Bava Batra
Masechet Bava Batra is sponsored by Lori Stark in loving memory of her mother in law, Sara Shapiro z”l and her father Nehemiah Sosewitz z”l.
This week’s learning is sponsored by Robert and Paula Cohen in loving memory of Joseph Cohen, Yosef ben Moshe HaCohen, z”l. “He was hard working, loved to sing, esp. as a chazan, and was very dedicated to his family and community.”
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Bava Batra
Masechet Bava Batra is sponsored by Lori Stark in loving memory of her mother in law, Sara Shapiro z”l and her father Nehemiah Sosewitz z”l.
This week’s learning is sponsored by Robert and Paula Cohen in loving memory of Joseph Cohen, Yosef ben Moshe HaCohen, z”l. “He was hard working, loved to sing, esp. as a chazan, and was very dedicated to his family and community.”
Bava Batra 172
וְהָא הָאִידָּנָא – דְּלָא קָעָבְדִינַן הָכִי! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: רַבָּנַן תַּקּוֹנֵי תַּקִּינוּ; מַאן דְּעָבֵיד – עָבֵיד, מַאן דְּלָא עָבֵיד – אִיהוּ הוּא דְּאַפְסֵיד אַנַּפְשֵׁיהּ.
But today, when we do not do this either when writing receipts, how can we avoid double collection of a loan? Rav Kahana said to him: The Sages instituted taking this precaution. One who does what the Sages instituted does it and protects himself from loss; and as for one who does not do so, he has brought the loss upon himself, and will suffer the consequences if the promissory note is found and presented in the future.
אֲמַר לְהוּ רָבָא בַּר רַב שֵׁילָא לְהָנְהוּ כָּתְבֵי שְׁטָרֵי אַקְנְיָאתָא: כִּי כָּתְבִיתוּ שְׁטָרֵי אַקְנְיָאתָא; אִי יָדְעִיתוּ יוֹמָא דִּקְנֵיתוּ בֵּיהּ – כְּתֻבוּ, וְאִי לָא – כְּתֻבוּ יוֹמָא דְּקָיְימִיתוּ בֵּיהּ, כִּי הֵיכִי דְּלָא מִתְחֲזֵי כְּשִׁקְרָא.
Rava bar Rav Sheila said to those who wrote deeds of acquisition, i.e., deeds of sale or deeds of gifts for property they acquired: When you write deeds of acquisition after the acquisition was performed, if you know the day on which you effected the acquisition, write that date on the document. But if you do not know the day on which you effected the acquisition, write the date on which you are currently writing the document. You should follow this procedure, and not write an approximate or estimated date, so that the document shall not appear as a falsehood.
אֲמַר לְהוּ רַב לְסָפְרֵיהּ, וְכֵן אֲמַר לְהוּ רַב הוּנָא לְסָפְרֵיהּ: כִּי קָיְימִיתוּ בְּשִׁילֵי – כְּתֻבוּ בְּשִׁילֵי, וְאַף עַל גַּב דִּמְסִירָן לְכוּ מִילֵּי בְּהִינֵי; כִּי קָיְימִיתוּ בְּהִינֵי – כְּתֻבוּ בְּהִינֵי, וְאַף עַל גַּב דִּמְסִירָן לְכוּ מִילֵּי בְּשִׁילֵי.
Rav said to his scribe, and Rav Huna said similarly to his scribe: When you are writing a document and you are situated in Shili, write that the document was written in Shili, and you should do so even if the matters were given over to you, i.e., the transaction attested to in the document took place, in Hini. When you are situated in Hini, write that the document was written in Hini, even if the matters were given over to you in Shili.
אָמַר רָבָא: הַאי מַאן דִּנְקִיט שְׁטָרָא בַּר מְאָה זוּזֵי, וְאָמַר: שַׁוְּיֻהּ נִיהֲלִי תְּרֵי בְּנֵי חַמְשִׁין חַמְשִׁין, לָא מְשַׁוֵּינַן לְהוּ.
§ Rava said: With regard to this one who is holding a promissory note of one hundred dinars, and he says to the court: Prepare this note for me, i.e., exchange it, for two notes of fifty dinars each, so that if the debtor pays half the debt I will be able to give him one document and keep the other, we do not prepare the new notes for him.
מַאי טַעְמָא? עֲבַדוּ רַבָּנַן מִילְּתָא דְּנִיחָא לֵיהּ לְמַלְוֶה, וְנִיחָא לֵיהּ לְלֹוֶה; נִיחָא לֵיהּ לְמַלְוֶה – כְּדֵי שֶׁיָּכוֹף לְפוֹרְעוֹ, וְנִיחָא לְלֹוֶה – כִּי הֵיכִי דְּנִיפְגֹּם שְׁטָרֵיהּ.
What is the reason? The Sages have performed a matter here that is beneficial to the creditor and is beneficial to the debtor as well. It is beneficial to the creditor to keep the promissory note with the larger sum so that he can coerce the debtor to repay him, as there is a greater incentive to pay off a larger promissory note than a smaller one. And it is beneficial to the debtor, so that when he pays half the debt his promissory note becomes vitiated, and the remainder of the sum written in the vitiated promissory note can be collected only if the creditor takes an oath that he has not received the entire sum.
וְאָמַר רָבָא: הַאי מַאן דִּנְקִיט תְּרֵי שְׁטָרֵי בְּנֵי חַמְשִׁין חַמְשִׁין, וְאָמַר: שַׁוִּינְהוּ נִיהֲלִי חַד בַּר מְאָה – לָא מְשַׁוֵּינַן לֵיהּ.
And Rava said further: With regard to this one who is holding two promissory notes, each of fifty dinars, owed by the same person, and he says to the court: Prepare this note for me into a single note of one hundred dinars, we do not prepare the new note for him.
עֲבוּד רַבָּנַן מִילְּתָא דְּנִיחָא לֵיהּ לְמַלְוֶה, וְנִיחָא לֵיהּ לְלֹוֶה; נִיחָא לֵיהּ לְמַלְוֶה – כִּי הֵיכִי דְּלָא נִיפְגּוֹם שְׁטָרֵיהּ, וְנִיחָא לֵיהּ לְלֹוֶה – כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יָכוֹף לְפוֹרְעוֹ.
What is the reason? The Sages have performed a matter here that is beneficial to the creditor and is beneficial to the debtor as well. It is beneficial to the creditor to keep the smaller notes, so that if the debtor pays fifty dinars, his promissory note will not become vitiated, which would require the creditor to take an oath before collecting the remainder. And it is beneficial to the debtor, so that the creditor will not be able to coerce him to repay the debt quickly, as there is a greater incentive to repay a larger sum than a smaller one.
אָמַר רַב אָשֵׁי: הַאי מַאן דִּנְקִיט שְׁטָרָא בַּר מְאָה זוּזֵי, וְאָמַר: שַׁוּוֹנְהִי נִיהֲלִי חַד בַּר חַמְשִׁין – לָא מְשַׁוֵּינָא לֵיהּ.
Rav Ashi says: With regard to this one who is holding a promissory note of one hundred dinars, and he said to the court: Prepare this note for me into one note of fifty dinars, as the debtor has paid me half, we do not prepare the new note for him.
מַאי טַעְמָא? אָמְרִינַן: הַאי מִיפְרָע פַּרְעֵיהּ, וַאֲמַר לֵיהּ: הַב לִי שְׁטָרַאי, וַאֲמַר לֵיהּ: אִירְכַס לִי, וּכְתַיב לֵיהּ תְּבָרָא; וּמַפֵּיק לֵיהּ הַאי, וְאָמַר לֵיהּ: הַאי אַחֲרִינָא הוּא.
What is the reason? We say, i.e., we are concerned, that the following may have happened: This debtor actually repaid all one hundred dinars, and when he did so he said to the creditor: Give me back my promissory note. And the creditor said to him: I lost it. And the creditor wrote a receipt for him in lieu of handing over the promissory note. And now, if we write a new promissory note of fifty dinars for the creditor, he will present this note and say to the debtor, who presents his receipt for a hundred dinars: That receipt is for a different loan that you repaid.
מַתְנִי׳ שְׁנֵי אַחִין – אֶחָד עָנִי וְאֶחָד עָשִׁיר, וְהִנִּיחַ לָהֶן אֲבִיהֶן מֶרְחָץ וּבֵית הַבַּד; עֲשָׂאָן לְשָׂכָר – הַשָּׂכָר לָאֶמְצַע. עֲשָׂאָן לְעַצְמוֹ – הֲרֵי הֶעָשִׁיר אוֹמֵר לֶעָנִי: ״קַח לְךָ עֲבָדִים וְיִרְחֲצוּ בַּמֶּרְחָץ, קַח לְךָ זֵיתִים וּבֹא וַעֲשֵׂה בְּבֵית הַבַּד״.
MISHNA: In a case where there are two brothers, one poor and one rich, and their father left them a bathhouse or an olive press as an inheritance, if the father had built these facilities for profit, i.e., to charge others for using them, the profit that accrues after the father’s death is shared equally by the two brothers. If the father had built them for himself and for the members of his household to use, the poor brother, who has little use for these amenities, cannot force the rich brother to convert the facilities to commercial use; rather, the rich brother can say to the poor brother: Go take servants for yourself, and they will bathe in the bathhouse. Or he can say: Go take olives for yourself, and come and make them into oil in the olive press.
שְׁנַיִם שֶׁהָיוּ בְּעִיר אַחַת, שֵׁם אֶחָד ״יוֹסֵף בֶּן שִׁמְעוֹן״ וְשֵׁם אַחֵר ״יוֹסֵף בֶּן שִׁמְעוֹן״ – אֵין יְכוֹלִין לְהוֹצִיא שְׁטַר חוֹב זֶה עַל זֶה, וְלֹא אַחֵר יָכוֹל לְהוֹצִיא עֲלֵיהֶן שְׁטַר חוֹב.
If there are two people who were living in one city, one named Yosef ben Shimon and the other also named Yosef ben Shimon, one cannot present a promissory note against the other, as the purported debtor can claim: On the contrary, it is you who owed me money; you repaid me and I returned this note to you upon payment. Nor can another, third person, present a promissory note against either of them, as each one can claim: It is not I but the other Yosef ben Shimon who owes you money.
נִמְצָא לְאֶחָד בֵּין שְׁטָרוֹתָיו ״שְׁטָרוֹ שֶׁל יוֹסֵף בֶּן שִׁמְעוֹן פָּרוּעַ״ – שְׁטָרוֹת שְׁנֵיהֶן פְּרוּעִין.
If a document is found among one’s documents stating: The promissory note against Yosef ben Shimon is repaid, and both men named Yosef ben Shimon owed this man money, the promissory notes of both of them are considered repaid, as it cannot be determined which debt was repaid and which is outstanding.
כֵּיצַד יַעֲשׂוּ? יְשַׁלְּשׁוּ, וְאִם הָיוּ מְשׁוּלָּשִׁין – יִכְתְּבוּ סִימָן, וְאִם הָיוּ מְסוּמָּנִין – יִכְתְּבוּ כֹּהֵן.
What should two people with the same name in a single city do in order to conduct their business? They should triple their names by writing three generations: Yosef ben Shimon ben so-and-so. And if they have identical triple names, i.e., not only their fathers but their grandfathers had identical names, they should write an indication as to which one is referred to, such as: The short Yosef ben Shimon or the dark Yosef ben Shimon. And if they have identical indications, they should write: Yosef ben Shimon the priest, if one of them is a priest.
גְּמָ׳ הָהוּא שְׁטָרָא דִּנְפַק לְבֵי דִינָא דְּרַב הוּנָא, דַּהֲוָה כְּתִיב בֵּיהּ: ״אֲנִי פְּלוֹנִי בַּר פְּלוֹנִי לָוִיתִי מָנֶה מִמְּךָ״.
GEMARA: There was a certain promissory note that was presented at the court of Rav Huna, in which it was written: I, so-and-so son of so-and-so, borrowed one hundred dinars from you. No name was given as the creditor, but the one presenting the document claimed that the money was owed to him.
אָמַר רַב הוּנָא: ״מִמְּךָ״ – אֲפִילּוּ מֵרֵישׁ גָּלוּתָא, וַאֲפִילּוּ מִשַּׁבּוּר מַלְכָּא.
Rav Huna said: The term: From you, in the document does not identify anyone in particular, and can mean even: From the Exilarch, or even: From King Shapur.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב חִסְדָּא לְרַבָּה: פּוֹק עַיֵּין בָּהּ, דִּלְאוּרְתָּא בָּעֵי לַהּ רַב הוּנָא מִינָּךְ.
Rav Ḥisda said to Rabba: Go out and investigate this matter, as tonight Rav Huna will ask this question of you.
נְפַק דָּק וְאַשְׁכַּח – דְּתַנְיָא: גֵּט שֶׁיֵּשׁ עָלָיו עֵדִים וְאֵין בּוֹ זְמַן, אַבָּא שָׁאוּל אוֹמֵר: אִם כָּתוּב בּוֹ ״גֵּרַשְׁתִּיהָ הַיּוֹם״ – כָּשֵׁר.
Rabba went out, examined the matter, and discovered a relevant source. As it is taught in a baraita: Concerning a bill of divorce in which there are the signatures of witnesses on the document but there is no date written on it, Abba Shaul says that if it is written in it: I divorced her today, it is valid.
אַלְמָא ״הַיּוֹם״ – הַהוּא יוֹמָא דְּנָפֵיק בֵּיהּ מַשְׁמַע; הָכָא נָמֵי, מִמְּךָ – מֵהָהוּא גַּבְרָא דְּנָפֵיק מִתּוּתֵי יְדֵיהּ מַשְׁמַע.
Rabba concludes: Apparently, the term: Today, indicates that day on which the bill of divorce emerges in the presence of the court. Here too, the term: From you, in a promissory note indicates that man from whose possession it emerges.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ אַבָּיֵי: וְדִלְמָא אַבָּא שָׁאוּל כְּרַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר סְבִירָא לֵיהּ, דְּאָמַר: עֵדֵי מְסִירָה כָּרְתִי; אֲבָל הָכָא לֵיחוּשׁ לִנְפִילָה!
Abaye said to him: But this is not a valid proof, as perhaps Abba Shaul holds in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Eliezer, who says that witnesses of the transmission of the bill of divorce effect the divorce. But here, let there be a concern for the possibility of the promissory note falling from its rightful owner and being found by the present holder of the document.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לִנְפִילָה לָא חָיְישִׁינַן. וּמְנָא תֵּימְרָא דְּלָא חָיְישִׁינַן לִנְפִילָה?
Rabba said to Abaye: We are not concerned for the possibility of a promissory note falling from its rightful owner and being found by another. And from where do you say, i.e., from where can it be proven, that we are not concerned for the possibility of a promissory note falling and being found by another?
דִּתְנַן: שְׁנַיִם שֶׁהָיוּ בְּעִיר אַחַת, שֵׁם אֶחָד יוֹסֵף בֶּן שִׁמְעוֹן וְשֵׁם אַחֵר יוֹסֵף בֶּן שִׁמְעוֹן – אֵינָן יְכוֹלִין לְהוֹצִיא שְׁטַר חוֹב זֶה עַל זֶה, וְלֹא אַחֵר יָכוֹל לְהוֹצִיא עֲלֵיהֶן שְׁטַר חוֹב. הָא הֵם עַל אֲחֵרִים – יְכוֹלִין; וְאַמַּאי? לֵיחוּשׁ לִנְפִילָה! אֶלָּא לָאו שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ לִנְפִילָה לָא חָיְישִׁינַן?
As we learned in the mishna: If there are two people who were living in one city, one named Yosef ben Shimon and the other also named Yosef ben Shimon, one cannot present a promissory note against the other, as the purported debtor can claim: On the contrary, it is you who owed me money; you repaid me and I returned this note to you upon payment. Nor can another, third person, present a promissory note against either of them. This indicates that one of them can present a promissory note against others. But why can they do so? Let there be a concern for the possibility of the promissory note falling from one Yosef ben Shimon and being found by the other. Rather, must one not conclude from this mishna that we are not concerned for the possibility of the promissory note falling from one Yosef ben Shimon and being found by the other?
וְאַבָּיֵי – לִנְפִילָה דְחַד לָא חָיְישִׁינַן, לִנְפִילָה דְרַבִּים חָיְישִׁינַן.
The Gemara asks: And why did Abaye, who is concerned for this possibility, not see a proof to the contrary from the mishna? He would counter: We are not concerned for the possibility of a promissory note falling from one particular person and being found by the other person with the same name, which is the case in the mishna, as that is extremely unlikely. We are concerned for the possibility of a promissory note falling from one of the general public and being found by someone else.
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I started last year after completing the Pesach Sugiyot class. Masechet Yoma might seem like a difficult set of topics, but for me made Yom Kippur and the Beit HaMikdash come alive. Liturgy I’d always had trouble connecting with took on new meaning as I gained a sense of real people moving through specific spaces in particular ways. It was the perfect introduction; I am so grateful for Hadran!
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In January 2020 on a Shabbaton to Baltimore I heard about the new cycle of Daf Yomi after the siyum celebration in NYC stadium. I started to read “ a daily dose of Talmud “ and really enjoyed it . It led me to google “ do Orthodox women study Talmud? “ and found HADRAN! Since then I listen to the podcast every morning, participate in classes and siyum. I love to learn, this is amazing! Thank you
Atlanta, United States
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
I heard the new Daf Yomi cycle was starting and I was curious, so I searched online for a women’s class and was pleasently surprised to find Rabanit Michelle’s great class reviews in many online articles. It has been a splendid journey. It is a way to fill my days with Torah, learning so many amazing things I have never heard before during my Tanach learning at High School. Thanks so much .
Panama, Panama
Attending the Siyyum in Jerusalem 26 months ago inspired me to become part of this community of learners. So many aspects of Jewish life have been illuminated by what we have learned in Seder Moed. My day is not complete without daf Yomi. I am so grateful to Rabbanit Michelle and the Hadran Community.
Newton, United States
I started Daf during the pandemic. I listened to a number of podcasts by various Rebbeim until one day, I discovered Rabbanit Farbers podcast. Subsequently I joined the Hadran family in Eruvin. Not the easiest place to begin, Rabbanit Farber made it all understandable and fun. The online live group has bonded together and have really become a supportive, encouraging family.
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
When I started studying Hebrew at Brown University’s Hillel, I had no idea that almost 38 years later, I’m doing Daf Yomi. My Shabbat haburah is led by Rabbanit Leah Sarna. The women are a hoot. I’m tracking the completion of each tractate by reading Ilana Kurshan’s memoir, If All the Seas Were Ink.
Pennsylvania, United States
It happened without intent (so am I yotzei?!) – I watched the women’s siyum live and was so moved by it that the next morning, I tuned in to Rabbanit Michelle’s shiur, and here I am, still learning every day, over 2 years later. Some days it all goes over my head, but others I grasp onto an idea or a story, and I ‘get it’ and that’s the best feeling in the world. So proud to be a Hadran learner.
Zichron Yaakov, Israel
In January 2020, my chevruta suggested that we “up our game. Let’s do Daf Yomi” – and she sent me the Hadran link. I lost my job (and went freelance), there was a pandemic, and I am still opening the podcast with my breakfast coffee, or after Shabbat with popcorn. My Aramaic is improving. I will need a new bookcase, though.
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
I had never heard of Daf Yomi and after reading the book, The Weight of Ink, I explored more about it. I discovered that it was only 6 months before a whole new cycle started and I was determined to give it a try. I tried to get a friend to join me on the journey but after the first few weeks they all dropped it. I haven’t missed a day of reading and of listening to the podcast.
Elkins Park, United States
Retirement and Covid converged to provide me with the opportunity to commit to daily Talmud study in October 2020. I dove into the middle of Eruvin and continued to navigate Seder Moed, with Rabannit Michelle as my guide. I have developed more confidence in my learning as I completed each masechet and look forward to completing the Daf Yomi cycle so that I can begin again!
San Diego, United States
I began learning with Rabbanit Michelle’s wonderful Talmud Skills class on Pesachim, which really enriched my Pesach seder, and I have been learning Daf Yomi off and on over the past year. Because I’m relatively new at this, there is a “chiddush” for me every time I learn, and the knowledge and insights of the group members add so much to my experience. I feel very lucky to be a part of this.
Karmiel, 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
I had tried to start after being inspired by the hadran siyum, but did not manage to stick to it. However, just before masechet taanit, our rav wrote a message to the shul WhatsApp encouraging people to start with masechet taanit, so I did! And this time, I’m hooked! I listen to the shiur every day , and am also trying to improve my skills.
Yad Binyamin, Israel
Bava Batra 172
וְהָא הָאִידָּנָא – דְּלָא קָעָבְדִינַן הָכִי! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: רַבָּנַן תַּקּוֹנֵי תַּקִּינוּ; מַאן דְּעָבֵיד – עָבֵיד, מַאן דְּלָא עָבֵיד – אִיהוּ הוּא דְּאַפְסֵיד אַנַּפְשֵׁיהּ.
But today, when we do not do this either when writing receipts, how can we avoid double collection of a loan? Rav Kahana said to him: The Sages instituted taking this precaution. One who does what the Sages instituted does it and protects himself from loss; and as for one who does not do so, he has brought the loss upon himself, and will suffer the consequences if the promissory note is found and presented in the future.
אֲמַר לְהוּ רָבָא בַּר רַב שֵׁילָא לְהָנְהוּ כָּתְבֵי שְׁטָרֵי אַקְנְיָאתָא: כִּי כָּתְבִיתוּ שְׁטָרֵי אַקְנְיָאתָא; אִי יָדְעִיתוּ יוֹמָא דִּקְנֵיתוּ בֵּיהּ – כְּתֻבוּ, וְאִי לָא – כְּתֻבוּ יוֹמָא דְּקָיְימִיתוּ בֵּיהּ, כִּי הֵיכִי דְּלָא מִתְחֲזֵי כְּשִׁקְרָא.
Rava bar Rav Sheila said to those who wrote deeds of acquisition, i.e., deeds of sale or deeds of gifts for property they acquired: When you write deeds of acquisition after the acquisition was performed, if you know the day on which you effected the acquisition, write that date on the document. But if you do not know the day on which you effected the acquisition, write the date on which you are currently writing the document. You should follow this procedure, and not write an approximate or estimated date, so that the document shall not appear as a falsehood.
אֲמַר לְהוּ רַב לְסָפְרֵיהּ, וְכֵן אֲמַר לְהוּ רַב הוּנָא לְסָפְרֵיהּ: כִּי קָיְימִיתוּ בְּשִׁילֵי – כְּתֻבוּ בְּשִׁילֵי, וְאַף עַל גַּב דִּמְסִירָן לְכוּ מִילֵּי בְּהִינֵי; כִּי קָיְימִיתוּ בְּהִינֵי – כְּתֻבוּ בְּהִינֵי, וְאַף עַל גַּב דִּמְסִירָן לְכוּ מִילֵּי בְּשִׁילֵי.
Rav said to his scribe, and Rav Huna said similarly to his scribe: When you are writing a document and you are situated in Shili, write that the document was written in Shili, and you should do so even if the matters were given over to you, i.e., the transaction attested to in the document took place, in Hini. When you are situated in Hini, write that the document was written in Hini, even if the matters were given over to you in Shili.
אָמַר רָבָא: הַאי מַאן דִּנְקִיט שְׁטָרָא בַּר מְאָה זוּזֵי, וְאָמַר: שַׁוְּיֻהּ נִיהֲלִי תְּרֵי בְּנֵי חַמְשִׁין חַמְשִׁין, לָא מְשַׁוֵּינַן לְהוּ.
§ Rava said: With regard to this one who is holding a promissory note of one hundred dinars, and he says to the court: Prepare this note for me, i.e., exchange it, for two notes of fifty dinars each, so that if the debtor pays half the debt I will be able to give him one document and keep the other, we do not prepare the new notes for him.
מַאי טַעְמָא? עֲבַדוּ רַבָּנַן מִילְּתָא דְּנִיחָא לֵיהּ לְמַלְוֶה, וְנִיחָא לֵיהּ לְלֹוֶה; נִיחָא לֵיהּ לְמַלְוֶה – כְּדֵי שֶׁיָּכוֹף לְפוֹרְעוֹ, וְנִיחָא לְלֹוֶה – כִּי הֵיכִי דְּנִיפְגֹּם שְׁטָרֵיהּ.
What is the reason? The Sages have performed a matter here that is beneficial to the creditor and is beneficial to the debtor as well. It is beneficial to the creditor to keep the promissory note with the larger sum so that he can coerce the debtor to repay him, as there is a greater incentive to pay off a larger promissory note than a smaller one. And it is beneficial to the debtor, so that when he pays half the debt his promissory note becomes vitiated, and the remainder of the sum written in the vitiated promissory note can be collected only if the creditor takes an oath that he has not received the entire sum.
וְאָמַר רָבָא: הַאי מַאן דִּנְקִיט תְּרֵי שְׁטָרֵי בְּנֵי חַמְשִׁין חַמְשִׁין, וְאָמַר: שַׁוִּינְהוּ נִיהֲלִי חַד בַּר מְאָה – לָא מְשַׁוֵּינַן לֵיהּ.
And Rava said further: With regard to this one who is holding two promissory notes, each of fifty dinars, owed by the same person, and he says to the court: Prepare this note for me into a single note of one hundred dinars, we do not prepare the new note for him.
עֲבוּד רַבָּנַן מִילְּתָא דְּנִיחָא לֵיהּ לְמַלְוֶה, וְנִיחָא לֵיהּ לְלֹוֶה; נִיחָא לֵיהּ לְמַלְוֶה – כִּי הֵיכִי דְּלָא נִיפְגּוֹם שְׁטָרֵיהּ, וְנִיחָא לֵיהּ לְלֹוֶה – כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יָכוֹף לְפוֹרְעוֹ.
What is the reason? The Sages have performed a matter here that is beneficial to the creditor and is beneficial to the debtor as well. It is beneficial to the creditor to keep the smaller notes, so that if the debtor pays fifty dinars, his promissory note will not become vitiated, which would require the creditor to take an oath before collecting the remainder. And it is beneficial to the debtor, so that the creditor will not be able to coerce him to repay the debt quickly, as there is a greater incentive to repay a larger sum than a smaller one.
אָמַר רַב אָשֵׁי: הַאי מַאן דִּנְקִיט שְׁטָרָא בַּר מְאָה זוּזֵי, וְאָמַר: שַׁוּוֹנְהִי נִיהֲלִי חַד בַּר חַמְשִׁין – לָא מְשַׁוֵּינָא לֵיהּ.
Rav Ashi says: With regard to this one who is holding a promissory note of one hundred dinars, and he said to the court: Prepare this note for me into one note of fifty dinars, as the debtor has paid me half, we do not prepare the new note for him.
מַאי טַעְמָא? אָמְרִינַן: הַאי מִיפְרָע פַּרְעֵיהּ, וַאֲמַר לֵיהּ: הַב לִי שְׁטָרַאי, וַאֲמַר לֵיהּ: אִירְכַס לִי, וּכְתַיב לֵיהּ תְּבָרָא; וּמַפֵּיק לֵיהּ הַאי, וְאָמַר לֵיהּ: הַאי אַחֲרִינָא הוּא.
What is the reason? We say, i.e., we are concerned, that the following may have happened: This debtor actually repaid all one hundred dinars, and when he did so he said to the creditor: Give me back my promissory note. And the creditor said to him: I lost it. And the creditor wrote a receipt for him in lieu of handing over the promissory note. And now, if we write a new promissory note of fifty dinars for the creditor, he will present this note and say to the debtor, who presents his receipt for a hundred dinars: That receipt is for a different loan that you repaid.
מַתְנִי׳ שְׁנֵי אַחִין – אֶחָד עָנִי וְאֶחָד עָשִׁיר, וְהִנִּיחַ לָהֶן אֲבִיהֶן מֶרְחָץ וּבֵית הַבַּד; עֲשָׂאָן לְשָׂכָר – הַשָּׂכָר לָאֶמְצַע. עֲשָׂאָן לְעַצְמוֹ – הֲרֵי הֶעָשִׁיר אוֹמֵר לֶעָנִי: ״קַח לְךָ עֲבָדִים וְיִרְחֲצוּ בַּמֶּרְחָץ, קַח לְךָ זֵיתִים וּבֹא וַעֲשֵׂה בְּבֵית הַבַּד״.
MISHNA: In a case where there are two brothers, one poor and one rich, and their father left them a bathhouse or an olive press as an inheritance, if the father had built these facilities for profit, i.e., to charge others for using them, the profit that accrues after the father’s death is shared equally by the two brothers. If the father had built them for himself and for the members of his household to use, the poor brother, who has little use for these amenities, cannot force the rich brother to convert the facilities to commercial use; rather, the rich brother can say to the poor brother: Go take servants for yourself, and they will bathe in the bathhouse. Or he can say: Go take olives for yourself, and come and make them into oil in the olive press.
שְׁנַיִם שֶׁהָיוּ בְּעִיר אַחַת, שֵׁם אֶחָד ״יוֹסֵף בֶּן שִׁמְעוֹן״ וְשֵׁם אַחֵר ״יוֹסֵף בֶּן שִׁמְעוֹן״ – אֵין יְכוֹלִין לְהוֹצִיא שְׁטַר חוֹב זֶה עַל זֶה, וְלֹא אַחֵר יָכוֹל לְהוֹצִיא עֲלֵיהֶן שְׁטַר חוֹב.
If there are two people who were living in one city, one named Yosef ben Shimon and the other also named Yosef ben Shimon, one cannot present a promissory note against the other, as the purported debtor can claim: On the contrary, it is you who owed me money; you repaid me and I returned this note to you upon payment. Nor can another, third person, present a promissory note against either of them, as each one can claim: It is not I but the other Yosef ben Shimon who owes you money.
נִמְצָא לְאֶחָד בֵּין שְׁטָרוֹתָיו ״שְׁטָרוֹ שֶׁל יוֹסֵף בֶּן שִׁמְעוֹן פָּרוּעַ״ – שְׁטָרוֹת שְׁנֵיהֶן פְּרוּעִין.
If a document is found among one’s documents stating: The promissory note against Yosef ben Shimon is repaid, and both men named Yosef ben Shimon owed this man money, the promissory notes of both of them are considered repaid, as it cannot be determined which debt was repaid and which is outstanding.
כֵּיצַד יַעֲשׂוּ? יְשַׁלְּשׁוּ, וְאִם הָיוּ מְשׁוּלָּשִׁין – יִכְתְּבוּ סִימָן, וְאִם הָיוּ מְסוּמָּנִין – יִכְתְּבוּ כֹּהֵן.
What should two people with the same name in a single city do in order to conduct their business? They should triple their names by writing three generations: Yosef ben Shimon ben so-and-so. And if they have identical triple names, i.e., not only their fathers but their grandfathers had identical names, they should write an indication as to which one is referred to, such as: The short Yosef ben Shimon or the dark Yosef ben Shimon. And if they have identical indications, they should write: Yosef ben Shimon the priest, if one of them is a priest.
גְּמָ׳ הָהוּא שְׁטָרָא דִּנְפַק לְבֵי דִינָא דְּרַב הוּנָא, דַּהֲוָה כְּתִיב בֵּיהּ: ״אֲנִי פְּלוֹנִי בַּר פְּלוֹנִי לָוִיתִי מָנֶה מִמְּךָ״.
GEMARA: There was a certain promissory note that was presented at the court of Rav Huna, in which it was written: I, so-and-so son of so-and-so, borrowed one hundred dinars from you. No name was given as the creditor, but the one presenting the document claimed that the money was owed to him.
אָמַר רַב הוּנָא: ״מִמְּךָ״ – אֲפִילּוּ מֵרֵישׁ גָּלוּתָא, וַאֲפִילּוּ מִשַּׁבּוּר מַלְכָּא.
Rav Huna said: The term: From you, in the document does not identify anyone in particular, and can mean even: From the Exilarch, or even: From King Shapur.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב חִסְדָּא לְרַבָּה: פּוֹק עַיֵּין בָּהּ, דִּלְאוּרְתָּא בָּעֵי לַהּ רַב הוּנָא מִינָּךְ.
Rav Ḥisda said to Rabba: Go out and investigate this matter, as tonight Rav Huna will ask this question of you.
נְפַק דָּק וְאַשְׁכַּח – דְּתַנְיָא: גֵּט שֶׁיֵּשׁ עָלָיו עֵדִים וְאֵין בּוֹ זְמַן, אַבָּא שָׁאוּל אוֹמֵר: אִם כָּתוּב בּוֹ ״גֵּרַשְׁתִּיהָ הַיּוֹם״ – כָּשֵׁר.
Rabba went out, examined the matter, and discovered a relevant source. As it is taught in a baraita: Concerning a bill of divorce in which there are the signatures of witnesses on the document but there is no date written on it, Abba Shaul says that if it is written in it: I divorced her today, it is valid.
אַלְמָא ״הַיּוֹם״ – הַהוּא יוֹמָא דְּנָפֵיק בֵּיהּ מַשְׁמַע; הָכָא נָמֵי, מִמְּךָ – מֵהָהוּא גַּבְרָא דְּנָפֵיק מִתּוּתֵי יְדֵיהּ מַשְׁמַע.
Rabba concludes: Apparently, the term: Today, indicates that day on which the bill of divorce emerges in the presence of the court. Here too, the term: From you, in a promissory note indicates that man from whose possession it emerges.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ אַבָּיֵי: וְדִלְמָא אַבָּא שָׁאוּל כְּרַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר סְבִירָא לֵיהּ, דְּאָמַר: עֵדֵי מְסִירָה כָּרְתִי; אֲבָל הָכָא לֵיחוּשׁ לִנְפִילָה!
Abaye said to him: But this is not a valid proof, as perhaps Abba Shaul holds in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Eliezer, who says that witnesses of the transmission of the bill of divorce effect the divorce. But here, let there be a concern for the possibility of the promissory note falling from its rightful owner and being found by the present holder of the document.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לִנְפִילָה לָא חָיְישִׁינַן. וּמְנָא תֵּימְרָא דְּלָא חָיְישִׁינַן לִנְפִילָה?
Rabba said to Abaye: We are not concerned for the possibility of a promissory note falling from its rightful owner and being found by another. And from where do you say, i.e., from where can it be proven, that we are not concerned for the possibility of a promissory note falling and being found by another?
דִּתְנַן: שְׁנַיִם שֶׁהָיוּ בְּעִיר אַחַת, שֵׁם אֶחָד יוֹסֵף בֶּן שִׁמְעוֹן וְשֵׁם אַחֵר יוֹסֵף בֶּן שִׁמְעוֹן – אֵינָן יְכוֹלִין לְהוֹצִיא שְׁטַר חוֹב זֶה עַל זֶה, וְלֹא אַחֵר יָכוֹל לְהוֹצִיא עֲלֵיהֶן שְׁטַר חוֹב. הָא הֵם עַל אֲחֵרִים – יְכוֹלִין; וְאַמַּאי? לֵיחוּשׁ לִנְפִילָה! אֶלָּא לָאו שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ לִנְפִילָה לָא חָיְישִׁינַן?
As we learned in the mishna: If there are two people who were living in one city, one named Yosef ben Shimon and the other also named Yosef ben Shimon, one cannot present a promissory note against the other, as the purported debtor can claim: On the contrary, it is you who owed me money; you repaid me and I returned this note to you upon payment. Nor can another, third person, present a promissory note against either of them. This indicates that one of them can present a promissory note against others. But why can they do so? Let there be a concern for the possibility of the promissory note falling from one Yosef ben Shimon and being found by the other. Rather, must one not conclude from this mishna that we are not concerned for the possibility of the promissory note falling from one Yosef ben Shimon and being found by the other?
וְאַבָּיֵי – לִנְפִילָה דְחַד לָא חָיְישִׁינַן, לִנְפִילָה דְרַבִּים חָיְישִׁינַן.
The Gemara asks: And why did Abaye, who is concerned for this possibility, not see a proof to the contrary from the mishna? He would counter: We are not concerned for the possibility of a promissory note falling from one particular person and being found by the other person with the same name, which is the case in the mishna, as that is extremely unlikely. We are concerned for the possibility of a promissory note falling from one of the general public and being found by someone else.
