Responsa for Bava Batra 271:10
בעא מיניה רבא מרב נחמן בהקנאה מהו אמר ליה בהקנאה אינו צריך
today; the fruit after [my] death'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the case of a divorce, such a division in the meaning of the two parts of the expression is, of course, impossible. ');"><sup>26</sup></span> R. JOSE SAID: THIS IS NOT NECESSARY. Rabbah b. Abbuha was indisposed [and] R. Huna and R. Nahman came in [to see him]. 'Ask him', said R. Huna to R. Nahman,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [R. Nahman was Rabbah b. Abbuha's son-in-law.] ');"><sup>27</sup></span> '[is] the <i>halachah</i> in accordance with [the view of] R. Jose or [is] the <i>halachah</i> not in accordance with [the view of] R. Jose?' — 'I do not [even] know R. Jose's reason, replied the other, '[shall] I ask him<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Rabbah. ');"><sup>28</sup></span>
Teshuvot Maharam
A. According to B's statement, A never gained title to the money since it was not given to him as a gift causa mortis, and he did not perform the formal act of possession necessary in order to gain title to an ordinary gift. His brothers, therefore inherited their share of the money. However, if A claims that he was present when his mother deposited the money with B, and that this money was thus deposited specifically for his benefit, as a gift causa mortis, B must swear that the facts are as he claims them to be.
This Responsum is addressed to R. Menahem ha-Levi.
SOURCES: Cr. 38; Pr. 420–421; Mord. B. B. 592; Mordecai Hagadol, p. 321c.
Teshuvot Maharam
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.