Musar for Bava Kamma 235:1
פרה רבוצה בו ושטפה נהר דר' אלעזר לטעמיה ורבנן לטעמייהו:
a cow was lying,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' But the robber did not actually take possession of the cow in any other way, e.g., by 'pulling it'. ');"><sup>1</sup></span> and a river [subsequently] flooded it, R. Eleazar following his line of reasoning,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That the field entered into the possession of the robber, as would be the case with any other misappropriated object, so that by virtue of his becoming possessed of the field, the cow is supposed to have similarly entered into his possession in accordance with Kid. I, 5 and supra p. 49 ');"><sup>2</sup></span>
Shenei Luchot HaBerit
I believe that in the many instances when the Talmud justifies certain rulings by the statement אדם חשוב שאני, that we apply different yardsticks to morally high-ranking people, the Talmud wants to emphasize that the law is different when applied to such people. It is not merely a voluntary abrogation of one's rights. When the Talmud speaks of "doing one's duty in the eyes of Heaven," however, it is something else again. Such considerations apply where for one reason or another the human tribunal is unable to enforce a certain ruling.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy