[27a - 16 lines; 27b - 46 lines]

1a)[line 6]בריבועאRIBU'A- a square

b)[line 6]בעיגולאIGULA- a circle

2)[line 7]כמה מרובע יותר על העיגול? רביע!KAMAH MERUBA YOSER AL HA'IGUL? REVI'A!- How much is the area of a square greater than the area of a circle [whose diameter is the same length as the side of the square]? One fourth [of the area of the square]! (See similar subject matter in Insights to Sukah 8:1; see Graphic to Eruvin 76.)

3)[line 8]פשו להוPASHU LEHU- there remain

4)[line 11]מביא וקוראMEVI V'KOREI - he brings Bikurim and recites the "Mikra Bikurim"

See Background to Bava Basra 26:24.

5)[last line]בפאהPE'AH

The corner, or end, of the harvest must be left in the field for the poor, as the Pasuk states, "לֹא תְכַלֶּה פְּאַת שָׂדְךָ לִקְצֹר... לֶעָנִי וְלַגֵּר תַּעֲזֹב אֹתָם" "Lo Sechaleh Pe'as Sadecha Liktzor... le'Ani vela'Ger Ta'azov Osam" - "Do not completely harvest the corner of your field... you shall leave them (the gifts of Pe'ah, Leket, Olelos, and Peret) for the poor and the stranger" (Vayikra 19:9-10).

6)[last line]וכותבין עליו פרוזבולKOSVIN ALAV PRUZBUL - a Pruzbul may be written with regard to it (the smallest amount of land) (PRUZBUL - A document allowing the collections of loans after Shemitah)

(a)The Torah requires that all loans shall be canceled every seventh year, as the verse states (Devarim 15:2), "שָׁמוֹט כָּל בַּעַל מַשֵּׁה יָדוֹ" "Shamot Kol Ba'al Masheh Yado" - "Every creditor who lends anything to his neighbor shall release it." To demand payment of a loan after the Shemitah year is a violation of the prohibition of"לֹא יִגֹּשׂ אֶת רֵעֵהוּ וְאֶת אָחִיו" "Lo Yigos Es Re'ehu v'Es Achiv" - "he shall not exact it of his neighbor or of his brother" (ibid.). Most Rishonim rule that the Shemitah year cancels loans at the end of the year, on the last day of the month of Elul. (RAMBAM Hilchos Shemitah v'Yovel 9:1-4)

(b)Hashmatas Kesafim applies mid'Oraisa only when the Yovel year is in practice. Mid'Rabanan it applies today, whether inside or outside of Eretz Yisrael.

(c)Hillel the Elder saw that people stopped giving loans when the Shemitah year was approaching, out of fear that that they would not get their money back because the debt would be annulled by the Shemitah year. By doing so, they were transgressing an express command of the Torah not to refuse to lend money prior to Shemitah (Devarim 15:9). Hillel therefore instituted the "Pruzbul" (from the Greek "Pruz" = benefit; "Buli" = [for] the rich), effectively creating a means to avoid having Shemitah annul one's debts, as long as the borrower owns some land, even the smallest amount (Shevi'is 10:3, 6).

(d)In a Pruzbul document, one files a contract with Beis Din, before the end of the Shemitah year, stating that he is placing all debts owed to him into the hands of the Beis Din to collect them for him (Shevi'is 10:4). By doing this, the creditor will not transgress the prohibition of "Lo Yigos" when he collects the loan after Shemitah, since he will not have to approach the borrower to collect the loan; Beis Din will take care of the collection and he will approach Beis Din. Beis Din, too, does not have to approach the borrower to collect the loan, since Beis Din can simply collect it themselves, using their power of "Hefker Beis Din Hefker" (RASHI to Kesuvos 89a DH Pruzbul, to Gitin 32b DH Mosrani and to Bava Basra 27a DH Pruzbul). A Pruzbul only allows a person to collect the loan after Shemitah if the borrower has land. It is unusual for a person to lend money to a person without land, and the Rabanan did not institute the use of Pruzbul for unusual loans (RASHI to Gitin 37a DH Ela and to Bava Basra 27a DH Pruzbul). Alternatively, Pruzbul permits a person to collect a loan after Shemitah because the moment one allows Beis Din to collect his loans, it is as if they are already collected and in his possession immediately (since nothing can stop Beis Din from collecting the loan). This is also the reason the borrower must own land in order for the Pruzbul to permit the collection of the loan. It is only if he has land that Beis Din can easily collect the loan. If the borrower only has movable possessions, it is possible for him to prevent Beis Din from collecting them by hiding them from Beis Din. Therefore they are not considered to have entered the creditor's possession until they are actually collected as payment. (RASHI to Bava Kama 12a DH Chal)

27b----------------------------------------27b

7)[line 1]ונקנין עמה נכסים שאין להם אחריותNIKNIN IMAH NECHASIM SHE'EIN LAHEM ACHRAYUS (NECHASIM SHE'EIN LAHEM ACHRAYUS NIKNIN IM NECHASIM SHE'YESH LAHEM ACHRAYUS B'CHESEF BI'SHTAR UV'CHAZAKAH)

(a)When a person purchases Nechasim she'Yesh Lahem Achrayus (immobile goods such as land) along with Nechasim she'Ein Lahem Achrayus (mobile goods such as a flowerpot), as soon as he makes a Kinyan of Kesef (paying money), Shtar (handing over a contract), or Chazakah (enhancing the land with the intention of buying it) on the land, he concurrently buys the mobile goods also (Kidushin 26a and RASHI ibid.).

(b)The word Achrayus in this context means that people will trust a borrower who owns land (even the smallest amount) since they can expect to extract payment from the land should the borrower not have the money to pay back his loan (RASHI ibid.).

8a)[line 4]טבלTEVEL (TERUMOS AND MA'ASROS)

(a)After a crop that is grown in Eretz Yisrael is harvested and brought to the owner's house or yard, he must separate Terumah Gedolah from the crop and give it to a Kohen. Although the Torah does not specify the amount to be given, the Rabanan set the requirement at one fiftieth of the total crop. After Terumah is removed from the produce, one tenth of the produce that remains must be designated "Ma'aser Rishon," and given to a Levi. The Levi, in turn, must separate one tenth of his Ma'aser Rishon as Terumas Ma'aser, to be given to a Kohen, as it states in Bamidbar 18:26.

(b)The produce may not be eaten until all Terumos and Ma'asros have been removed, and it is known as Tevel. The punishment for eating produce form which Terumah has not been separated is Misah b'Yedei Shamayim.

(c)A second tithe is given every year after Ma'aser Rishon has been separated. The tithe that is separated in the third and sixth years of the 7-year Shemitah cycle is called Ma'aser Ani and is given to the poor.

(d)The tithe that is separated during the first, second, fourth, and fifth years is called Ma'aser Sheni. The Torah requires that Ma'aser Sheni be brought and eaten by its owner in Yerushalayim. Anyone who eats Ma'aser Sheni produce outside of the walls of Yerushalayim receives Malkos (RAMBAM Hilchos Ma'aser Sheni 2:5).

(e)Alternatively, Ma'aser Sheni produce may be redeemed, in which case the money used to redeem it is brought to Yerushalayim. If the owner himself redeems the produce, he must add an additional fifth (of the ensuing total, or a quarter of the original value). The food that is bought with this money in Yerushalayim becomes Kodesh like Ma'aser Sheni and must be eaten b'Taharah. Ma'aser Sheni that was redeemed by anyone besides the owner is exempt from the additional fifth.

b)[line 4]וחוליןCHULIN

Produce grown in Eretz Yisrael from which the Terumos and Ma'asros have been removed is known as Chulin. There are no limitations as to how, where, or by whom it may be eaten. Produce grown outside of Eretz Yisrael (Chutz la'Aretz) does not need to have Terumos and Ma'asros removed from it, and as such it is considered Chulin from its inception.

9)[line 7]ברירהBEREIRAH

(a)In numerous places in Shas, we find arguments among the Tana'im/Amora'im as to whether "Yesh Bereirah" (i.e. Bereirah works) or "Ein Bereirah" (i.e. Bereirah does not work). Bereirah means making one's action contingent retroactively on future events. Examples of this are: selling an object on the condition that it rains tomorrow; buying or selling today an object that will be selected tomorrow. "Ein Bereirah" means that such a stipulation does not work. An action cannot be contingent on a future event. The Ran (Nedarim 45b) explains the logic of this rule by saying, "It is not proper for something to take effect, when there remains a doubt on what it will take effect" (see Insights to Chulin 15:2). "Yesh Bereirah" means that such a stipulation does work.

(b)When the action is contingent on a past event, there is no question that the action works - even if the people involved in the action are not aware as to whether the past event did or did not take place. Example: If a person makes two Eruvei Techumin before sundown on Erev Shabbos, in two different directions, and stipulates, "If my Rebbi is presently staying in a village towards the East, I would like the Eastern Eruv to work, if not, I would like the Western Eruv to work." The man making the Eruv may not know where his Rebbi is, but when he finds out, the Eruv will have taken effect on the side that he stipulated.

(c)We find dozens of instances in the Gemara where a person may perform an action "on the condition that..." (b'Tenai). For example, a man may buy or sell an object or divorce his wife on the condition that the other party pays or does whatever the first party specifies. If the condition is not kept in the future, the sale or divorce is annulled. This situation is not called Bereirah - see Insights to Yoma 56:1.

(d)Halachically, most Poskim conclude (based on Beitzah 38a) that regarding Biblical questions (mid'Oraisa), we assume that Bereirah does not work (l'Chumrah), but in regards to Rabbinical questions (mid'Rabanan), we rely on Bereirah.

10)[line 9]דמפסיק צונמאMAFSIK TZUNMA- [where] a rock or very hard soil separates [the roots that absorb nutrients from Eretz Yisrael and the roots that absorb nutrients form Chutz la'Aretz]

11)[line 10]דהדרי ערביHADREI ARVEI- [the two separate parts of the tree roots] reunite [in the trunk]

12)[line 15]אכחושי לא מכחשיAKCHUSHEI LO MAKCHESHEI- they do not weaken [by absorption the soil in which they grow]

13)[line 24]קוצץ מלא המרדע על גבי המחרישהKOTZETZ MELO HA'MARDE'A AL GABEI HA'MACHAREISHAH- one is permitted to cut branches up to the height of the ox-goad that one holds (upright) above the plow (so that there is sufficient room for someone to get under them while plowing)

14)[line 24]כנגד המשקולתKENEGED HA'MISHKOLES- (lit. along the plumb-line) all branches that jut across the border into his property, were he to stand at the top of the tree holding a plumb-line above the border of his property

15)[line 25]בית השלחיןBEIS HA'SHELACHIN / HA'SHALCHIN- a field that receives its water from irrigation or a wellspring (usually located on a mountain - RASHI to Moed Katan 2a)

16)[line 32]גמל טעון פשתןGAMAL TA'UN PISHTAN- a camel loaded with flax

17)[line 32]חבילי זמורותCHAVILEI ZEMOROS- bundles of branches

18)[line 33]מפני הטומאהMIPNEI HA'TUM'AH (TUM'AS OHEL)

(a)A k'Zayis of the flesh of a Mes (corpse) is an "Avi Avos ha'Tumah" and is Metamei through Maga (contact), Masa (carrying), and Ohel (being in the same room (lit. tent); an Ohel is defined as a covered space that is at least one Tefach in length, width and height). If a person becomes Tamei by touching a Mes, he must wait seven days to go to the Mikvah. Furthermore, on the third and seventh days he must have Mei Chatas (water mixed with ashes of the Parah Adumah) sprinkled on him.

(b)In an Ohel ha'Mes, the house or room transmits Tum'ah even if the Mes is passing through it and does not stop moving. A person who enters an Ohel ha'Mes becomes Tamei even if only a bit of his body enters, even when entering backwards. A Mechitzah (partition) in an Ohel ha'Mes only prevents the spread of Tum'ah if it reaches the ceiling. (RASH to Keilim 1:4)

(c)The bones of a Mes are only Metamei through Ohel under one of three conditions: 1. They constitute a quarter of a Kav (Rova ha'Kav); 2. They are the majority of the human body (whether they are the majority of the build (Rov Binyano) of the body or the majority of the number (Rov Minyano) of 248 bones; 3. The bone is a complete skull or a complete spinal column. In order to be Metamei through Maga and Masa, it is enough for the bone to be the size of a Se'orah (a grain of barley).

(d)When an object that can be Metamei b'Ohel is located in an Ohel, the Ohel makes everything in it Tamei and protects anything that is above it from becoming Tamei. That is, an Ohel is Mevi Tum'ah (spreads Tum'ah inside of it) and is Chotzetz from Tum'ah (intervenes between the Tum'ah and the space above the Ohel, preventing Tum'ah from spreading above it). If the object of Tum'ah in our Sugya is located below the tree, the branches above it create an Ohel over the Tum'ah.

(e)However, not all objects that cover Tum'ah are Mevi and Chotzetz. There are objects that are Mevi and not Chotzetz and other objects that are Chotzetz and not Mevi and even others that are neither Mevi nor Chotzetz (Ohalos 8:5). An object that is flying through the air, such as a bird or a Talis that is carried or caught up by the wind, is not an Ohel and is not Mevi or Chotzetz, even if it is one Tefach wide.

19)[line 35]חללCHALAL- a hollow space, such as a cave

20)[line 42]אפשר דגחין וחליף תותיהEFSHAR D'GACHIN V'CHALIF TUSEI- it is possible for him to bend down and get under it

21)[line 43]מפני אהל הטומאהMIPNEI OHEL HA'TUM'AH

See above, entry #18.

22)[line 44]דלמא מייתי עורב טומאהDILMA MAISI OREV TUM'AH- lest a crow bring [a piece of flesh or other item of] Tum'ah

23)[last line]וסגיא בדחלוליV'SAGYA BED'CHALULEI- (a) and it would be sufficient to thin out (lit. hollow out) the branches so that the object of Tum'ah does not get stuck in the tree (RASHI); (b) according to the reading V'SAGYA B'DACHLULEI - and it would be sufficient to set up a scarecrow to ward off the crows that may chance to bring an object of Tum'ah here ("Dechilu" is the Aramaic equivalent of "Pachad," "fright") (TOSFOS DH b'Dachlulei)

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