Commentary for Bava Kamma 172:15

המבייש את הסומא וכו': מתניתין דלא כר' יהודה דתניא ר' יהודה אומר סומא אין לו בושת וכך היה ר' יהודה פוטר מחייבי גליות ומחייבי מלקיות ומחייבי מיתות ב"ד

R. Papa, however, said that the principle involved in the query [of R. Abba] was this: [Is Degradation paid] because of personal insult, and as in this case [where] he died [before waking he did not suffer any personal insult, no payment should be made], or is [Degradation paid] perhaps on account of the insult suffered by the family? — Come and hear: A deaf-mute and a minor are subject to [be paid for] Degradation but an idiot is not subject to [be paid for] Degradation. Now no difficulty arises if you say that Degradation is paid on account of the insult suffered by the family; it is then quite intelligible that a minor [should be paid for Degradation]. But if you say that Degradation is paid on account of personal insult [we have to ask], is a minor subject to personal insult? — What then? [Do you say] that Degradation is paid because of the insult sustained by the members of the family? Why then should the same not apply in the case of an idiot? — It may, however, be said that the idiot by himself constitutes a Degradation [to them] which is second to none. But in any case, why not conclude from this statement that Degradation is paid on account of the insult suffered by the family, for if on account of personal insult,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' no note. ');">¹⁰</span>

Explore commentary for Bava Kamma 172:15. In-depth commentary and analysis from classical Jewish sources.