Talmud Bavli
Talmud Bavli

Musar for Bava Kamma 235:6

<big><strong>גמ׳</strong></big> איתמר מנה לי בידך והלה אומר איני יודע רב הונא ורב יהודה אמרי חייב ור"נ ור' יוחנן אמרי פטור

[BUT IF THE TRANSACTION WAS ORIGINALLY MADE] UPON THE STIPULATION OF HIS GOING INTO THE WILDERNESS, etc. Is this ruling not obvious? — No, for we have to consider the case where he said to him, 'Take this article in deposit with you as I intend departing to the wilderness,' and the other said to him, 'I similarly intend departing to the wilderness, so that if you want me to return it to you there,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which prima facie means 'if you will be in need of money there;' it was therefore made known in the Mishnah that he may compel the creditor to accept payment there. ');"><sup>9</sup></span> I will be able to do so.

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.
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