Bava Metzia 29b

כִּדְרַבָּה. דְּאָמַר רַבָּה: ״נִגְנְבוּ״ בְּלִסְטִים מְזוּיָּין, ״אָבְדוּ״ שֶׁטָּבְעָה סְפִינָתוֹ בַּיָּם.

The Gemara answers that the statement in the mishna: Therefore, if the money is lost, he is liable to pay restitution for it, can be explained in accordance with the statement of Rabba, as Rabba says concerning another mishna (58a): When the tanna says that they were stolen, the reference is to a case where the item was stolen by armed bandits; when he says that they were lost, the reference is to a case where the agent’s ship sank at sea.

אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: הֲלָכָה כְּרַבִּי טַרְפוֹן. בְּיַד רַחֲבָה (הֲוָה לֵיהּ) [הֲווֹ] הָנְהוּ זוּזֵי דְיַתְמֵי, אֲתָא לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרַב יוֹסֵף, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מַהוּ לְאִשְׁתַּמּוֹשֵׁי בְּגַוַּיְיהוּ? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: הָכִי אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: הֲלָכָה כְּרַבִּי טַרְפוֹן.

Rav Yehuda says that Shmuel says: The halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Tarfon, who said that it is permitted for the finder to use the money. The Gemara relates: There were these dinars that belonged to orphans that were in the possession of Raḥava. Raḥava came before Rav Yosef and said to him: What is the halakha ; is it permitted for me to use these dinars? Rav Yosef said to him: This is what Rav Yehuda says that Shmuel says: The halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Tarfon.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ אַבָּיֵי: וְלָאו אִתְּמַר עֲלַהּ אָמַר רַבִּי חֶלְבּוֹ אָמַר רַב הוּנָא: לֹא שָׁנוּ אֶלָּא בִּדְמֵי אֲבֵידָה הוֹאִיל וְטָרַח בַּהּ, אֲבָל מָעוֹת אֲבֵידָה דְּלָא טָרַח בְּהוּ – לָא. וְהָנֵי כְּמָעוֹת אֲבֵידָה דָּמוּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: זִיל לָא שְׁבַקוּ לִי דְּאֶשְׁרֵי לָךְ.

Abaye said to Rav Yosef: Wasn’t it stated concerning this halakha that Rabbi Ḥelbo says that Rav Huna says: The Sages taught this halakha , that it is permitted to use the money, only in a case of money received from the sale of a lost item that one found and that is no longer financially viable for one to tend to it. This is permitted, since he exerted himself and tended to it. But in the case of lost coins, where he did not exert himself in order to tend to them, it is not permitted for him to use them. And the case of these dinars in Raḥava’s possession is similar to a case of lost coins. Rav Yosef accepted Abaye’s objection and said to Raḥava: Go; as they did not allow me to permit the use of the dinars for you.

מַתְנִי׳: מָצָא סְפָרִים – קוֹרֵא בָּהֶן אֶחָד לִשְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם. וְאִם אֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ לִקְרוֹת – גּוֹלְלָן. אֲבָל לֹא יִלְמוֹד בָּהֶן בַּתְּחִילָּה, וְלֹא יִקְרָא אַחֵר עִמּוֹ.

MISHNA: If one found scrolls, he reads them once in thirty days in order to ventilate them and prevent mold. And if he does not know how to read, he rolls and unrolls them in order to ventilate them. But he shall not study passages in them for the first time, as he would leave the scroll exposed to the air for a lengthy period, thereby causing damage. And another person shall not read the scroll with him, as each might pull it closer to improve his vantage point, which could cause the scroll to tear.

מָצָא כְּסוּת – מְנַעֲרָהּ אֶחָד לִשְׁלשִׁים יוֹם וְשׁוֹטְחָהּ לְצׇרְכָּהּ, אֲבָל לֹא לִכְבוֹדוֹ.

If one found a garment, he shakes it once in thirty days, and he spreads it out for its sake, to ventilate it, but he may not use it as a decoration for his own prestige.

כְּלֵי כֶסֶף וּכְלֵי נְחוֹשֶׁת – מִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בָּהֶן לְצׇרְכָּן, אֲבָל לֹא לְשַׁחֲקָן. כְּלֵי זָהָב וּכְלֵי זְכוּכִית – לֹא יִגַּע בָּהֶן עַד שֶׁיָּבוֹא אֵלִיָּהוּ.

If one found silver vessels or copper vessels, he may use them for their own sake to prevent tarnish and rust, but he may not use them to the extent that he will erode them. If he finds gold vessels or glass vessels, which are not ruined by neglect, he may not touch them until Elijah will come and identify the owner.

מָצָא שַׂק אוֹ קוּפָּה וְכׇל דָּבָר שֶׁאֵין דַּרְכּוֹ לִיטּוֹל – הֲרֵי זֶה לֹא יִטּוֹל.

If a person found a sack or a basket or any other item that it is not his typical manner to take and carry because it is beneath his dignity, he shall not take it, as one need not demean himself in order to return a lost item.

גְּמָ׳ אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: הַמּוֹצֵא תְּפִילִּין בַּשּׁוּק – שָׁם דְּמֵיהֶן וּמַנִּיחָן לְאַלְתַּר.

GEMARA: Shmuel says: One who finds phylacteries in the marketplace and is in need of phylacteries assesses their value and immediately places the money aside for the owner.

מֵתִיב רָבִינָא: מָצָא סְפָרִים – קוֹרֵא בָּהֶן אֶחָד לִשְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם, וְאִם אֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ לִקְרוֹת – גּוֹלְלָן. גּוֹלְלָן – אִין, שָׁם דְּמֵיהֶן וּמַנִּיחָן – לָא, אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: תְּפִילִּין בֵּי בַּר חָבוּ מִשְׁכָּח שְׁכִיחִי, סְפָרִים לָא שְׁכִיחִי.

Ravina raises an objection from the mishna: If one found scrolls, he reads them once in thirty days; and if he does not know how to read, he rolls and unrolls them. Ravina infers: To roll and unroll them, yes, he may do so, but assess their value and place the money aside, no, he may not. Abaye said: There is a difference between phylacteries and scrolls. Phylacteries are available at the house of bar Ḥavu, where they are produced in large quantities, but scrolls are not available, as Torah scrolls are not easily obtained.

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: הַשּׁוֹאֵל סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה מֵחֲבֵירוֹ, הֲרֵי זֶה לֹא יַשְׁאִילֶנּוּ לְאַחֵר, פּוֹתְחוֹ וְקוֹרֵא בּוֹ, וּבִלְבַד שֶׁלֹּא יִלְמוֹד בּוֹ בַּתְּחִילָּה, וְלֹא יִקְרָא אַחֵר עִמּוֹ.

§ The Sages taught in a baraita : In the case of one who borrows a Torah scroll from another, that person may not lend it to another, i.e., a third person. He may open it and read it, provided that he does not study passages in it for the first time, lest the scroll be exposed for a lengthy period of time and sustain damage. And another person shall not read the scroll with him, lest the scroll tear.

וְכֵן הַמַּפְקִיד סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה אֵצֶל חֲבֵירוֹ, גּוֹלְלוֹ כׇּל שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ, פּוֹתְחוֹ וְקוֹרֵא בּוֹ, אִם בִּשְׁבִילוֹ פְּתָחוֹ – אָסוּר. סוֹמְכוֹס אוֹמֵר: בְּחָדָשׁ – שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם, בְּיָשָׁן – שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ. רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן יַעֲקֹב אוֹמֵר: אֶחָד זֶה וְאֶחָד זֶה – שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ.

And likewise, in the case of one who deposits a Torah scroll with another, the bailee rolls it every twelve months, and he may open it and read it. If it is for himself that he opened it, it is prohibited. Sumakhos says: In the case of a new Torah scroll, one rolls it every thirty days because the ink is not yet dry and must be more frequently ventilated. By contrast, in the case of an old Torah scroll, one rolls it every twelve months. Rabbi Eliezer ben Ya’akov says: In the case of both this new Torah scroll, and the case of that old Torah scroll, one rolls it every twelve months.

אָמַר מָר: הַשּׁוֹאֵל סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה מֵחֲבֵירוֹ – הֲרֵי זֶה לֹא יַשְׁאִילֶנּוּ לְאַחֵר. מַאי אִרְיָא סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה? אֲפִילּוּ כֹּל מִילֵּי נָמֵי, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ: כָּאן שָׁנָה רַבִּי – אֵין הַשּׁוֹאֵל רַשַּׁאי לְהַשְׁאִיל, וְאֵין הַשּׂוֹכֵר רַשַּׁאי לְהַשְׂכִּיר!

The Gemara analyzes the baraita : The Master said: In the case of one who borrows a Torah scroll from another, that person may not lend it to another, i.e., a third person. The Gemara asks: Why did the tanna teach this halakha specifically with regard to a Torah scroll? This is the halakha with regard to any item as well, as Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish says: Here in a mishna ( Gittin 29a), Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi taught: A borrower is not allowed to lend the item that he borrowed to someone else, and a renter is not allowed to rent out the item that he rented to someone else.

סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה אִיצְטְרִיכָא לֵיהּ, מַהוּ דְּתֵימָא: נִיחָא לֵיהּ לְאִינִישׁ דְּתִיעֲבִיד מִצְוָה בְּמָמוֹנֵיהּ, קָא מַשְׁמַע לַן.

The Gemara answers: It was necessary for the tanna to mention the halakha specifically with regard to a Torah scroll, lest you say that a person is amenable to having a mitzva performed with his property and would consequently not mind if his Torah scroll was lent to another. Therefore, the tanna teaches us that the borrower may not lend even a Torah scroll.

פּוֹתְחוֹ וְקוֹרֵא בּוֹ. פְּשִׁיטָא! וְאֶלָּא לְמַאי שַׁיְילֵיהּ מִינֵּיהּ? סֵיפָא אִיצְטְרִיכָא לֵיהּ: וּבִלְבַד שֶׁלֹּא יִלְמוֹד בּוֹ בַּתְּחִלָּה.

The baraita continues: He may open it and read it. The Gemara asks: Isn’t that obvious? And rather, for what purpose did he borrow the Torah scroll from him, if not to read it? The Gemara answers: It was necessary to teach the last clause: Provided that he does not study passages in it for the first time.

וְכֵן הַמַּפְקִיד סֵפֶר תּוֹרָה אֵצֶל חֲבֵירוֹ – גּוֹלְלוֹ כׇּל שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ, פּוֹתְחוֹ וְקוֹרֵא בּוֹ. מַאי עֲבִידְתֵּיהּ גַּבֵּיהּ? וְתוּ, אִם בִּשְׁבִילוֹ פְּתָחוֹ – אָסוּר, הָא אָמְרַתְּ: פּוֹתְחוֹ וְקוֹרֵא בּוֹ! הָכִי קָאָמַר: אִם כְּשֶׁהוּא גּוֹלְלוֹ פּוֹתְחוֹ וְקוֹרֵא בּוֹ – מוּתָּר, אִם בִּשְׁבִילוֹ פְּתָחוֹ – אָסוּר.

The baraita continues: And likewise, in the case of one who deposits a Torah scroll with another, the bailee rolls it every twelve months, and he may open it and read it. The Gemara asks: What is the bailee doing with it? As a paid bailee, he has no right to read it. And furthermore, whereas the tanna teaches: If it is for himself that he opened it, it is prohibited, didn’t you say in the previous passage: He may open it and read it? The Gemara answers: This is what the tanna is saying: If, when he is rolling the Torah scroll to ventilate it, he opens it and reads it, it is permitted. If it is for himself that he opened it, it is prohibited.

סוֹמְכוֹס אוֹמֵר: בְּחָדָשׁ – שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם, בְּיָשָׁן – שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ. רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן יַעֲקֹב אוֹמֵר: אֶחָד זֶה וְאֶחָד זֶה – שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ. רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן יַעֲקֹב, הַיְינוּ תַּנָּא קַמָּא! אֶלָּא אֵימָא: רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן יַעֲקֹב אוֹמֵר אֶחָד זֶה וְאֶחָד זֶה שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם.

The baraita continues: Sumakhos says: In the case of a new Torah scroll, one rolls it every thirty days because the ink is not yet dry and must be more frequently ventilated. By contrast, in the case of an old Torah scroll, one rolls it every twelve months. Rabbi Eliezer ben Ya’akov says: In both the case of this new Torah scroll and the case of that old Torah scroll, one rolls it every twelve months. The Gemara asks: What is the dispute here; it appears that the statement of Rabbi Eliezer ben Ya’akov is identical to the statement of the first tanna , who stated without qualification that one rolls a Torah scroll every twelve months. The Gemara answers: Rather say that Rabbi Eliezer ben Ya’akov says: Both in the case of this new Torah scroll and the case of that old Torah scroll, one rolls it every thirty days.

אֲבָל לֹא יִלְמוֹד בּוֹ בַּתְּחִלָּה וְלֹא יִקְרָא אַחֵר עִמּוֹ. וּרְמִינְהוּ: לֹא יִקְרָא פָּרָשָׁה וְיִשְׁנֶה, וְלֹא יִקְרָא בּוֹ פָּרָשָׁה וִיתַרְגֵּם, וְלֹא יִפְתַּח בּוֹ יוֹתֵר מִשְּׁלֹשָׁה דַּפִּין, וְלֹא יִקְרְאוּ בּוֹ שְׁלֹשָׁה בְּנֵי אָדָם בְּכֶרֶךְ אֶחָד – הָא שְׁנַיִם קוֹרִין!

§ The Gemara resumes its analysis of the mishna, which teaches with regard to borrowed scrolls: But he shall not study passages in them for the first time and another person shall not read the scroll with him. The Gemara raises a contradiction from a baraita ( Tosefta 2:31): If one borrows a scroll, he shall not read a passage and review it, and he shall not read a passage in it and translate the passage, and he shall not open it more than three columns at a time, and three people shall not read in it together from one volume. The Gemara infers: But two people may read it together, contrary to the ruling in the mishna.

אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: לָא קַשְׁיָא, כָּאן בְּעִנְיָן אֶחָד, כָּאן בִּשְׁנֵי עִנְיָנִים.

Abaye said: It is not difficult. Here, where it is inferred from the baraita that two may read one scroll together, it is referring to a case where they are reading one matter and each is aware of the progress of the other. There, in the mishna, where the ruling is that two may not read one scroll together, it is referring to a case where they are reading two different matters, as each is oblivious to the progress of the other and may pull the scroll closer to improve his vantage point.

מָצָא כְּסוּת מְנַעֲרָהּ אֶחָד לִשְׁלשִׁים יוֹם. לְמֵימְרָא דְּנִיעוּר מְעַלֵּי לַהּ? וְהָאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ גַּרְדִּי אוּמָּן בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ, יְנַעֵר כְּסוּתוֹ בְּכׇל יוֹם! אָמְרִי: בְּכׇל יוֹם – קָשֵׁי לַהּ, אֶחָד לִשְׁלשִׁים יוֹם – מְעַלֵּי לַהּ.

§ The mishna teaches: If one found a garment, he shakes it once in thirty days. The Gemara asks: Is this to say that shaking a garment is beneficial for it? But doesn’t Rabbi Yoḥanan say: Only one who has access to a skilled weaver [ gardi ] in his house may shake his garment every day, as the weaver can replace the damaged garments with new ones. The Sages say: Shaking a garment every day is harmful to it, but shaking it once in thirty days is beneficial for it.

אִיבָּעֵית אֵימָא: לָא קַשְׁיָא, הָא בְּחַד, וְהָא בִּתְרֵי.

If you wish, say instead: It is not difficult. In this mishna, where the ruling is that shaking a garment is beneficial, the reference is to a case where one person shakes the garment. And that statement of Rabbi Yoḥanan, who rules that shaking the garment causes damage, is referring to a case where two people shake the garment.

אִיבָּעֵית אֵימָא לָא קַשְׁיָא: הָא בִּידָא, וְהָא בְּחוּטְרָא.

If you wish, say instead: It is not difficult. In this mishna, where the ruling is that shaking a garment is beneficial, the reference is to a case where one shakes the garment by hand. And that statement of Rabbi Yoḥanan, who rules that shaking the garment causes damage, is referring to a case where one shakes the garment with a stick.

אִיבָּעֵית אֵימָא לָא קַשְׁיָא: הָא בִּדְעַמְרָא, הָא בִּדְכִיתָּנָא.

If you wish, say instead: It is not difficult. In this mishna, where the ruling is that shaking a garment is beneficial, the reference is to a case where one shakes a garment made of wool. And that statement of Rabbi Yoḥanan, who rules that shaking the garment causes damage, is referring to a case where one shakes a garment made of linen.

אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: כָּסָא דְחָרָשִׁין וְלָא כָּסָא דְפוֹשְׁרִין. וְלָא אֲמַרַן אֶלָּא בִּכְלֵי מַתָּכוֹת. אֲבָל בִּכְלֵי חֶרֶשׂ – לֵית לַן בַּהּ. וּבִכְלֵי מַתָּכוֹת נָמֵי לָא אֲמַרַן אֶלָּא דְּלָא צְוִיץ, אֲבָל דִּצְוִיץ – לֵית לַן בַּהּ. וְלָא אֲמַרַן אֶלָּא דְּלָא שְׁדָא בַּהּ צִיבַיָּא, אֲבָל שְׁדָא בֵּיהּ צִיבַיָּא – לֵית לַן בַּהּ.

The Gemara cites additional statements by Rabbi Yoḥanan providing practical advice. Rabbi Yoḥanan says: It is preferable to drink from a cup of witches and not to drink from a cup of lukewarm water, which is extremely unhealthy. Rabbi Yoḥanan qualifies his statement: We said this only with regard to lukewarm water in metal vessels, but in earthenware vessels we have no problem with it. And even in metal vessels, we said this only in a case where the water had not been boiled, but if the water had been boiled we have no problem with it. And we said that lukewarm water is unhealthy only in a case where one did not cast flavorings into the water, but if he cast flavorings into the water we have no problem with it.

וְאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: מִי שֶׁהִנִּיחַ לוֹ אָבִיו מָעוֹת הַרְבֵּה וְרוֹצָה לְאַבְּדָן, יִלְבַּשׁ בִּגְדֵי פִשְׁתָּן, וְיִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בִּכְלֵי זְכוּכִית, וְיִשְׂכּוֹר פּוֹעֲלִים וְאַל יֵשֵׁב עִמָּהֶן. יִלְבַּשׁ בִּכְלֵי פִשְׁתָּן – בְּכִיתָּנָא רוֹמִיתָא. וְיִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בִּכְלֵי זְכוּכִית – בְּזוּגִּיתָא חִיוָּרְתָּא. וְיִשְׂכּוֹר פּוֹעֲלִים וְאַל יֵשֵׁב עִמָּהֶן – תַּרְגּוּמַאּ

And Rabbi Yoḥanan says: In the case of one whose father bequeathed him a great deal of money and he seeks to lose it, he should wear linen garments, and should use glass vessels, and should hire laborers and not sit with them to supervise. The Gemara elaborates: He should wear linen garments; this is stated with regard to Roman linen, which becomes tattered quickly. He should use glass vessels; this is stated with regard to expensive white glass. And he should hire laborers and not sit with them; the explanation is