Talmud Bavli
Talmud Bavli

Responsa for Bava Batra 281:9

אמר רב אשי אמריתה לשמעתא קמיה דרב כהנא במסרס דאמר זכר תחלה מאתים נקבה אחריו ולא כלום נקבה תחלה מנה זכר אחריה מנה וילדה זכר ונקבה ולא ידעינן הי מינייהו נפק ברישא זכר שקיל מנה ממה נפשך אידך מנה הוה ממון המוטל בספק וחולקין

before R. Kahana, [as dealing] with [the case of] one who inverted the order [of his first instruction] by making a statement like the following:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'when he said'. ');"><sup>31</sup></span> '[If] a male [be born] first, [he shall receive] two hundred <i>zuz</i>,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' l.e., eight gold denarii. ');"><sup>32</sup></span> and the] female [born] after him [shall receive] nothing: [if a] female [be born] first, [she shall receive] a <i>maneh</i>, [and the] male [born] after her [shall receive] a <i>maneh</i>'; and she gave birth to [both] a male and a female, and it is not known which of them was born<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'came out'. ');"><sup>33</sup></span> first. The male does, [consequently]. receive a <i>maneh</i> [which is] in any case [due to him].]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If he was born first, the maneh is certainly due to him, since in such a case, his father had really allotted him two hundred zuz. But even if he was born second he is still entitled by virtue of the definite instructions of his father, to the one maneh ');"><sup>34</sup></span>

Teshuvot Maharam

Q. B promised his young daughter in marriage to A's minor son. He gave A a written document obligating himself, from the time of the promise, to be A's debtor for 20*In some sources (Pr. 50, L. 355) the reading is “marks.” The discrepancy arose because of the similarity of the two Hebrew letters of Khaf and Beth, which stand for 20 and 2 respectively. The Cremona source and the Mord., however, used the word Esrim, 20, specifically. marks should his daughter refuse to accept kiddushin from B's son when he will have arrived at his majority, or in case A himself should refuse to accept the kiddushin for his daughter. B died before A's son reached the age of 13, and his daughter married someone else. Now A demands the 20*In some sources (Pr. 50, L. 355) the reading is “marks.” The discrepancy arose because of the similarity of the two Hebrew letters of Khaf and Beth, which stand for 20 and 2 respectively. The Cremona source and the Mord., however, used the word Esrim, 20, specifically. marks from B's heirs.
A. Since B has been prevented, by death, from fulfilling his promise, he never became obligated to pay the 20*In some sources (Pr. 50, L. 355) the reading is “marks.” The discrepancy arose because of the similarity of the two Hebrew letters of Khaf and Beth, which stand for 20 and 2 respectively. The Cremona source and the Mord., however, used the word Esrim, 20, specifically. marks to A. Consequently his heirs owe nothing to A.
This question was also sent to R. Meir by his father, R. Baruch, who was one of the judges in this case.
SOURCES: Cr. 31; Pr. 50; Pr. 939; L. 355; Mord. B.M. 247; cf. Jacob Weil, Responsa 105; ibid. 142.
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Teshuvot Maharam

Q. B promised his young daughter in marriage to A's minor son. He gave A a written document obligating himself, from the time of the promise, to be A's debtor for 20*In some sources (Pr. 50, L. 355) the reading is “marks.” The discrepancy arose because of the similarity of the two Hebrew letters of Khaf and Beth, which stand for 20 and 2 respectively. The Cremona source and the Mord., however, used the word Esrim, 20, specifically. marks should his daughter refuse to accept kiddushin from B's son when he will have arrived at his majority, or in case A himself should refuse to accept the kiddushin for his daughter. B died before A's son reached the age of 13, and his daughter married someone else. Now A demands the 20*In some sources (Pr. 50, L. 355) the reading is “marks.” The discrepancy arose because of the similarity of the two Hebrew letters of Khaf and Beth, which stand for 20 and 2 respectively. The Cremona source and the Mord., however, used the word Esrim, 20, specifically. marks from B's heirs.
A. Since B has been prevented, by death, from fulfilling his promise, he never became obligated to pay the 20*In some sources (Pr. 50, L. 355) the reading is “marks.” The discrepancy arose because of the similarity of the two Hebrew letters of Khaf and Beth, which stand for 20 and 2 respectively. The Cremona source and the Mord., however, used the word Esrim, 20, specifically. marks to A. Consequently his heirs owe nothing to A.
This question was also sent to R. Meir by his father, R. Baruch, who was one of the judges in this case.
SOURCES: Cr. 31; Pr. 50; Pr. 939; L. 355; Mord. B.M. 247; cf. Jacob Weil, Responsa 105; ibid. 142.
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