Today’s daf is sponsored by the Hadran Women of Long Island in honor of the marriage of Shai Laniado, son of our friend and co-learner Sami Groff, to Lily Snyder. “May the home that they build be a bayit neeman beYisrael, filled with joy, Torah, and a passion for what’s right.”
Bava Batra 51
08.15.2024 | י״א באב תשפ״ד
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Bava Batra
Masechet Bava Batra is sponsored by Lori Stark in loving memory of her mother in law, Sara Shapiro z”l and her father Nehemiah Sosewitz z”l.
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Bava Batra
Masechet Bava Batra is sponsored by Lori Stark in loving memory of her mother in law, Sara Shapiro z”l and her father Nehemiah Sosewitz z”l.
Bava Batra 51
וְדַיָּינֵי גוֹלָה אָמְרוּ: מַחְזִיקִין. אָמַר רַב: הֲלָכָה כְּדַיָּינֵי גוֹלָה. אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ רַב כָּהֲנָא וְרַב אַסִּי לְרַב: הֲדַר בֵּיהּ מָר מִשְּׁמַעְתֵּיהּ? אֲמַר לְהוּ: מִסְתַּבְּרָא אֲמַרִי – כִּדְרַב יוֹסֵף.
but the judges of the exile said that one can establish the presumption of ownership. Rav says: The halakha is in accordance with the opinion of the judges of the exile. Rav Kahana and Rav Asi said to Rav: Has the Master retracted his halakha that one cannot establish the presumption of ownership with regard to the property of a married woman? Rav said to them: I said that the opinion of the judges of the exile is reasonable, as the presumption of ownership can be established with regard the property of a married woman under certain circumstances. The Gemara comments: This is like that ruling of Rav Yosef with regard to one who possesses the land for three years after the death of the husband.
וְלֹא לְאִשָּׁה בְּנִכְסֵי בַעְלָהּ וְכוּ׳. פְּשִׁיטָא – כֵּיוָן דְּאִית לַהּ מְזוֹנֵי, מְזוֹנֵי הוּא דְּקָא אָכְלָה! לָא צְרִיכָא, דְּיַחֵד לַהּ אַרְעָא אַחֲרִיתִי לִמְזוֹנַהּ.
§ The mishna teaches: And a wife does not have the ability to establish the presumption of ownership with regard to her husband’s property. The Gemara asks: Isn’t that obvious? Since she has the right to sustenance from her husband’s property, she is enjoying the profits as payment of her sustenance, so her use of the property does not establish the presumption of ownership. The Gemara responds: No, it is necessary to state this halakha in the event that he designated another parcel of land for her sustenance. The mishna teaches that even if she enjoys the profits of a second field for three years, she does not establish the presumption of ownership of that field.
הָא רְאָיָה – יֵשׁ? לֵימָא לְגַלּוֹיֵי זוּזֵי הוּא דְּבָעֵי!
The Gemara asks: By inference, the wife has the ability to bring proof of her ownership and take possession of her husband’s field. Why is this proof valid? Let him say that he desires to expose her concealed money. If he offers to sell the field to her and she agrees, it will be discovered that she has money of which he had been unaware. His intention was never to sell the property, but to claim money to which he is entitled.
שָׁמְעַתְּ מִינַּהּ, הַמּוֹכֵר שָׂדֶה לְאִשְׁתּוֹ – קָנְתָה, וְלָא אָמְרִינַן: לְגַלּוֹיֵי זוּזֵי הוּא דְּבָעֵי?! לָא; אֵימָא: הָא רְאָיָה יֵשׁ – בִּשְׁטַר מַתָּנָה.
Can one conclude from this mishna that in the case of one who sells a field to his wife, she has acquired it, and we do not say that he desires to expose her concealed money? The Gemara answers: No, as one may say that the inference from the mishna that if she has proof then she has ownership rights is the halakha only with regard to a deed of gift, as, if her husband gave her the field as a gift, he cannot claim that he did so in order to expose her concealed money.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב נַחְמָן לְרַב הוּנָא: לָא הֲוָה מָר גַּבָּן בְּאוּרְתָּא בִּתְחוּמָא, דְּאָמְרִינַן מִילֵּי מְעַלְּיָיתָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מַאי מִילֵּי מְעַלְּיָיתָא אָמְרִיתוּ? הַמּוֹכֵר שָׂדֶה לְאִשְׁתּוֹ – קָנְתָה, וְלָא אָמְרִינַן לְגַלּוֹיֵי זוּזֵי הוּא דְּבָעֵי.
The Gemara relates: Rav Naḥman said to Rav Huna: The Master was not with us in the evening in the study hall that is within the boundaries of the town, where we said a superior matter. Rav Huna said to him: What superior matter did you say? Rav Naḥman responded: In the case of one who sells a field to his wife, she has acquired it, and we do not say that he desires to expose her concealed money.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ: פְּשִׁיטָא, דַּל זוּזֵי מֵהָכָא – וְתִיקְנֵי בִּשְׁטָרָא! מִי לָא תְּנַן: נְכָסִים שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהֶן אַחְרָיוּת נִקְנִין בְּכֶסֶף וּבִשְׁטָר וּבַחֲזָקָה?
Rav Huna said to him: That is obvious; remove the money from here and she will acquire the property by means of the bill of sale, as, even if she has not yet given him the money, she acquires the land by means of the bill of sale. Didn’t we learn in a mishna (Kiddushin 26a): Property that serves as a guarantee, i.e., land, can be acquired by means of giving money, by means of giving a document, or by means of taking possession of it?
אֲמַר לֵיהּ: וְלָאו אִיתְּמַר עֲלַהּ, אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: לֹא שָׁנוּ אֶלָּא בִּשְׁטַר מַתָּנָה, אֲבָל בִּשְׁטַר מֶכֶר – לֹא קָנָה עַד שֶׁיִּתֵּן לוֹ דָּמֶיהָ? וְלָאו מוֹתֵיב רַב הַמְנוּנָא: בִּשְׁטָר – כֵּיצַד? כָּתַב לוֹ עַל הַנְּיָיר אוֹ עַל הַחֶרֶס – אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ שָׁוֶה פְּרוּטָה: ״שָׂדִי מְכוּרָה לָךְ״, ״שָׂדִי קְנוּיָה לָךְ״ – הֲרֵי זוֹ מְכוּרָה וּנְתוּנָה?
Rav Naḥman said to him: But wasn’t it stated with regard to this that Shmuel says: They taught that the document alone suffices only if the transaction is with a deed of gift, but if the transaction is with a bill of sale, the buyer does not acquire the property until he gives him its money? Rav Huna responded: But didn’t Rav Hamnuna raise an objection to this, based on this following baraita: How is acquisition by means of giving a document performed? If he wrote it for him on paper or earthenware, then even though the paper or the earthenware is not worth even one peruta, if he writes: My field is sold to you, or: My field is acquired by you as a gift, it is thereby sold or given. This indicates that a document suffices to complete an acquisition both in the case of a sale and a gift.
וְלָאו הוּא מוֹתֵיב לַהּ וְהוּא מְפָרֵק לַהּ – בְּמוֹכֵר שָׂדֵהוּ מִפְּנֵי רָעָתָהּ?
Rav Naḥman responded: But is it not so that he, Rav Hamnuna, raises the objection and he himself resolves it? The baraita states its ruling with regard to one who sells his field due to its poor quality. The seller wants to be rid of his field due to its low value, and would like to transfer ownership of it as quickly as possible. In this case, writing a document suffices to complete the acquisition. By contrast, in standard cases it does not. Since the acquisition of a field requires monetary payment in addition to a bill of sale, Rav Naḥman’s statement, that if one sells a field to his wife the sale is valid and we do not say that he desires to expose her concealed money, is a novelty.
(רַב בִּיבִי מְסַיֵּים בַּהּ מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּרַב נַחְמָן) וְרַב אָשֵׁי אָמַר: בְּמַתָּנָה בִּקֵּשׁ לִיתְּנָהּ לוֹ, וְלָמָּה כָּתַב לוֹ בִּלְשׁוֹן מֶכֶר? כְּדֵי לְיַפּוֹת כֹּחוֹ.
The Gemara notes that in interpreting this baraita, Rav Beivai would conclude in the name of Rav Naḥman, or, according to another version, Rav Ashi says: Why does a document suffice for him to acquire the land? It is because it is assumed that he wanted to give it to him as a gift. And why did he write the document for him employing the terminology of a sale? It was in order to enhance the power of the one acquiring the land, since with regard to a property guarantee, i.e., a document that states that if the property is seized by the seller’s creditor, the seller will reimburse the buyer for his loss, a bill of sale is superior to a deed of gift.
מֵיתִיבִי: לָוָה מִן הָעֶבֶד, וְשִׁחְרְרוֹ; מִן הָאִשָּׁה, וְגֵרְשָׁהּ – אֵין לָהֶן עָלָיו כְּלוּם. מַאי טַעְמָא? לָאו מִשּׁוּם דְּאָמְרִינַן: לְגַלּוֹיֵי זוּזֵי הוּא דְּבָעֵי?
The Gemara raises an objection to the ruling of Rav Naḥman, that we do not say that he desires to expose her concealed money, from a baraita: If one borrowed money from his own slave and then frees him, or if one borrowed money from his wife and then divorces her, they do not have any claim on him, and he need not repay them. What is the reason for this? Is it not because we say that he desires to expose their concealed money, and his taking of the loan was a mere artifice to claim money to which he was entitled?
שָׁאנֵי הָתָם, דְּלָא נִיחָא לֵיהּ לְשַׁוּוֹיֵיהּ נַפְשֵׁיהּ ״עֶבֶד לֹוֶה לְאִישׁ מַלְוֶה״.
The Gemara answers: It is different there, because there is an additional reason to think it was an artifice, as it is uncomfortable for him to make applicable to himself the verse: “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7). It is therefore reasonable to posit that his intention was not to borrow money, but to expose the concealed money that was in the possession of his slave or wife. This concern does not apply to one who sells property to his wife, and therefore the sale is valid.
שְׁלַח רַב הוּנָא בַּר אָבִין: הַמּוֹכֵר שָׂדֶה לְאִשְׁתּוֹ – קָנְתָה,
The Gemara relates that Rav Huna bar Avin sent a ruling to those in the study hall: In the case of one who sells a field to his wife, she has acquired it,
וּבַעַל אוֹכֵל פֵּירוֹת. בְּרַם, רַבִּי אַבָּא וְרַבִּי אֲבָהוּ וְכׇל גְּדוֹלֵי הַדּוֹר אָמְרוּ: בְּמַתָּנָה בִּקֵּשׁ לִיתְּנוֹ לָהּ, וְלָמָּה כָּתַב לָהּ לְשׁוּם מֶכֶר? כְּדֵי לְיַפּוֹת אֶת כֹּחָהּ.
and as long as they remain married, the husband enjoys the profits, as he would with any usufruct property. But Rabbi Abba and Rabbi Abbahu and all of the great Sages of the generation said that the assumption is that the husband wanted to give it to her as a gift. And why did he write the deed for her employing terminology indicating that it is for the sake of a sale? It was in order to enhance her power.
מֵיתִיבִי: לָוָה מִן הָעֶבֶד וְשִׁחְרְרוֹ, מִן הָאִשָּׁה וְגֵרְשָׁהּ – אֵין לָהֶן עָלָיו כְּלוּם. מַאי טַעְמָא? לָאו מִשּׁוּם דְּאָמְרִי: לְגַלּוֹיֵי זוּזֵי הוּא דִּבְעָא?
The Gemara raises an objection from a baraita to the ruling that the wife acquires the property: If one borrowed from his own slave and then freed him, or if one borrowed from his wife and then divorced her, they do not have any claim on him, and he need not repay them. What is the reason for this? Is it not because we say that he desired to expose their concealed money, and his taking of the loan was merely an artifice to claim money to which he was entitled? Similarly, the assumption should be that his sale to her was merely an artifice.
שָׁאנֵי הָתָם, דְּלָא לִישַׁוֵּי אִינִישׁ ״עֶבֶד לֹוֶה לְאִישׁ מַלְוֶה״.
The Gemara answers: It is different there, because there is an additional reason to think it was an artifice, as it is uncomfortable for a person to be described by the verse: “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7). It is therefore reasonable to posit that his intention was not to borrow money, but to expose the concealed money that was in the possession of his slave or wife. This concern does not apply to one who sells property to his wife, and therefore the sale is valid.
אָמַר רַב: הַמּוֹכֵר שָׂדֶה לְאִשְׁתּוֹ – קָנְתָה, וְהַבַּעַל אוֹכֵל פֵּירוֹת. בְּמַתָּנָה – קָנְתָה, וְאֵין הַבַּעַל אוֹכֵל פֵּירוֹת. וְרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר: אֶחָד זֶה וְאֶחָד זֶה – קָנְתָה, וְאֵין הַבַּעַל אוֹכֵל פֵּירוֹת.
The Gemara quotes a related statement. Rav says: In the case of one who sells a field to his wife, she has acquired it, and the husband enjoys the profits. In the case of one who gives a married woman the field as a gift, she has acquired it and the husband does not enjoy the profits, since he gave it to her completely. And Rabbi Elazar says: In both this case and that case she has acquired it, and the husband does not enjoy the profits.
עֲבַד רַב חִסְדָּא עוֹבָדָא כְּרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר. אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ רַבָּן עוּקְבָא וְרַבָּן נְחֶמְיָה בְּנֵי בְנָתֵיהּ דְּרַב, לְרַב חִסְדָּא: שָׁבֵיק מָר רַבְרְבֵי, וְעָבֵיד כְּזוּטְרֵי?! אֲמַר לְהוּ: וַאֲנָא נָמֵי כְּרַבְרְבֵי עֲבַדִי, דְּכִי אֲתָא רָבִין אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: אֶחָד זֶה וְאֶחָד זֶה – קָנְתָה, וְאֵין הַבַּעַל אוֹכֵל פֵּירוֹת.
The Gemara relates: Rav Ḥisda performed an action in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Elazar, and did not allow a husband to enjoy the profits of a field he sold to his wife. Rabban Ukva and Rabban Neḥemya, the sons of Rav’s daughters, said to Rav Ḥisda: Does the Master abandon a greater Sage, i.e., Rav, the greatest Sage of his generation, and act in accordance with the opinion of a lesser Sage, i.e., Rabbi Elazar, who was Rav’s student? Rav Ḥisda said to them: But I too am acting in accordance with the opinion of a greater Sage, as when Ravin came from Eretz Yisrael, he said that Rabbi Yoḥanan said: In both this case and that case she has acquired it, and the husband does not enjoy the profits. I am consequently not relying exclusively on Rabbi Elazar’s opinion, but also on that of Rabbi Yoḥanan.
אָמַר רָבָא, הִלְכְתָא: הַמּוֹכֵר שָׂדֶה לְאִשְׁתּוֹ – לֹא קָנְתָה, וְהַבַּעַל אוֹכֵל פֵּירוֹת. בְּמַתָּנָה – קָנְתָה, וְאֵין הַבַּעַל אוֹכֵל פֵּירוֹת. תַּרְתֵּי?!
Rava says that the halakha is: In the case of one who sells a field to his wife, she has not acquired it, and the husband enjoys the profits. In the case of one who gives a married woman the field as a gift, she has acquired it and the husband does not enjoy the profits. The Gemara asks with regard to the first halakha: Can these two ostensibly contradictory rulings be given? Rava’s statement that the wife has not acquired the field means that the husband still owns it, while his statement that the husband enjoys the profits, i.e., he merely enjoys the profits but does not own the field, indicates that the field itself is owned by the wife.
לָא קַשְׁיָא; כָּאן בְּמָעוֹת טְמוּנִין, כָּאן בְּמָעוֹת שֶׁאֵין טְמוּנִין – דְּאָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה: מָעוֹת טְמוּנִין – לֹא קָנְתָה, מָעוֹת שֶׁאֵינָן טְמוּנִין – קָנְתָה.
The Gemara responds: This is not difficult, because Rava is referring to two different cases. Here, where he says that she has not acquired the land, he is referring to a case where her money was concealed, and the sale was an artifice to expose it; while there, where he says that she acquires the land, he is referring to a case where she had money that is not concealed. As Rav Yehuda says: If she purchased the field with concealed money, she has not acquired it; if she purchased it with money that is not concealed, she has acquired it.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אֵין מְקַבְּלִין פִּקְדוֹנוֹת – לֹא מִן הַנָּשִׁים, וְלֹא מִן הָעֲבָדִים, וְלֹא מִן הַתִּינוֹקוֹת. קִבֵּל מִן הָאִשָּׁה – יַחְזִיר לָאִשָּׁה, וְאִם מֵתָה – יַחְזִיר לְבַעְלָהּ. קִבֵּל מִן הָעֶבֶד – יַחְזִיר לָעֶבֶד, וְאִם מֵת – יַחְזִיר לְרַבּוֹ.
§ The Sages taught in a baraita: One may not accept deposits from women, and not from slaves, and not from children. Since it is likely that they do not own property, they might have taken the item without authorization from their husband, master, or parent, respectively. Consequently, one should not accept the deposit. If, however, one accepted a deposit from a woman, he must return it to the woman, as he cannot be certain that it is not hers. And if the woman died, he must return it to her husband, as he is her heir. If one accepted a deposit from a slave, he must return it to the slave, since it might not belong to the master. And if the slave died, he must return it to his master.
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I began my journey two years ago at the beginning of this cycle of the daf yomi. It has been an incredible, challenging experience and has given me a new perspective of Torah Sh’baal Peh and the role it plays in our lives
linda kalish-marcus
Efrat, Israel
I read Ilana Kurshan’s “If All the Seas Were Ink” which inspired me. Then the Women’s Siyum in Jerusalem in 2020 convinced me, I knew I had to join! I have loved it- it’s been a constant in my life daily, many of the sugiyot connect to our lives. My family and friends all are so supportive. It’s incredible being part of this community and love how diverse it is! I am so excited to learn more!
Shira Jacobowitz
Jerusalem, Israel
In January 2020, my teaching partner at IDC suggested we do daf yomi. Thanks to her challenge, I started learning daily from Rabbanit Michelle. It’s a joy to be part of the Hadran community. (It’s also a tikkun: in 7th grade, my best friend and I tied for first place in a citywide gemara exam, but we weren’t invited to the celebration because girls weren’t supposed to be learning gemara).
Sara Averick
Jerusalem, Israel
When I began the previous cycle, I promised myself that if I stuck with it, I would reward myself with a trip to Israel. Little did I know that the trip would involve attending the first ever women’s siyum and being inspired by so many learners. I am now over 2 years into my second cycle and being part of this large, diverse, fascinating learning family has enhanced my learning exponentially.
Shira Krebs
Minnesota, United States
In January 2020 on a Shabbaton to Baltimore I heard about the new cycle of Daf Yomi after the siyum celebration in NYC stadium. I started to read “ a daily dose of Talmud “ and really enjoyed it . It led me to google “ do Orthodox women study Talmud? “ and found HADRAN! Since then I listen to the podcast every morning, participate in classes and siyum. I love to learn, this is amazing! Thank you
Sandrine Simons
Atlanta, United States
3 years ago, I joined Rabbanit Michelle to organize the unprecedented Siyum HaShas event in Jerusalem for thousands of women. The whole experience was so inspiring that I decided then to start learning the daf and see how I would go…. and I’m still at it. I often listen to the Daf on my bike in mornings, surrounded by both the external & the internal beauty of Eretz Yisrael & Am Yisrael!
Lisa Kolodny
Raanana, Israel
After experiences over the years of asking to join gemara shiurim for men and either being refused by the maggid shiur or being the only women there, sometimes behind a mechitza, I found out about Hadran sometime during the tail end of Masechet Shabbat, I think. Life has been much better since then.
Madeline Cohen
London, United Kingdom
When I started studying Hebrew at Brown University’s Hillel, I had no idea that almost 38 years later, I’m doing Daf Yomi. My Shabbat haburah is led by Rabbanit Leah Sarna. The women are a hoot. I’m tracking the completion of each tractate by reading Ilana Kurshan’s memoir, If All the Seas Were Ink.
Hannah Lee
Pennsylvania, United States
Ive been learning Gmara since 5th grade and always loved it. Have always wanted to do Daf Yomi and now with Michelle Farber’s online classes it made it much easier to do! Really enjoying the experience thank you!!
Lisa Lawrence
Neve Daniel, Israel
I started learning with rabbis. I needed to know more than the stories. My first teacher to show me “the way of the Talmud” as well as the stories was Samara Schwartz.
Michelle Farber started the new cycle 2 yrs ago and I jumped on for the ride.
I do not look back.
Jenifer Nech
Houston, United States
I started learning when my brother sent me the news clip of the celebration of the last Daf Yomi cycle. I was so floored to see so many women celebrating that I wanted to be a part of it. It has been an enriching experience studying a text in a language I don’t speak, using background knowledge that I don’t have. It is stretching my learning in unexpected ways, bringing me joy and satisfaction.
Jodi Gladstone
Warwick, Rhode Island, United States
I started learning at the start of this cycle, and quickly fell in love. It has become such an important part of my day, enriching every part of my life.
Naomi Niederhoffer
Toronto, Canada
When I began learning Daf Yomi at the beginning of the current cycle, I was preparing for an upcoming surgery and thought that learning the Daf would be something positive I could do each day during my recovery, even if I accomplished nothing else. I had no idea what a lifeline learning the Daf would turn out to be in so many ways.
Laura Shechter
Lexington, MA, United States
I started learning Daf Yomi inspired by תָּפַסְתָּ מְרוּבֶּה לֹא תָּפַסְתָּ, תָּפַסְתָּ מוּעָט תָּפַסְתָּ. I thought I’d start the first page, and then see. I was swept up into the enthusiasm of the Hadran Siyum, and from there the momentum kept building. Rabbanit Michelle’s shiur gives me an anchor, a connection to an incredible virtual community, and an energy to face whatever the day brings.
Medinah Korn
בית שמש, Israel
In early January of 2020, I learned about Siyyum HaShas and Daf Yomi via Tablet Magazine’s brief daily podcast about the Daf. I found it compelling and fascinating. Soon I discovered Hadran; since then I have learned the Daf daily with Rabbanit Michelle Cohen Farber. The Daf has permeated my every hour, and has transformed and magnified my place within the Jewish Universe.
Lisa Berkelhammer
San Francisco, CA , United States
Bava Batra 51
וְדַיָּינֵי גוֹלָה אָמְרוּ: מַחְזִיקִין. אָמַר רַב: הֲלָכָה כְּדַיָּינֵי גוֹלָה. אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ רַב כָּהֲנָא וְרַב אַסִּי לְרַב: הֲדַר בֵּיהּ מָר מִשְּׁמַעְתֵּיהּ? אֲמַר לְהוּ: מִסְתַּבְּרָא אֲמַרִי – כִּדְרַב יוֹסֵף.
but the judges of the exile said that one can establish the presumption of ownership. Rav says: The halakha is in accordance with the opinion of the judges of the exile. Rav Kahana and Rav Asi said to Rav: Has the Master retracted his halakha that one cannot establish the presumption of ownership with regard to the property of a married woman? Rav said to them: I said that the opinion of the judges of the exile is reasonable, as the presumption of ownership can be established with regard the property of a married woman under certain circumstances. The Gemara comments: This is like that ruling of Rav Yosef with regard to one who possesses the land for three years after the death of the husband.
וְלֹא לְאִשָּׁה בְּנִכְסֵי בַעְלָהּ וְכוּ׳. פְּשִׁיטָא – כֵּיוָן דְּאִית לַהּ מְזוֹנֵי, מְזוֹנֵי הוּא דְּקָא אָכְלָה! לָא צְרִיכָא, דְּיַחֵד לַהּ אַרְעָא אַחֲרִיתִי לִמְזוֹנַהּ.
§ The mishna teaches: And a wife does not have the ability to establish the presumption of ownership with regard to her husband’s property. The Gemara asks: Isn’t that obvious? Since she has the right to sustenance from her husband’s property, she is enjoying the profits as payment of her sustenance, so her use of the property does not establish the presumption of ownership. The Gemara responds: No, it is necessary to state this halakha in the event that he designated another parcel of land for her sustenance. The mishna teaches that even if she enjoys the profits of a second field for three years, she does not establish the presumption of ownership of that field.
הָא רְאָיָה – יֵשׁ? לֵימָא לְגַלּוֹיֵי זוּזֵי הוּא דְּבָעֵי!
The Gemara asks: By inference, the wife has the ability to bring proof of her ownership and take possession of her husband’s field. Why is this proof valid? Let him say that he desires to expose her concealed money. If he offers to sell the field to her and she agrees, it will be discovered that she has money of which he had been unaware. His intention was never to sell the property, but to claim money to which he is entitled.
שָׁמְעַתְּ מִינַּהּ, הַמּוֹכֵר שָׂדֶה לְאִשְׁתּוֹ – קָנְתָה, וְלָא אָמְרִינַן: לְגַלּוֹיֵי זוּזֵי הוּא דְּבָעֵי?! לָא; אֵימָא: הָא רְאָיָה יֵשׁ – בִּשְׁטַר מַתָּנָה.
Can one conclude from this mishna that in the case of one who sells a field to his wife, she has acquired it, and we do not say that he desires to expose her concealed money? The Gemara answers: No, as one may say that the inference from the mishna that if she has proof then she has ownership rights is the halakha only with regard to a deed of gift, as, if her husband gave her the field as a gift, he cannot claim that he did so in order to expose her concealed money.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב נַחְמָן לְרַב הוּנָא: לָא הֲוָה מָר גַּבָּן בְּאוּרְתָּא בִּתְחוּמָא, דְּאָמְרִינַן מִילֵּי מְעַלְּיָיתָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מַאי מִילֵּי מְעַלְּיָיתָא אָמְרִיתוּ? הַמּוֹכֵר שָׂדֶה לְאִשְׁתּוֹ – קָנְתָה, וְלָא אָמְרִינַן לְגַלּוֹיֵי זוּזֵי הוּא דְּבָעֵי.
The Gemara relates: Rav Naḥman said to Rav Huna: The Master was not with us in the evening in the study hall that is within the boundaries of the town, where we said a superior matter. Rav Huna said to him: What superior matter did you say? Rav Naḥman responded: In the case of one who sells a field to his wife, she has acquired it, and we do not say that he desires to expose her concealed money.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ: פְּשִׁיטָא, דַּל זוּזֵי מֵהָכָא – וְתִיקְנֵי בִּשְׁטָרָא! מִי לָא תְּנַן: נְכָסִים שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהֶן אַחְרָיוּת נִקְנִין בְּכֶסֶף וּבִשְׁטָר וּבַחֲזָקָה?
Rav Huna said to him: That is obvious; remove the money from here and she will acquire the property by means of the bill of sale, as, even if she has not yet given him the money, she acquires the land by means of the bill of sale. Didn’t we learn in a mishna (Kiddushin 26a): Property that serves as a guarantee, i.e., land, can be acquired by means of giving money, by means of giving a document, or by means of taking possession of it?
אֲמַר לֵיהּ: וְלָאו אִיתְּמַר עֲלַהּ, אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: לֹא שָׁנוּ אֶלָּא בִּשְׁטַר מַתָּנָה, אֲבָל בִּשְׁטַר מֶכֶר – לֹא קָנָה עַד שֶׁיִּתֵּן לוֹ דָּמֶיהָ? וְלָאו מוֹתֵיב רַב הַמְנוּנָא: בִּשְׁטָר – כֵּיצַד? כָּתַב לוֹ עַל הַנְּיָיר אוֹ עַל הַחֶרֶס – אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ שָׁוֶה פְּרוּטָה: ״שָׂדִי מְכוּרָה לָךְ״, ״שָׂדִי קְנוּיָה לָךְ״ – הֲרֵי זוֹ מְכוּרָה וּנְתוּנָה?
Rav Naḥman said to him: But wasn’t it stated with regard to this that Shmuel says: They taught that the document alone suffices only if the transaction is with a deed of gift, but if the transaction is with a bill of sale, the buyer does not acquire the property until he gives him its money? Rav Huna responded: But didn’t Rav Hamnuna raise an objection to this, based on this following baraita: How is acquisition by means of giving a document performed? If he wrote it for him on paper or earthenware, then even though the paper or the earthenware is not worth even one peruta, if he writes: My field is sold to you, or: My field is acquired by you as a gift, it is thereby sold or given. This indicates that a document suffices to complete an acquisition both in the case of a sale and a gift.
וְלָאו הוּא מוֹתֵיב לַהּ וְהוּא מְפָרֵק לַהּ – בְּמוֹכֵר שָׂדֵהוּ מִפְּנֵי רָעָתָהּ?
Rav Naḥman responded: But is it not so that he, Rav Hamnuna, raises the objection and he himself resolves it? The baraita states its ruling with regard to one who sells his field due to its poor quality. The seller wants to be rid of his field due to its low value, and would like to transfer ownership of it as quickly as possible. In this case, writing a document suffices to complete the acquisition. By contrast, in standard cases it does not. Since the acquisition of a field requires monetary payment in addition to a bill of sale, Rav Naḥman’s statement, that if one sells a field to his wife the sale is valid and we do not say that he desires to expose her concealed money, is a novelty.
(רַב בִּיבִי מְסַיֵּים בַּהּ מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּרַב נַחְמָן) וְרַב אָשֵׁי אָמַר: בְּמַתָּנָה בִּקֵּשׁ לִיתְּנָהּ לוֹ, וְלָמָּה כָּתַב לוֹ בִּלְשׁוֹן מֶכֶר? כְּדֵי לְיַפּוֹת כֹּחוֹ.
The Gemara notes that in interpreting this baraita, Rav Beivai would conclude in the name of Rav Naḥman, or, according to another version, Rav Ashi says: Why does a document suffice for him to acquire the land? It is because it is assumed that he wanted to give it to him as a gift. And why did he write the document for him employing the terminology of a sale? It was in order to enhance the power of the one acquiring the land, since with regard to a property guarantee, i.e., a document that states that if the property is seized by the seller’s creditor, the seller will reimburse the buyer for his loss, a bill of sale is superior to a deed of gift.
מֵיתִיבִי: לָוָה מִן הָעֶבֶד, וְשִׁחְרְרוֹ; מִן הָאִשָּׁה, וְגֵרְשָׁהּ – אֵין לָהֶן עָלָיו כְּלוּם. מַאי טַעְמָא? לָאו מִשּׁוּם דְּאָמְרִינַן: לְגַלּוֹיֵי זוּזֵי הוּא דְּבָעֵי?
The Gemara raises an objection to the ruling of Rav Naḥman, that we do not say that he desires to expose her concealed money, from a baraita: If one borrowed money from his own slave and then frees him, or if one borrowed money from his wife and then divorces her, they do not have any claim on him, and he need not repay them. What is the reason for this? Is it not because we say that he desires to expose their concealed money, and his taking of the loan was a mere artifice to claim money to which he was entitled?
שָׁאנֵי הָתָם, דְּלָא נִיחָא לֵיהּ לְשַׁוּוֹיֵיהּ נַפְשֵׁיהּ ״עֶבֶד לֹוֶה לְאִישׁ מַלְוֶה״.
The Gemara answers: It is different there, because there is an additional reason to think it was an artifice, as it is uncomfortable for him to make applicable to himself the verse: “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7). It is therefore reasonable to posit that his intention was not to borrow money, but to expose the concealed money that was in the possession of his slave or wife. This concern does not apply to one who sells property to his wife, and therefore the sale is valid.
שְׁלַח רַב הוּנָא בַּר אָבִין: הַמּוֹכֵר שָׂדֶה לְאִשְׁתּוֹ – קָנְתָה,
The Gemara relates that Rav Huna bar Avin sent a ruling to those in the study hall: In the case of one who sells a field to his wife, she has acquired it,
וּבַעַל אוֹכֵל פֵּירוֹת. בְּרַם, רַבִּי אַבָּא וְרַבִּי אֲבָהוּ וְכׇל גְּדוֹלֵי הַדּוֹר אָמְרוּ: בְּמַתָּנָה בִּקֵּשׁ לִיתְּנוֹ לָהּ, וְלָמָּה כָּתַב לָהּ לְשׁוּם מֶכֶר? כְּדֵי לְיַפּוֹת אֶת כֹּחָהּ.
and as long as they remain married, the husband enjoys the profits, as he would with any usufruct property. But Rabbi Abba and Rabbi Abbahu and all of the great Sages of the generation said that the assumption is that the husband wanted to give it to her as a gift. And why did he write the deed for her employing terminology indicating that it is for the sake of a sale? It was in order to enhance her power.
מֵיתִיבִי: לָוָה מִן הָעֶבֶד וְשִׁחְרְרוֹ, מִן הָאִשָּׁה וְגֵרְשָׁהּ – אֵין לָהֶן עָלָיו כְּלוּם. מַאי טַעְמָא? לָאו מִשּׁוּם דְּאָמְרִי: לְגַלּוֹיֵי זוּזֵי הוּא דִּבְעָא?
The Gemara raises an objection from a baraita to the ruling that the wife acquires the property: If one borrowed from his own slave and then freed him, or if one borrowed from his wife and then divorced her, they do not have any claim on him, and he need not repay them. What is the reason for this? Is it not because we say that he desired to expose their concealed money, and his taking of the loan was merely an artifice to claim money to which he was entitled? Similarly, the assumption should be that his sale to her was merely an artifice.
שָׁאנֵי הָתָם, דְּלָא לִישַׁוֵּי אִינִישׁ ״עֶבֶד לֹוֶה לְאִישׁ מַלְוֶה״.
The Gemara answers: It is different there, because there is an additional reason to think it was an artifice, as it is uncomfortable for a person to be described by the verse: “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7). It is therefore reasonable to posit that his intention was not to borrow money, but to expose the concealed money that was in the possession of his slave or wife. This concern does not apply to one who sells property to his wife, and therefore the sale is valid.
אָמַר רַב: הַמּוֹכֵר שָׂדֶה לְאִשְׁתּוֹ – קָנְתָה, וְהַבַּעַל אוֹכֵל פֵּירוֹת. בְּמַתָּנָה – קָנְתָה, וְאֵין הַבַּעַל אוֹכֵל פֵּירוֹת. וְרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר: אֶחָד זֶה וְאֶחָד זֶה – קָנְתָה, וְאֵין הַבַּעַל אוֹכֵל פֵּירוֹת.
The Gemara quotes a related statement. Rav says: In the case of one who sells a field to his wife, she has acquired it, and the husband enjoys the profits. In the case of one who gives a married woman the field as a gift, she has acquired it and the husband does not enjoy the profits, since he gave it to her completely. And Rabbi Elazar says: In both this case and that case she has acquired it, and the husband does not enjoy the profits.
עֲבַד רַב חִסְדָּא עוֹבָדָא כְּרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר. אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ רַבָּן עוּקְבָא וְרַבָּן נְחֶמְיָה בְּנֵי בְנָתֵיהּ דְּרַב, לְרַב חִסְדָּא: שָׁבֵיק מָר רַבְרְבֵי, וְעָבֵיד כְּזוּטְרֵי?! אֲמַר לְהוּ: וַאֲנָא נָמֵי כְּרַבְרְבֵי עֲבַדִי, דְּכִי אֲתָא רָבִין אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: אֶחָד זֶה וְאֶחָד זֶה – קָנְתָה, וְאֵין הַבַּעַל אוֹכֵל פֵּירוֹת.
The Gemara relates: Rav Ḥisda performed an action in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Elazar, and did not allow a husband to enjoy the profits of a field he sold to his wife. Rabban Ukva and Rabban Neḥemya, the sons of Rav’s daughters, said to Rav Ḥisda: Does the Master abandon a greater Sage, i.e., Rav, the greatest Sage of his generation, and act in accordance with the opinion of a lesser Sage, i.e., Rabbi Elazar, who was Rav’s student? Rav Ḥisda said to them: But I too am acting in accordance with the opinion of a greater Sage, as when Ravin came from Eretz Yisrael, he said that Rabbi Yoḥanan said: In both this case and that case she has acquired it, and the husband does not enjoy the profits. I am consequently not relying exclusively on Rabbi Elazar’s opinion, but also on that of Rabbi Yoḥanan.
אָמַר רָבָא, הִלְכְתָא: הַמּוֹכֵר שָׂדֶה לְאִשְׁתּוֹ – לֹא קָנְתָה, וְהַבַּעַל אוֹכֵל פֵּירוֹת. בְּמַתָּנָה – קָנְתָה, וְאֵין הַבַּעַל אוֹכֵל פֵּירוֹת. תַּרְתֵּי?!
Rava says that the halakha is: In the case of one who sells a field to his wife, she has not acquired it, and the husband enjoys the profits. In the case of one who gives a married woman the field as a gift, she has acquired it and the husband does not enjoy the profits. The Gemara asks with regard to the first halakha: Can these two ostensibly contradictory rulings be given? Rava’s statement that the wife has not acquired the field means that the husband still owns it, while his statement that the husband enjoys the profits, i.e., he merely enjoys the profits but does not own the field, indicates that the field itself is owned by the wife.
לָא קַשְׁיָא; כָּאן בְּמָעוֹת טְמוּנִין, כָּאן בְּמָעוֹת שֶׁאֵין טְמוּנִין – דְּאָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה: מָעוֹת טְמוּנִין – לֹא קָנְתָה, מָעוֹת שֶׁאֵינָן טְמוּנִין – קָנְתָה.
The Gemara responds: This is not difficult, because Rava is referring to two different cases. Here, where he says that she has not acquired the land, he is referring to a case where her money was concealed, and the sale was an artifice to expose it; while there, where he says that she acquires the land, he is referring to a case where she had money that is not concealed. As Rav Yehuda says: If she purchased the field with concealed money, she has not acquired it; if she purchased it with money that is not concealed, she has acquired it.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: אֵין מְקַבְּלִין פִּקְדוֹנוֹת – לֹא מִן הַנָּשִׁים, וְלֹא מִן הָעֲבָדִים, וְלֹא מִן הַתִּינוֹקוֹת. קִבֵּל מִן הָאִשָּׁה – יַחְזִיר לָאִשָּׁה, וְאִם מֵתָה – יַחְזִיר לְבַעְלָהּ. קִבֵּל מִן הָעֶבֶד – יַחְזִיר לָעֶבֶד, וְאִם מֵת – יַחְזִיר לְרַבּוֹ.
§ The Sages taught in a baraita: One may not accept deposits from women, and not from slaves, and not from children. Since it is likely that they do not own property, they might have taken the item without authorization from their husband, master, or parent, respectively. Consequently, one should not accept the deposit. If, however, one accepted a deposit from a woman, he must return it to the woman, as he cannot be certain that it is not hers. And if the woman died, he must return it to her husband, as he is her heir. If one accepted a deposit from a slave, he must return it to the slave, since it might not belong to the master. And if the slave died, he must return it to his master.
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