Bava Metzia 58

כדרבה דאמר רבה נגנבו בלסטים מזויין אבדו שטבעה ספינתו בים

— It is in accordance with Rabbah; for Rabbah said [elsewhere]: They were stolen by armed robbers: whilst 'lost' means that his ship foundered at sea.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' These are unpreventable. v. infra 43a. ');">¹</span>

אמר רב יהודה אמר שמואל הלכה כר' טרפון ביד רחבה הוה ליה הנהו זוזי דיתמי אתא לקמיה דרב יוסף אמר ליה מהו לאשתמושי בגוייהו א"ל הכי אמר רב יהודה אמר שמואל הלכה כר' טרפון

Rab. Judah said in Samuel's name: The <i>halachah</i> is as R. Tarfon. Rehabah had in his charge an orphan's money. He went before R. Joseph and enquired. 'May I use it?' He replied, 'Thus did Rab Judah say in Samuel's name, The <i>halachah</i> is as R. Tarfon. Thereupon Abaye protested, But was it not stated thereon: R. Helbo said in R. Huna's name: This refers only to the purchase price of a lost article, since he took trouble therein,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Before selling it he had to look after it for a certain time; therefore he is now privileged to use the money. ');">²</span>

א"ל אביי ולאו אתמר עלה א"ר חלבו אמר רב הונא לא שנו אלא בדמי אבידה הואיל וטרח בה אבל מעות אבידה דלא טרח בהו לא והני כמעות אבידה דמו א"ל זיל לא שבקו לי דאשרי לך:

but not to money which was itself lost property:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If one finds money, so disposed that he is bound to announce it (v. supra 24b) he may not use it whilst waiting for the owner to claim it, since it needs neither care nor attention. ');">³</span>

<big><strong>מתני׳</strong></big> מצא ספרים קורא בהן אחד לשלשים יום ואם אינו יודע לקרות גוללן אבל לא ילמוד בהן בתחלה ולא יקרא אחר עמו

and these<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Sc. the orphan's coins. ');">⁴</span>

מצא כסות מנערה אחד לשלשים יום ושוטחה לצרכה אבל לא לכבודו

are likewise as lost money? — Go then,' said he to him;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' R. Joseph to the disciple. ');">⁵</span>

כלי כסף וכלי נחושת משתמש בהן לצרכן אבל לא לשחקן כלי זהב וכלי זכוכית לא יגע בהן עד שיבא אליהו

'they do not permit me to give you a favourable ruling.'

מצא שק או קופה וכל דבר שאין דרכו ליטול הרי זה לא יטול:

<b><i>MISHNAH</i></b>. IF ONE FINDS SCROLLS, HE MUST READ THEM EVERY THIRTY DAYS;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If left unused longer, they become mouldy and moth eaten. ');">⁶</span>

<big><strong>גמ׳</strong></big> אמר שמואל המוצא תפילין בשוק שם דמיהן ומניחן לאלתר

IF HE CANNOT READ, HE MUST ROLL THEM.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To give them an airing. ');">⁷</span>

מתיב רבינא מצא ספרים קורא בהן אחד לשלשים יום ואם אינו יודע לקרות גוללן גוללן אין שם דמיהן ומניחן לא אמר אביי תפילין בי בר חבו משכח שכיחי ספרים לא שכיחי

BUT HE MUST NOT STUDY [A SUBJECT] THEREIN FOR THE FIRST TIME.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The long poring over the scroll and its consequent handling injured it. ');">⁸</span>

ת"ר השואל ספר תורה מחבירו הרי זה לא ישאילנו לאחר פותחו וקורא בו ובלבד שלא ילמוד בו בתחלה ולא יקרא אחר עמו

NOR MAY ANOTHER PERSON READ WITH HIM.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since each unconsciously pulls the scroll to himself, the scroll is injured. ');">⁹</span>

וכן המפקיד ס"ת אצל חבירו גוללו כל שנים עשר חדש פותחו וקורא בו אם בשבילו פתחו אסור סומכוס אומר בחדש שלשים יום בישן שנים עשר חדש ר"א בן יעקב אומר אחד זה ואחד זה שנים עשר חדש:

IF ONE FINDS A CLOTH, HE MUST GIVE IT A SHAKING EVERY THIRTY DAYS, AND SPREAD IT OUT FOR ITS OWN BENEFIT [TO BE AIRED], BUT NOT FOR HIS HONOUR.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' To use as a tablecloth or bedspread. ');">¹⁰</span>

אמר מר השואל ספר תורה מחבירו הרי זה לא ישאילנו לאחר מאי אריא ס"ת אפי' כל מילי נמי דאמר ר"ש בן לקיש כאן שנה רבי אין השואל רשאי להשאיל ואין השוכר רשאי להשכיר

SILVER AND COPPER VESSELS MAY BE USED FOR THEIR OWN BENEFIT, BUT NOT [SO MUCH AS] TO WEAR THEM OUT. GOLD AND GLASSWARE MAY NOT BE TOUCHED UNTIL ELIJAH COMES.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., the finder must not use them at all, since they do not deteriorate. ');">¹¹</span>

ס"ת איצטריכא ליה מהו דתימא ניחא ליה לאיניש דתיעביד מצוה בממוניה קמ"ל

IF ONE FINDS A SACK OR A BASKET, OR ANY OBJECT WHICH IT IS UNDIGNIFIED FOR HIM TO TAKE,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'which it is not his way to take.' ');">¹²</span>

פותחו וקורא בו פשיטא ואלא למאי שייליה מיניה סיפא איצטריכא ליה ובלבד שלא ילמוד בו בתחלה

HE NEED NOT TAKE IT.

וכן המפקיד ס"ת אצל חבירו גוללו כל שנים עשר חדש פותחו וקורא בו מאי עבידתיה גביה ותו אם בשבילו פתחו אסור הא אמרת פותחו וקורא בו הכי קאמר אם כשהוא גוללו פותחו וקורא בו מותר אם בשבילו פתחו אסור

<b><i>GEMARA</i></b>. Samuel said: If one finds phylacteries in a sack, he must immediately turn them into money [i.e., sell them] and lay the money by. Rabina objected: IF ONE FIND SCROLLS, HE MUST READ THEM EVERY THIRTY DAYS; IF HE CANNOT READ, HE MUST ROLL THEM. Thus, he may only roll, but not sell them and lay the money by! — Said Abaye: phylacteries are obtainable at Bar Habu;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Pr. n. a writer of phylacteries and mezuzoth, also mentioned in Ber. 53b. and Meg. 18b. — I.e., they are easily bought, and so their owner loses nothing when the finder sells them. ');">¹³</span>

סומכוס אומר בחדש שלשים יום בישן שנים עשר חדש ר"א בן יעקב אומר אחד זה ואחד זה שנים עשר חדש ר"א בן יעקב היינו תנא קמא אלא אימא ר' אליעזר בן יעקב אומר אחד זה ואחד זה שלשים יום:

whereas scrolls are rare.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'not found.' ');">¹⁴</span>

אבל לא ילמוד בו בתחלה ולא יקרא אחר עמו: ורמינהו לא יקרא פרשה וישנה ולא יקרא בו פרשה ויתרגם ולא יפתח בו יותר מג' דפין ולא יקראו בו שלשה בני אדם בכרך אחד הא שנים קורין

Our Rabbis taught: If one borrows a Scroll of the Torah from his neighbour, he may not lend it to another. He may open and read it, providing, however, that he does not study [a subject] therein for the first time; nor may another person read it together with him. Likewise, if one deposits a Scroll of the Torah with his neighbour, he [the latter] must roll it once every twelve months, and may open and read it; but if he opens it in his own interest, it is forbidden. Symmachus said: In the case of a new one, every thirty days; in the case of an old one, every twelve months. R. Eliezer b. Jacob said: In both cases, every twelve months.

אמר אביי לא קשיא כאן בענין אחד כאן בשני ענינים:

The Master said: 'If one borrows a Scroll of the Torah from his neighbour, he may not lend it to another.' Why particularly a Scroll of the Torah: surely the same applies to any article? For R. Simeon b. Lakish said: Here Rabbi has taught that a borrower may not lend [the article he borrowed], nor may a hirer re-hire [to another person]!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 'Here' refers to a Mishnah in Git. (29a) from which Resh Lakish deduced this. ');">¹⁵</span>

מצא כסות מנערה אחד לשלשים יום: למימרא דניעור מעלי לה והאמר רבי יוחנן מי שיש לו גרדי אומן בתוך ביתו ינער כסותו בכל יום אמרי בכל יום קשי לה אחד לשלשים יום מעלי לה

— It is necessary to state it in reference to a Scroll of the Torah. I might have said, One is pleased that a precept be fulfilled by means of his property: therefore we are informed [otherwise].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' But the same certainly applies even with greater force to other articles. ');">¹⁶</span>

איבעית אימא לא קשיא הא בחד והא בתרי

'He may open and read it.' But that is obvious! Why else then did he borrow it from him? — He desires to state the second clause: providing, however, that he does not study [a subject] therein for the first time.'

איבעית אימא לא קשיא הא בידא והא בחוטרא

'Likewise, if one deposits a Scroll of the Torah with his neighbour, he [the latter] must roll it once every twelve months, and may open and read it.' What business has he with it?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' It was assumed that he may open and read it for his own purpose, since it was already taught once that he rolls it every twelve months for its own benefit; but how may one use a bailment in his own interests? ');">¹⁷</span>

איבעית אימא לא קשיא הא בדעמרא הא בדכיתנא

Moreover, 'if he opens it in his own interests, It is forbidden; 'but have you not said, 'He may open and read it'! — It means this: If when rolling it he opens and reads it, that is permitted; but if he opens it in his own interests, it is forbidden.

א"ר יוחנן כסא דחרשין ולא כסא דפושרין ולא אמרן אלא בכלי מתכות אבל בכלי חרש לית לן בה ובכלי מתכות נמי לא אמרן אלא דלא צויץ אבל דצויץ לית לן בה ולא אמרן אלא דלא שדא ביה ציביא אבל שדא ביה ציביא לית לן בה:

'Symmachus said: In the case of a new one, every thirty days; in the case of an old one, every twelve months. R. Eliezer b. Jacob said: In both cases, every twelve months.' But R. Eliezer b. Jacob is identical with the first Tanna! — But say thus: R. Eliezer b. Jacob said: In both cases, every thirty days.

וא"ר יוחנן מי שהניח לו אביו מעות הרבה ורוצה לאבדן ילבש בגדי פשתן וישתמש בכלי זכוכית וישכור פועלים ואל ישב עמהן ילבש בכלי פשתן בכתנא רומיתא וישתמש בכלי זכוכית בזוגיתא חיורתא וישכור פועלים ואל ישב עמהן תרגומא

BUT HE MUST NOT STUDY [A SUBJECT] THEREIN FOR THE FIRST TIME, NOR MAY ANOTHER PERSON READ WITH HIM. But the following contradicts it. He may not read a section therein and revise it, nor read a section therein and translate it.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Into the vernacular, which, in the case of Palestinian Jewry, was probably Aramaic; v. J.E. VI, 308. ');">¹⁸</span> He may also not have more than three columns open [simultaneously], nor may three read out of the same volume. Hence two may read! — Said Abaye: There is no difficulty: here the reference is to one subject; there, to two.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Rashi: two people may not read the same subject, because each pulls the Scroll to himself; but they may read two different subjects (in different columns), as each concentrates on his own; Maim. reverses it. ');">¹⁹</span> IF ONE FINDS A CLOTH, HE MUST GIVE IT A SHAKING EVERY THIRTY DAYS: Are we to say that a shaking benefits it? But R. Johanan said, He who has a skilled weaver in his house<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Regularly engaged in weaving. ');">²⁰</span> has to shake his garment every day!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Because of the fluff caused by the weaver. This shews that one shakes his garment only when he must. ');">²¹</span> — I will tell you: [shaking] every day is injurious, once in thirty days is beneficial thereto. Alternatively, there is no difficulty: this [our Mishnah] refers to [shaking] by one person; the other [R. Johanan's dictum], by two persons.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In which case each pulls it and strains the material. ');">²²</span> Another alternative: this [the Mishnah] refers to [a shaking, i.e., beating] by hand; the other, with a stick.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That is harmful. ');">²³</span> Or again, one refers to wool, the other to flax.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Rashi: a beating harms woollen garments, as it stretches them, but not linen garments. — But the order of the Gemara would seem to reverse it, 'the one&nbsp;… the other' referring to the Mishnah and R. Johanan respectively, and Maim. and others do in fact reverse it. Possibly linen garments or cloths were more delicately made in those days, or were otherwise weaker than woolens. ');">²⁴</span> R. Johanan said: A cupful of witchcraft, but not a cupful of tepid water.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' One had better drink the former than the latter. ');">²⁵</span> Yet that applies only to a metal utensil, but there is no objection to an earthenware one. And even of a metal utensil, this holds good only if it [the water] is unboiled; but if it is boiled, it does not matter. Moreover, that is only if he throws no spice wood therein; but if he does, there is no objection. R. Johanan said: If one is left a fortune<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'much money.' ');">²⁶</span> by his parents, and wishes to lose it, let him wear linen garments, use glassware, and engage workers and not be with them. 'Let him wear linen garments' — this refers to Roman linen;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [I.e., manufactured, not grown, in Rome; v. Krauss, op. cit. I, 537.] ');">²⁷</span> 'use glassware' — Viz., white glass;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which was rare and costly. [On the difficulty of the process for producing colourless glass among the ancients, v. Krauss, op. cit. II, 286.] ');">²⁸</span> 'and engage workers and not be with them' — refer this