Bava Batra 90
וְעוּכְלָא. וְכַמָּה הִיא עוּכְלָא? אֶחָד מֵחֲמִשָּׁה בִּרְבִיעַ. וּבְמִדַּת הַלַּח הוּא עוֹשֶׂה הִין, וַחֲצִי הִין, וּשְׁלִישִׁית הַהִין, וּרְבִיעִית הַהִין, וְלוֹג, וַחֲצִי לוֹג, וּרְבִיעִית, וּשְׁמִינִית, וְאֶחָד מִשְּׁמוֹנָה בִּשְׁמִינִית – וְזֶהוּ קוּרְטוֹב.
and an ukla. And how much is an ukla? It is one-fifth of a quarter of a kav. And in the case of liquid measures, one may prepare a hin, which is twelve log; and a half-hin, or six log; and a third–hin, or four log; and a quarter-hin, three log; and a log; and a half–log; and a quarter–log; and an eighth-log; and an eighth of an eighth-log, and this, the last mentioned, is a kortov.
וְלֶעְבֵּיד נָמֵי קַבַּיִים! אָתֵי לְאִיחַלּוֹפֵי בְּתַרְקַב. אַלְמָא טָעוּ אִינָשֵׁי תִּילְתָּא – אִי הָכִי, קַב נָמֵי לָא לֶיעְבֵּיד; דְּאָתֵי לְאִיחַלּוֹפֵי בַּחֲצִי תַּרְקַב! אֶלָּא קַבַּיִים הַיְינוּ טַעְמָא דְּלָא עָבֵיד – דְּאָתֵי לְאִיחַלּוֹפֵי בַּחֲצִי תַּרְקַב.
The Gemara asks: And let one also prepare a measure equal to two kav. The Gemara answers that this measure is not used, lest people come to mistake it for a tarkav, which is three kav. The Gemara observes: Apparently, people err by one-third of a measure. If that is so, one should also not prepare a measure equal to a kav, as people may come to mistake it for a half-tarkav, which is equal to one and one-half kav. Rather, this is the reason that one may not prepare a two-kav measure: That people might come to mistake it for a half-tarkav, which is equal to one and one-half kav.
אַלְמָא טָעֵי אִינִישׁ רִיבְעָא – אִי הָכִי, חֲצִי תּוֹמֶן וְעוּכְלָא לָא לֶיעְבֵּיד! אָמַר רַב פָּפָּא: מִדּוֹת קְטַנּוֹת בְּקִיאִי בְּהוּ אִינָשֵׁי.
The Gemara again suggests: Apparently, people err by one-quarter of a measure. If that is so, one should also not prepare measures of a half-tomen, which is one-sixteenth of a kav, and an ukla, which is one-twentieth of a kav. Since they differ by only one-fifth, there is a concern that people might mistake one measure for the other. Rav Pappa said: People are well-versed in small measures and can distinguish between them.
שְׁלִישִׁית הַהִין, רְבִיעִית הַהִין – לָא לֶיעְבֵּיד! כֵּיוָן דַּהֲווֹ בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ, לָא גְּזַרוּ בְּהוּ רַבָּנַן. בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ נָמֵי לִיגְזוֹר! כֹּהֲנִים זְרִיזִין הֵן.
The Gemara continues: If people err by one-quarter of a measure, then since one may prepare a measure equal to four log, one-third of a hin, let one not prepare a measure equal to three log, one-quarter of a hin. The Gemara answers: Since these measures were used in the Temple, the Sages did not decree that they not be used. The Gemara asks: In the Temple as well, let the Sages decree that they should not be used, in case the two measures are mistaken for each other. The Gemara answers: The priests who serve in the Temple are vigilant and would not commit this error.
אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: אֵין מוֹסִיפִין עַל הַמִּדּוֹת יוֹתֵר מִשְּׁתוּת, וְלֹא עַל הַמַּטְבֵּעַ יָתֵר מִשְּׁתוּת, וְהַמִּשְׂתַּכֵּר אַל יִשְׁתַּכֵּר יוֹתֵר מִשְּׁתוּת. אֵין מוֹסִיפִין עַל הַמִּדּוֹת יוֹתֵר מִשְּׁתוּת – מַאי טַעְמָא? אִילֵּימָא מִשּׁוּם אַפְקוֹעֵי תַּרְעָא, שְׁתוּת נָמֵי לָא!
§ Shmuel says: If the residents of a certain place want to change the standard of their measures and augment them by a certain fraction, they may not increase the measures by more than one-sixth, and they may not increase the value of a coin by more than one-sixth of its previous value. And one who profits from his sales may not profit by more than one-sixth. The Gemara analyzes these statements. When Shmuel said: They may not increase the measures by more than one-sixth, what is the reason for this? If we say it is because doing so causes market prices to rise, the same concern should apply to raising the prices by one-sixth, and therefore this should also not be allowed.
אֶלָּא מִשּׁוּם אוֹנָאָה – דְּלָא לֶיהֱוֵי בִּיטּוּל מִקָּח? וְהָאָמַר רָבָא: כׇּל דָּבָר שֶׁבְּמִדָּה וְשֶׁבְּמִשְׁקָל וְשֶׁבְּמִנְיָן – אֲפִילּוּ פָּחוֹת מִכְּדֵי אוֹנָאָה חוֹזֵר!
Rather, you will say that the prohibition is due to concern for exploitation; and they may increase the measures only by up to one-sixth, so that there will not be nullification of the transaction, as the transaction is nullified only when the disparity is more than one-sixth of the value of the item. The Gemara raises an objection: But doesn’t Rava say: With regard to any item that is otherwise subject to the halakhot of exploitation, and it is sold by measure, or by weight, or by number, even if the disparity was less than the measure of exploitation in the transaction, the transaction is reversed. A disparity of one-sixth between the value of an item and its price constitutes exploitation only in cases where there is room for error in assessing the value of an item. In a case where the details of the item are easily quantifiable, any deviation from the designated quantity results in a nullification of the transaction.
אֶלָּא דְּלָא לֶיהֱוֵי פְּסֵידָא לְתַגָּרָא.
Rather, the prohibition is so that there will not be a loss suffered by the merchant, who might not realize that a new standard was issued, and sell in accordance with the old standard. Since a merchant usually enjoys a profit of one-sixth of the value of an item, if the standard is not increased by more than this amount he will not suffer a loss, as at worst he will forfeit his profit margin.
פְּסֵידָא הוּא דְּלָא לֶיהֱוֵי לֵיהּ – רַוְוחָא לָא בָּעֵי?! זְבַן וְזַבֵּין – תַּגָּרָא אִיקְּרִי?!
This Gemara notes: This explanation is also difficult, since even if the aim is to ensure that there will not be a loss for the merchant, does he not need to earn a profit? There is a well-known adage in this regard: If you buy and sell without making any profit, will you be called a merchant? A merchant must profit from his sales; therefore, if this decree was instituted for the protection of merchants, the Sages should have ensured that they earn a profit.
אֶלָּא אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: שְׁמוּאֵל קְרָא אַשְׁכַּח וּדְרַשׁ – ״וְהַשֶּׁקֶל – עֶשְׂרִים גֵּרָה; עֶשְׂרִים שְׁקָלִים, חֲמִשָּׁה וְעֶשְׂרִים שְׁקָלִים, עֲשָׂרָה וַחֲמִשָּׁה שֶׁקֶל – הַמָּנֶה יִהְיֶה לָכֶם״.
Rather, Rav Ḥisda said: The prohibition is not based on logical reasoning. Instead, Shmuel found a verse and interpreted it homiletically: “And the shekel shall be twenty gera; twenty shekels, five and twenty shekels, ten, and five shekels, shall be your maneh” (Ezekiel 45:12). According to this verse, the combination of all of these numbers, sixty shekels, is equivalent to a maneh.
מָנֶה?! מָאתָן וְאַרְבְּעִין הָווּ! אֶלָּא שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ תְּלָת: שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ מָנֶה שֶׁל קֹדֶשׁ – כָּפוּל הָיָה; וּשְׁמַע מִינַּהּ מוֹסִיפִין עַל הַמִּדּוֹת – וְאֵין מוֹסִיפִין יוֹתֵר מִשְּׁתוּת; וּשְׁמַע מִינַּהּ שְׁתוּתָא – מִלְּבַר.
This is problematic: How can a maneh consist of sixty shekels? Since each biblical shekel is equivalent to four dinars, if a maneh is equal to sixty shekels, a maneh is two hundred and forty dinars. But a maneh is actually equal to twenty-five shekels, which is one hundred dinars. Rather, one can learn from the verse three matters: Learn from it that the sacred maneh was doubled, so that it equaled fifty dinars, not twenty-five. And furthermore, as Ezekiel stated that the maneh will be sixty dinars, not fifty, learn from it that a community may increase measures, but they may not increase them by more than one-sixth. And learn from it that the one-sixth is calculated from the outside, i.e., it is one-sixth of the final sum, which is one-fifth of the previous sum.
רַב פָּפָּא בַּר שְׁמוּאֵל תַּקֵּין כְּיָילָא בַּר תְּלָתָא קְפִיזֵי. אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ, וְהָא אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: אֵין מוֹסִיפִין עַל הַמִּדּוֹת יוֹתֵר מִשְּׁתוּת! אֲמַר לְהוּ: אֲנָא כְּיָילָא חַדְתָּא תַּקֵּינִי. שַׁדְּרֵיהּ לְפוּמְבְּדִיתָא – וְלָא קַבְּלוּהּ, שַׁדְּרֵיהּ לְפַאפּוּנְיָא – וְקַבְּלוּהּ; וְקָרוּ לֵיהּ: ״רוּז פָּפָּא״.
The Gemara relates: Rav Pappa bar Shmuel instituted a new measure of three kefiza, which is equal to three log. The Sages said to him: But doesn’t Shmuel say that one may not increase the measures by more than one-sixth? You have added one-third, as there already exists a measure of a half-kav, which is the equivalent of two log. Rav Pappa bar Shmuel said to them: I instituted a new measure. He sent the measure to Pumbedita, and they did not accept it; he sent it to the city of Paphunya, and they accepted it and called it the measure of Pappa.
(סִימָן: אוֹצְרֵי פֵירוֹת, אֵין אוֹצְרִין, וְאֵין מוֹצִיאִין, וְאֵין מִשְׂתַּכְּרִין פַּעֲמַיִם בְּבֵיצִים, מַתְרִיעִין, וְלֹא מוֹצִיאִין.)
§ The Gemara provides a mnemonic for the ensuing discussions: Hoarders of produce; one may not hoard; and one may not export; and one may not earn a profit; twice from the sale of eggs; they sound the alarm; and one may not leave.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אוֹצְרֵי פֵירוֹת, וּמַלְוֵי בְּרִבִּית, וּמַקְטִינֵי אֵיפָה, וּמַפְקִיעֵי שְׁעָרִים – עֲלֵיהֶן הַכָּתוּב אוֹמֵר: ״לֵאמֹר מָתַי יַעֲבֹר הַחֹדֶשׁ וְנַשְׁבִּירָה שֶּׁבֶר, וְהַשַּׁבָּת וְנִפְתְּחָה בָּר, לְהַקְטִין אֵיפָה וּלְהַגְדִּיל שֶׁקֶל, וּלְעַוֵּת מֹאזְנֵי מִרְמָה״. וּכְתִיב: ״נִשְׁבַּע ה׳ בִּגְאוֹן יַעֲקֹב, אִם אֶשְׁכַּח לָנֶצַח כׇּל מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם״.
The Sages taught: Hoarders of produce, who drive up prices by causing a shortage of available goods, and usurers, and those sellers who falsely reduce their measures, and those who raise market prices by selling for more than the accepted price, about them the verse states: “You that would swallow the needy and destroy the poor of the land, saying: When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell produce? And the Shabbat, that we may set forth grain? Making the measure small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances of deceit” (Amos 8:4–5). And it is written: “The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob: Surely I will never forget any of their works” (Amos 8:7).
אוֹצְרֵי פֵירוֹת – כְּגוֹן מַאן? אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: כְּגוֹן שַׁבְּתַי אַצָּר פֵּירוֹת.
The Gemara asks: Hoarders of produce, such as whom? Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Such as Shabbtai, the hoarder of produce, who would buy and hoard large amounts of produce and later sell it at a high price.
אֲבוּהּ דִּשְׁמוּאֵל מְזַבֵּין לְהוּ לְפֵירֵי בְּתַרְעָא חָרְפָא, כְּתַרְעָא חָרְפָא. שְׁמוּאֵל בְּרֵיהּ, מַשְׁהֵי לְפֵירֵי, וּמְזַבֵּין לְהוּ בְּתַרְעָא אַפְלָא – כְּתַרְעָא חָרְפָא. שְׁלַחוּ מִתָּם: טָבָא דְּאַבָּא מִדִּבְרָא. מַאי טַעְמָא? תַּרְעָא דְּרָוַוח – רָוַוח.
The Gemara relates: Shmuel’s father would sell produce during the period of the early market price, when produce is cheap, for the early market price. His son Shmuel acted differently, and would keep the produce and sell it during the period of the late market price, when produce is expensive, for the early market price. They sent a message from there, Eretz Yisrael: The practice of the father is better than that of the son. What is the reason for this? A market price that has been eased and starts out low will remain eased, with little increase over the course of the year. Therefore, one who makes produce available at the beginning of the season, like Shmuel’s father, aids people during the entire year. By contrast, a market price that starts out high, because people are not making their produce available at the market, is not easily lowered.
אָמַר רַב: עוֹשֶׂה אָדָם אֶת קַבּוֹ אוֹצָר. תַּנְיָא נָמֵי הָכִי: אֵין אוֹצְרִין פֵּירוֹת – דְּבָרִים שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶן חַיֵּי נֶפֶשׁ, כְּגוֹן: יֵינוֹת, שְׁמָנִין וּסְלָתוֹת. אֲבָל תְּבָלִין, כַּמּוֹן וּפִלְפְּלִין – מוּתָּר. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים – בְּלוֹקֵחַ מִן הַשּׁוּק, אֲבָל בְּמַכְנִיס מִשֶּׁלּוֹ – מוּתָּר.
Rav says: A person may turn his own kav into a storeroom, i.e., he may hoard the produce of his own field and sell it only at a later stage, without violating the prohibition of hoarding produce. This is also taught in a baraita: One may not hoard produce of items that contain an element of basic sustenance, such as wines, oils, and flours, but in the case of spices, such as cumin and pepper, it is permitted. In what case is this statement said? It is with regard to one who buys that produce from the market to resell later; but with regard to one who brings in produce from his own field, it is permitted for any type of produce.
וּמוּתָּר לָאָדָם לֶאֱצוֹר פֵּירוֹת בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים – עֶרֶב שְׁבִיעִית, וּשְׁבִיעִית, וּמוֹצָאֵי שְׁבִיעִית.
The baraita continues: And it is permitted for a person to hoard produce in Eretz Yisrael for these three years: The year preceding the Sabbatical Year, the Sabbatical Year, and the year that follows the Sabbatical Year, because the land lies fallow during the seventh year, the Sabbatical Year, and the produce of the sixth year must last through these three years, until near the end of the eighth year.
וּבִשְׁנֵי בַצּוֹרֶת – אֲפִילּוּ קַב חָרוּבִין לֹא יֶאֱצוֹר, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁמַּכְנִיס מְאֵרָה בַּשְּׁעָרִים. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא לְפוּגָא שַׁמָּעֵיהּ: פּוּק אֱצַר לִי פֵּירֵי שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים – עֶרֶב שְׁבִיעִית, וּשְׁבִיעִית, וּמוֹצָאֵי שְׁבִיעִית.
And in years of drought one may not hoard even a kav of carobs, because he thereby brings a curse on market prices, as everyone is fearful of selling and even a small fluctuation in supply can cause a significant rise in prices. Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, who was living in Eretz Yisrael, said to his servant Fuga: Go and hoard produce for me for the coming three years: The year preceding the Sabbatical Year, the Sabbatical Year, and the year that follows the Sabbatical Year.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אֵין מוֹצִיאִין פֵּירוֹת מֵאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל – דְּבָרִים שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶן חַיֵּי נֶפֶשׁ, כְּגוֹן: יֵינוֹת, שְׁמָנִים וּסְלָתוֹת. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בֶּן בְּתֵירָא מַתִּיר בַּיַּיִן, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁמְּמַעֵט אֶת הַתִּיפְלָה. וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁאֵין מוֹצִיאִין מֵאֶרֶץ לְחוּץ לָאָרֶץ, כָּךְ אֵין מוֹצִיאִין מֵאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְסוּרְיָא. וְרַבִּי מַתִּיר
§ The Sages taught: One may not export produce from Eretz Yisrael if it consists of items that contain an element of basic sustenance, such as wines, oils, and flours, because this causes them to become more expensive in Eretz Yisrael. Rabbi Yehuda ben Beteira permits export in the case of wine, because this lessens licentiousness in Eretz Yisrael. And just as one may not export these types of produce from Eretz Yisrael to outside of Eretz Yisrael, so too one may not export them from Eretz Yisrael to Syria, as Syria is not considered part of Eretz Yisrael in this context. And Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi permits the export of produce
