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Questions tagged [bava-metzia]

The second Mesechet in the order of Nezikin in the Talmud.

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Torah as a bar metzra

The Gemara in Shabbos 88b, shows a famous dialogue between Moshe Rabbeinu and the melachim, when Moshe ascended to the Heavens, after Matan Torah. And Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: When Moses ...
Shmuel's user avatar
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Why doesn't the Gemera bring 3 more proofs for if צער בעלי חיים is Biblical or Rabbinical?

The Gemera in Bava Metzia 32a-33a has the famous dispute about if צער בעלי חיים is a Biblical or Rabbinic prohibition, and both sides brings proofs one way and the other. My question is, we don't find ...
Avishai Tebeka's user avatar
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Acquiring assets by looking at it and saying "pick it up for me"

The Mishnah in Bava Metzia, perek 1:3 says: If one was riding on an animal and saw a found item, and said to another person who was walking beside him: Give it to me, if the pedestrian took it and ...
Shmuel's user avatar
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Does "Not in Heaven" approach break of the chain of tradition (B"M 59b)?

In the famous argument about Tanuro Shel Akhnai (Bava Metzia.59b) R' Eliezer claims to faithfully represent the Heavenly tradition and he's supported by the Heaven. Neither R' Yehoshua, nor God admits ...
Al Berko's user avatar
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Seforim Recommendations on Bava Metzia

Any recommendations on seforim that deals with (commentaries or insights) Bava Metzia (especially on Perek Eilu Metzios)? Preferably in English. Preferably seforim that explain the deeper meaning of ...
Shmuel's user avatar
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Please translate Gemara - Aramaic word מקני

In בבא מציעא daf 33b, the very beginning of the Gemara on המפקיד. The Gemara says מקני ליה. The Artscroll English edition, vowelizes מקני as mak-nay. What are the precise possible translation(s) of ...
Chaim's user avatar
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Ritva on Bava Metzia 6b saying one is exempt from doing a mitzva there a multiple shitas

A few weeks ago on Halacha Headlines podcast on the topic of Techeles Rav Nisson Kaplan said that Rav Eliashiv had a teshuva that you dont need to wear it since there are multiple shitas and you don't ...
Danny Rabiz's user avatar
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Why R' Yehoshua didn't mention the majority rule?

The more I study the Sugyah of Tanuro Shel Achnai, the more I get confused: At the culmination of the argument "Rabbi Yehoshua (c. 100 CE) stood on his feet and said: It is written: “It is not in ...
Al Berko's user avatar
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Bava Metzia: Dual meaning of "Metzia"

Has anyone ever commented on the fact that Bava Metzia, literally the "middle gate," can also mean the gate of "found things," and Bava Metzia is the one masechta that deals with ...
HelperEza's user avatar
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Why does the man who guards the Red Heifer defile his clothes?

Bava Metzia 93a reads: "One who safeguards the red heifer renders his garments impure ... Rabba bar Ulla said: This is a decree, lest he move a limb of the heifer." But... how does it deter ...
Zarka's user avatar
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Chayecha Kodmin - Your own life comes first for countries

Although I am loath to ask a Covid 19 related question, one particular current debate caught my attention. Most readers are probably aware of the gemara in Bava Metzia 62a where we find the rule one ...
user6591's user avatar
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Why can one not daven to change the gender of a fetus?

According to Bava Metzia 42a, one may daven for things in the past if it's something that nobody knows yet. Yet, when Berachos 60a asks how one may daven to change the gender of her fetus on the ...
DonielF's user avatar
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Can a person free himself from suffering?

Berachos 5b teaches: רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא חֲלַשׁ. עָל לְגַבֵּיהּ רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אֲמַר לֵיהּ: חֲבִיבִין עָלֶיךָ יִסּוּרִין? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לֹא הֵן וְלֹא שְׂכָרָן. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הַב לִי יְדָךְ. ...
DonielF's user avatar
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Why "for 700 zuz"?

The ninth chapter of mishnayos Bava M'tzia had numerous cases in which someone is working someone else's field, whether as part of a sharecropping agreement or under lease. Most of them do not ...
msh210's user avatar
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Can banning a Sage be made in G-d's honor?

We hold that (Avot 5,17): כָּל מַחֲלֹקֶת שֶׁהִיא לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם, סוֹפָהּ לְהִתְקַיֵּם... אֵיזוֹ הִיא מַחֲלֹקֶת שֶׁהִיא לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם, זוֹ מַחֲלֹקֶת הִלֵּל וְשַׁמַּאי. Every dispute that ...
Al Berko's user avatar
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Why did R"G admit that he acted inHalachicly? [closed]

After the incident of Tanuro Shel Akhnai (B"M 59), G-d tried to threaten/punish R"G by wrecking his ship, probably realizing that he [somehow] sinned. His response was that he acted out of "שלא ירבו ...
Al Berko's user avatar
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How Tanuro Shel Akhnai was different from the first Machlokes in the Mishnah?

THe first Mishna presents a Machlokes between R' Eliezer, R' Gamliel and "the rest" of the Chachamim (unclear). מֵאֵימָתַי קוֹרִין אֶת שְׁמַע בְּעַרְבִית. מִשָּׁעָה שֶׁהַכֹּהֲנִים ...
Al Berko's user avatar
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-2 votes
1 answer
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What does it mean "נצחוני בני" after "לא בשמים היא" and "אחרי רבים להטות"?

There's something seemingly erratic in Heaven's behavior as reflected in the Gemmorah. If "לא בשמים היא" and "אחרי רבים להטות" were established Heavenly Halachot why would G-d smile and state "My ...
Al Berko's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
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Why a Machloket ended so badly and unpeacefully?

Back to Tanuro Shel Akhnai (BM 59b). A short recap: R' Eliezer and Chachamim are having a Machlokes over a minor matter in ritual impurity, clearly for the sake of Heaven. R' Gamliel, the Nassi, ...
Al Berko's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
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What argument came first - Tanuro Shel Akhnai or Maariv Chovah? [duplicate]

What argument happened first - Tanuro Shel Akhnai (B"M 59b) or Maariv Chovah or Reshut (Brochos 27b) In the former, R"Y stood against R"E (backed by R"G) and in the later the same story happened to ...
Al Berko's user avatar
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1 vote
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Why didn't the Heavenly Voice testify for Elu Ve'Elu in Tanuro Shel Achnai argument?

There are a couple of iconic arguments in our Gemmorah and Tanuro Shel Achnai (BM 59)is surely one of them. Here's a short recap: R' Eliezer had an argument with some Chachamim, and R' Yehoshua was ...
Al Berko's user avatar
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3 votes
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How exactly would Eliyahu resolve monetary disputes? (ie "מֻנָּח עַד שֶׁיָּבֹא אֵלִיָּהוּ")

In the beginning perakim of Bava Metzia, there are several mishnayos (see: 1:8, 2:8, 3:4, 3:5) that present cases when there is uncertainty as to who the owner of an item may be, and state: יְהֵא ...
alicht's user avatar
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1 answer
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Was the bat kol right?

In Bava Metzia 59b, the rabbis are discussing a matter of halacha, and at some point a Voice from Heaven (bat kol) interjects an opinion. The rabbis reply that the Torah is out of God's hands (they ...
Maurice Mizrahi's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
52 views

Why was R’ Elazar certain that anyone sleeping during the day with wine was either a craftsman, a scholar, a night worker, or a thief?

Bava Metzia 83b records that R’ Elazar son of R’ Shimon approached a Roman officer and asked him how he is successful at catching crafty criminals (citing a passuk to that effect). The guard asked him ...
DonielF's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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Chronological order of stories involving Rabban Gamliel

There’s several stories (that I know of) which deal with Rabban Gamliel acting in a less-than-ideal way in regard to his contemporaries: Rosh HaShanah 25a-b, where Rabban Gamliel insisted that R’ ...
DonielF's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
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In what way was the way of learning in Israel different from the Babylonian to cause R' Zeirah to fast?

The Gemmorah BM 85a: "ר' זירא כי סליק לארעא דישראל יתיב מאה תעניתא דלשתכח גמרא בבלאה מיניה כי היכי דלא נטרדיה" "When Rabbi Zeira ascended from Babylonia to Eretz Yisrael, he fasted ...
Al Berko's user avatar
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0 answers
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Clarification on Mesivta's calculations of Shtut

The Mesivta on B"M 50 brings the following table summarizing different ways of calculations of Shtut: I couldn't understand, if 1 out of 6 makes 16.6%, how come 9 out of 60 make 8.3%. Please help ...
Al Berko's user avatar
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7 votes
1 answer
255 views

Rashi contradiction in B.M. 95b-96a

The Gemarah in Bava Metziah 95b bring an argument of Amoraim between Abaye and Rava who base their respective opinions on the Tanaim Rav Yoshiya and Rav Yonasan. The Gemara tells how they hold of ...
Dr. Shmuel's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
49 views

Different things falling through the air

Rava has a question: What is the halacha regarding something which you throw through a house, that goes in one window and out the other? Do we say that something that passes through the house's ...
DonielF's user avatar
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4 votes
0 answers
160 views

Can you get an animal high?

The gemarah (Bava Metziah 32b, based on Shemot 32:5) explains that a person is not allowed to give an animal undo pain, this is know as צער בעל חי. I would like to know if a person is allowed to give ...
rikitikitembo's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
130 views

How can anyone hold that Tza’ar Ba’alei Chaim is d’Rabbanan?

The Gemara (Bava Metzi’a 32b-33a) discusses the prohibition of tza’ar ba’alei chaim, causing pain to animals, and whether it is from the Torah (d’Oraisa) or from the Rabbis (d’Rabbanan), concluding ...
DonielF's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
156 views

Whose life comes first? Apparently contradictory Rabbinical statements

There seem to be two contradictory statements of the Rabbis. One is: Sanhedrin 74a מי יימר דדמא דידך סומק טפי דילמא דמא דההוא גברא סומק טפי who knows whether your blood is redder than his ...
Avrohom Yitzchok's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
110 views

Story between Rabbi Elazar ben Shimon and Rebbi [closed]

I'm now learning Bava metzia and I've come across a story between Rebbi and Rabbi Elazar when they were young. It says that they used to sit on the floor until the teachers made benches for them etc.. ...
TheTribeOfJudah's user avatar
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0 answers
50 views

Why is this Mishnah repeated regarding backing out of sales?

The last stitch of the Mishnah in Demai 3:2 reads as follows: היה עומד ולוקח וראה טען אחר יפה ממנו, מתר להחזיר, מפני שלא משך. If one is ready to purchase something [but has not yet made an ...
DonielF's user avatar
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1 vote
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A gift on condition that I could take it back

The Gemara in Kiddushin 6b says that one may not marry a woman with money given on condition that she return it afterwards, as it's like chalipin which is invalid for marriage. Say that a man gives a ...
DonielF's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
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Sarah nursing idolaters' children

The Gemara (BM 87b) relates that at the time that Avraham made a feast for Yitzchak'a birth, the nations mocked him and Sarah, saying that they adopted him, or that he was Avimelech's son with Sarah. ...
DonielF's user avatar
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5 votes
0 answers
179 views

Siyum of Bava Kama/Metzia/Basra or Sanhedrin/Makkos

I have been told that originally, Bava Kama, Bava Metzia and Bava Basra were one masechta called Maseches Nezikin and that Makkos was part of Maseches Sanhedrin. A siyum of a masechta of Gemora is ...
Joshua Pearl's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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What is the point in the mnemonic פמג"ש ממקגט"י ככסע"ז?

In Bava Metzia 21b, there is a mnemonic given which I find quite odd - פמג"ש ממקגט"י ככסע"ז . See http://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Metzia.21b.18?lang=he&layout=block&sidebarLang=all The way I ...
Moses Supposes's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
88 views

Is coin a mana?

The gemara (Bava Metzia 47a) quotes a statement, and tries to figure out which opinions are (in)compatible with this statement: אמר רב ששת בריה דרב אידי כמאן כתבינן האידנא במנא דכשר למקניא ביה במנא ...
MTL's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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Where does Rav Hai Gaon explain the meaning of the phrase צורבא מרבנן?

In the Steinsaltz Edition of Masechet Bava Metzia perek Eilu Metziot there is a side note that רב האי גאון explains the shoresh of צ-ר-ב as meaning a rock, stone (from Arabic). This root is more ...
MichaelS's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
647 views

Should you pay a shadchan if the shidduch was successful after a break up?

(Aside from a segulah for shalom bais, it's general practice to pay a shadchan their fee upon a successful shidduch - it might even be halacha.) A shadchan sets up Moshe and Sarah. They go out 4-5 ...
Ani Yodea's user avatar
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2 votes
0 answers
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Explanation of Gemara's Interpretation of מצא

The Gemara Bava Kamma (113b) states that the term ומצאתה implies physical acquisition (rather than mere finding as the word would seem to imply): אמר רבינא {דברים כב-ג} ומצאתה דאתאי לידיה משמע The ...
mevaqesh's user avatar
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-2 votes
2 answers
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Bava Metzia 34a

Can you please help me on the first few lines of Bava Metzia 34a. Thank You. What is the exact translation: מי יימר דמגנבא ואם תימצי לומר דמגנבא מי יימר דמשתכח גנב ואי משתכח גנב מי יימר דמשלם דלמא ...
Moshe's user avatar
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1 answer
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Can you please help me with this rashi? [closed]

ולא אמרינן - כשזה תובע וזה אומר איני יודע אם לך אם לחברך אוקי ממונא בחזקת נתבע זה שלא נפסידנו ממונו ויהא מונח עד שיבא אליהו: http://www.sefaria.org/Rashi_on_Bava_Metzia.37a.25?lang=he&layout=...
Sarah's user avatar
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7 votes
3 answers
865 views

Why do many boys begin learning Gemara with Elu Metzios?

There is a popular custom for boys to start their Gemara studies with Elu Metzios (the 2nd Perek in Bava Metzia). The Gemara (Bava Basra 175b) does say that financial laws are conducive to becoming ...
Zvi's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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Does anyone hold that you could be "masneh al mah shekasuv baTorah" in all cases?

The gemara on Bava Metzia 94a brings a discussion about "מתנה על מה שכתוב בתורה," about someone who makes a condition that is contrary to something that is written in the Torah. דתניא האומר לאשה ...
MTL's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
87 views

How do I understand Bava Metzia 1:6?

In the mishna B"M 1:6, it talks about finding a loan document with a lien on real property ("achrayus"), and not returning it, because we are afraid that the borrower and the lender are in cahoots to ...
Jeremy's user avatar
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2 votes
0 answers
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How was the market price established in the time of the gemoro?

Rambam - Malveh veLoveh - Chapter 9 paskens א. אין פוסקין על הפירות עד שיצא השער An order for produce cannot be placed until a market price has been established. according to the mishnah in ...
Avrohom Yitzchok's user avatar
4 votes
4 answers
396 views

Information about Arab Travelers in Aggadah

Pesachim 110b and Bava Metzia 86a mention ההוא טייעא‏ in the midst of aggadic stories. Professor Jastrow translates this word as a traveler, esp. an Arabian caravan merchant. Soncino Translates it ...
Baby Seal's user avatar
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10 votes
4 answers
245 views

How could Rebbi Zeira forcibly forget his learning?

In Bava Metzia 85a it says that ר' זירא כי סליק לארעא דישראל יתיב מאה תעניתא דלשתכח גמרא בבלאה מיניה Rebbi Zeira, when he left to the land of Israel, fasted 100 times to cause himself to forget ...
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