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Bava Kamma 31

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Summary

This week’s learning is sponsored by Tova and David Kestenbaum in honor of the recent birth of their grandsons, Tsuri Amiad, born to their children Mira and Etan Kestenbaum, and Yehudah Shalom, born to their children Daniella and Amit Nistenpover. “May their parents merit raising them in the ways of Torah, Mitzvot and good deeds. And may this simcha be a blessing for Am Yisrael.”
Today’s daf is sponsored by the Hadran Women of Long Island in honor of Dora Chana Haar and Evie. “As we share in our Daf sister Dora Chana Haar and family’s joy and gratitude as Evie (Chava Naami bat Daba Chana) completes her chemotherapy. May Evie, all cholei Yisrael and our brothers and sisters in captivity speedily experience רפואות וישועות!”
The Mishna rules that if two potters are walking one behind the other in the street, holding pots, and the first one trips and falls and the second trips on the first, the first is liable for damages caused to the second person. Rabbi Yochanan and Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak both agree that it can be explained even according to the rabbis who hold that one who trips is not considered negligent as the person should have stood up. However, they disagree about the case. Did the person have enough time to warn the other, even though they couldn’t yet get off the ground or if one is focused on getting up off the ground, we don’t anticipate/expect them to be able to warn someone else that they are on the ground. Two sources are brought to prove Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak’s position that the person should have warned the other. But both can be explained according to Rabbi Yochanan as well. If one person trips over another and a third over the second, they are both held responsible according to the tanaim. However, Rava distinguishes between the damage caused by the first and the damage caused by the second. The Gemara attempts to understand exactly the distinction that Rava makes and why.

Bava Kamma 31

סְלִיקוּסְתָּא!

residue from dates?

בִּשְׁלָמָא רַב אַדָּא בַּר אַהֲבָה – כִּשְׁמַעְתֵּיהּ. אֶלָּא רַב הוּנָא, לֵימָא הֲדַר בֵּיהּ?

The Gemara comments: Granted, Rav Adda bar Ahava acted in accordance with his halakhic opinion that this is the halakha, and a public ruling is issued to that effect. But with regard to Rav Huna, shall we say that he retracted his prior opinion?

הָנְהוּ – מוּתְרִין הֲווֹ.

The Gemara answers: Those owners of the barley were forewarned to remove the barley from the public domain, and they did not comply. Therefore, they were penalized by Rav Huna declaring publicly that their barley was ownerless.

מַתְנִי׳ שְׁנֵי קַדָּרִין שֶׁהָיוּ מְהַלְּכִין זֶה אַחַר זֶה, וְנִתְקַל הָרִאשׁוֹן וְנָפַל, וְנִתְקַל הַשֵּׁנִי בָּרִאשׁוֹן – הָרִאשׁוֹן חַיָּיב בְּנִזְקֵי שֵׁנִי.

MISHNA: In the case of two potters carrying pots who were walking one after the other in the public domain, and the first stumbled on a bump and fell, and the second stumbled over the first and fell too, the first is liable to pay for the damage incurred by the second.

גְּמָ׳ אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: לָא תֵּימָא מַתְנִיתִין רַבִּי מֵאִיר הִיא, דְּאָמַר: נִתְקָל פּוֹשֵׁעַ הוּא – וְחַיָּיב; אֶלָּא אֲפִילּוּ לְרַבָּנַן, דְאָמְרִי אָנוּס הוּא, וּפָטוּר – הָכָא חַיָּיב; שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ לַעֲמוֹד, וְלֹא עָמַד.

GEMARA: Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Do not say that the mishna is the opinion of Rabbi Meir, who says that one who stumbles is considered negligent and therefore liable. Rather, even according to the Rabbis, who say that one who stumbles is generally a victim of circumstances beyond his control and is consequently exempt, here, in the case in the mishna, he is liable, since after falling he had the opportunity to stand up, and he did not stand up.

רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק אָמַר: אֲפִילּוּ תֵּימָא לֹא הָיָה לוֹ לַעֲמוֹד; הָיָה לוֹ לְהַזְהִיר, וְלֹא הִזְהִיר.

Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said: Even if you say that he did not have the opportunity to stand up, he had the opportunity to warn the person behind him, and he did not warn him.

וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר: כֵּיוָן דְּלֹא הָיָה לוֹ לַעֲמוֹד – לֹא הָיָה לוֹ לְהַזְהִיר; דִּטְרִיד.

And Rabbi Yoḥanan could have said in response that since he did not have the opportunity to stand up, he did not have the opportunity to warn the other person either, as he was busy trying to stand up. Therefore, the mishna, which holds him liable, must be referring to a case where he could have stood up.

תְּנַן: הָיָה בַּעַל קוֹרָה רִאשׁוֹן וּבַעַל חָבִית אַחֲרוֹן, נִשְׁבְּרָה חָבִית בַּקּוֹרָה – פָּטוּר, וְאִם עָמַד בַּעַל קוֹרָה – חַיָּיב.

The Gemara attempts to prove that the opinion of Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak is correct. We learned in the next mishna (31b): If the owner of a cross beam was walking in the public domain carrying his beam first, and the owner of a barrel was walking with his barrel last, i.e., behind him, and the barrel was broken by the cross beam, the one who carried the cross beam is exempt. But if the owner of the cross beam stopped, he is liable, since the accident was caused by his stopping.

מַאי, לָאו שֶׁעָמַד לְכַתֵּף – דְּאוֹרְחֵיהּ הוּא, וְקָתָנֵי חַיָּיב, דַּהֲוָה לֵיהּ לְהַזְהִיר?

The Gemara asks: What, is it not referring to a situation where the one carrying the cross beam stopped in order to adjust the load on his shoulder, which is the normative behavior of one carrying a beam, and is not considered negligence? And nevertheless the tanna teaches that he is liable, as, although he had the opportunity to warn the person behind him that he was about to stop, he did not warn him. This supports the opinion of Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak.

לֹא, כְּשֶׁעָמַד לָפוּשׁ.

The Gemara responds: No, it is referring to a situation where he stopped to rest, which could not have been anticipated by the person walking behind him. Consequently, he is liable.

אֲבָל עָמַד לְכַתֵּף מַאי, פָּטוּר? אַדְּתָנֵי סֵיפָא: וְאִם אָמַר לוֹ לְבַעַל חָבִית ״עֲמוֹד״ – פָּטוּר, לִפְלוֹג וְלִיתְנֵי בְּדִידַהּ: בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים – כְּשֶׁעָמַד לָפוּשׁ, אֲבָל עָמַד לְכַתֵּף – פָּטוּר!

The Gemara asks: But according to this interpretation, if he stopped to adjust the load on his shoulder, what is the halakha? Is he exempt? If so, rather than teaching in the latter clause of that mishna: But if he said to the owner of the barrel: Stop, he is exempt, let the tanna distinguish and teach within the former case itself, as follows: In what case is this statement, that he is liable, said? In a case when he stopped to rest. But in a case where he stopped to adjust the load on his shoulder, he is exempt.

הָא קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן – דְּאַף עַל גַּב דְּעָמַד לָפוּשׁ, כִּי קָאָמַר לוֹ לְבַעַל חָבִית: ״עֲמוֹד״ – פָּטוּר.

The Gemara answers: The mishna is presented in this manner because it teaches us this novelty, that even if he stopped to rest, in a case when he says to the owner of the barrel: Stop, he is exempt.

תָּא שְׁמַע: הַקַּדָּרִין וְהַזַּגָּגִין שֶׁהָיוּ מְהַלְּכִין זֶה אַחַר זֶה; נִתְקַל הָרִאשׁוֹן וְנָפַל, וְנִתְקַל הַשֵּׁנִי בָּרִאשׁוֹן, וְהַשְּׁלִישִׁי בַּשֵּׁנִי – רִאשׁוֹן חַיָּיב בְּנִזְקֵי שֵׁנִי, וְשֵׁנִי חַיָּיב בְּנִזְקֵי שְׁלִישִׁי. וְאִם מֵחֲמַת רִאשׁוֹן נָפְלוּ – רִאשׁוֹן חַיָּיב בְּנִזְקֵי כּוּלָּם. וְאִם הִזְהִירוּ זֶה אֶת זֶה – פְּטוּרִין. מַאי, לָאו שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה לָהֶן לַעֲמוֹד?

Come and hear an alternative proof from what is taught in a baraita: With regard to potters and glaziers who were walking one after the other, and the first stumbled and fell, and the second stumbled over the first, sustaining damage, and the third stumbled over the second, also falling and sustaining damage, in this case, the first person is liable to pay for the damage of the second, and the second is liable to pay for the damage of the third. But if they all fell because of the first, the first is liable to pay for the damage of them all. And if they warned each other, i.e., each one warned the next, they are all exempt. The Gemara concludes: What, is it not a case where they did not have the opportunity to stand up, and they are nevertheless liable to pay for not warning the people behind them, in accordance with the opinion of Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak?

לֹא, שֶׁהָיָה לָהֶן לַעֲמוֹד.

The Gemara answers: No, it is a case where they had the opportunity to stand up and they did not do so.

אֲבָל לֹא הָיָה לָהֶם לַעֲמוֹד מַאי, פָּטוּר? אִי הָכִי, אַדְּתָנֵי סֵיפָא: אִם הִזְהִירוּ זֶה אֶת זֶה – פָּטוּר; לִפְלוֹג וְלִיתְנֵי בְּדִידַהּ: בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים – שֶׁהָיָה לָהֶן לַעֲמוֹד, אֲבָל לֹא הָיָה לָהֶן לַעֲמוֹד – פְּטוּרִין!

The Gemara asks: But according to this interpretation, if they did not have the opportunity to stand up, what would be the halakha? Would they be exempt? If so, rather than teaching in the latter clause of the baraita: If they warned one another, they are exempt, let the tanna distinguish and teach within the former case itself, as follows: In what case is this statement, that they are liable, said? It is a case where they had the opportunity to stand up, but if they did not have the opportunity to stand up, they are exempt.

הָא קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן – דְּאַף עַל גַּב דְּהָיָה לָהֶן לַעֲמוֹד, כִּי הִזְהִירוּ זֶה אֶת זֶה – פְּטוּרִין.

The Gemara answers: The baraita is presented in this manner because it teaches us this novelty, that even if they had the opportunity to stand up, in a case when they warned each other they are exempt.

אָמַר רָבָא: רִאשׁוֹן חַיָּיב בְּנִזְקֵי שֵׁנִי – בֵּין בְּנִזְקֵי גוּפוֹ, בֵּין בְּנִזְקֵי מָמוֹנוֹ. שֵׁנִי חַיָּיב בְּנִזְקֵי שְׁלִישִׁי – בְּנִזְקֵי גוּפוֹ, אֲבָל לֹא בְּנִזְקֵי מָמוֹנוֹ.

§ With regard to this halakha, Rava said: The first one who stumbled is liable to pay for the damage of the second, both for damage caused to the second person by his body and for damage caused to him by his property. By contrast, the second is liable to pay for the damage of the third only with regard to damage caused by his body as result of the fall, and not with regard to damage caused by his property.

מִמָּה נַפְשָׁךְ? אִי נִתְקָל פּוֹשֵׁעַ הוּא – שֵׁנִי נָמֵי לִיחַיַּיב! אִי נִתְקָל לָאו פּוֹשֵׁעַ הוּא – אֲפִילּוּ רִאשׁוֹן נָמֵי לִיפְּטַר!

The Gemara questions Rava’s statement: Whichever way you look at it, this is difficult to understand. If Rava maintains that one who stumbles is considered negligent, the second person should also be liable to pay for all forms of damage caused by his negligence. And if Rava maintains that one who stumbles is not considered negligent, even the first should be exempt from liability for the damage incurred by the second.

רִאשׁוֹן – וַדַּאי פּוֹשֵׁעַ הוּא. שְׁנִי – אַגּוּפוֹ מִחַיַּיב, דְּהָיָה לוֹ לַעֲמוֹד וְלֹא עָמַד. אַמָּמוֹנוֹ פָּטוּר, דְּאָמַר לֵיהּ: הַאי בֵּירָא – לָאו אֲנָא כְּרִיתֵיהּ.

The Gemara explains: The first is certainly considered negligent, and is therefore liable to pay for damage caused by both his body and his property. The second is deemed liable to pay for damage caused by his body, as he had the opportunity to stand up and he did not stand up. For damage caused by his property that was lying there and that caused the third person to stumble and fall, he is exempt, as he can say to him: I did not dig this pit, i.e., I did not cause this obstacle. Since it was the first person who stumbled and brought about the situation where the items of the second were lying on the ground, the second is not deemed liable.

מֵיתִיבִי: כּוּלָּן חַיָּיבִין עַל נִזְקֵי גּוּפָן, וּפְטוּרִין עַל נִזְקֵי מָמוֹנָן. מַאי, לָאו אֲפִילּוּ רִאשׁוֹן?

The Gemara raises an objection to Rava’s statement from a baraita that comments on this case: All of them are liable to pay for damage caused by their bodies and exempt from paying restitution for damage caused by their property. What, does this not refer even to the first, indicating that even he is exempt from damage caused by his property?

לָא, לְבַר מֵרִאשׁוֹן. וְהָא ״כּוּלָּם״ קָתָנֵי! אָמַר רַב אַדָּא בַּר אַהֲבָה: ״כּוּלָּן״ – הַנִּיזָּקִין.

The Gemara answers: No, it is referring to all of them except for the first. The Gemara asks: But doesn’t the baraita teach the term all of them, indicating that the first is also included? Rav Adda bar Ahava said: The term all of them refers only to those who incurred damage, and excludes the first one, who only caused damage to others.

הַאי מַאי? אִי אָמְרַתְּ בִּשְׁלָמָא אֲפִילּוּ רִאשׁוֹן – הַיְינוּ דְּקָתָנֵי ״כּוּלָּן״; אֶלָּא אִי אָמְרַתְּ לְבַר מֵרִאשׁוֹן, מַאי ״כּוּלָּן״? לִיתְנֵי ״הַנִּיזָּקִין״!

The Gemara questions this answer: What is this interpretation? Granted, if you say that the term includes even the first, this explanation is consistent with that which is taught: All of them. But if you say that it is referring to all of them except for the first, what is the reason that the misleading term: All of them is used? Let the baraita teach more accurately that those who incurred damage are liable in turn for the damage caused by their bodies, but are exempt from paying restitution for damage caused by their property.

אֶלָּא אָמַר רָבָא: רִאשׁוֹן חַיָּיב – בֵּין בְּנִזְקֵי גוּפוֹ דְּשֵׁנִי, בֵּין בְּנִזְקֵי מָמוֹנוֹ דְּשֵׁנִי; וְשֵׁנִי חַיָּיב בְּנִזְקֵי שְׁלִישִׁי – בְּנִזְקֵי גוּפוֹ, אֲבָל לֹא בְּנִזְקֵי מָמוֹנוֹ. מַאי טַעְמָא? דְּהָוֵה לֵיהּ בּוֹר, וְלֹא מָצִינוּ בּוֹר שֶׁחִיֵּיב בּוֹ אֶת הַכֵּלִים.

Rather, this entire explanation of Rava’s statement should be rejected, and it should be explained as follows: Rava said that the first is liable both for injury caused to the body of the second and for damage caused to the property of the second, and the second is liable to pay for damage incurred by the third with regard to injury to his body but not with regard to damage to his property. What is the reason for the exemption in the last case? It is because after his fall, the body of the second person is effectively a pit, and we do not find that in the category of Pit one is liable to pay restitution for damage caused to vessels.

הָנִיחָא לִשְׁמוּאֵל, דְּאָמַר: כֹּל תַּקָּלָה – בּוֹר הוּא; אֶלָּא לְרַב, דְּאָמַר: אִי אַפְקְרֵיהּ אִין, אִי לָא לָא; מַאי אִיכָּא לְמֵימַר?

The Gemara asks: This works out well according to Shmuel, who says that any obstacle that was placed in the public domain constitutes a pit, i.e., the halakhot of a pit apply to it. But according to Rav, who says that if the one who placed it there renounces ownership of the hazardous object it is considered a pit, but if he does not renounce ownership of it then it is not considered a pit, what is there to say? The second one who fell obviously did not renounce ownership of his body, so why is he exempt from damage he caused to vessels as though he were a pit?

לְעוֹלָם – כִּדְאָמַר מֵעִיקָּרָא, וּדְקַשְׁיָא לָךְ ״כּוּלָּן חַיָּיבִין״ – תַּרְגְּמַהּ רַב אַדָּא בַּר מִנְיוֹמֵי קַמֵּיהּ דְּרָבִינָא: שֶׁהוּזְּקוּ כֵּלִים בְּכֵלִים.

The Gemara answers: Actually, Rava’s statement should be explained as he was understood to have said initially, i.e., that he distinguishes between damage caused by another’s body and damage caused by his property. And as for your difficulty from the statement in the baraita that all of them are liable to pay for the damage caused by their bodies but exempt from paying restitution for the damage caused by their property, apparently including even the first one, contrary to Rava’s opinion, Rav Adda bar Minyumi interpreted it before Ravina as referring to a case where vessels were damaged by vessels. In other words, it is not the body, but the vessels of the second that were damaged by the property of the first, and since the broken vessels of the first have the status of a pit, the owner is exempt from liability for damage caused to the vessels of others.

אָמַר מָר: אִם מֵחֲמַת רִאשׁוֹן נָפְלוּ – רִאשׁוֹן חַיָּיב בְּנִזְקֵי כוּלָּם. מֵחֲמַת רִאשׁוֹן הֵיכִי נָפֵיל? רַב פָּפָּא אָמַר: דְּפַסְקֵהּ לְאוֹרְחֵיהּ כְּשִׁלְדָּא. רַב זְבִיד אָמַר: כְּחוּטְרָא דְסַמְיוּתָא.

The Master said above: If they all fell because of the first, the first is liable to pay for the damage of them all. The Gemara asks: How did they all fall because of the first? Rav Pappa said: It is a case where he blocked the road like a skeleton [keshilda], filling the entire width of the road and causing the rest to stumble over different parts of his body. Rav Zevid said: He fell diagonally like a blind man’s cane, and they all stumbled over him.

מַתְנִי׳ זֶה בָּא בְּחָבִיתוֹ וְזֶה בָּא בְּקוֹרָתוֹ, נִשְׁבְּרָה כַּדּוֹ שֶׁל זֶה בְּקוֹרָתוֹ שֶׁל זֶה – פָּטוּר; שֶׁלָּזֶה רְשׁוּת לְהַלֵּךְ, וְלָזֶה רְשׁוּת לְהַלֵּךְ.

MISHNA: If this person came in the public domain with his barrel, and that person came from the opposite direction with his cross beam, and this one’s jug was broken by that one’s cross beam, the one carrying the cross beam is exempt, because this one had permission to walk in the public domain, and that one also had permission to walk there.

הָיָה בַּעַל הַקּוֹרָה רִאשׁוֹן וּבַעַל חָבִית אַחֲרוֹן; נִשְׁבְּרָה חָבִית בְּקוֹרָה – פָּטוּר בַּעַל הַקּוֹרָה.

If they were walking in the same direction, so that the owner of the cross beam was walking first, in front, and the owner of a barrel last, behind him, and the barrel was broken by the cross beam, the owner of the cross beam is exempt, since the owner of the barrel saw him in front of him and should have been more careful.

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Attending the Siyyum in Jerusalem 26 months ago inspired me to become part of this community of learners. So many aspects of Jewish life have been illuminated by what we have learned in Seder Moed. My day is not complete without daf Yomi. I am so grateful to Rabbanit Michelle and the Hadran Community.

Nancy Kolodny
Nancy Kolodny

Newton, United States

My family recently made Aliyah, because we believe the next chapter in the story of the Jewish people is being written here, and we want to be a part of it. Daf Yomi, on the other hand, connects me BACK, to those who wrote earlier chapters thousands of years ago. So, I feel like I’m living in the middle of this epic story. I’m learning how it all began, and looking ahead to see where it goes!
Tina Lamm
Tina Lamm

Jerusalem, Israel

While vacationing in San Diego, Rabbi Leah Herz asked if I’d be interested in being in hevruta with her to learn Daf Yomi through Hadran. Why not? I had loved learning Gemara in college in 1971 but hadn’t returned. With the onset of covid, Daf Yomi and Rabbanit Michelle centered me each day. Thank-you for helping me grow and enter this amazing world of learning.
Meryll Page
Meryll Page

Minneapolis, MN, United States

My husband learns Daf, my son learns Daf, my son-in-law learns Daf.
When I read about Hadran’s Siyyum HaShas 2 years ago, I thought- I can learn Daf too!
I had learned Gemara in Hillel HS in NJ, & I remembered loving it.
Rabbanit Michelle & Hadran have opened my eyes & expanding my learning so much in the past few years. We can now discuss Gemara as a family.
This was a life saver during Covid

Renee Braha
Renee Braha

Brooklyn, NY, United States

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
Madeline Cohen

London, United Kingdom

I began to learn this cycle of Daf Yomi after my husband passed away 2 1/2 years ago. It seemed a good way to connect to him. Even though I don’t know whether he would have encouraged women learning Gemara, it would have opened wonderful conversations. It also gives me more depth for understanding my frum children and grandchildren. Thank you Hadran and Rabbanit Michelle Farber!!

Harriet Hartman
Harriet Hartman

Tzur Hadassah, Israel

I LOVE learning the Daf. I started with Shabbat. I join the morning Zoom with Reb Michelle and it totally grounds my day. When Corona hit us in Israel, I decided that I would use the Daf to keep myself sane, especially during the days when we could not venture out more than 300 m from our home. Now my husband and I have so much new material to talk about! It really is the best part of my day!

Batsheva Pava
Batsheva Pava

Hashmonaim, Israel

I started to listen to Michelle’s podcasts four years ago. The minute I started I was hooked. I’m so excited to learn the entire Talmud, and think I will continue always. I chose the quote “while a woman is engaged in conversation she also holds the spindle”. (Megillah 14b). It reminds me of all of the amazing women I learn with every day who multi-task, think ahead and accomplish so much.

Julie Mendelsohn
Julie Mendelsohn

Zichron Yakov, Israel

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
Lisa Lawrence

Neve Daniel, Israel

I started learning daf yomi at the beginning of this cycle. As the pandemic evolved, it’s been so helpful to me to have this discipline every morning to listen to the daf podcast after I’ve read the daf; learning about the relationships between the rabbis and the ways they were constructing our Jewish religion after the destruction of the Temple. I’m grateful to be on this journey!

Mona Fishbane
Mona Fishbane

Teaneck NJ, United States

Having never learned Talmud before, I started Daf Yomi in hopes of connecting to the Rabbinic tradition, sharing a daily idea on Instagram (@dafyomiadventures). With Hadran and Sefaria, I slowly gained confidence in my skills and understanding. Now, part of the Pardes Jewish Educators Program, I can’t wait to bring this love of learning with me as I continue to pass it on to my future students.

Hannah-G-pic
Hannah Greenberg

Pennsylvania, 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
Naomi Niederhoffer

Toronto, Canada

Robin Zeiger
Robin Zeiger

Tel Aviv, Israel

The start of my journey is not so exceptional. I was between jobs and wanted to be sure to get out every day (this was before corona). Well, I was hooked after about a month and from then on only looked for work-from-home jobs so I could continue learning the Daf. Daf has been a constant in my life, though hurricanes, death, illness/injury, weddings. My new friends are Rav, Shmuel, Ruth, Joanna.
Judi Felber
Judi Felber

Raanana, Israel

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
linda kalish-marcus

Efrat, Israel

I graduated college in December 2019 and received a set of shas as a present from my husband. With my long time dream of learning daf yomi, I had no idea that a new cycle was beginning just one month later, in January 2020. I have been learning the daf ever since with Michelle Farber… Through grad school, my first job, my first baby, and all the other incredible journeys over the past few years!
Sigal Spitzer Flamholz
Sigal Spitzer Flamholz

Bronx, United States

I began to learn this cycle of Daf Yomi after my husband passed away 2 1/2 years ago. It seemed a good way to connect to him. Even though I don’t know whether he would have encouraged women learning Gemara, it would have opened wonderful conversations. It also gives me more depth for understanding my frum children and grandchildren. Thank you Hadran and Rabbanit Michelle Farber!!

Harriet Hartman
Harriet Hartman

Tzur Hadassah, Israel

In July, 2012 I wrote for Tablet about the first all women’s siyum at Matan in Jerusalem, with 100 women. At the time, I thought, I would like to start with the next cycle – listening to a podcast at different times of day makes it possible. It is incredible that after 10 years, so many women are so engaged!

Beth Kissileff
Beth Kissileff

Pittsburgh, United States

When we heard that R. Michelle was starting daf yomi, my 11-year-old suggested that I go. Little did she know that she would lose me every morning from then on. I remember standing at the Farbers’ door, almost too shy to enter. After that first class, I said that I would come the next day but couldn’t commit to more. A decade later, I still look forward to learning from R. Michelle every morning.

Ruth Leah Kahan
Ruth Leah Kahan

Ra’anana, Israel

My curiosity was peaked after seeing posts about the end of the last cycle. I am always looking for opportunities to increase my Jewish literacy & I am someone that is drawn to habit and consistency. Dinnertime includes a “Guess what I learned on the daf” segment for my husband and 18 year old twins. I also love the feelings of connection with my colleagues who are also learning.

Diana Bloom
Diana Bloom

Tampa, United States

Bava Kamma 31

סְלִיקוּסְתָּא!

residue from dates?

בִּשְׁלָמָא רַב אַדָּא בַּר אַהֲבָה – כִּשְׁמַעְתֵּיהּ. אֶלָּא רַב הוּנָא, לֵימָא הֲדַר בֵּיהּ?

The Gemara comments: Granted, Rav Adda bar Ahava acted in accordance with his halakhic opinion that this is the halakha, and a public ruling is issued to that effect. But with regard to Rav Huna, shall we say that he retracted his prior opinion?

הָנְהוּ – מוּתְרִין הֲווֹ.

The Gemara answers: Those owners of the barley were forewarned to remove the barley from the public domain, and they did not comply. Therefore, they were penalized by Rav Huna declaring publicly that their barley was ownerless.

מַתְנִי׳ שְׁנֵי קַדָּרִין שֶׁהָיוּ מְהַלְּכִין זֶה אַחַר זֶה, וְנִתְקַל הָרִאשׁוֹן וְנָפַל, וְנִתְקַל הַשֵּׁנִי בָּרִאשׁוֹן – הָרִאשׁוֹן חַיָּיב בְּנִזְקֵי שֵׁנִי.

MISHNA: In the case of two potters carrying pots who were walking one after the other in the public domain, and the first stumbled on a bump and fell, and the second stumbled over the first and fell too, the first is liable to pay for the damage incurred by the second.

גְּמָ׳ אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: לָא תֵּימָא מַתְנִיתִין רַבִּי מֵאִיר הִיא, דְּאָמַר: נִתְקָל פּוֹשֵׁעַ הוּא – וְחַיָּיב; אֶלָּא אֲפִילּוּ לְרַבָּנַן, דְאָמְרִי אָנוּס הוּא, וּפָטוּר – הָכָא חַיָּיב; שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ לַעֲמוֹד, וְלֹא עָמַד.

GEMARA: Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Do not say that the mishna is the opinion of Rabbi Meir, who says that one who stumbles is considered negligent and therefore liable. Rather, even according to the Rabbis, who say that one who stumbles is generally a victim of circumstances beyond his control and is consequently exempt, here, in the case in the mishna, he is liable, since after falling he had the opportunity to stand up, and he did not stand up.

רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק אָמַר: אֲפִילּוּ תֵּימָא לֹא הָיָה לוֹ לַעֲמוֹד; הָיָה לוֹ לְהַזְהִיר, וְלֹא הִזְהִיר.

Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said: Even if you say that he did not have the opportunity to stand up, he had the opportunity to warn the person behind him, and he did not warn him.

וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר: כֵּיוָן דְּלֹא הָיָה לוֹ לַעֲמוֹד – לֹא הָיָה לוֹ לְהַזְהִיר; דִּטְרִיד.

And Rabbi Yoḥanan could have said in response that since he did not have the opportunity to stand up, he did not have the opportunity to warn the other person either, as he was busy trying to stand up. Therefore, the mishna, which holds him liable, must be referring to a case where he could have stood up.

תְּנַן: הָיָה בַּעַל קוֹרָה רִאשׁוֹן וּבַעַל חָבִית אַחֲרוֹן, נִשְׁבְּרָה חָבִית בַּקּוֹרָה – פָּטוּר, וְאִם עָמַד בַּעַל קוֹרָה – חַיָּיב.

The Gemara attempts to prove that the opinion of Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak is correct. We learned in the next mishna (31b): If the owner of a cross beam was walking in the public domain carrying his beam first, and the owner of a barrel was walking with his barrel last, i.e., behind him, and the barrel was broken by the cross beam, the one who carried the cross beam is exempt. But if the owner of the cross beam stopped, he is liable, since the accident was caused by his stopping.

מַאי, לָאו שֶׁעָמַד לְכַתֵּף – דְּאוֹרְחֵיהּ הוּא, וְקָתָנֵי חַיָּיב, דַּהֲוָה לֵיהּ לְהַזְהִיר?

The Gemara asks: What, is it not referring to a situation where the one carrying the cross beam stopped in order to adjust the load on his shoulder, which is the normative behavior of one carrying a beam, and is not considered negligence? And nevertheless the tanna teaches that he is liable, as, although he had the opportunity to warn the person behind him that he was about to stop, he did not warn him. This supports the opinion of Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak.

לֹא, כְּשֶׁעָמַד לָפוּשׁ.

The Gemara responds: No, it is referring to a situation where he stopped to rest, which could not have been anticipated by the person walking behind him. Consequently, he is liable.

אֲבָל עָמַד לְכַתֵּף מַאי, פָּטוּר? אַדְּתָנֵי סֵיפָא: וְאִם אָמַר לוֹ לְבַעַל חָבִית ״עֲמוֹד״ – פָּטוּר, לִפְלוֹג וְלִיתְנֵי בְּדִידַהּ: בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים – כְּשֶׁעָמַד לָפוּשׁ, אֲבָל עָמַד לְכַתֵּף – פָּטוּר!

The Gemara asks: But according to this interpretation, if he stopped to adjust the load on his shoulder, what is the halakha? Is he exempt? If so, rather than teaching in the latter clause of that mishna: But if he said to the owner of the barrel: Stop, he is exempt, let the tanna distinguish and teach within the former case itself, as follows: In what case is this statement, that he is liable, said? In a case when he stopped to rest. But in a case where he stopped to adjust the load on his shoulder, he is exempt.

הָא קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן – דְּאַף עַל גַּב דְּעָמַד לָפוּשׁ, כִּי קָאָמַר לוֹ לְבַעַל חָבִית: ״עֲמוֹד״ – פָּטוּר.

The Gemara answers: The mishna is presented in this manner because it teaches us this novelty, that even if he stopped to rest, in a case when he says to the owner of the barrel: Stop, he is exempt.

תָּא שְׁמַע: הַקַּדָּרִין וְהַזַּגָּגִין שֶׁהָיוּ מְהַלְּכִין זֶה אַחַר זֶה; נִתְקַל הָרִאשׁוֹן וְנָפַל, וְנִתְקַל הַשֵּׁנִי בָּרִאשׁוֹן, וְהַשְּׁלִישִׁי בַּשֵּׁנִי – רִאשׁוֹן חַיָּיב בְּנִזְקֵי שֵׁנִי, וְשֵׁנִי חַיָּיב בְּנִזְקֵי שְׁלִישִׁי. וְאִם מֵחֲמַת רִאשׁוֹן נָפְלוּ – רִאשׁוֹן חַיָּיב בְּנִזְקֵי כּוּלָּם. וְאִם הִזְהִירוּ זֶה אֶת זֶה – פְּטוּרִין. מַאי, לָאו שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה לָהֶן לַעֲמוֹד?

Come and hear an alternative proof from what is taught in a baraita: With regard to potters and glaziers who were walking one after the other, and the first stumbled and fell, and the second stumbled over the first, sustaining damage, and the third stumbled over the second, also falling and sustaining damage, in this case, the first person is liable to pay for the damage of the second, and the second is liable to pay for the damage of the third. But if they all fell because of the first, the first is liable to pay for the damage of them all. And if they warned each other, i.e., each one warned the next, they are all exempt. The Gemara concludes: What, is it not a case where they did not have the opportunity to stand up, and they are nevertheless liable to pay for not warning the people behind them, in accordance with the opinion of Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak?

לֹא, שֶׁהָיָה לָהֶן לַעֲמוֹד.

The Gemara answers: No, it is a case where they had the opportunity to stand up and they did not do so.

אֲבָל לֹא הָיָה לָהֶם לַעֲמוֹד מַאי, פָּטוּר? אִי הָכִי, אַדְּתָנֵי סֵיפָא: אִם הִזְהִירוּ זֶה אֶת זֶה – פָּטוּר; לִפְלוֹג וְלִיתְנֵי בְּדִידַהּ: בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים – שֶׁהָיָה לָהֶן לַעֲמוֹד, אֲבָל לֹא הָיָה לָהֶן לַעֲמוֹד – פְּטוּרִין!

The Gemara asks: But according to this interpretation, if they did not have the opportunity to stand up, what would be the halakha? Would they be exempt? If so, rather than teaching in the latter clause of the baraita: If they warned one another, they are exempt, let the tanna distinguish and teach within the former case itself, as follows: In what case is this statement, that they are liable, said? It is a case where they had the opportunity to stand up, but if they did not have the opportunity to stand up, they are exempt.

הָא קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן – דְּאַף עַל גַּב דְּהָיָה לָהֶן לַעֲמוֹד, כִּי הִזְהִירוּ זֶה אֶת זֶה – פְּטוּרִין.

The Gemara answers: The baraita is presented in this manner because it teaches us this novelty, that even if they had the opportunity to stand up, in a case when they warned each other they are exempt.

אָמַר רָבָא: רִאשׁוֹן חַיָּיב בְּנִזְקֵי שֵׁנִי – בֵּין בְּנִזְקֵי גוּפוֹ, בֵּין בְּנִזְקֵי מָמוֹנוֹ. שֵׁנִי חַיָּיב בְּנִזְקֵי שְׁלִישִׁי – בְּנִזְקֵי גוּפוֹ, אֲבָל לֹא בְּנִזְקֵי מָמוֹנוֹ.

§ With regard to this halakha, Rava said: The first one who stumbled is liable to pay for the damage of the second, both for damage caused to the second person by his body and for damage caused to him by his property. By contrast, the second is liable to pay for the damage of the third only with regard to damage caused by his body as result of the fall, and not with regard to damage caused by his property.

מִמָּה נַפְשָׁךְ? אִי נִתְקָל פּוֹשֵׁעַ הוּא – שֵׁנִי נָמֵי לִיחַיַּיב! אִי נִתְקָל לָאו פּוֹשֵׁעַ הוּא – אֲפִילּוּ רִאשׁוֹן נָמֵי לִיפְּטַר!

The Gemara questions Rava’s statement: Whichever way you look at it, this is difficult to understand. If Rava maintains that one who stumbles is considered negligent, the second person should also be liable to pay for all forms of damage caused by his negligence. And if Rava maintains that one who stumbles is not considered negligent, even the first should be exempt from liability for the damage incurred by the second.

רִאשׁוֹן – וַדַּאי פּוֹשֵׁעַ הוּא. שְׁנִי – אַגּוּפוֹ מִחַיַּיב, דְּהָיָה לוֹ לַעֲמוֹד וְלֹא עָמַד. אַמָּמוֹנוֹ פָּטוּר, דְּאָמַר לֵיהּ: הַאי בֵּירָא – לָאו אֲנָא כְּרִיתֵיהּ.

The Gemara explains: The first is certainly considered negligent, and is therefore liable to pay for damage caused by both his body and his property. The second is deemed liable to pay for damage caused by his body, as he had the opportunity to stand up and he did not stand up. For damage caused by his property that was lying there and that caused the third person to stumble and fall, he is exempt, as he can say to him: I did not dig this pit, i.e., I did not cause this obstacle. Since it was the first person who stumbled and brought about the situation where the items of the second were lying on the ground, the second is not deemed liable.

מֵיתִיבִי: כּוּלָּן חַיָּיבִין עַל נִזְקֵי גּוּפָן, וּפְטוּרִין עַל נִזְקֵי מָמוֹנָן. מַאי, לָאו אֲפִילּוּ רִאשׁוֹן?

The Gemara raises an objection to Rava’s statement from a baraita that comments on this case: All of them are liable to pay for damage caused by their bodies and exempt from paying restitution for damage caused by their property. What, does this not refer even to the first, indicating that even he is exempt from damage caused by his property?

לָא, לְבַר מֵרִאשׁוֹן. וְהָא ״כּוּלָּם״ קָתָנֵי! אָמַר רַב אַדָּא בַּר אַהֲבָה: ״כּוּלָּן״ – הַנִּיזָּקִין.

The Gemara answers: No, it is referring to all of them except for the first. The Gemara asks: But doesn’t the baraita teach the term all of them, indicating that the first is also included? Rav Adda bar Ahava said: The term all of them refers only to those who incurred damage, and excludes the first one, who only caused damage to others.

הַאי מַאי? אִי אָמְרַתְּ בִּשְׁלָמָא אֲפִילּוּ רִאשׁוֹן – הַיְינוּ דְּקָתָנֵי ״כּוּלָּן״; אֶלָּא אִי אָמְרַתְּ לְבַר מֵרִאשׁוֹן, מַאי ״כּוּלָּן״? לִיתְנֵי ״הַנִּיזָּקִין״!

The Gemara questions this answer: What is this interpretation? Granted, if you say that the term includes even the first, this explanation is consistent with that which is taught: All of them. But if you say that it is referring to all of them except for the first, what is the reason that the misleading term: All of them is used? Let the baraita teach more accurately that those who incurred damage are liable in turn for the damage caused by their bodies, but are exempt from paying restitution for damage caused by their property.

אֶלָּא אָמַר רָבָא: רִאשׁוֹן חַיָּיב – בֵּין בְּנִזְקֵי גוּפוֹ דְּשֵׁנִי, בֵּין בְּנִזְקֵי מָמוֹנוֹ דְּשֵׁנִי; וְשֵׁנִי חַיָּיב בְּנִזְקֵי שְׁלִישִׁי – בְּנִזְקֵי גוּפוֹ, אֲבָל לֹא בְּנִזְקֵי מָמוֹנוֹ. מַאי טַעְמָא? דְּהָוֵה לֵיהּ בּוֹר, וְלֹא מָצִינוּ בּוֹר שֶׁחִיֵּיב בּוֹ אֶת הַכֵּלִים.

Rather, this entire explanation of Rava’s statement should be rejected, and it should be explained as follows: Rava said that the first is liable both for injury caused to the body of the second and for damage caused to the property of the second, and the second is liable to pay for damage incurred by the third with regard to injury to his body but not with regard to damage to his property. What is the reason for the exemption in the last case? It is because after his fall, the body of the second person is effectively a pit, and we do not find that in the category of Pit one is liable to pay restitution for damage caused to vessels.

הָנִיחָא לִשְׁמוּאֵל, דְּאָמַר: כֹּל תַּקָּלָה – בּוֹר הוּא; אֶלָּא לְרַב, דְּאָמַר: אִי אַפְקְרֵיהּ אִין, אִי לָא לָא; מַאי אִיכָּא לְמֵימַר?

The Gemara asks: This works out well according to Shmuel, who says that any obstacle that was placed in the public domain constitutes a pit, i.e., the halakhot of a pit apply to it. But according to Rav, who says that if the one who placed it there renounces ownership of the hazardous object it is considered a pit, but if he does not renounce ownership of it then it is not considered a pit, what is there to say? The second one who fell obviously did not renounce ownership of his body, so why is he exempt from damage he caused to vessels as though he were a pit?

לְעוֹלָם – כִּדְאָמַר מֵעִיקָּרָא, וּדְקַשְׁיָא לָךְ ״כּוּלָּן חַיָּיבִין״ – תַּרְגְּמַהּ רַב אַדָּא בַּר מִנְיוֹמֵי קַמֵּיהּ דְּרָבִינָא: שֶׁהוּזְּקוּ כֵּלִים בְּכֵלִים.

The Gemara answers: Actually, Rava’s statement should be explained as he was understood to have said initially, i.e., that he distinguishes between damage caused by another’s body and damage caused by his property. And as for your difficulty from the statement in the baraita that all of them are liable to pay for the damage caused by their bodies but exempt from paying restitution for the damage caused by their property, apparently including even the first one, contrary to Rava’s opinion, Rav Adda bar Minyumi interpreted it before Ravina as referring to a case where vessels were damaged by vessels. In other words, it is not the body, but the vessels of the second that were damaged by the property of the first, and since the broken vessels of the first have the status of a pit, the owner is exempt from liability for damage caused to the vessels of others.

אָמַר מָר: אִם מֵחֲמַת רִאשׁוֹן נָפְלוּ – רִאשׁוֹן חַיָּיב בְּנִזְקֵי כוּלָּם. מֵחֲמַת רִאשׁוֹן הֵיכִי נָפֵיל? רַב פָּפָּא אָמַר: דְּפַסְקֵהּ לְאוֹרְחֵיהּ כְּשִׁלְדָּא. רַב זְבִיד אָמַר: כְּחוּטְרָא דְסַמְיוּתָא.

The Master said above: If they all fell because of the first, the first is liable to pay for the damage of them all. The Gemara asks: How did they all fall because of the first? Rav Pappa said: It is a case where he blocked the road like a skeleton [keshilda], filling the entire width of the road and causing the rest to stumble over different parts of his body. Rav Zevid said: He fell diagonally like a blind man’s cane, and they all stumbled over him.

מַתְנִי׳ זֶה בָּא בְּחָבִיתוֹ וְזֶה בָּא בְּקוֹרָתוֹ, נִשְׁבְּרָה כַּדּוֹ שֶׁל זֶה בְּקוֹרָתוֹ שֶׁל זֶה – פָּטוּר; שֶׁלָּזֶה רְשׁוּת לְהַלֵּךְ, וְלָזֶה רְשׁוּת לְהַלֵּךְ.

MISHNA: If this person came in the public domain with his barrel, and that person came from the opposite direction with his cross beam, and this one’s jug was broken by that one’s cross beam, the one carrying the cross beam is exempt, because this one had permission to walk in the public domain, and that one also had permission to walk there.

הָיָה בַּעַל הַקּוֹרָה רִאשׁוֹן וּבַעַל חָבִית אַחֲרוֹן; נִשְׁבְּרָה חָבִית בְּקוֹרָה – פָּטוּר בַּעַל הַקּוֹרָה.

If they were walking in the same direction, so that the owner of the cross beam was walking first, in front, and the owner of a barrel last, behind him, and the barrel was broken by the cross beam, the owner of the cross beam is exempt, since the owner of the barrel saw him in front of him and should have been more careful.

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