁהָיָה לָהֶן לַעֲמוֹד.
The Gemara answers: No, it is a case where they had the opportunity to stand up and they did not do so.
אֲבָל לֹא הָיָה לָהֶם לַעֲמוֹד מַאי, פָּטוּר? אִי הָכִי, אַדְּתָנֵי סֵיפָא: אִם הִזְהִירוּ זֶה אֶת זֶה – פָּטוּר; לִפְלוֹג וְלִיתְנֵי בְּדִידַהּ: בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים – שֶׁהָיָה לָהֶן לַעֲמוֹד, אֲבָל לֹא הָיָה לָהֶן לַעֲמוֹד – פְּטוּרִין!
The Gemara asks: But according to this interpretation, if they did not have the opportunity to stand up, what would be the halakha? Would they be exempt? If so, rather than teaching in the latter clause of the baraita: If they warned one another, they are exempt, let the tanna distinguish and teach within the former case itself, as follows: In what case is this statement, that they are liable, said? It is a case where they had the opportunity to stand up, but if they did not have the opportunity to stand up, they are exempt.
הָא קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן – דְּאַף עַל גַּב דְּהָיָה לָהֶן לַעֲמוֹד, כִּי הִזְהִירוּ זֶה אֶת זֶה – פְּטוּרִין.
The Gemara answers: The baraita is presented in this manner because it teaches us this novelty, that even if they had the opportunity to stand up, in a case when they warned each other they are exempt.
אָמַר רָבָא: רִאשׁוֹן חַיָּיב בְּנִזְקֵי שֵׁנִי – בֵּין בְּנִזְקֵי גוּפוֹ, בֵּין בְּנִזְקֵי מָמוֹנוֹ. שֵׁנִי חַיָּיב בְּנִזְקֵי שְׁלִישִׁי – בְּנִזְקֵי גוּפוֹ, אֲבָל לֹא בְּנִזְקֵי מָמוֹנוֹ.
§ With regard to this halakha, Rava said: The first one who stumbled is liable to pay for the damage of the second, both for damage caused to the second person by his body and for damage caused to him by his property. By contrast, the second is liable to pay for the damage of the third only with regard to damage caused by his body as result of the fall, and not with regard to damage caused by his property.
מִמָּה נַפְשָׁךְ? אִי נִתְקָל פּוֹשֵׁעַ הוּא – שֵׁנִי נָמֵי לִיחַיַּיב! אִי נִתְקָל לָאו פּוֹשֵׁעַ הוּא – אֲפִילּוּ רִאשׁוֹן נָמֵי לִיפְּטַר!
The Gemara questions Rava’s statement: Whichever way you look at it, this is difficult to understand. If Rava maintains that one who stumbles is considered negligent, the second person should also be liable to pay for all forms of damage caused by his negligence. And if Rava maintains that one who stumbles is not considered negligent, even the first should be exempt from liability for the damage incurred by the second.
רִאשׁוֹן – וַדַּאי פּוֹשֵׁעַ הוּא. שְׁנִי – אַגּוּפוֹ מִחַיַּיב, דְּהָיָה לוֹ לַעֲמוֹד וְלֹא עָמַד. אַמָּמוֹנוֹ פָּטוּר, דְּאָמַר לֵיהּ: הַאי בֵּירָא – לָאו אֲנָא כְּרִיתֵיהּ.
The Gemara explains: The first is certainly considered negligent, and is therefore liable to pay for damage caused by both his body and his property. The second is deemed liable to pay for damage caused by his body, as he had the opportunity to stand up and he did not stand up. For damage caused by his property that was lying there and that caused the third person to stumble and fall, he is exempt, as he can say to him: I did not dig this pit, i.e., I did not cause this obstacle. Since it was the first person who stumbled and brought about the situation where the items of the second were lying on the ground, the second is not deemed liable.
מֵיתִיבִי: כּוּלָּן חַיָּיבִין עַל נִזְקֵי גּוּפָן, וּפְטוּרִין עַל נִזְקֵי מָמוֹנָן. מַאי, לָאו אֲפִילּוּ רִאשׁוֹן?
The Gemara raises an objection to Rava’s statement from a baraita that comments on this case: All of them are liable to pay for damage caused by their bodies and exempt from paying restitution for damage caused by their property. What, does this not refer even to the first, indicating that even he is exempt from damage caused by his property?
לָא, לְבַר מֵרִאשׁוֹן. וְהָא ״כּוּלָּם״ קָתָנֵי! אָמַר רַב אַדָּא בַּר אַהֲבָה: ״כּוּלָּן״ – הַנִּיזָּקִין.
The Gemara answers: No, it is referring to all of them except for the first. The Gemara asks: But doesn’t the baraita teach the term all of them, indicating that the first is also included? Rav Adda bar Ahava said: The term all of them refers only to those who incurred damage, and excludes the first one, who only caused damage to others.
הַאי מַאי? אִי אָמְרַתְּ בִּשְׁלָמָא אֲפִילּוּ רִאשׁוֹן – הַיְינוּ דְּקָתָנֵי ״כּוּלָּן״; אֶלָּא אִי אָמְרַתְּ לְבַר מֵרִאשׁוֹן, מַאי ״כּוּלָּן״? לִיתְנֵי ״הַנִּיזָּקִין״!
The Gemara questions this answer: What is this interpretation? Granted, if you say that the term includes even the first, this explanation is consistent with that which is taught: All of them. But if you say that it is referring to all of them except for the first, what is the reason that the misleading term: All of them is used? Let the baraita teach more accurately that those who incurred damage are liable in turn for the damage caused by their bodies, but are exempt from paying restitution for damage caused by their property.
אֶלָּא אָמַר רָבָא: רִאשׁוֹן חַיָּיב – בֵּין בְּנִזְקֵי גוּפוֹ דְּשֵׁנִי, בֵּין בְּנִזְקֵי מָמוֹנוֹ דְּשֵׁנִי; וְשֵׁנִי חַיָּיב בְּנִזְקֵי שְׁלִישִׁי – בְּנִזְקֵי גוּפוֹ, אֲבָל לֹא בְּנִזְקֵי מָמוֹנוֹ. מַאי טַעְמָא? דְּהָוֵה לֵיהּ בּוֹר, וְלֹא מָצִינוּ בּוֹר שֶׁחִיֵּיב בּוֹ אֶת הַכֵּלִים.
Rather, this entire explanation of Rava’s statement should be rejected, and it should be explained as follows: Rava said that the first is liable both for injury caused to the body of the second and for damage caused to the property of the second, and the second is liable to pay for damage incurred by the third with regard to injury to his body but not with regard to damage to his property. What is the reason for the exemption in the last case? It is because after his fall, the body of the second person is effectively a pit, and we do not find that in the category of Pit one is liable to pay restitution for damage caused to vessels.
הָנִיחָא לִשְׁמוּאֵל, דְּאָמַר: כֹּל תַּקָּלָה – בּוֹר הוּא; אֶלָּא לְרַב, דְּאָמַר: אִי אַפְקְרֵיהּ אִין, אִי לָא לָא; מַאי אִיכָּא לְמֵימַר?
The Gemara asks: This works out well according to Shmuel, who says that any obstacle that was placed in the public domain constitutes a pit, i.e., the halakhot of a pit apply to it. But according to Rav, who says that if the one who placed it there renounces ownership of the hazardous object it is considered a pit, but if he does not renounce ownership of it then it is not considered a pit, what is there to say? The second one who fell obviously did not renounce ownership of his body, so why is he exempt from damage he caused to vessels as though he were a pit?
לְעוֹלָם – כִּדְאָמַר מֵעִיקָּרָא, וּדְקַשְׁיָא לָךְ ״כּוּלָּן חַיָּיבִין״ – תַּרְגְּמַהּ רַב אַדָּא בַּר מִנְיוֹמֵי קַמֵּיהּ דְּרָבִינָא: שֶׁהוּזְּקוּ כֵּלִים בְּכֵלִים.
The Gemara answers: Actually, Rava’s statement should be explained as he was understood to have said initially, i.e., that he distinguishes between damage caused by another’s body and damage caused by his property. And as for your difficulty from the statement in the baraita that all of them are liable to pay for the damage caused by their bodies but exempt from paying restitution for the damage caused by their property, apparently including even the first one, contrary to Rava’s opinion, Rav Adda bar Minyumi interpreted it before Ravina as referring to a case where vessels were damaged by vessels. In other words, it is not the body, but the vessels of the second that were damaged by the property of the first, and since the broken vessels of the first have the status of a pit, the owner is exempt from liability for damage caused to the vessels of others.
אָמַר מָר: אִם מֵחֲמַת רִאשׁוֹן נָפְלוּ – רִאשׁוֹן חַיָּיב בְּנִזְקֵי כוּלָּם. מֵחֲמַת רִאשׁוֹן הֵיכִי נָפֵיל? רַב פָּפָּא אָמַר: דְּפַסְקֵהּ לְאוֹרְחֵיהּ כְּשִׁלְדָּא. רַב זְבִיד אָמַר: כְּחוּטְרָא דְסַמְיוּתָא.
The Master said above: If they all fell because of the first, the first is liable to pay for the damage of them all. The Gemara asks: How did they all fall because of the first? Rav Pappa said: It is a case where he blocked the road like a skeleton [keshilda], filling the entire width of the road and causing the rest to stumble over different parts of his body. Rav Zevid said: He fell diagonally like a blind man’s cane, and they all stumbled over him.
מַתְנִי׳ זֶה בָּא בְּחָבִיתוֹ וְזֶה בָּא בְּקוֹרָתוֹ, נִשְׁבְּרָה כַּדּוֹ שֶׁל זֶה בְּקוֹרָתוֹ שֶׁל זֶה – פָּטוּר; שֶׁלָּזֶה רְשׁוּת לְהַלֵּךְ, וְלָזֶה רְשׁוּת לְהַלֵּךְ.
MISHNA: If this person came in the public domain with his barrel, and that person came from the opposite direction with his cross beam, and this one’s jug was broken by that one’s cross beam, the one carrying the cross beam is exempt, because this one had permission to walk in the public domain, and that one also had permission to walk there.
הָיָה בַּעַל הַקּוֹרָה רִאשׁוֹן וּבַעַל חָבִית אַחֲרוֹן; נִשְׁבְּרָה חָבִית בְּקוֹרָה – פָּטוּר בַּעַל הַקּוֹרָה.
If they were walking in the same direction, so that the owner of the cross beam was walking first, in front, and the owner of a barrel last, behind him, and the barrel was broken by the cross beam, the owner of the cross beam is exempt, since the owner of the barrel saw him in front of him and should have been more careful.
