Gittin 103

<big><strong>מתני׳</strong></big> יתומין שסמכו אצל בעל הבית או שמינה להן אביהן אפוטרופוס חייב לעשר פירותיהם

<b><i>MISHNAH</i></b>. IF ORPHANS BOARD WITH A HOUSEHOLDER OR IF THEIR FATHER APPOINTED A GUARDIAN FOR THEM, IT IS HIS DUTY TO TITHE THEIR PRODUCE. A GUARDIAN WHO WAS APPOINTED BY THE FATHER OF THE ORPHANS IS REQUIRED TO TAKE AN OATH [WHEN THEY COME OF AGE],<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That he is not retaining any of their property. ');">¹</span>

אפוטרופוס שמינהו אבי יתומים ישבע מינוהו ב"ד לא ישבע אבא שאול אומר חילוף הדברים:

BUT IF HE WAS APPOINTED BY THE <i>BETH DIN</i> HE NEED NOT TAKE AN OATH. ABBA SAUL, SAYS THAT THE RULE IS THE REVERSE.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' All these rules are also 'to prevent abuses'. ');">²</span>

<big><strong>גמ׳</strong></big> ורמינהו (במדבר יח, לא) אתם ולא שותפין אתם ולא אריסין אתם ולא אפוטרופין ולא התורם את שאינו שלו

<b><i>GEMARA</i></b>. A contradiction was pointed out [between this Mishnah and the following]: [Thus] ye [also shall offer]:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Num. XVIII, 28, speaking of the tithe given by the levite to the priest. ');">³</span>

אמר רב חסדא לא קשיא כאן להאכיל כאן להניח

[that means to say,] you and not partners,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., not one partner for another. ');">⁴</span>

והתניא האפוטרופין תורמין ומעשרין להאכיל ולא להניח ומוכרין להן בהמה עבדים ושפחות בתים שדות וכרמים להאכיל אבל לא להניח ומוכרין להן פירות יינות שמנים וסלתות להאכיל אבל לא להניח

you and not metayers,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since they are not the owners of the produce. ');">⁵</span>

ועושין להן לולב וערבה וסוכה וציצית וכל דבר שיש לו קצבה לאיתויי שופר ולוקחין להם ספר תורה תפילין ומזוזות וכל דבר שיש לו קצבה לאתויי מגילה

you and not guardians, you and not one who tithes from property not his own! — R. Hisda replied: There is no contradiction; in the one case the produce referred to is meant for consumption, in the other for storing.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And therefore the tithing can wait. ');">⁶</span>

ואין פוסקין עליהם צדקה ואין פודין עליהן את השבויין ולא כל דבר שאין לו קצבה לאתויי תנחומי אבלים

So it has been taught: 'Guardians set aside <i>terumah</i> and tithe [from the produce of their wards] which is meant for consumption<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Because otherwise it could not be eaten. ');">⁷</span>

ואין אפוטרופין רשאין לדון לחוב ולזכות בנכסי יתומים לזכות אמאי לא אלא לחוב על מנת לזכות בנכסי יתומים

and not for storing. They can also sell on their behalf cattle, slaves, male and female, houses, fields and vineyards in order to purchase food with the money but not to put it aside. They can also sell for them produce, wine, oil and flour, to purchase [other] food with the money but not to set it aside. They can make for them a lulab<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Glos. ');">⁸</span>

ואין אפוטרופין רשאין למכור ברחוק ולגאול בקרוב ברעה ולגאול ביפה מ"ט דדלמא משתדפין

and willow,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Used with the palm branch on Tabernacles. This word is omitted in some readings. ');">⁹</span>

ואין אפוטרופין רשאין למכור שדות וליקח עבדים אבל מוכרין עבדים ולוקחין בהן שדות רבן שמעון בן גמליאל אומר אף לא למכור עבדים וליקח שדות מ"ט דלמא לא משפיין

a <i>sukkah</i><span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Glos. ');">¹⁰</span>

ואין אפוטרופין רשאין להוציא עבדים לחירות אבל מוכרין אותן לאחרים ואחרים מוציאין אותן לחירות רבי אומר אומר אני אף הוא נותן דמי עצמו ויוצא מפני שהוא כמוכרו לו

and fringes and anything else involving a defined outlay (this includes a <i>shofar</i>),<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Glos. ');">¹¹</span>

וצריך לחשב עמהן באחרונה ר"ש בן גמליאל אומר אינו צריך אין עושין אפוטרופין נשים ועבדים וקטנים ואם מינן אבי יתומין הרשות בידו

and they can buy for them a scroll of the Law, phylacteries and mezuzoth<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Glos. ');">¹²</span>

ההוא אפוטרופוס דהוה בשבבותיה דר' מאיר דהוה קא מזבין ארעתא וזבין עבדי ולא שבקיה ר' מאיר אחוו ליה בחלמיה אני להרוס ואתה לבנות אפילו הכי לא אשגח אמר דברי חלומות לא מעלין ולא מורידין

and anything involving a defined outlay (which includes a megillah).<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Glos. ');">¹³</span>

הנהו בי תרי דאיגרי בהו שטן דכל בי שמשי הוו קא מינצו בהדי הדדי איקלע רבי מאיר להתם עכבינהו תלתא בי שמשי עד דעבד להו שלמא שמעיה דקאמר ווי דאפקיה ר' מאיר לההוא גברא מביתיה:

They cannot, however, undertake on their behalf to give charity or to redeem captives or to do anything involving an unspecified outlay (which includes comforting mourners). Guardians are not allowed to enter into lawsuits concerning the property of orphans, or to entail obligations on it or to secure benefit for it.' Why can they not secure benefit? — It means, to entail obligations for the purpose of procuring benefits for the property of orphans.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Because perhaps their plans will go wrong and they will cause loss to the orphans. ');">¹⁴</span>

ההוא אפוטרופוס דהוה בשבבותיה דר' יהושע בן לוי דהוה קא מזבין ארעא וזבין תורי ולא אמר ליה ולא מידי סבר לה כר' יוסי דתניא א"ר יוסי מימי לא קריתי לאשתי אשתי ולשורי שורי אלא לאשתי ביתי ולשורי שדי

'The guardians are not at liberty to sell a distant [field] of their wards in order to redeem one that is near by<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. 'Ar. 30a. ');">¹⁵</span>

הנהו יתמי דהוו סמיכי גבי ההיא סבתא הוה להו תורתא שקלה וזבינתה ניהלייהו אתו קרובים לקמיה דרב נחמן אמרו ליה מאי עבידתה דזבנא אמר להו יתומים שסמכו אצל בעל הבית תנן

or to sell in a bad [year] with the idea of redeeming in a good one,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. 'Ar. 30a. ');">¹⁵</span>

והא אייקר ברשותא דלוקח אייקר והא לא נקיטי דמי

since there is a risk that the crops may be struck with blight.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And so what appears to be a good bargain may result in loss. ');">¹⁶</span>

אמר להו א"כ היינו דרב חנילאי בר אידי אמר שמואל דאמר רב חנילאי בר אידי אמר שמואל נכסי יתומין הרי הן כהקדש ולא מקני אלא בכספא

The guardians are not at liberty to sell fields and buy slaves with the proceeds, but they can sell slaves and buy fields with the proceeds. Rabban Simeon b. Gamaliel says that they may not even sell slaves and buy fields, since there is a risk that they will not be left in peaceable possession.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As their title to the fields may be disputed. ');">¹⁷</span>

חמריה דרבנא עוקבא יתמא משכוה בארבעה ארבעה ואייקר וקם בשיתא שיתא אתו לקמיה דרב נחמן אמר להו היינו דרב חנילאי בר אידי דאמר רב חנילאי בר אידי אמר שמואל נכסי יתומין הרי הן כהקדש ולא מקני אלא בכספא:

The guardians are not empowered to emancipate slaves; they may, however, sell them to others who can emancipate them. Rabbi says: I maintain that the slave may pay his own purchase money and become free, since then the owner as it were sells him to himself.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. supra 38b. ');">¹⁸</span>

משוך פירי מיתמי אייקור היינו דרב חנילאי בר אידי זול לא יהא כח הדיוט חמור מהקדש

The guardian must give an account of his guardianship at its close. Rabban Simeon b. Gamaliel, however, says that this is not necessary. Women, slaves and minors should not be made guardians: if, however, the father of the orphans chooses to appoint one, he is at liberty to do so.'

אמשיכו להו פירי ליתמי אייקר לא יהא כח הדיוט חמור מהקדש זול סבור מינה היינו דרב חנילאי בר אידי

There was a certain guardian in the neighbourhood of R. Meir who was selling land and buying slaves [with the proceeds], but R. Meir forbade him. A voice said to him<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'they showed him'. ');">¹⁹</span>

א"ל רב שישא בריה דרב אידי הא רעה היא לדידהו דזמנין דמצטרכי לפירי וליכא דיהיב להו עד דיהבי זוזי

in a dream, 'l want to destroy, and will you build'? Even so, however, he paid no heed, saying, Dreams are of no effect either one way or the other.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'words of dreams neither cause to ascend or descend. ');">²⁰</span>

יהבי יתמי זוזי אפירי זול לא יהא כח הדיוט חמור מן הקדש אייקר סבור מינה היינו דרב חנילאי בר אידי

There were two men who, being egged on by Satan, quarrelled with one another every Friday afternoon. R. Meir once came to that place and stopped them from quarrelling there Friday afternoons. When he had finally made peace between them, he heard Satan say: Alas for this man<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Meaning himself. ');">²¹</span>

אמר להו רב שישא בריה דרב אידי הא רעה היא לדידהו

whom R. Meir has driven from his house! A certain guardian in the neighbourhood of R. Joshua b. Levi was selling land and buying cattle with the proceeds. [The Rabbi] said nothing to him, being of the same mind as R. Jose, as it has been taught: R. Jose said: All my life I have never called my wife my wife nor my ox my ox but my wife my house and my ox my field.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Hence buying cattle was equivalent to buying land. ');">²²</span> Certain orphans who boarded with an old woman had a cow which she took and sold. Their relatives appealed to R. Nahman saying, What business had she to sell it? He said to them: We learnt: IF ORPHANS BOARD WITH A HOUSEHOLDER.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which shows that such a householder is on the same footing as a guardian, who has the right to sell cattle. ');">²³</span> [But, they said, the cow] is now worth more<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And this should warrant the cancellation of the sale. ');">²⁴</span> [than she sold it for]. [He replied,] It has become more valuable in the possession of the purchaser. But, they said, they have not yet received the money. If so, he replied, we can apply the rule of R. Hanilai b. Idi following Samuel. For R. Hanilai b. Idi said in the name of Samuel that the property of orphans is on the same footing as that of the Sanctuary, and is not transferred save on the payment of money.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Hence the transaction could still be cancelled. ');">²⁵</span> The wine of Rabbana 'Ukba the orphan was 'pulled'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As a sign of transference of ownership. V. Glos. s.v. Meshikah. ');">²⁶</span> [by purchasers who bought it at] four <i>zuz</i> [the cask]. The price [of wine] subsequently rose, so that it was worth six <i>zuz</i>. The case was brought before R. Nahman who said: Here the rule of R. Hanilai b. Idi applies; for R. Hanilai b. Idi said in the name of Samuel that the property of orphans is on the same footing as that of the Sanctuary, and is not transferred save through money payment.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Hence the transaction could still be cancelled. ');">²⁵</span> If purchasers have 'pulled'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As a sign of transference of ownership. V. Glos. s.v. Meshikah. ');">²⁶</span> the produce of orphans [without paying], and [the price subsequently] rises, the rule of R. Hanilai b. Idi applies.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And the orphans can retract. ');">²⁷</span> If [the price] falls, then surely a layman should not be more privileged than the Sanctuary.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., the purchasers could not withdraw even if the vendor was a layman (v. B.M. 44a), still less then in this case. ');">²⁸</span> If vendors have sold produce to orphans by 'pulling',<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'They made pull to orphans' i.e., the orphans 'pulled' the produce they purchased. ');">²⁹</span> and [the price subsequently] rose, then we say that the layman should not be more privileged than the Sanctuary.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., the vendors could not withdraw even if the purchaser was a layman, still less here. ');">³⁰</span> If [the price] falls, the students were inclined to think that here the rule of R. Hanilai b. Idi would apply,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And the orphans could pay the lower price and keep the wine. ');">³¹</span> but R. Shisha the son of R. Idi said to them: This would be detrimental to them, since they may one day require produce and no-one will sell to them unless they pay money down. If the orphans give money for produce [without taking delivery] and [the price] subsequently falls, then we say that a layman should not be more privileged than the Sanctuary.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And even a layman could withdraw in such a case. ');">³²</span> If it rises, the students were inclined to think that the rule of R. Hanilai b. Idi would apply,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And the vendors should not be able to retract. ');">³³</span> but R. Shisha b. Idi said to them: This might be detrimental to them,