If one who finds a lost item does not want to lose out on getting compensated for their full wages while attending to the lost item, one can stipulate this in front of a court (three men) and then the one who lost the item will need to compensate the finder the full amount. Raba bar Rav Huna wanted to apply this law to a case where Rav Safra took his half of a shared business deal in front of witnesses, but not three men. Rav Safra rejected this proof, but Abaye brought proof from a different source that indeed Rav Safra was required to divide the money in front of three men. If one finds an animal in a cowshed, it is not considered a lost item but in a public thoroughfare, it is. Is this within the borders of the city or outside the borders? If one’s parent tells one to do something against what the Torah commands, one cannot listen to the parent. For example, if a parent tells their child not to return a lost item, the child must disobey the parent. This is derived from Vayikra 19:3 where the commandment to fear one’s parent is followed by a commandment to keep Shabbat. Rabbi Shimon and the rabbis have a debate regarding the laws of helping another to load a burden – can one demand compensation for lost wages or not? What is the basis of the debate? Both would agree however, that theoretically, one could have derived laws of unloading from laws of loading from a kal v’chomer argument. Rava tries to derive from this that the mitzva of tzaar baalei chayim, the commandment to prevent suffering to animals is a Torah law, as the kal v’chomer argument would be that if one is obligated to help load, when there is no suffering to the animal, kal v’chomer they are obligated to unload, where the animal is suffering. This is rejected as the kal v’chomer argument could be based on the fact that loading does not involve a financial loss and unloading does. But then the Gemara rejects that, as in loading, there is also a financial loss. Various sources are brought to determine if Rava is correct in assuming that tzaar baalei chayim is a Torah law.
Bava Metzia
Masechet Bava Metzia is sponsored by Rabbi Art Gould in memory of his beloved bride of 50 years, Carol Joy Robinson, Karina Gola bat Huddah v’Yehuda Tzvi.
רבות בנות עשו חיל ואת עלית על־כלנה
This month’s learning is sponsored by Marci Glazer in loving memory of her teacher and chevruta, Rachel Brodie, Rachel Aviva bat Devora Chana, on her 4th yahrzeit. “She brought her love of Torah to thousands of people in her all-too-short life. A lover of Midrash, she still invited me on this Daf Yomi journey.”
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Bava Metzia
Masechet Bava Metzia is sponsored by Rabbi Art Gould in memory of his beloved bride of 50 years, Carol Joy Robinson, Karina Gola bat Huddah v’Yehuda Tzvi.
רבות בנות עשו חיל ואת עלית על־כלנה
This month’s learning is sponsored by Marci Glazer in loving memory of her teacher and chevruta, Rachel Brodie, Rachel Aviva bat Devora Chana, on her 4th yahrzeit. “She brought her love of Torah to thousands of people in her all-too-short life. A lover of Midrash, she still invited me on this Daf Yomi journey.”
Bava Metzia 32
תְּרֵי מִגּוֹ תְּלָתָא, וְאִי נָמֵי תְּרֵי סָהֲדִי דִּפְלַגְתְּ בְּאַפֵּי בֵּי תְלָתָא.
two of the three of them to testify that you dissolved the partnership before them. Or alternatively, bring two witnesses to testify that you dissolved the partnership before a court of three.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מְנָא לָךְ הָא? אֲמַר לֵיהּ, דִּתְנַן: אִם יֵשׁ שָׁם בֵּית דִּין – מַתְנֶה בִּפְנֵיהֶם, אֵין שָׁם בֵּית דִּין – בִּפְנֵי מִי יַתְנֶה? שֶׁלּוֹ קוֹדֵם.
Rav Safra said to Rabba bar Rav Huna: From where do you know this halakha, that dissolution of the partnership may be accomplished only before a court? Rabba bar Rav Huna said to him: It is as we learned in the mishna: If there are three men there who can convene as a court, he may stipulate before the court that he will undertake to return the item provided that he receives full compensation for lost income. But if there is no court there, before whom can he stipulate his condition? Rather, in that case, his financial interests take precedence, and he need not return the lost item. Apparently, one stipulates binding conditions with regard to another’s property only before a court.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מִי דָּמֵי?! הָתָם דְּמַפֵּיק מָמוֹנָא מֵהַאי וּמוֹתֵיב לְהַאי בָּעֵינַן בֵּית דִּין, אֲבָל הָכָא דִּידִיה שְׁקַלִי גִּילּוּי מִילְּתָא בְּעָלְמָא הוּא בִּתְרֵי סַגִּי לֵיהּ. תִּדַּע, דִּתְנַן: אַלְמָנָה מוֹכֶרֶת שֶׁלֹּא בִּפְנֵי בֵּית דִּין!
Rav Safra said to Rabba bar Rav Huna: Is that case in the mishna comparable to this case? There, where he is removing property from the possession of this person and giving it to that person, we require a court. But here, referring to himself in the third person, he is merely taking his own property, and not the property of any other person. There is no transaction effected here. It is mere disclosure of the matter that he divided the joint property equitably, and two witnesses are sufficient for him to disclose that fact. Rav Safra cites proof. Know that this is so, as we learned in a mishna (Ketubot 97a) that a widow owed sustenance from her husband’s estate sells the property of the estate when not before a court. Apparently, one need not involve the court when reclaiming property that belongs to him.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ אַבָּיֵי: וְלָאו מִי אִתְּמַר עֲלַהּ ״אָמַר רַב יוֹסֵף בַּר מִנְיוֹמֵי אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן: אַלְמָנָה אֵינָהּ צְרִיכָה בֵּית דִּין שֶׁל מוּמְחִין, אֲבָל צְרִיכָה בֵּית דִּין שֶׁל הֶדְיוֹטוֹת״?
Abaye said to him: But wasn’t it stated with regard to that mishna that Rav Yosef bar Minyumi says that Rav Naḥman says: The court before which a widow sells the property of the estate need not be a court of experts, but is required to be at least a court of laymen. Therefore, as in the parallel case of the widow, even when disclosing that one took property belonging to him, two witnesses are not sufficient and a court is required.
מַתְנִי׳ מְצָאָהּ בָּרֶפֶת – אֵין חַיָּיב בָּהּ. בִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים – חַיָּיב בָּהּ. וְאִם הָיְתָה בְּבֵית הַקְּבָרוֹת – לֹא יִטַּמֵּא לָהּ. אִם אָמַר לוֹ אָבִיו ״הִיטַּמֵּא״, אוֹ שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ ״אַל תַּחְזִיר״ – לֹא יִשְׁמַע לוֹ.
MISHNA: If one found an animal in a stable belonging to its owner, he is not obligated to return it to its owner. If he found it in a public area, he is obligated to return it. And if the animal was lost in a graveyard and a priest found it, he may not become impure to return it. If his father said to him: Become impure; or in a case where one was obligated to return the animal and his father said to him: Do not return it, he may not listen to his father, as one may not violate Torah law to honor his father.
פָּרַק וְטָעַן, פָּרַק וְטָעַן, אֲפִילּוּ אַרְבָּעָה וַחֲמִישָׁה פְּעָמִים – חַיָּיב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״עָזֹב תַּעֲזֹב״.
If one unloaded a burden from an animal collapsing under its weight and then later loaded it onto the animal, and later unloaded and loaded it again, even if this scenario repeats itself four or five times, he is obligated to continue unloading and loading, as it is stated: “If you see the donkey of him that hates you collapsed under its burden, you shall forgo passing him by; you shall release it [azov ta’azov] with him” (Exodus 23:5). It is derived from the verse that one is obligated to perform the action as needed, even several times.
הָלַךְ וְיָשַׁב לוֹ, וְאָמַר: ״הוֹאִיל וְעָלֶיךָ מִצְוָה, אִם רְצוֹנְךָ לִפְרוֹק – פְּרוֹק״ – פָּטוּר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״עִמּוֹ״. אִם הָיָה זָקֵן אוֹ חוֹלֶה – חַיָּיב.
If the owner went, and sat, and said to a passerby: Since there is a mitzva incumbent upon you to unload the burden, if it is your wish to unload the burden, unload it, in such a case the passerby is exempt, as it is stated: “You shall release it with him,” with the owner of the animal. If the failure of the owner to participate in unloading the burden was due to the fact he was old or infirm, the passerby is obligated to unload the burden alone.
מִצְוָה מִן הַתּוֹרָה לִפְרוֹק אֲבָל לֹא לִטְעוֹן. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: אַף לִטְעוֹן.
There is a mitzva by Torah law to unload a burden, but there is no mitzva to load it. Rabbi Shimon says: There is even a mitzva to load the burden.
רַבִּי יוֹסֵי הַגְּלִילִי אוֹמֵר: אִם הָיָה עָלָיו יָתֵר עַל מַשָּׂאוֹ – אֵין זָקוּק לוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״תַּחַת מַשָּׂאוֹ״, מַשּׂאוֹי שֶׁיָּכוֹל לַעֲמוֹד בּוֹ.
Rabbi Yosei HaGelili says: If there was a burden upon the animal greater than its typical burden, one need not attend to it, as it is stated: “Under its burden,” i.e., the obligation is with regard to a burden that the animal can bear.
גְּמָ׳ אָמַר רָבָא: רֶפֶת שֶׁאָמְרוּ אֵינָהּ מַתְעָה וְאֵינָהּ מְשַׁמֶּרֶת. אֵינָהּ מַתְעָה, מִדְּקָתָנֵי ״אֵינוֹ חַיָּיב בָּהּ״. וְאֵינָהּ מְשַׁמֶּרֶת, מִדְּאִיצְטְרִיךְ לְמִיתְנֵי ״אֵינוֹ חַיָּיב בָּהּ״.
GEMARA: The mishna teaches that if one found an animal in a stable, he need not return it to its owner. Rava said: The stable that the Sages mentioned in the mishna is one that neither encourages the animal to stray nor secures the animal so it will not flee. The Gemara explains Rava’s statement. That it does not encourage the animal to stray is learned from the fact that the tanna teaches: He is not obligated in its return. The fact that it does not secure the animal is learned from the fact that it was necessary for the tanna to teach: He is not obligated in its return.
דְּאִי סָלְקָא דַעְתָּךְ מְשַׁמֶּרֶת, הַשְׁתָּא מַשְׁכַּח לָהּ אַבָּרַאי מְעַיֵּיל לַהּ לְגַוַּאי, מַשְׁכַּח לַהּ מִגַּוַּאי מִבַּעְיָא? אֶלָּא שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ: אֵינָהּ מְשַׁמֶּרֶת, שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ.
The Gemara continues its explanation of Rava’s statement: As, if it enters your mind to say that it is a stable that secures the animal, that ruling would be extraneous. Now that in a case where one found the animal outside a stable he brings it inside a stable of that type and thereby returns the animal to its owner, in a case where he found the animal inside the stable is it necessary to teach that he is not obligated to return it to its owner? Rather, learn from it that the stable mentioned in the mishna does not secure the animal and therefore there is a possibility that one must return it. The Gemara affirms: Indeed, learn from it that it is a stable that neither encourages the animal to stray nor secures the animal.
מְצָאָהּ בָּרֶפֶת אֵינוֹ חַיָּיב. אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: וְהוּא שֶׁעוֹמֶדֶת תּוֹךְ לַתְּחוּם. מִכְּלָל, דְּבִרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים וַאֲפִילּוּ בְּתוֹךְ הַתְּחוּם – נָמֵי חַיָּיב.
§ The mishna teaches: If one found an animal in a stable belonging to its owner, he is not obligated to return it. Rabbi Yitzḥak says: And that is the halakha only in a case where the animal is standing within the city limits. The Gemara concludes by inference that if the animal was found in a public area he is obligated to return it, and even if it was within the city limits, he is also obligated to return it.
אִיכָּא דְּמַתְנֵי לַהּ אַסֵּיפָא: בִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים חַיָּיב בָּהּ. אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: וְהוּא שֶׁעוֹמֶדֶת חוּץ לַתְּחוּם. מִכְּלַל, דְּבָרֶפֶת אֲפִילּוּ עוֹמֶדֶת חוּץ לַתְּחוּם – נָמֵי אֵינוֹ חַיָּיב בָּהּ.
There are those who teach this statement with regard to the latter clause of the mishna: If he found it in a public area, he is obligated to return it. Rabbi Yitzḥak says: And that is the halakha only in a case where the animal is standing beyond the city limits. The Gemara concludes by inference that in a case where the animal was found in the stable, even if the animal is standing beyond the city limits, he is also not obligated in its return.
בְּבֵית הַקְּבָרוֹת לֹא יִטַּמֵּא לָהּ. תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: מִנַּיִן שֶׁאִם אָמַר לוֹ אָבִיו ״הִיטַּמֵּא״, אוֹ שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ ״אַל תַּחְזִיר״ שֶׁלֹּא יִשְׁמַע לוֹ? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אִישׁ אִמּוֹ וְאָבִיו תִּירָאוּ וְאֶת שַׁבְּתוֹתַי תִּשְׁמֹרוּ אֲנִי ה׳״, כּוּלְּכֶם חַיָּיבִין בִּכְבוֹדִי.
§ The mishna teaches: And if the animal was lost in a graveyard and was found by a priest, he may not become impure to return it. In a case where a priest’s father said to him: Become impure, or in a case where one was obligated to return the animal and his father said to him: Do not return it, he may not listen to his father. The Gemara cites a baraita in which the Sages taught: From where is it derived that if a priest’s father said to him: Become impure, or that if one’s father said to him: Do not return a lost item that you found; he should not listen to him? It is derived from the verse, as it is stated: “Every man shall fear his mother and his father, and you shall observe My Shabbatot; I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:3). From the fact that the verse concludes: “I am the Lord,” it is derived that: You are all, parent and child alike, obligated in My honor. Therefore, if a parent commands his child to refrain from observing a mitzva, he must not obey the command.
טַעְמָא דִּכְתַב רַחֲמָנָא ״אֶת שַׁבְּתוֹתַי תִּשְׁמֹרוּ״ הָא לָאו הָכִי הֲוָה אָמֵינָא (צָיְיתָא) [נֵיצִית] לֵיהּ? וְאַמַּאי? הַאי עֲשֵׂה, וְהַאי לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה וַעֲשֵׂה – וְלָא אָתֵי עֲשֵׂה וְדָחֵי אֶת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה וַעֲשֵׂה!
The Gemara infers: The reason that a priest must not obey his father’s command to become impure is because the Merciful One writes: “You shall observe My Shabbatot; I am the Lord”; but if it were not so, I would say that the child must obey him. The Gemara asks: But why? This obligation to obey a parent is a positive mitzva, as it is written: “Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12), and that obligation of a priest to refrain from becoming impure is both a prohibition: “To the dead among his people he shall not defile himself” (Leviticus 21:1), and a positive mitzva: “You shall be holy” (Leviticus 19:2); and the principle is that a positive mitzva does not come and override a prohibition and a positive mitzva.
אִיצְטְרִיךְ. סָלְקָא דַּעְתָּךְ אָמֵינָא: הוֹאִיל וְהוּקַּשׁ כִּיבּוּד אָב וָאֵם לִכְבוֹדוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר כָּאן ״כַּבֵּד אֶת אָבִיךָ וְאֶת אִמֶּךָ״, וְנֶאֱמַר לְהַלָּן ״כַּבֵּד אֶת ה׳ מֵהוֹנֶךָ״, הִלְכָּךְ לֵצִיית לֵיהּ, קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן דְּלָא לִשְׁמַע לֵיהּ.
The Gemara answers that the derivation from “You shall observe My Shabbatot; I am the Lord” was necessary, as it might enter your mind to say: Since honoring one’s father and mother is equated to the honor of the Omnipresent, as it is stated here: “Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12), and it is stated elsewhere: “Honor the Lord with your wealth” (Proverbs 3:9), therefore, one might have thought that the priest must obey his father’s command to become impure. Therefore the Torah teaches us that the priest is commanded not to listen to him.
מִצְוָה מִן הַתּוֹרָה לִפְרוֹק אֲבָל לֹא לִטְעוֹן. מַאי אֲבָל לֹא לִטְעוֹן? אִילֵימָא אֲבָל לֹא לִטְעוֹן כְּלָל, מַאי שְׁנָא פְּרִיקָה, דִּכְתִיב ״עָזֹב תַּעֲזֹב עִמּוֹ״, טְעִינָה נָמֵי הָכְתִיב ״הָקֵם תָּקִים עִמּוֹ״!
§ The mishna teaches: There is a mitzva by Torah law to unload a burden, but there is no mitzva to load it. The Gemara asks: What is the meaning of the phrase: But there is no mitzva to load it? If we say that it means: But there is no mitzva to load it at all; what is different about unloading, with regard to which it is written: “You shall release it with him” (Exodus 23:5)? With regard to loading as well, isn’t it written: “You shall lift them with him” (Deuteronomy 22:4)?
אֶלָּא: מִצְוָה מִן הַתּוֹרָה לִפְרוֹק בְּחִנָּם, וְלֹא לִטְעוֹן בְּחִנָּם אֶלָּא בְּשָׂכָר. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: אַף לִטְעוֹן בְּחִנָּם. תְּנֵינָא לְהָא דְּתָנוּ רַבָּנַן: פְּרִיקָה בְּחִנָּם, טְעִינָה בְּשָׂכָר. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: זוֹ וָזוֹ בְּחִנָּם.
The Gemara answers: Rather, there is a mitzva by Torah law to unload the burden for free, but there is no mitzva to load it for free; rather, the mitzva is performed with remuneration. Rabbi Shimon says: There is also a mitzva to load it for free. The Gemara states: We learn by inference from the mishna that which the Sages taught explicitly in a baraita: Unloading is performed for free, and loading is performed with remuneration. Rabbi Shimon said: Both this and that are performed for free.
מַאי טַעְמַיְיהוּ דְּרַבָּנַן? דְּאִי סָלְקָא דַעְתָּךְ כְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, לִכְתּוֹב רַחֲמָנָא טְעִינָה וְלָא בָּעֵי פְּרִיקָה. וַאֲנָא אָמֵינָא: וּמָה טְעִינָה דְּלֵית בַּהּ צַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים וְלֵיכָּא חֶסְרוֹן כִּיס – חַיָּיב, פְּרִיקָה דְּאִית בָּהּ צַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים וְחֶסְרוֹן כִּיס, לֹא כׇּל שֶׁכֵּן?! אֶלָּא לְמַאי הִלְכְתָא כַּתְבֵיהּ רַחֲמָנָא? לוֹמַר לָךְ: פְּרִיקָה בְּחִנָּם, טְעִינָה בְּשָׂכָר.
The Gemara asks: What is the reason for the opinion of the Rabbis that there is a distinction between unloading and loading with regard to remuneration? The reason is that if it enters your mind that the halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Shimon, let the Merciful One write only the mitzva of loading, and then He would need not write the mitzva of unloading, and I would say: Just as with regard to loading, where there is no potential suffering of animals and there is no potential monetary loss for the owner, one is obligated to load the burden, with regard to unloading, where there is potential suffering of animals and there is potential monetary loss for the owner, is it not all the more so clear that one is required to unload the burden? Rather, with regard to what halakha did the Merciful One write the mitzva of unloading? It is to tell you: The mitzva of unloading the burden is performed for free, but the mitzva of loading is performed with remuneration.
וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן מַאי טַעְמָא? מִשּׁוּם דְּלָא מְסַיְּימִי קְרָאֵי.
The Gemara asks: And according to Rabbi Shimon, who holds that even loading is performed for free, what is the reason that the Torah writes the mitzva of unloading? The Gemara answers: It is because the verses are not clearly defined, and it is unclear which of the verses refers to loading and which refers to unloading. Had the Torah written one verse, it would have been interpreted with regard to unloading, and there would be no source that one needs to load an animal.
וְרַבָּנַן אַמַּאי לָא מְסַיְּימִי קְרָאֵי? הָכָא כְּתִיב ״רוֹבֵץ תַּחַת מַשָּׂאוֹ״, הָתָם כְּתִיב ״נוֹפְלִין בַּדֶּרֶךְ״, דִּרְמוּ אִינְהוּ וּטְעוּנַיְיהוּ בְּאוֹרְחָא מַשְׁמַע. וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן: ״נוֹפְלִין בַּדֶּרֶךְ״ אִינְהוּ וּטְעוּנַיְיהוּ עִלָּוַיְיהוּ מַשְׁמַע.
And the Rabbis could ask: Why does Rabbi Shimon say that the verses are not clearly defined? Here it is written: “Collapsed under its burden” (Exodus 23:5), clearly referring to the case of a burden that needs unloading, and there it is written: “Fallen down by the way” (Deuteronomy 22:4), indicating that both the animals and their burdens are lying on the way and are in need of loading. And Rabbi Shimon explains that the verses are not defined because the phrase “fallen down by the way” could be understood as indicating that the animals are fallen with their burdens upon them, and referring to unloading.
אָמַר רָבָא:
Rava says:
מִדִּבְרֵי שְׁנֵיהֶם נִלְמַד צַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא. וַאֲפִילּוּ רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן לָא קָאָמַר, אֶלָּא מִשּׁוּם דְּלָא מְסַיְּימִי קְרָאֵי. אֲבָל מְסַיְּימִי קְרָאֵי דָּרְשִׁינַן קַל וָחוֹמֶר, מִשּׁוּם מַאי? לָאו מִשּׁוּם צַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים דָּרְשִׁינַן?
From the statements of both of these tanna’im it can be learned that the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is by Torah law. As even Rabbi Shimon says that he disagreed with the opinion of the Rabbis only because the verses are not clearly defined; but had the verses been clearly defined, we would have learned the same a fortiori inference. Due to what factor can that inference be learned? What, is it not due to the matter of suffering of animals, which is a factor in unloading and not a factor in loading, that we would have learned the a fortiori inference?
דִּלְמָא מִשּׁוּם דְּאִיכָּא חֶסְרוֹן כִּיס. וְהָכִי קָאָמַר: וּמָה טְעִינָה דְּלֵית בַּהּ חֶסְרוֹן כִּיס – חַיָּיב, פְּרִיקָה דְּאִית בַּהּ חֶסְרוֹן כִּיס, לֹא כׇּל שֶׁכֵּן?!
The Gemara rejects that proof. Perhaps the a fortiori inference is due to the fact that there is the factor of monetary loss in unloading but not in loading, and this is what the Rabbis are saying: If in the case of loading, where if one fails to assist the owner there is no potential monetary loss, one is obligated to help load the animal, in the case of unloading, where if one fails to assist the owner there is potential monetary loss, is it not all the more so clear that one is required to unload the burden?
וּטְעִינָה אֵין בָּהּ חֶסְרוֹן כִּיס? מִי לָא עָסְקִינַן דְּאַדְּהָכִי וְהָכִי בָּטֵיל מִשּׁוּקֵיהּ, אִי נָמֵי אָתוּ גַּנָּבֵי וְשָׁקְלִי כֹּל מָה דְּאִיכָּא בַּהֲדֵיהּ?
The Gemara asks: But is there no potential monetary loss in loading? Are we not also dealing with a case where in the meanwhile, while the owner waits for assistance, he will be prevented from bringing his merchandise to the marketplace in time to sell it; alternatively, thieves might come and take all the merchandise that is there with him? Therefore, no a fortiori inference can be learned on the basis of monetary loss, and the inference must be based on the matter of the suffering of animals.
תֵּדַע דְּצַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא, דְּקָתָנֵי סֵיפָא: רַבִּי יוֹסֵי הַגְּלִילִי אוֹמֵר: אִם הָיָה עָלָיו יָתֵר [עַל] מַשָּׂאוֹ – אֵין זָקוּק לוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״תַּחַת מַשָּׂאוֹ״, מַשּׂאוֹי שֶׁיָּכוֹל לַעֲמוֹד בּוֹ. לָאו מִכְּלָל דְּתַנָּא קַמָּא סָבַר זָקוּק לוֹ? מַאי טַעְמָא? לָאו מִשּׁוּם דְּצַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא?
The Gemara cites an additional proof: Know that the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is by Torah law, as it is taught in the latter clause of the mishna: Rabbi Yosei HaGelili says: If there was a burden upon the animal greater than its typical burden, one need not attend to it, as it is stated: “Under its burden” (Exodus 23:5). Rabbi Yosei holds that the obligation to unload an animal is with regard to a burden that the animal can bear; does this not indicate by inference that the first tanna holds that he must attend to it to unload a burden that is greater than its typical burden? What is the reason for this ruling; is it not due to the fact that the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is by Torah law?
דִּלְמָא ״בְּתַחַת מַשָּׂאוֹ״ פְּלִיגִי, דְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי סָבַר: דָּרְשִׁינַן ״תַּחַת מַשָּׂאוֹ״, מַשּׂאוֹי שֶׁיָּכוֹל לַעֲמוֹד בּוֹ, וְרַבָּנַן סָבְרִי: לָא דָּרְשִׁינַן ״תַּחַת מַשָּׂאוֹ״.
The Gemara rejects that proof: Perhaps it is with regard to the meaning of the phrase “under its burden” that they disagree, as Rabbi Yosei HaGelili holds that we interpret the phrase “under its burden” to mean: A burden that the animal can bear. And the Rabbis hold that we do not interpret the phrase “under its burden” in this manner.
תֵּדַע דְּצַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים לָאו דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא, דְּקָתָנֵי רֵישָׁא: הָלַךְ וְיָשַׁב לוֹ וְאָמַר לוֹ הוֹאִיל וְעָלֶיךָ מִצְוָה לִפְרוֹק, פְּרוֹק פָּטוּר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר עִמּוֹ. וְאִי סָלְקָא דַעְתָּךְ צַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא, מָה לִי אִיתֵיהּ לְמָרֵיהּ בַּהֲדֵיהּ, וּמָה לִי כִּי לֵיתֵיהּ לְמָרֵיהּ בַּהֲדֵיהּ?
The Gemara cites an additional proof: Know that the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is not by Torah law, as it is taught in the former clause of the mishna: If the owner went, and sat, and said to a passerby: Since there is a mitzva incumbent upon you to unload the burden, unload it, the passerby is exempt, as it is stated: “You shall release it with him” (Exodus 23:5). And if it enters your mind that the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is by Torah law, what is it to me if its owner is working with the passerby and what is it to me if its owner is not working with the passerby? The animal suffers in both cases.
לְעוֹלָם צַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא, מִי סָבְרַתְּ פָּטוּר פָּטוּר לִגְמָרֵי? וְדִלְמָא פָּטוּר בְּחִנָּם, וְחַיָּיב בְּשָׂכָר. וְהָכִי קָאָמַר רַחֲמָנָא: כִּי אִיתֵיהּ לְמָרֵיהּ בַּהֲדֵיהּ – עֲבֵד גַּבֵּיהּ בְּחִנָּם, וְכִי לֵיתֵיהּ לְמָרֵיהּ בַּהֲדֵיהּ – עֲבֵד גַּבֵּיהּ בְּשָׂכָר, וּלְעוֹלָם צַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא.
The Gemara rejects that proof: Actually, one could say that the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is by Torah law. And when the tanna exempts the passerby when the owner does not participate in unloading the burden, do you maintain that exempt means completely exempt? Perhaps it means that the passerby is exempt from unloading the burden for free, but is obligated to do so for remuneration; and this is what the Merciful One said: If its owner is working with the passerby, perform the unloading with him for free; and if its owner is not working with the passerby, perform the unloading for him for remuneration. And actually, the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is by Torah law.
(סִימַן בֶּהֱמַת, בֶּהֱמַת, אוֹהֵב, שׂוֹנֵא, רַבְצָן).
The Gemara presents a mnemonic for a series of proposed proofs cited by the Gemara: Animal of; animal of; friend; enemy; collapser.
לֵימָא מְסַיַּיע לֵיהּ: בֶּהֱמַת גּוֹי מִטַּפֵּל בָּהּ כְּבֶהֱמַת יִשְׂרָאֵל. אִי אָמְרַתְּ בִּשְׁלָמָא צַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא – מִשּׁוּם הָכִי מִטַּפֵּל בָּהּ כְּבֶהֱמַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֶלָּא אִי אָמְרַתְּ צַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים לָאו דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא, אַמַּאי מִטַּפֵּל בָּהּ כְּבֶהֱמַת יִשְׂרָאֵל? הָתָם מִשּׁוּם אֵיבָה.
Let us say that a baraita supports Rava’s opinion that the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is by Torah law: If one encounters the animal of a gentile collapsed under its burden, he tends to it and unloads its burden, as he would the animal of a Jew. The Gemara reasons: Granted, if you say that the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is by Torah law, it is due to that reason that he tends to it as he would the animal of a Jew. But if you say that the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is not by Torah law, why does he tend to it as he would the animal of a Jew? The Gemara rejects the proof: There one tends to the animal due to enmity that would arise if gentiles see Jews assisting their own people and not gentiles. The obligation is not due to the requirement to prevent suffering of animals.
הָכִי נָמֵי מִסְתַּבְּרָא, דְּקָתָנֵי: אִם הָיְתָה טְעוּנָה יֵין נֶסֶךְ – אֵין זָקוּק לָהּ. אִי אָמְרַתְּ בִּשְׁלָמָא לָאו דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא – מִשּׁוּם הָכִי אֵין זָקוּק לָהּ, אֶלָּא אִי אָמְרַתְּ דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא – אַמַּאי אֵין זָקוּק לָהּ? הָכִי קָאָמַר: וּלְהַטְעִינָהּ יֵין נֶסֶךְ אֵין זָקוּק לָהּ.
So too, it is reasonable to explain the baraita in this manner, as it is taught in another baraita: If the animal of a gentile was loaded with wine used for a libation to idolatry, and the animal is collapsed under its burden, a Jew does not attend to it. Granted, if you say that the requirement to prevent suffering of animals is not by Torah law, it is due to that reason that he does not attend to it. But if you say that the obligation is by Torah law, why does he not attend to it; isn’t the animal suffering? The Gemara answers that this is what the tanna is saying: And to load the animal with wine used for a libation to idolatry, he does not attend to it. Loading an animal does not alleviate its suffering. Furthermore, the refusal of the Jew to handle the libation wine will not cause enmity, because he can explain that his religion precludes him from handling these materials.
תָּא שְׁמַע: בֶּהֱמַת גּוֹי וּמַשּׂאוֹי יִשְׂרָאֵל, ״וְחָדַלְתָּ״. וְאִי אָמְרַתְּ צַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא, אַמַּאי ״וְחָדַלְתָּ״? ״עָזֹב תַּעֲזֹב״ מִבְּעֵי לֵיהּ! לְעוֹלָם צַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא, הָתָם בִּטְעִינָה.
The Gemara suggests: Come and hear proof from a baraita: If one encounters the animal of a gentile collapsed under the burden of a Jew, he may refuse to unload the burden, as it is written: “If you see the donkey of him that hates you collapsed under its burden, you shall forgo passing him by; you shall release it with him” (Exodus 23:5). By employing the phrase “you shall forgo,” the verse indicates that there are circumstances in which one may forgo unloading the animal. The Gemara reasons: And if you say that the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is by Torah law, why is there the option of: “You shall forgo”? The Torah should have commanded only: “You shall release it with him.” The Gemara answers: Actually, say that the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is by Torah law, and there the baraita is referring to a case of loading, where suffering of animals is not a factor.
אִי הָכִי, אֵימָא סֵיפָא: בֶּהֱמַת יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמַשּׂאוֹי גּוֹי ״עָזֹב תַּעֲזֹב״. וְאִי בִּטְעִינָה, אַמַּאי ״עָזֹב תַּעֲזֹב״? מִשּׁוּם צַעֲרָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל.
The Gemara asks: If so, say the latter clause of the baraita: With regard to a case involving the animal of a Jew collapsed under the burden of a gentile, it is written: “You shall release it.” And if the baraita is referring to a case of loading, where suffering of animals is not a factor, why does the baraita state: “You shall release it”? The Gemara answers: It is because in that case, there is suffering of the Jew, who is delayed while waiting for the animal to be loaded.
אִי הָכִי, אֲפִילּוּ רֵישָׁא נָמֵי! רֵישָׁא בְּחַמָּר גּוֹי סֵיפָא בְּחַמָּר יִשְׂרָאֵל. מַאי פָּסְקַתְּ? סְתָמָא דְּמִלְּתָא אִינִישׁ בָּתַר חֲמָרֵיהּ אָזֵיל.
The Gemara asks: If so, then the halakha should be the same even in the first clause. Why is there no requirement to prevent the suffering of the Jewish partner in that case? The Gemara answers: The ruling of the first clause is stated with regard to a gentile donkey driver, and the Jewish owner of the burden is absent. The ruling of the latter clause is stated with regard to a Jewish donkey driver and one is obligated to prevent his suffering. The Gemara asks: On what basis did you arrive at this definitive assertion that the animal of a Jew is driven by that Jew and the animal of a gentile is driven by that gentile? The Gemara answers: The typical state of matters is that a person follows his donkey. The first clause addressed the case of a gentile’s donkey, so presumably its driver is gentile. The latter clause addressed the case of a Jew’s donkey, so presumably its driver is a Jew.
וְהָא ״וְחָדַלְתָּ״ וְ״עָזֹב תַּעֲזֹב״ בִּפְרִיקָה הוּא דִּכְתִיבִי!
The Gemara questions the explanation that the baraita is referring to cases involving loading. But isn’t it with regard to unloading that the phrases cited in the baraita: “You shall forgo passing him by,” and: “You shall release it,” are written?
אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הָא מַנִּי? רַבִּי יוֹסֵי הַגְּלִילִי הִיא, דְּאָמַר: צַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים לָאו דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא.
The Gemara answers that he said to him: Indeed, the fact that one need not unload the burden from the donkey in the first clause of the baraita indicates that the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is not by Torah law. In accordance with whose opinion is this baraita? It is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yosei HaGelili, who says that the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is not by Torah law. That is the minority opinion, as the Rabbis disagree.
תָּא שְׁמַע: אוֹהֵב לִפְרוֹק וְשׂוֹנֵא לִטְעוֹן – מִצְוָה בְּשׂוֹנֵא, כְּדֵי לָכוֹף אֶת יִצְרוֹ. וְאִי סָלְקָא דַּעְתָּךְ צַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא, הָא עֲדִיף לֵיהּ? אֲפִילּוּ הָכִי, כְּדֵי לָכוֹף אֶת יִצְרוֹ עָדִיף.
The Gemara suggests: Come and hear proof from a baraita: If one encounters a friend whose animal collapsed and it is necessary to unload its burden, and one also encounters an enemy who needs assistance to load a burden onto his animal, the mitzva is to assist the enemy, in order to subjugate one’s evil inclination. The Gemara reasons: And if it enters your mind that the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is by Torah law, that option, to unload his friend’s animal, is the preferable course of action for him. The Gemara answers: Even if the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is by Torah law, even so, loading his enemy’s animal in order to subjugate his evil inclination is preferable.
תָּא שְׁמַע: שׂוֹנֵא שֶׁאָמְרוּ – שׂוֹנֵא יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלֹא שׂוֹנֵא אוּמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם. אִי אָמְרַתְּ צַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא, מָה לִי שׂוֹנֵא יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמָה לִי שׂוֹנֵא אוּמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם?
The Gemara suggests: Come and hear proof from a baraita. The enemy with regard to which they stated the halakha that one must assist with his animal is a Jewish enemy and not a gentile enemy. The Gemara asks: If you say that the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is by Torah law, what is it to me if it is a Jewish enemy and what is it to me if it is a gentile enemy? In either case, failure to unload the burden will cause the animal suffering.
מִי סָבְרַתְּ אַשּׂוֹנֵא דִקְרָא קָאֵי? אַשּׂוֹנֵא דְמַתְנִיתִין קָאֵי.
The Gemara answers: Do you maintain that the reference in the baraita to an enemy applies to the enemy mentioned in the verse: “If you see the donkey of him that hates you collapsed under its burden…you shall release it with him”? It applies to the enemy mentioned in the baraita cited above, in which the tanna taught that loading a burden onto an enemy’s animal is preferable to unloading a burden from a friend’s animal.
תָּא שְׁמַע:
The Gemara suggests: Come and hear proof from a baraita:
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תמיד רציתי. למדתי גמרא בבית ספר בטורונטו קנדה. עליתי ארצה ולמדתי שזה לא מקובל. הופתעתי.
יצאתי לגימלאות לפני שנתיים וזה מאפשר את המחוייבות לדף יומי.
עבורי ההתמדה בלימוד מעגן אותי בקשר שלי ליהדות. אני תמיד מחפשת ותמיד. מוצאת מקור לקשר. ללימוד חדש ומחדש. קשר עם נשים לומדות מעמיק את החוויה ומשמעותית מאוד.
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Michelle has been an inspiration for years, but I only really started this cycle after the moving and uplifting siyum in Jerusalem. It’s been an wonderful to learn and relearn the tenets of our religion and to understand how the extraordinary efforts of a band of people to preserve Judaism after the fall of the beit hamikdash is still bearing fruits today. I’m proud to be part of the chain!
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Oceanside NY, 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!
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Zichron Yaakov, Israel
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Bava Metzia 32
תְּרֵי מִגּוֹ תְּלָתָא, וְאִי נָמֵי תְּרֵי סָהֲדִי דִּפְלַגְתְּ בְּאַפֵּי בֵּי תְלָתָא.
two of the three of them to testify that you dissolved the partnership before them. Or alternatively, bring two witnesses to testify that you dissolved the partnership before a court of three.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מְנָא לָךְ הָא? אֲמַר לֵיהּ, דִּתְנַן: אִם יֵשׁ שָׁם בֵּית דִּין – מַתְנֶה בִּפְנֵיהֶם, אֵין שָׁם בֵּית דִּין – בִּפְנֵי מִי יַתְנֶה? שֶׁלּוֹ קוֹדֵם.
Rav Safra said to Rabba bar Rav Huna: From where do you know this halakha, that dissolution of the partnership may be accomplished only before a court? Rabba bar Rav Huna said to him: It is as we learned in the mishna: If there are three men there who can convene as a court, he may stipulate before the court that he will undertake to return the item provided that he receives full compensation for lost income. But if there is no court there, before whom can he stipulate his condition? Rather, in that case, his financial interests take precedence, and he need not return the lost item. Apparently, one stipulates binding conditions with regard to another’s property only before a court.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מִי דָּמֵי?! הָתָם דְּמַפֵּיק מָמוֹנָא מֵהַאי וּמוֹתֵיב לְהַאי בָּעֵינַן בֵּית דִּין, אֲבָל הָכָא דִּידִיה שְׁקַלִי גִּילּוּי מִילְּתָא בְּעָלְמָא הוּא בִּתְרֵי סַגִּי לֵיהּ. תִּדַּע, דִּתְנַן: אַלְמָנָה מוֹכֶרֶת שֶׁלֹּא בִּפְנֵי בֵּית דִּין!
Rav Safra said to Rabba bar Rav Huna: Is that case in the mishna comparable to this case? There, where he is removing property from the possession of this person and giving it to that person, we require a court. But here, referring to himself in the third person, he is merely taking his own property, and not the property of any other person. There is no transaction effected here. It is mere disclosure of the matter that he divided the joint property equitably, and two witnesses are sufficient for him to disclose that fact. Rav Safra cites proof. Know that this is so, as we learned in a mishna (Ketubot 97a) that a widow owed sustenance from her husband’s estate sells the property of the estate when not before a court. Apparently, one need not involve the court when reclaiming property that belongs to him.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ אַבָּיֵי: וְלָאו מִי אִתְּמַר עֲלַהּ ״אָמַר רַב יוֹסֵף בַּר מִנְיוֹמֵי אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן: אַלְמָנָה אֵינָהּ צְרִיכָה בֵּית דִּין שֶׁל מוּמְחִין, אֲבָל צְרִיכָה בֵּית דִּין שֶׁל הֶדְיוֹטוֹת״?
Abaye said to him: But wasn’t it stated with regard to that mishna that Rav Yosef bar Minyumi says that Rav Naḥman says: The court before which a widow sells the property of the estate need not be a court of experts, but is required to be at least a court of laymen. Therefore, as in the parallel case of the widow, even when disclosing that one took property belonging to him, two witnesses are not sufficient and a court is required.
מַתְנִי׳ מְצָאָהּ בָּרֶפֶת – אֵין חַיָּיב בָּהּ. בִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים – חַיָּיב בָּהּ. וְאִם הָיְתָה בְּבֵית הַקְּבָרוֹת – לֹא יִטַּמֵּא לָהּ. אִם אָמַר לוֹ אָבִיו ״הִיטַּמֵּא״, אוֹ שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ ״אַל תַּחְזִיר״ – לֹא יִשְׁמַע לוֹ.
MISHNA: If one found an animal in a stable belonging to its owner, he is not obligated to return it to its owner. If he found it in a public area, he is obligated to return it. And if the animal was lost in a graveyard and a priest found it, he may not become impure to return it. If his father said to him: Become impure; or in a case where one was obligated to return the animal and his father said to him: Do not return it, he may not listen to his father, as one may not violate Torah law to honor his father.
פָּרַק וְטָעַן, פָּרַק וְטָעַן, אֲפִילּוּ אַרְבָּעָה וַחֲמִישָׁה פְּעָמִים – חַיָּיב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״עָזֹב תַּעֲזֹב״.
If one unloaded a burden from an animal collapsing under its weight and then later loaded it onto the animal, and later unloaded and loaded it again, even if this scenario repeats itself four or five times, he is obligated to continue unloading and loading, as it is stated: “If you see the donkey of him that hates you collapsed under its burden, you shall forgo passing him by; you shall release it [azov ta’azov] with him” (Exodus 23:5). It is derived from the verse that one is obligated to perform the action as needed, even several times.
הָלַךְ וְיָשַׁב לוֹ, וְאָמַר: ״הוֹאִיל וְעָלֶיךָ מִצְוָה, אִם רְצוֹנְךָ לִפְרוֹק – פְּרוֹק״ – פָּטוּר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״עִמּוֹ״. אִם הָיָה זָקֵן אוֹ חוֹלֶה – חַיָּיב.
If the owner went, and sat, and said to a passerby: Since there is a mitzva incumbent upon you to unload the burden, if it is your wish to unload the burden, unload it, in such a case the passerby is exempt, as it is stated: “You shall release it with him,” with the owner of the animal. If the failure of the owner to participate in unloading the burden was due to the fact he was old or infirm, the passerby is obligated to unload the burden alone.
מִצְוָה מִן הַתּוֹרָה לִפְרוֹק אֲבָל לֹא לִטְעוֹן. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: אַף לִטְעוֹן.
There is a mitzva by Torah law to unload a burden, but there is no mitzva to load it. Rabbi Shimon says: There is even a mitzva to load the burden.
רַבִּי יוֹסֵי הַגְּלִילִי אוֹמֵר: אִם הָיָה עָלָיו יָתֵר עַל מַשָּׂאוֹ – אֵין זָקוּק לוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״תַּחַת מַשָּׂאוֹ״, מַשּׂאוֹי שֶׁיָּכוֹל לַעֲמוֹד בּוֹ.
Rabbi Yosei HaGelili says: If there was a burden upon the animal greater than its typical burden, one need not attend to it, as it is stated: “Under its burden,” i.e., the obligation is with regard to a burden that the animal can bear.
גְּמָ׳ אָמַר רָבָא: רֶפֶת שֶׁאָמְרוּ אֵינָהּ מַתְעָה וְאֵינָהּ מְשַׁמֶּרֶת. אֵינָהּ מַתְעָה, מִדְּקָתָנֵי ״אֵינוֹ חַיָּיב בָּהּ״. וְאֵינָהּ מְשַׁמֶּרֶת, מִדְּאִיצְטְרִיךְ לְמִיתְנֵי ״אֵינוֹ חַיָּיב בָּהּ״.
GEMARA: The mishna teaches that if one found an animal in a stable, he need not return it to its owner. Rava said: The stable that the Sages mentioned in the mishna is one that neither encourages the animal to stray nor secures the animal so it will not flee. The Gemara explains Rava’s statement. That it does not encourage the animal to stray is learned from the fact that the tanna teaches: He is not obligated in its return. The fact that it does not secure the animal is learned from the fact that it was necessary for the tanna to teach: He is not obligated in its return.
דְּאִי סָלְקָא דַעְתָּךְ מְשַׁמֶּרֶת, הַשְׁתָּא מַשְׁכַּח לָהּ אַבָּרַאי מְעַיֵּיל לַהּ לְגַוַּאי, מַשְׁכַּח לַהּ מִגַּוַּאי מִבַּעְיָא? אֶלָּא שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ: אֵינָהּ מְשַׁמֶּרֶת, שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ.
The Gemara continues its explanation of Rava’s statement: As, if it enters your mind to say that it is a stable that secures the animal, that ruling would be extraneous. Now that in a case where one found the animal outside a stable he brings it inside a stable of that type and thereby returns the animal to its owner, in a case where he found the animal inside the stable is it necessary to teach that he is not obligated to return it to its owner? Rather, learn from it that the stable mentioned in the mishna does not secure the animal and therefore there is a possibility that one must return it. The Gemara affirms: Indeed, learn from it that it is a stable that neither encourages the animal to stray nor secures the animal.
מְצָאָהּ בָּרֶפֶת אֵינוֹ חַיָּיב. אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: וְהוּא שֶׁעוֹמֶדֶת תּוֹךְ לַתְּחוּם. מִכְּלָל, דְּבִרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים וַאֲפִילּוּ בְּתוֹךְ הַתְּחוּם – נָמֵי חַיָּיב.
§ The mishna teaches: If one found an animal in a stable belonging to its owner, he is not obligated to return it. Rabbi Yitzḥak says: And that is the halakha only in a case where the animal is standing within the city limits. The Gemara concludes by inference that if the animal was found in a public area he is obligated to return it, and even if it was within the city limits, he is also obligated to return it.
אִיכָּא דְּמַתְנֵי לַהּ אַסֵּיפָא: בִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים חַיָּיב בָּהּ. אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: וְהוּא שֶׁעוֹמֶדֶת חוּץ לַתְּחוּם. מִכְּלַל, דְּבָרֶפֶת אֲפִילּוּ עוֹמֶדֶת חוּץ לַתְּחוּם – נָמֵי אֵינוֹ חַיָּיב בָּהּ.
There are those who teach this statement with regard to the latter clause of the mishna: If he found it in a public area, he is obligated to return it. Rabbi Yitzḥak says: And that is the halakha only in a case where the animal is standing beyond the city limits. The Gemara concludes by inference that in a case where the animal was found in the stable, even if the animal is standing beyond the city limits, he is also not obligated in its return.
בְּבֵית הַקְּבָרוֹת לֹא יִטַּמֵּא לָהּ. תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: מִנַּיִן שֶׁאִם אָמַר לוֹ אָבִיו ״הִיטַּמֵּא״, אוֹ שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ ״אַל תַּחְזִיר״ שֶׁלֹּא יִשְׁמַע לוֹ? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אִישׁ אִמּוֹ וְאָבִיו תִּירָאוּ וְאֶת שַׁבְּתוֹתַי תִּשְׁמֹרוּ אֲנִי ה׳״, כּוּלְּכֶם חַיָּיבִין בִּכְבוֹדִי.
§ The mishna teaches: And if the animal was lost in a graveyard and was found by a priest, he may not become impure to return it. In a case where a priest’s father said to him: Become impure, or in a case where one was obligated to return the animal and his father said to him: Do not return it, he may not listen to his father. The Gemara cites a baraita in which the Sages taught: From where is it derived that if a priest’s father said to him: Become impure, or that if one’s father said to him: Do not return a lost item that you found; he should not listen to him? It is derived from the verse, as it is stated: “Every man shall fear his mother and his father, and you shall observe My Shabbatot; I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:3). From the fact that the verse concludes: “I am the Lord,” it is derived that: You are all, parent and child alike, obligated in My honor. Therefore, if a parent commands his child to refrain from observing a mitzva, he must not obey the command.
טַעְמָא דִּכְתַב רַחֲמָנָא ״אֶת שַׁבְּתוֹתַי תִּשְׁמֹרוּ״ הָא לָאו הָכִי הֲוָה אָמֵינָא (צָיְיתָא) [נֵיצִית] לֵיהּ? וְאַמַּאי? הַאי עֲשֵׂה, וְהַאי לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה וַעֲשֵׂה – וְלָא אָתֵי עֲשֵׂה וְדָחֵי אֶת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה וַעֲשֵׂה!
The Gemara infers: The reason that a priest must not obey his father’s command to become impure is because the Merciful One writes: “You shall observe My Shabbatot; I am the Lord”; but if it were not so, I would say that the child must obey him. The Gemara asks: But why? This obligation to obey a parent is a positive mitzva, as it is written: “Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12), and that obligation of a priest to refrain from becoming impure is both a prohibition: “To the dead among his people he shall not defile himself” (Leviticus 21:1), and a positive mitzva: “You shall be holy” (Leviticus 19:2); and the principle is that a positive mitzva does not come and override a prohibition and a positive mitzva.
אִיצְטְרִיךְ. סָלְקָא דַּעְתָּךְ אָמֵינָא: הוֹאִיל וְהוּקַּשׁ כִּיבּוּד אָב וָאֵם לִכְבוֹדוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר כָּאן ״כַּבֵּד אֶת אָבִיךָ וְאֶת אִמֶּךָ״, וְנֶאֱמַר לְהַלָּן ״כַּבֵּד אֶת ה׳ מֵהוֹנֶךָ״, הִלְכָּךְ לֵצִיית לֵיהּ, קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן דְּלָא לִשְׁמַע לֵיהּ.
The Gemara answers that the derivation from “You shall observe My Shabbatot; I am the Lord” was necessary, as it might enter your mind to say: Since honoring one’s father and mother is equated to the honor of the Omnipresent, as it is stated here: “Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12), and it is stated elsewhere: “Honor the Lord with your wealth” (Proverbs 3:9), therefore, one might have thought that the priest must obey his father’s command to become impure. Therefore the Torah teaches us that the priest is commanded not to listen to him.
מִצְוָה מִן הַתּוֹרָה לִפְרוֹק אֲבָל לֹא לִטְעוֹן. מַאי אֲבָל לֹא לִטְעוֹן? אִילֵימָא אֲבָל לֹא לִטְעוֹן כְּלָל, מַאי שְׁנָא פְּרִיקָה, דִּכְתִיב ״עָזֹב תַּעֲזֹב עִמּוֹ״, טְעִינָה נָמֵי הָכְתִיב ״הָקֵם תָּקִים עִמּוֹ״!
§ The mishna teaches: There is a mitzva by Torah law to unload a burden, but there is no mitzva to load it. The Gemara asks: What is the meaning of the phrase: But there is no mitzva to load it? If we say that it means: But there is no mitzva to load it at all; what is different about unloading, with regard to which it is written: “You shall release it with him” (Exodus 23:5)? With regard to loading as well, isn’t it written: “You shall lift them with him” (Deuteronomy 22:4)?
אֶלָּא: מִצְוָה מִן הַתּוֹרָה לִפְרוֹק בְּחִנָּם, וְלֹא לִטְעוֹן בְּחִנָּם אֶלָּא בְּשָׂכָר. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: אַף לִטְעוֹן בְּחִנָּם. תְּנֵינָא לְהָא דְּתָנוּ רַבָּנַן: פְּרִיקָה בְּחִנָּם, טְעִינָה בְּשָׂכָר. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: זוֹ וָזוֹ בְּחִנָּם.
The Gemara answers: Rather, there is a mitzva by Torah law to unload the burden for free, but there is no mitzva to load it for free; rather, the mitzva is performed with remuneration. Rabbi Shimon says: There is also a mitzva to load it for free. The Gemara states: We learn by inference from the mishna that which the Sages taught explicitly in a baraita: Unloading is performed for free, and loading is performed with remuneration. Rabbi Shimon said: Both this and that are performed for free.
מַאי טַעְמַיְיהוּ דְּרַבָּנַן? דְּאִי סָלְקָא דַעְתָּךְ כְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, לִכְתּוֹב רַחֲמָנָא טְעִינָה וְלָא בָּעֵי פְּרִיקָה. וַאֲנָא אָמֵינָא: וּמָה טְעִינָה דְּלֵית בַּהּ צַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים וְלֵיכָּא חֶסְרוֹן כִּיס – חַיָּיב, פְּרִיקָה דְּאִית בָּהּ צַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים וְחֶסְרוֹן כִּיס, לֹא כׇּל שֶׁכֵּן?! אֶלָּא לְמַאי הִלְכְתָא כַּתְבֵיהּ רַחֲמָנָא? לוֹמַר לָךְ: פְּרִיקָה בְּחִנָּם, טְעִינָה בְּשָׂכָר.
The Gemara asks: What is the reason for the opinion of the Rabbis that there is a distinction between unloading and loading with regard to remuneration? The reason is that if it enters your mind that the halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Shimon, let the Merciful One write only the mitzva of loading, and then He would need not write the mitzva of unloading, and I would say: Just as with regard to loading, where there is no potential suffering of animals and there is no potential monetary loss for the owner, one is obligated to load the burden, with regard to unloading, where there is potential suffering of animals and there is potential monetary loss for the owner, is it not all the more so clear that one is required to unload the burden? Rather, with regard to what halakha did the Merciful One write the mitzva of unloading? It is to tell you: The mitzva of unloading the burden is performed for free, but the mitzva of loading is performed with remuneration.
וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן מַאי טַעְמָא? מִשּׁוּם דְּלָא מְסַיְּימִי קְרָאֵי.
The Gemara asks: And according to Rabbi Shimon, who holds that even loading is performed for free, what is the reason that the Torah writes the mitzva of unloading? The Gemara answers: It is because the verses are not clearly defined, and it is unclear which of the verses refers to loading and which refers to unloading. Had the Torah written one verse, it would have been interpreted with regard to unloading, and there would be no source that one needs to load an animal.
וְרַבָּנַן אַמַּאי לָא מְסַיְּימִי קְרָאֵי? הָכָא כְּתִיב ״רוֹבֵץ תַּחַת מַשָּׂאוֹ״, הָתָם כְּתִיב ״נוֹפְלִין בַּדֶּרֶךְ״, דִּרְמוּ אִינְהוּ וּטְעוּנַיְיהוּ בְּאוֹרְחָא מַשְׁמַע. וְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן: ״נוֹפְלִין בַּדֶּרֶךְ״ אִינְהוּ וּטְעוּנַיְיהוּ עִלָּוַיְיהוּ מַשְׁמַע.
And the Rabbis could ask: Why does Rabbi Shimon say that the verses are not clearly defined? Here it is written: “Collapsed under its burden” (Exodus 23:5), clearly referring to the case of a burden that needs unloading, and there it is written: “Fallen down by the way” (Deuteronomy 22:4), indicating that both the animals and their burdens are lying on the way and are in need of loading. And Rabbi Shimon explains that the verses are not defined because the phrase “fallen down by the way” could be understood as indicating that the animals are fallen with their burdens upon them, and referring to unloading.
אָמַר רָבָא:
Rava says:
מִדִּבְרֵי שְׁנֵיהֶם נִלְמַד צַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא. וַאֲפִילּוּ רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן לָא קָאָמַר, אֶלָּא מִשּׁוּם דְּלָא מְסַיְּימִי קְרָאֵי. אֲבָל מְסַיְּימִי קְרָאֵי דָּרְשִׁינַן קַל וָחוֹמֶר, מִשּׁוּם מַאי? לָאו מִשּׁוּם צַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים דָּרְשִׁינַן?
From the statements of both of these tanna’im it can be learned that the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is by Torah law. As even Rabbi Shimon says that he disagreed with the opinion of the Rabbis only because the verses are not clearly defined; but had the verses been clearly defined, we would have learned the same a fortiori inference. Due to what factor can that inference be learned? What, is it not due to the matter of suffering of animals, which is a factor in unloading and not a factor in loading, that we would have learned the a fortiori inference?
דִּלְמָא מִשּׁוּם דְּאִיכָּא חֶסְרוֹן כִּיס. וְהָכִי קָאָמַר: וּמָה טְעִינָה דְּלֵית בַּהּ חֶסְרוֹן כִּיס – חַיָּיב, פְּרִיקָה דְּאִית בַּהּ חֶסְרוֹן כִּיס, לֹא כׇּל שֶׁכֵּן?!
The Gemara rejects that proof. Perhaps the a fortiori inference is due to the fact that there is the factor of monetary loss in unloading but not in loading, and this is what the Rabbis are saying: If in the case of loading, where if one fails to assist the owner there is no potential monetary loss, one is obligated to help load the animal, in the case of unloading, where if one fails to assist the owner there is potential monetary loss, is it not all the more so clear that one is required to unload the burden?
וּטְעִינָה אֵין בָּהּ חֶסְרוֹן כִּיס? מִי לָא עָסְקִינַן דְּאַדְּהָכִי וְהָכִי בָּטֵיל מִשּׁוּקֵיהּ, אִי נָמֵי אָתוּ גַּנָּבֵי וְשָׁקְלִי כֹּל מָה דְּאִיכָּא בַּהֲדֵיהּ?
The Gemara asks: But is there no potential monetary loss in loading? Are we not also dealing with a case where in the meanwhile, while the owner waits for assistance, he will be prevented from bringing his merchandise to the marketplace in time to sell it; alternatively, thieves might come and take all the merchandise that is there with him? Therefore, no a fortiori inference can be learned on the basis of monetary loss, and the inference must be based on the matter of the suffering of animals.
תֵּדַע דְּצַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא, דְּקָתָנֵי סֵיפָא: רַבִּי יוֹסֵי הַגְּלִילִי אוֹמֵר: אִם הָיָה עָלָיו יָתֵר [עַל] מַשָּׂאוֹ – אֵין זָקוּק לוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״תַּחַת מַשָּׂאוֹ״, מַשּׂאוֹי שֶׁיָּכוֹל לַעֲמוֹד בּוֹ. לָאו מִכְּלָל דְּתַנָּא קַמָּא סָבַר זָקוּק לוֹ? מַאי טַעְמָא? לָאו מִשּׁוּם דְּצַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא?
The Gemara cites an additional proof: Know that the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is by Torah law, as it is taught in the latter clause of the mishna: Rabbi Yosei HaGelili says: If there was a burden upon the animal greater than its typical burden, one need not attend to it, as it is stated: “Under its burden” (Exodus 23:5). Rabbi Yosei holds that the obligation to unload an animal is with regard to a burden that the animal can bear; does this not indicate by inference that the first tanna holds that he must attend to it to unload a burden that is greater than its typical burden? What is the reason for this ruling; is it not due to the fact that the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is by Torah law?
דִּלְמָא ״בְּתַחַת מַשָּׂאוֹ״ פְּלִיגִי, דְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי סָבַר: דָּרְשִׁינַן ״תַּחַת מַשָּׂאוֹ״, מַשּׂאוֹי שֶׁיָּכוֹל לַעֲמוֹד בּוֹ, וְרַבָּנַן סָבְרִי: לָא דָּרְשִׁינַן ״תַּחַת מַשָּׂאוֹ״.
The Gemara rejects that proof: Perhaps it is with regard to the meaning of the phrase “under its burden” that they disagree, as Rabbi Yosei HaGelili holds that we interpret the phrase “under its burden” to mean: A burden that the animal can bear. And the Rabbis hold that we do not interpret the phrase “under its burden” in this manner.
תֵּדַע דְּצַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים לָאו דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא, דְּקָתָנֵי רֵישָׁא: הָלַךְ וְיָשַׁב לוֹ וְאָמַר לוֹ הוֹאִיל וְעָלֶיךָ מִצְוָה לִפְרוֹק, פְּרוֹק פָּטוּר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר עִמּוֹ. וְאִי סָלְקָא דַעְתָּךְ צַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא, מָה לִי אִיתֵיהּ לְמָרֵיהּ בַּהֲדֵיהּ, וּמָה לִי כִּי לֵיתֵיהּ לְמָרֵיהּ בַּהֲדֵיהּ?
The Gemara cites an additional proof: Know that the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is not by Torah law, as it is taught in the former clause of the mishna: If the owner went, and sat, and said to a passerby: Since there is a mitzva incumbent upon you to unload the burden, unload it, the passerby is exempt, as it is stated: “You shall release it with him” (Exodus 23:5). And if it enters your mind that the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is by Torah law, what is it to me if its owner is working with the passerby and what is it to me if its owner is not working with the passerby? The animal suffers in both cases.
לְעוֹלָם צַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא, מִי סָבְרַתְּ פָּטוּר פָּטוּר לִגְמָרֵי? וְדִלְמָא פָּטוּר בְּחִנָּם, וְחַיָּיב בְּשָׂכָר. וְהָכִי קָאָמַר רַחֲמָנָא: כִּי אִיתֵיהּ לְמָרֵיהּ בַּהֲדֵיהּ – עֲבֵד גַּבֵּיהּ בְּחִנָּם, וְכִי לֵיתֵיהּ לְמָרֵיהּ בַּהֲדֵיהּ – עֲבֵד גַּבֵּיהּ בְּשָׂכָר, וּלְעוֹלָם צַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא.
The Gemara rejects that proof: Actually, one could say that the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is by Torah law. And when the tanna exempts the passerby when the owner does not participate in unloading the burden, do you maintain that exempt means completely exempt? Perhaps it means that the passerby is exempt from unloading the burden for free, but is obligated to do so for remuneration; and this is what the Merciful One said: If its owner is working with the passerby, perform the unloading with him for free; and if its owner is not working with the passerby, perform the unloading for him for remuneration. And actually, the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is by Torah law.
(סִימַן בֶּהֱמַת, בֶּהֱמַת, אוֹהֵב, שׂוֹנֵא, רַבְצָן).
The Gemara presents a mnemonic for a series of proposed proofs cited by the Gemara: Animal of; animal of; friend; enemy; collapser.
לֵימָא מְסַיַּיע לֵיהּ: בֶּהֱמַת גּוֹי מִטַּפֵּל בָּהּ כְּבֶהֱמַת יִשְׂרָאֵל. אִי אָמְרַתְּ בִּשְׁלָמָא צַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא – מִשּׁוּם הָכִי מִטַּפֵּל בָּהּ כְּבֶהֱמַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֶלָּא אִי אָמְרַתְּ צַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים לָאו דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא, אַמַּאי מִטַּפֵּל בָּהּ כְּבֶהֱמַת יִשְׂרָאֵל? הָתָם מִשּׁוּם אֵיבָה.
Let us say that a baraita supports Rava’s opinion that the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is by Torah law: If one encounters the animal of a gentile collapsed under its burden, he tends to it and unloads its burden, as he would the animal of a Jew. The Gemara reasons: Granted, if you say that the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is by Torah law, it is due to that reason that he tends to it as he would the animal of a Jew. But if you say that the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is not by Torah law, why does he tend to it as he would the animal of a Jew? The Gemara rejects the proof: There one tends to the animal due to enmity that would arise if gentiles see Jews assisting their own people and not gentiles. The obligation is not due to the requirement to prevent suffering of animals.
הָכִי נָמֵי מִסְתַּבְּרָא, דְּקָתָנֵי: אִם הָיְתָה טְעוּנָה יֵין נֶסֶךְ – אֵין זָקוּק לָהּ. אִי אָמְרַתְּ בִּשְׁלָמָא לָאו דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא – מִשּׁוּם הָכִי אֵין זָקוּק לָהּ, אֶלָּא אִי אָמְרַתְּ דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא – אַמַּאי אֵין זָקוּק לָהּ? הָכִי קָאָמַר: וּלְהַטְעִינָהּ יֵין נֶסֶךְ אֵין זָקוּק לָהּ.
So too, it is reasonable to explain the baraita in this manner, as it is taught in another baraita: If the animal of a gentile was loaded with wine used for a libation to idolatry, and the animal is collapsed under its burden, a Jew does not attend to it. Granted, if you say that the requirement to prevent suffering of animals is not by Torah law, it is due to that reason that he does not attend to it. But if you say that the obligation is by Torah law, why does he not attend to it; isn’t the animal suffering? The Gemara answers that this is what the tanna is saying: And to load the animal with wine used for a libation to idolatry, he does not attend to it. Loading an animal does not alleviate its suffering. Furthermore, the refusal of the Jew to handle the libation wine will not cause enmity, because he can explain that his religion precludes him from handling these materials.
תָּא שְׁמַע: בֶּהֱמַת גּוֹי וּמַשּׂאוֹי יִשְׂרָאֵל, ״וְחָדַלְתָּ״. וְאִי אָמְרַתְּ צַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא, אַמַּאי ״וְחָדַלְתָּ״? ״עָזֹב תַּעֲזֹב״ מִבְּעֵי לֵיהּ! לְעוֹלָם צַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא, הָתָם בִּטְעִינָה.
The Gemara suggests: Come and hear proof from a baraita: If one encounters the animal of a gentile collapsed under the burden of a Jew, he may refuse to unload the burden, as it is written: “If you see the donkey of him that hates you collapsed under its burden, you shall forgo passing him by; you shall release it with him” (Exodus 23:5). By employing the phrase “you shall forgo,” the verse indicates that there are circumstances in which one may forgo unloading the animal. The Gemara reasons: And if you say that the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is by Torah law, why is there the option of: “You shall forgo”? The Torah should have commanded only: “You shall release it with him.” The Gemara answers: Actually, say that the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is by Torah law, and there the baraita is referring to a case of loading, where suffering of animals is not a factor.
אִי הָכִי, אֵימָא סֵיפָא: בֶּהֱמַת יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמַשּׂאוֹי גּוֹי ״עָזֹב תַּעֲזֹב״. וְאִי בִּטְעִינָה, אַמַּאי ״עָזֹב תַּעֲזֹב״? מִשּׁוּם צַעֲרָא דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל.
The Gemara asks: If so, say the latter clause of the baraita: With regard to a case involving the animal of a Jew collapsed under the burden of a gentile, it is written: “You shall release it.” And if the baraita is referring to a case of loading, where suffering of animals is not a factor, why does the baraita state: “You shall release it”? The Gemara answers: It is because in that case, there is suffering of the Jew, who is delayed while waiting for the animal to be loaded.
אִי הָכִי, אֲפִילּוּ רֵישָׁא נָמֵי! רֵישָׁא בְּחַמָּר גּוֹי סֵיפָא בְּחַמָּר יִשְׂרָאֵל. מַאי פָּסְקַתְּ? סְתָמָא דְּמִלְּתָא אִינִישׁ בָּתַר חֲמָרֵיהּ אָזֵיל.
The Gemara asks: If so, then the halakha should be the same even in the first clause. Why is there no requirement to prevent the suffering of the Jewish partner in that case? The Gemara answers: The ruling of the first clause is stated with regard to a gentile donkey driver, and the Jewish owner of the burden is absent. The ruling of the latter clause is stated with regard to a Jewish donkey driver and one is obligated to prevent his suffering. The Gemara asks: On what basis did you arrive at this definitive assertion that the animal of a Jew is driven by that Jew and the animal of a gentile is driven by that gentile? The Gemara answers: The typical state of matters is that a person follows his donkey. The first clause addressed the case of a gentile’s donkey, so presumably its driver is gentile. The latter clause addressed the case of a Jew’s donkey, so presumably its driver is a Jew.
וְהָא ״וְחָדַלְתָּ״ וְ״עָזֹב תַּעֲזֹב״ בִּפְרִיקָה הוּא דִּכְתִיבִי!
The Gemara questions the explanation that the baraita is referring to cases involving loading. But isn’t it with regard to unloading that the phrases cited in the baraita: “You shall forgo passing him by,” and: “You shall release it,” are written?
אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הָא מַנִּי? רַבִּי יוֹסֵי הַגְּלִילִי הִיא, דְּאָמַר: צַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים לָאו דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא.
The Gemara answers that he said to him: Indeed, the fact that one need not unload the burden from the donkey in the first clause of the baraita indicates that the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is not by Torah law. In accordance with whose opinion is this baraita? It is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yosei HaGelili, who says that the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is not by Torah law. That is the minority opinion, as the Rabbis disagree.
תָּא שְׁמַע: אוֹהֵב לִפְרוֹק וְשׂוֹנֵא לִטְעוֹן – מִצְוָה בְּשׂוֹנֵא, כְּדֵי לָכוֹף אֶת יִצְרוֹ. וְאִי סָלְקָא דַּעְתָּךְ צַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא, הָא עֲדִיף לֵיהּ? אֲפִילּוּ הָכִי, כְּדֵי לָכוֹף אֶת יִצְרוֹ עָדִיף.
The Gemara suggests: Come and hear proof from a baraita: If one encounters a friend whose animal collapsed and it is necessary to unload its burden, and one also encounters an enemy who needs assistance to load a burden onto his animal, the mitzva is to assist the enemy, in order to subjugate one’s evil inclination. The Gemara reasons: And if it enters your mind that the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is by Torah law, that option, to unload his friend’s animal, is the preferable course of action for him. The Gemara answers: Even if the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is by Torah law, even so, loading his enemy’s animal in order to subjugate his evil inclination is preferable.
תָּא שְׁמַע: שׂוֹנֵא שֶׁאָמְרוּ – שׂוֹנֵא יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלֹא שׂוֹנֵא אוּמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם. אִי אָמְרַתְּ צַעַר בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא, מָה לִי שׂוֹנֵא יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמָה לִי שׂוֹנֵא אוּמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם?
The Gemara suggests: Come and hear proof from a baraita. The enemy with regard to which they stated the halakha that one must assist with his animal is a Jewish enemy and not a gentile enemy. The Gemara asks: If you say that the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is by Torah law, what is it to me if it is a Jewish enemy and what is it to me if it is a gentile enemy? In either case, failure to unload the burden will cause the animal suffering.
מִי סָבְרַתְּ אַשּׂוֹנֵא דִקְרָא קָאֵי? אַשּׂוֹנֵא דְמַתְנִיתִין קָאֵי.
The Gemara answers: Do you maintain that the reference in the baraita to an enemy applies to the enemy mentioned in the verse: “If you see the donkey of him that hates you collapsed under its burden…you shall release it with him”? It applies to the enemy mentioned in the baraita cited above, in which the tanna taught that loading a burden onto an enemy’s animal is preferable to unloading a burden from a friend’s animal.
תָּא שְׁמַע:
The Gemara suggests: Come and hear proof from a baraita:
