Bava Metzia 116

יתירא הוא כיון דיתירא הוא שדייה אריחים ורכב

is superfluous and therefore includes other utensils as well. Since it is superfluous, apply it as another prohibition upon the lower and upper millstones.

אבל הכא כי אם צלי אש לאו יתירא הוא דמבעי ליה לכדתניא בשעה שישנו בקום אכול צלי ישנו בבל תאכל נא בשעה שאינו בקום אכול צלי אינו בבל תאכל נא

But here, with regard to the Paschal offering, the phrase “but roasted with fire” is not superfluous, as he requires it for that which is taught in a baraita: At the time when one is included in the mitzva to arise and eat the roasted Paschal offering, he is also included in the prohibition not to eat of it raw, but at a time when one is not included in the mitzva to arise and eat the roasted Paschal offering, he is not included in the prohibition not to eat of it raw either. Consequently, one who eats the Paschal offering at that time is not liable to receive lashes.

תניא כוותיה דרב יהודה חבל זוג של ספרים וצמד של פרות חייב שתים זה בעצמו וזה בעצמו אינו חייב אלא אחת

§ The Gemara returns to the dispute concerning the lower and upper millstones. It is taught in a baraita in accordance with the opinion of Rav Yehuda: If one took as collateral barbers’ scissors [zog] or a pair of cows, he is liable to receive two sets of lashes. If he took this one blade of the pair of scissors by itself or that one cow by itself, he is liable to receive only one set of lashes. According to this tanna, he is not liable for the general prohibition.

ותניא אידך חבל זוג של ספרים וצמד של פרות יכול לא יהא חייב אלא אחת תלמוד לומר לא יחבל ריחים ורכב מה ריחים ורכב שהן מיוחדין שני כלים ועושין מלאכה אחת וחייב על זה בפני עצמו ועל זה בפני עצמו אף כל דברים שהן שני כלים מיוחדים ועושין מלאכה אחת חייב על זה בפני עצמו ועל זה בפני עצמו

And it is taught in another baraita: If one took as collateral barbers’ scissors or a pair of cows, one might have thought that he is liable to receive only one set of lashes. Therefore, the verse states: “He may not take as collateral the lower or upper millstone,” which indicates that just as the lower and upper millstones are unique in that they are two distinct vessels and they perform one task together, and nevertheless one is liable separately for this and separately for that, so too, with regard to all items that are composed of two individual vessels, such as barbers’ scissors or a pair of cows, and they perform one task, he is liable separately for this and separately for that.

ההוא גברא דחבל סכינא דאשכבתא מחבריה אתא לקמיה דאביי אמר ליה זיל אהדריה דהוי ליה כלי שעושים בו אוכל נפש ותא קום בדינא עלה רבא אמר לא צריך למיקם בדינא עלה ויכול לטעון עד כדי דמיהן

§ The Gemara relates: There was a certain man who took as collateral a slaughtering knife from another. He came before Abaye to ask him what to do. Abaye said to him: Go and return it, as it is a vessel used in the preparation of food, and it is therefore forbidden to take as collateral, and go stand in judgment, i.e., litigate with the debtor in court, concerning how much money he owes you. Rava said: He does not have to stand in judgment for this. Since the knife is in his possession, he can claim the amount of the debt up to its value.

ואביי לית ליה ההיא סברא מאי שנא מהנהו עיזי דאכלי חושלא בנהרדעא ואתא מרא דחושלא ותפס להו וקא טעין טובא ואמר אבוה דשמואל יכול לטעון עד כדי דמיהן

The Gemara asks: And does Abaye not accept that reasoning, that one who seized an item belonging to a debtor may claim the sum owed to him up to the value of the item? In what way is it different from the incident involving those goats that ate peeled barley [ḥushla] in Neharde’a, and the owner of the peeled barley came and seized the goats and claimed that their owner was indebted to him for a large amount, and Shmuel’s father, who acted as a judge in this case, said that he can claim a sum up to their value?

התם לאו מידי דעבדא לאושולי ולאוגורי הוא הכא מידי דעביד לאושולי ולאוגורי הוא דשלח רב הונא בר אבין דברים העשויין להשאיל ולהשכיר ואמר לקוחין הן בידי אינו נאמן

The Gemara answers that there is a difference between the two cases: There, a goat is an item that is not usually lent out or rented. Consequently, the one who possesses them has a presumptive right of ownership upon which he can base his claim. Conversely, here, the slaughtering knife is an item that is usually lent out or rented. Therefore, he is not deemed credible without proof that it is his merely by virtue of its being in his possession. The Gemara supports this distinction: As Rav Huna bar Avin sent the following ruling: In a case of items that are usually lent out or rented, and one in possession of them says: They were acquired by me, he is not deemed credible by this claim alone. He must provide further proof, as he might have borrowed or rented them.

ורבא לית ליה האי סברא והא רבא אפיק זוגא דסרבלא וספרא דאגדתא מיתמי בדברים העשויין להשאיל ולהשכיר אמר לך רבא האי נמי כיון דמיפגמא קפדי אינשי ולא מושלי

The Gemara asks: And does Rava not accept this reasoning? But didn’t Rava himself remove scissors used for wool and a scroll of aggada from the possession of orphans as items that are usually lent out or rented? The Gemara answers: Rava could have said to you: With regard to this slaughtering knife too, since it is likely to be damaged, people are particular and do not lend it out. Therefore, it is not considered an item that is typically lent out, and the one in possession of it can claim the money owed to him up to the value of the knife.

הדרן עלך המקבל

MISHNA: In the case of the house and the upper story belonging to two people, i.e., the lower story was owned by one individual, while the upper story belonged to someone else, that collapsed, the two of them divide the timber and the stones and the earth of the collapsed structure. And the court considers which stones were likely to break, those of the lower or upper story, and gives those broken stones to the one who presumably owned them. If one of them recognized some of his stones he may take them for himself, and they count toward his amount of stones, and the other party takes other stones accordingly. They do not divide the remaining stones equally.

מתני׳ הבית והעלייה של שנים שנפלו שניהם חולקין בעצים ובאבנים ובעפר ורואין אלו אבנים העשויות להשתבר אם היה אחד מהן מכיר מקצת אבניו נוטלן ועולות לו מן החשבון

GEMARA: From the fact that the mishna teaches that the court considers which stones were likely to break, it can be understood by inference that the case is one in which it is possible to establish with regard to the stones, by looking at the debris, how the accident occurred: Whether it fell with pressure [ḥavasa], i.e., the lower story collapsed, and the upper story followed, or whether it fell with a blow, i.e., the upper story collapsed, and caused the lower story to follow suit. In the first instance, it is the stones of the lower story that were likely to break, in the latter instance, the stones of the upper story.

גמ׳ מדקתני רואין מכלל דאיכא למיקם עלייהו אי בחבסא נפיל אי בחבטא נפיל

The Gemara asks: If that is so, that it is possible to ascertain how the collapse occurred, then why, in the first clause of the mishna, do they divide the stones without taking the circumstances into consideration? Let us see: If the house fell with a blow, it means that the stones of the upper story broke, and the owner of the lower story takes the unbroken stones. And if it fell with pressure, it means that the stones of the lower story broke, and the owner of the upper story takes the unbroken stones.

אי הכי רישא אמאי חולקין נחזי אי בחבטא נפיל עלייתא איתבור אי בחבסא נפיל תתייתא איתבור

The Gemara rejects this analysis: No, it is necessary to state the ruling of the mishna in a case when the house collapsed at night, and no one saw how it fell. The Gemara challenges: But in such a case, let them see the stones in the morning to ascertain how the house collapsed. The Gemara answers: The first clause of the mishna is referring to a case where they had cleared away the stones, and consequently there is no way to determine what occurred. The Gemara challenges: But even in such a case, let them see who cleared them away, and let them ask them what happened. The Gemara explains: The ruling of the first clause of the mishna is stated with regard to a case where the general public cleared them away and left, so that they cannot be asked.

לא צריכא דנפיל בליליא ולחזינהו בצפרא דפנינהו וליחזי מאן פנינהו ולשייליה דפנינהו בני רשות הרבים ואזלו לעלמא

The Gemara challenges: But even in such a case, let them see in whose domain the stones are situated. And once this is determined, the halakha will be that the burden of proof rests upon the claimant, i.e., the owner of the stones situated in the other’s domain. The Gemara answers: No, it is necessary to state the ruling of the mishna in a case where the stones are situated in a courtyard that belongs to both of them, or alternatively, if the stones fell into the public domain. And if you wish, say that partners in cases like this are not particular with each other about dividing the courtyard in such a way that the one cannot leave his belongings on the other’s side of the courtyard, and therefore the presence of the stones in the area of the courtyard belonging to one of them does not substantiate a claim for the stones.

וליחזי ברשות דמאן יתבן וליהוי אידך המוציא מחבירו עליו הראיה לא צריכא דייתבן בחצר דתרוייהו אי נמי ברשות הרבים ואיבעית אימא שותפין בכי האי גוונא לא קפדי אהדדי

§ The mishna teaches: If one of them recognized his stones he may take them. The Gemara asks: And the other, what does he claim? If he says: Yes, they belong to the other, this halakha is obvious, so why would the mishna need to state this? And if he does not say yes, why does the one that recognizes the stones take them? What proof does he have that they are his? Rather, it must be that the other says to him: I don’t know whose stones they are, and consequently, the one who stated a definitive claim is deemed credible.

אם היה אחד מהן מכיר כו׳ והלה מה טוען אי דקאמר אין פשיטא ואי לא אמר אין למה נוטל אלא דאמר ליה איני יודע

The Gemara suggests: Shall we say that it is a conclusive refutation of the opinion of Rav Naḥman? As it was stated that the amora’im disagreed about the following case: With regard to one who approaches another and says: I have one hundred dinars in your possession, and the other says: I don’t know, Rav Huna and Rav Yehuda say: The respondent is liable to pay, because he did not deny the claim. Rav Naḥman and Rabbi Yoḥanan say: He is exempt from payment. It appears from the mishna that the response: I don’t know, is tantamount to an admission.

לימא תהוי תיובתא דרב נחמן דאיתמר מנה לי בידך והלה אומר איני יודע רב הונא ורב יהודה אמרי חייב רב נחמן ורבי יוחנן אמרי פטור

The Gemara refutes this contention: Just as Rav Naḥman says in that context: He is liable to pay only in a case where there is a matter of an oath between them, here too, it is a case where there is a matter of an oath between them. In that case, Rav Naḥman rules that he is liable to pay only if he is already liable to take an oath concerning his denial of part of the claim. Since he does not know if he owes this sum, and he is therefore unable to take the oath he is liable to take, he must pay. In this case as well, the mishna is discussing a case where the one who says he does not know is liable to take an oath.

כדאמר רב נחמן כגון שיש עסק שבועה ביניהן הכא נמי כגון שיש עסק שבועה ביניהן

The Gemara asks: What are the circumstances of a matter of an oath? The Gemara explains: This in accordance with the statement of Rava, as Rava says: One who approaches another and says: I have one hundred dinars in your possession, and the other says: You have in my possession only fifty dinars that I am sure about, and as for the rest, I don’t know. As one who admitted to part of a claim, he is liable, by Torah law, to take an oath that he does not owe the other fifty dinars. Since he cannot take an oath to that effect, as he is unsure if he owes it, he must pay.

היכי דמי עסק שבועה כדרבא דאמר רבא מנה לי בידך והלה אומר אין לך בידי אלא חמשים והשאר איני יודע מתוך שאינו יכול לישבע ישלם

§ The mishna teaches: If one of them recognized some of his stones he may take them for himself, and they count toward his amount of stones, and the other party takes other stones accordingly. Rava thought to say that this means they count toward his amount of his broken stones. In other words, the first party takes the unbroken stones he recognized, in place of a similar amount of broken stones, and the other party takes an amount of broken stones correspond-ing to the amount of unbroken stones claimed by the first person. Apparently, since he said: I don’t know, his legal status is worse.

ועולות לו מן החשבון סבר רבא למימר לפי חשבון שבורות אלמא כיון דאמר איני יודע ריע טפי

Abaye said to him: On the contrary, this one, the one who recognizes some of his stones, is worse off. He is worse off because since he knows and recognizes these stones, he evidently does not know anything about any more stones, and therefore he has no rights to any more unbroken stones, and all the others are the property of the other party.

אמר ליה אביי אדרבה הא ריע טפי מדהני ידע טפי לא ידע תו לית ליה ואידך כולהו דהיאך נינהו

Rather, Abaye said that it means they count toward his amount of his unbroken stones. In other words, the first party takes the unbroken stones he recognized, in place of a similar amount of unbroken stones, and the other party takes an amount of unbroken stones corresponding to the amount of unbroken stones claimed by the first person. The Gemara asks: If so, what did the first party gain from recognizing his own stones? The Gemara answers: He gains with regard to bricks from the structure made in a wide brick mold. If his bricks were constructed from a wider mold, he is entitled to these slightly larger ones. Alternatively, if the clay from which his bricks were formed was processed better, he gains by obtaining superior bricks.

אלא אמר אביי לפי חשבון שלימות אי הכי מאי קמהני ליה למלבנא רווחא אי נמי טינא דמעבדא

MISHNA: If there was a house and an upper story owned by one person, and the upper story was rented out to another, if the floor of the upper story was broken, i.e., it fell in or collapsed, and the owner of the house does not want to repair it, the resident of the upper story can go down and live in the house below until the owner repairs the upper story for him.

מתני׳ הבית והעלייה נפחתה העלייה ואין בעל הבית רוצה לתקן הרי בעל העלייה יורד ודר למטה עד שיתקן לו את העלייה

Rabbi Yosei says: With regard to a house of two stories owned by two people, i.e., the lower level was owned by one and the upper level by the other, in which the ceiling collapsed; the owner of the lower story provides the ceiling of beams or stones, and the owner of the upper story provides the plaster.

רבי יוסי אומר התחתון נותן את התקרה והעליון את המעזיבה

GEMARA: The Gemara asks: In the case of the floor of an upper story that was broken, to what extent did it break? What is the extent of damage that permits the upper resident to say that he is no longer able to live there? Rav says: Most of it was damaged, and Shmuel says: A break of four handbreadths occurred.

גמ׳ נפחתה בכמה רב אמר ברובה ושמואל אמר בארבעה

The Gemara analyzes their opinions. Rav says: Most of it was damaged, but if the break is only of four handbreadths, this halakha does not apply, since the owner of the upper story can use the lower story to place the item that would normally be placed in the area of the hole, and a person can reside partially on a level below and partially on a level above. In other words, the upper story remains inhabitable even if he must use the lower story to house some of his belongings. And Shmuel says a break of four handbreadths is sufficient for the halakha to apply, since a person cannot reside partially on a level below and partially on a level above.

רב אמר ברובה אבל בארבעה לא אדם דר חציו למטה וחציו למעלה ושמואל אמר בארבעה אין אדם דר חציו למטה וחציו למעלה

The Gemara asks: What are the circumstances of the case in the mishna? If the owner said at the time of the rental that he is renting this upper story to the tenant, the tenant has rights only to this upper story, and he has lost the ability to live there. Rather, the owner said to him that he wants to rent an upper story to him, without specifying which one. If so, the renter is certainly entitled to functional living quarters, and the owner must rent him an upper story in a different house belonging to this owner where he can live.

היכי דמי אי דאמר עלייה זו אזדא אלא דאמר ליה עלייה סתם לוגר ליה אחריתי

The Gemara answers: Rava says: No, it is necessary to state the ruling of the mishna in a case where the owner said to him: This upper story that I am renting to you, when it is up, i.e., functional, live up there in it, and when it descends, i.e., it is no longer functional, descend with it and live in the lower story. The Gemara asks: If so, what is the purpose of the mishna stating this ruling, as there was an explicit condition to this effect?

אמר רבא לא צריכא דאמר ליה עלייה זו שאני משכיר לך כי סלקא סליק בהדה וכי נחית חות בהדה אי הכי מאי למימרא

The Gemara answers: Rather, Rav Ashi said: This is a case where the owner said to him: I am renting to you this particular upper story, which is on top of this particular house. As by emphasizing that the upper story is above that particular house, the owner thereby rendered the house as liened with regard to the upper story, although he did not explicitly state that the renter will have the right to live in the house were the upper story to become non-functional.

אלא אמר רב אשי דאמר ליה עלייה זו שעל גבי בית זה אני משכיר לך דהא שעביד בית לעלייה

The Gemara adds: And this is in accordance with that which Ravin bar Rav Adda said that Rabbi Yitzḥak said: There was an incident involving one who said to another: I am selling to you the vine that is on top of this peach tree [parsek], and then the peach tree was uprooted. And the incident came before Rabbi Ḥiyya, and he said: You are obligated to erect for him a peach tree to support the vine, as long as the vine exists.

וכי הא דאמר רבין בר רב אדא אמר רבי יצחק מעשה באחד שאמר לחבירו דלית שעל גבי פרסק זה אני מוכר לך ונעקר הפרסק ובא מעשה לפני רבי חייא ואמר חייב אתה להעמיד לו פרסק כל זמן שהדלית קיימא

§ Rabbi Abba bar Memel raised a dilemma:

בעי רבי אבא בר ממל