Talmud Bavli
Talmud Bavli

Quoting%20commentary for Bava Metzia 141:20

תנו רבנן אל תקח מאתו נשך ותרבית אבל אתה נעשה לו ערב

Now,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' He now proceeds to explain Rabbi's difficulty. ');"><sup>17</sup></span> the Master said: 'And not only <i>unto thee</i>, but even unto a proselyte,' as it is written, <i>[and sell himself] unto a proselyte.</i>' Are we to say that a proselyte may acquire a Hebrew slave? But the following contradicts it: A proselyte cannot be acquired as a Hebrew slave, nor may a woman or a proselyte acquire a Hebrew slave. 'A proselyte cannot be acquired as a Hebrew slave', for the verse, <i>and he shall return unto his own family</i>, must be applicable. which it is not [in the case of a proselyte];<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Lev. XXV, 10. Because a proselyte loses all relationship with his former kin, hence has no family. ');"><sup>18</sup></span> 'nor may a woman or a proselyte acquire a Hebrew slave' — a woman, because it is not seemly;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lest she be suspected of immoral designs. ');"><sup>19</sup></span> a proselyte, because it is a tradition that he who can be acquired can himself acquire, but he who cannot be acquired, cannot himself acquire! — R. Nahman b. Isaac said: He cannot acquire [him] under the provisions of an Israelite [owner], but may acquire [him] as a non-Israelite [master]. For it has been taught: He [sc. a Hebrew slave] whose ear is bored,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Ex. XXI, 5f. ');"><sup>20</sup></span> and he who is sold to a heathen, serve neither the son nor the daughter.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As heirs. Thus, a proselyte can acquire a Hebrew slave under the laws applicable to a heathen owner, so that if he dies his children do not inherit him (the slave), but not as an Israelite, who is able to transmit him as a legacy. ');"><sup>21</sup></span> The Master said: 'Nor may a woman or a proselyte acquire a Hebrew slave.' Must we assume that this disagrees with R. Simeon b. Gamaliel? For it has been taught: A woman may acquire female but not male slaves. R. Simeon b. Gamaliel ruled: She may acquire even male slaves! — It may agree even with R. Simeon b. Gamaliel, yet there is no difficulty: the former applies to a Hebrew slave, the latter to a Canaanite slave. A Hebrew slave she deems to be self-respecting;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., he has a feeling of shame and regard for appearances. Therefore she may be emboldened to an illicit relationship, in the certainty that he will not disclose the fact: hence she may not purchase him. ');"><sup>22</sup></span> whereas a Canaanite slave she deems unreservedly dissolute.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Feeling no shame therein; therefore she fears intimacy with him, lest he boast thereof, and so may buy him. ');"><sup>23</sup></span> But what of that which R. Joseph learned: A widow may not breed dogs,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For fear of malicious slander, but not because she is actually suspected of bestiality (Tosaf.). ');"><sup>24</sup></span> nor permit a scholar to live with her as a boarder? Now, [the prohibition] of a scholar is intelligible, since she deems him self-respecting; but as for a dog since it will follow her [if she commits bestiality], she will surely be afraid!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Why is she then forbidden to breed dogs? ');"><sup>25</sup></span> — I will tell you: since it follows her even if she merely throws it a piece of meat, that will be assumed the cause of its attachment.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Hence she does not fear to commit bestiality, and though, as stated in n. 3, she is not suspected thereof, yet the mere fact that she can indulge without fear of discovery gives tongue to slander. ');"><sup>26</sup></span> 'The resident alien who is mentioned with reference to usury:' — What is it? — For it is written, <i>And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him; yea, though he be a proselyte or a settler, that he may live with thee. Take thou no usury of him nor increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee</i>.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. XXV, 35f; this implies that usury may not be taken from a citizen proselyte. ');"><sup>27</sup></span> But the following opposes it: ONE MAY BORROW FROM AND LEND TO THEM ON INTEREST; THE SAME APPLIES TO A RESIDENT ALIEN! — R. Nahman b. Isaac replied: Is it then written, 'Take thou no usury of them'?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which would apply to all the antecedents. ');"><sup>28</sup></span> 'of him' is written, [meaning] of an Israelite.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' ['Proselyte' being mentioned only with reference to assisting him in his need.] ');"><sup>29</sup></span> Our Rabbis taught: <i>Take thou no usury of him, or increase</i>, but thou mayest become a surety for him.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., for one who is borrowing money on interest. ');"><sup>30</sup></span>

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