OUTLINES OF HALACHOS FROM THE DAF
Prepared by Rabbi P. Feldman of Kollel Iyun Hadaf, Yerushalayim daf@dafyomi.co.il http://www.dafyomi.co.il
1) WITH WHAT MAY A THIEF PAY?
(a) Gemara
1. 4b (R. Chiya): There are 24 Avos Nezikim: a thief's
payments of Kefel, four or five (times the value of
an animal sold or slaughtered after it was stolen),
principal...
2. 5a (R. Avahu): They are all called Avos because they
pay from Meitav.
3. (The Torah teaches about Meitav regarding a Mu'ad
ox.) An extended Gezeirah Shavah teaches this about
all 24. Regarding every one, it says "Tachas",
"Nesinah", "Yeshalem" or "Kesef".
4. 10b - Question (Rav Kahana): Without "the carcass
will be to him", could we really think that the
damager must keep the Neveilah?! A Beraisa learns
from "he will return" that any Shavah Kesef may be
given, even bran. The damager can pay with any
carcass if he wants, all the more so with the
victim's carcass!
5. Answer (Rav): The verse teaches that the victim
suffers any loss in value of the carcass from the
time of damage until the payment.
6. 11a (Shmuel): We do not evaluate (the carcass' value
towards the payment) for thieves or robbers, only
for damagers. My father and I say, even for a
borrower.
7. The Halachah is, we evaluate for a borrower, but not
for thieves or robbers.
8. Bava Basra 92a (Rav): If Reuven sold an ox to Shimon
and it was found to be a gorer, the sale is mistaken
(and therefore void).
9. 92b - Question: If Reuven has nothing else to give
Shimon in place of the money he owes, he may give
him the ox!
(b) Rishonim
1. Rif (1b): They are all called Avos because they pay
from Meitav.
2. Rif (5a): We do not evaluate for thieves or robbers,
only for damagers, and for a borrower. We evaluate
how much the Kli was worth before it broke. The
owner takes the broken Kli, and the borrower
compensates the decreased value.
i. Nimukei Yosef (Sof 4b, citing the Ramah): This
is if the thief has money. If he has no money,
he may use the shards towards payment. A
Gezeirah Shavah teaches that a thief is among
Avos Nezikin, which pay with Meitav; they may
also pay Metaltelim. We do not learn evaluation
from damages. A thief or robber acquires
through Shinuy (changing the object); he may
keep it and force the owner to accept money. We
evaluate what the shards are worth at the time
of collection; the thief suffers any
depreciation. A damager or borrower does not
acquire through Shinuy; he cannot keep it and
force the owner to accept money. We evaluate
what the shards were worth at the time it
broke; the owner suffers any depreciation. If a
thief did not make a total Shinuy to acquire
it, he returns it and fulfills "he will return
the theft that he stole.' He need not give
compensation if it broke by itself. If he broke
it, he pays like a damager. If a he made a
total Shinuy, even b'Ones, he must pay a total
Kli. He cannot return the shards.
ii. Nimukei Yosef (2a): The Meforshim rule like Rav
Papa, that all Metaltelim are Meitav. The Ramah
says that one may give bran only when he does
not have money. The same applies to a borrower
or one who must return money of a mistaken
sale, who is like a robber, who is one of the
24 Avos Nezikin.
iii. Gra (CM 354:12): We learn from Bava Basra that
regarding a mistaken sale (which is like a
thief), if he has money he must pay money.
3. Rambam (Hilchos Geneivah 3:11): A thief pays
principal, Kefel, and four or five from his
Metaltelim. If he has no Metaltelim, we collect from
Idis, like other damagers.
4. Rosh (1:11): A thief may not pay with a Neveilah or
shards, for it says "Chayim Shenayim Yeshalem". A
robber may not pay with them, for it says "he will
return the theft that he stole' - it must be like he
stole. However, he may return the monetary
equivalent. It is just as good, for it can be used
to buy a new one.
i. Hagahos Ashri: R. Shmuel says that he may give
even bran, carcasses or shards. However, the
owner need not accept the loss (that the
carcass deteriorated after death). R. Yitzchak
defends Rebbi from the Yerushalmi.
(c) Poskim
1. Shulchan Aruch (CM 348:5): If a thief has
Metaltelim, we collect for the theft from them. If
he has only land, we collect from Idis, like other
damagers.
i. SMA (5): Any Metaltelim may be paid, even bran,
even for damages, even if he has money.
ii. Gra (19): This is like the Rambam. The other
Poskim argue (and say that he may give Idis if
he wants).
2. Shulchan Aruch (354:1): If a thief stole a Kli, and
he broke or diminished it, or it broke or diminished
by itself, he may not return the shards and the
decreased value. Rather, he keeps the shards, and
gives the owner a complete Kli or its monetary
equivalent.
i. SMA (10): A damager may return the shards,
because it says "veha'Mes Yihyeh Lo". Regarding
a thief and robber, it says "Chayim Shenayim
Yeshalem" and "he will return the theft that he
stole' - like he stole.
ii. Bach (5): This is like Rashi and the Rosh.
Semag explains like R. Shmuel, that a thief may
return the Neveilah. The owner need not accept
the depreciation after death, unlike a victim
of damage, who must accept it. R. Chiya listed
a thief among Avos Nezikin to teach that he
pays like damages. If so, he may pay even with
bran. Tosfos brings both Perushim, in different
places. Hagahos Ashri did not decide like
either Perush. Since there are different
opinions, we do not force a Muchzak to pay. The
thief can give the Neveilah or shards and the
decreased value, unlike the Shulchan Aruch.
3. Rema: This is if the thief has money. If he has no
money, the shards are no worse than Metaltelim.
i. Gra (12): There are three opinions. The Ramah
allows a thief to pay with the shards only if
he has no money. Tosfos (Bava Metzi'a 96b DH
Zil) allows a thief to pay with the shards,
even if he has money. Tosfos and the Rosh (Bava
Kama 11a DH Ein and 1:11) hold that he may not
pay with the shards, even if he has no money.
ii. Question (Shach 7): This is like the Ramah. We
do not follow the Ramah! And if the Rema ruled
like the Ramah, he should have permitted the
thief to pay with the shards even if he has
money. The Ramah himself does not allow a
damager to pay Metaltelim if he has money. We
rule unlike this (419:1). We must say that the
Rema learns from the Ramah that if the thief
has no money and cannot give a complete Kli, if
the owner wants Metaltelim the thief may pay
with the shards, for they are no worse than
other Metaltelim.
4. Shulchan Aruch (419:1): If a damager has Metaltelim,
even bran, we do not take land. Even if he has
money, he may pay with bran, for all Metaltelim are
Meitav.
See also:
WHO DECIDES IF LAND OR METALTELIM WILL BE PAID? (Bava Kama 2)
MAY A DAMAGER GIVE METALTELIM IF HE HAS MONEY? (Bava Kama 14)
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