Kiddushin 52

ולכתוב עליה פרוסבול ולקנות עמה נכסים שאין להם אחריות ואי אמרת בעינן צבורים כל שהוא למאי חזי

[is fit] for a prosbul<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Glos. The prosbul was a deed whereby a creditor transferred his debts to the Beth din, which were then regarded as though already collected from the debtor, so that the seventh year did not cancel them. This was done only if the debtor possessed land. - This measure was instituted by Hillel, who saw that people refused to lend money when the seventh year was approaching, with consequent hardships for the poor; v. Git. 36a.');">¹</span> to be written thereon, and that property which does not provide security [movables] shall be acquired along with it. But if you say: They must be heaped thereon, for what is a very small piece of land fit? - R'Samuel B'Bisna explained it in R'Joseph's presence: E.g. , if he sticks a needle therein.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which is acquired along with the land.');">²</span>

תרגומא רב שמואל בר ביסנא קמיה דרב יוסף כגון שנעץ בה מחט א"ל רב יוסף קבסתן איכפל תנא לאשמועי' מחט אמר רב אשי מאן לימא לן דלא תלה בה מרגניתא דשוויא אלפא זוזי

Said R'Joseph to him. You annoy us:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Or, insolent man! hbusn');">³</span> has the Tanna troubled to teach us about a needle! - Said R'Ashi: who tells us that he did not suspend a pearl on it, worth a thousand zuz?

ת"ש אמר ר' אלעזר מעשה במדוני אחד שהיה בירושלים שהיו לו מטלטלין הרבה וביקש ליתנם במתנה אמרו לו אין לו תקנה עד שיקנם על גבי קרקע מה עשה הלך ולקח בית סלע סמוך לירושלים ואמר צפוני זה לפלוני ועמו מאה צאן ומאה חביות ומת וקיימו את דבריו

Come and hear: R'Eleazar said: It once happened that a certain Meronite<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A townsman of Meron in Galilee, south of Giscala. The reading here and in the MS. F of B.B. ');">⁴</span> in Jerusalem had a large quantity of movables, which he desired to give away. He was thereupon informed that he had no other means but to transfer them along with land.

ואי אמרת בעינן צבורים בה בית סלע למאי חזי מי סברת בית סלע סלע ממש מאי סלע דנפיש טובא ואמאי קרו ליה סלע דקשי כסלע

What did he do? He went and bought beth sela'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This may have several meanings: (i) a piece of land the size of a sela', the coin; (ii) a piece of land comprising just one rock, upon which it would be impossible to place anything; and (iii) a piece of rocky soil. The first or second is assumed to be meant.');">⁵</span> near Jerusalem and declared: 'The north of this belongs to So-and-so, and together with it go a hundred sheep and a hundred barrels';<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In B.B. ');">⁶</span>

ת"ש דאמר רב יהודה א"ר מעשה באדם אחד שחלה בירושלים כרבי אליעזר ואמרי לה בריא היה כרבנן

on his death his directions were carried out. But if you say: They [the movables] must be heaped up thereon, for what is beth sela' fit? - Do you think that by beth sela' literally a sela' [coin] is meant? What is sela'?

שהיו לו מטלטלין הרבה וביקש ליתנם במתנה אמרו לו אין לו תקנה עד שיקנם ע"ג קרקע מה עשה הלך ולקח בית רובע סמוך לירושלים ואמר טפח על טפח לפלוני ועמו מאה צאן ומאה חביות ומת וקיימו חכמים את דבריו ואי אמרת בעינן צבורים טפח על טפח למאי חזי

A large area; and why was it called sela'? Because it was as hard as a rock.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' So that it could be bought very cheaply.');">⁷</span> Come and hear: For Rab Judah said in Rab's name: It once happened that a certain man who fell ill in Jerusalem (that is in accordance with R'Eleazar's view) - others state, he was in good health, which agrees with the Rabbis<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' R. Eleazar maintains that a gift, even if made by a very sick person on point of death, is not validly transferred by mere words, but the recipient must perform an act of acquisition. Hence the following story can refer even to a sick person. But the Rabbis hold this unnecessary in the case of a sick person, whose verbal testimony suffices; hence what is related must have happened to a man in good health.');">⁸</span>

הכא במאי עסקינן לדמי ה"נ מסתברא דאי ס"ד מאה צאן ומאה חביות ממש ניקנינהו ניהליה בחליפין

- had a large quantity of movables, which he desired to dispose of as a gift. Thereupon he was told that he had no other option but to transfer it along with land. What did he do?

ואלא מאי לדמי ניקנינהו ניהליה במשיכה אלא דליתיה למקבל מתנה ה"נ דליתיה למקבל מתנה

He went and purchased [a field] a quarter [kab's sowing] in area<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' On the basis that two sela'im (twelve kabs) of seed are required for 5,000 sq. cubits; 'Er. 23b.');">⁹</span> and declared: 'Let a square handbreadth<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A handbreadth one sixth of a cubit.');">¹⁰</span> belong to So-and-so, and with it go a hundred sheep and a hundred barrels':<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And the recipient acquired the land by one of the recognised methods.');">¹¹</span>

וניזכינהו ניהליה אגב אחר לא סמכה דעתיה סבר שמיט ואכיל להו

on his death, the Sages confirmed his testimony. Now, if you say that they [the movables] must be heaped up thereon, for what is a square handbreadth fit? - The reference here is to money.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' He gave them money worth all that, and money could actually be placed thereon.');">¹²</span> Reason too supports this.

ואלא מאי אין לו תקנה ה"ק למאי דלא סמכה דעתיה אין לו תקנה עד שיקנם על גבי קרקע

For should you think that a hundred sheep and a hundred barrels are meant literally, he should have transferred them by barter!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Halifin v. Glos. Coin cannot be so acquired (B.M. 46a) .');">¹³</span> What then: money? Then he could have transferred it to him by meshikah?

תא שמע מעשה ברבן גמליאל וזקנים שהיו באים בספינה אמר להם רבן גמליאל לזקנים עישור שאני עתיד למוד

But [it must mean] that the recipient is absent; then here too,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., even if sheep and barrels are meant literally.');">¹⁴</span> it means that the recipient is absent. Then he should have transferred it to him by another?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Who would accept it on his behalf.');">¹⁵</span> - He could not rely thereon, fearing that the other would steal and consume it. Then what is meant by 'he had no other option'? - It means this: in view [of the fact] that he has no confidence [in a stranger], there is no other course but to transfer it in virtue of real estate. Come and hear: Rabban Gamaliel and some elders were once travelling in a ship. Said Rabban Gamaliel to the elders, 'Let the tenth which I am to measure out