[44a - 46 lines; 44b - 52 lines]

1)[line 1]"עַל כָּל דְּבַר פֶּשַׁע [עַל שׁוֹר עַל חֲמוֹר עַל שֶׂה עַל שַׂלְמָה עַל כָּל אֲבֵדָה אֲשֶׁר יֹאמַר כִּי הוּא זֶה, עַד הָאֱלֹקִים יָבֹא דְּבַר שְׁנֵיהֶם; אֲשֶׁר יַרְשִׁיעֻן אֱלֹקִים יְשַׁלֵּם שְׁנַיִם לְרֵעֵהוּ]""AL KOL DEVAR PESHA [AL SHOR AL CHAMOR AL SHE AL SALMAH AL KOL AVEIDAH ASHER YOMAR KI HU ZEH, AD HA'ELOKIM YAVO DEVAR SHENEIHEM; ASHER YARSHI'UN ELOKIM YESHALEM SHENAYIM L'RE'EIHU]"- "In every case of liability, [whether it be for an ox, for a donkey, for a sheep, for a garment, or for any kind of lost thing, about which he will say that this is it, the claims of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double to his neighbor]." (Shemos 22:8) - According to Beis Shamai, the words "Devar Pesha" ("Devar" is related to "Dibur" - speech) imply that even a statement or a thought of Shelichus Yad is enough to make the Shomer liable.

2)[line 12]החמיצהHECHEMEITZAH- if it turned into vinegar

3)[line 13]גירי דידיה הוא דאהנו להGIREI DIDEI HU D'AHANU LAH- his actions (lit. arrows) were effectual [in causing the wine to turn into vinegar]

4)[line 20]דארנקיARNEKI- a change purse or money bag

PEREK #4 HA'ZAHAV

5a)[line 25]הזהבHA'ZAHAV- gold [Dinars]

b)[line 25]הכסףHA'KESEF- silver [Dinars]

c)[line 25]הזהב קונה את הכסף הכסף אינו קונה את הזהבHA'ZAHAV KONEH ES HA'KESEF; HE'KESEF EINO KONEH ES HA'ZAHAV (KINYAN MESHICHAH)

(a)When a person acquires an object, he must make a Ma'aseh Kinyan, a formal Halachically-binding act denoting his acquisition of the object, in order for the acquisition to be irrevocably binding. Depending on the object involved, different Kinyanim are used.

(b)One of the forms of Kinyan that may be used for the acquisition of Metaltelin (mobile items) is Meshichah, i.e. pulling the item or causing it to move. Meshichah can only accomplish a Kinyan in a private or semi-private area (such as an alleyway), but not in a Reshus ha'Rabim. It may be accomplished not only by pulling the object towards one's self, but even by otherwise causing it to come towards one's self, such as by calling an animal and causing it to come closer. Paying for an object (Kinyan Kesef), on the other hand, does not accomplish a Kinyan.

(c)The Amora'im (Bava Metzia 47b) argue whether Kinyan Meshichah (as well as Kinyan Hagbahah and Mesirah, see Background to Bava Metzia 7:11:b:1, 3) is mid'Oraisa. Some maintain that Kinyan Meshichah is recognized by the Torah and Kinyan Kesef is not. Others maintain that Kinyan Meshichah is a Rabbinic institution which was established in order to replace Kinyan Kesef, which is recognized by the Torah but which was invalidated by the Rabanan. According to those who maintain that Kinyan Meshichah is mid'Oraisa, its source in the Torah is from the verse "אוֹ קָנֹה מִיַּד עֲמִיתֶךָ" "O Kanoh mi'Yad Amisecha" (Vayikra 25:14), which implies that one may transfer property by handing it over to the buyer (Bava Metzia ibid.).

(d)According to both opinions recorded above (c), in practice, Meshichah is Koneh while Kesef is not. Therefore, in a sale in which currency is being paid for merchandise, the buyer's Meshichah (pulling to one's domain) of the merchandise consummates the sale. The seller's Meshichah of the currency that was paid for it does not. When defining "merchandise" (or "Peiros") and "currency" (or "Tiv'a") in this regard, any item that is readily accepted as payment among merchants can be considered currency; items that are not normally accepted as payment are considered merchandise. If two items, both of which are accepted as payment among merchants, are being exchanged, the item that is more readily accepted is considered to be the currency and the other one is considered merchandise. (The Gemara discusses whether the value of the material can also give it the status of currency.)

(e)When the Mishnah states "ha'Zahav Koneh Es ha'Kesef," (and "ha'Nechoshes Koneh...," Ma'os ha'Ra'os Konos..." etc.), the intention is that the Meshichah of the Zahav, Nechoshes etc. is what makes the exchange irrevocably binding and obligates the buyer to pay what he stipulated. That is, these objects are considered "Peiros" in comparison to the objects being traded for them, and are Koneh the other objects, which are considered currency. The word "Koneh," when used in this context, means that their Meshichah obligates the person who made the Meshichah to pay for them. Meshichas ha'Kesef, Ma'os ha'Yafos, etc., on the other hand, does not make the exchange irrevocably binding since they are considered "Tiv'a," and pulling them constitutes the Kinyan of Kesef, which the Chachamim invalidated.

6)[line 26]הנחשתHA'NECHOSHES- [Perutos of] copper

7a)[line 27]מעות הרעותMA'OS HA'RA'OS- coins that became worn out (a) and are unusable (RASHI); (b) and are just barely usable (TOSFOS DH ha'Zahav)

b)[line 28]היפותHA'YAFOS- coins that are usable; legal tender

8a)[line 29]אסימוןASIMON- (a) (O.F. fladon) a blank, metal disc from which a coin is stamped using a die (O.F. coinz - a die to stamp coins) (RASHI); (b) a medallion (TOSFOS, citing Rabeinu Tam)

b)[line 29]המטבעMATBE'A- a coin

9)[line 35]מי שפרע... הוא עתיד להפרעMI SH'PARA... HU ASID LIPARA... - (lit. He Who took retribution) a Rabbinic curse that begins with the words "He Who took retribution"

(a)A person who pays money to purchase Metaltelin (mobile goods) does not acquire them by paying for them, until he performs Meshichah (see above, entry #5c) upon them. Therefore, both the buyer and the seller may retract from the purchase until Meshichah or another valid Kinyan is performed. (There are those who are of the opinion that paying for the goods does not effect a Kinyan mid'Oraisa. Others hold that it does effect a Kinyan mid'Oraisa, but the Rabanan instituted that the buyer and seller may still retract until the buyer does Meshichah — Bava Metzia 47a). However, it is not proper for a person to go back on his word and retract a sale after money has been received for the goods being sold. If either the buyer or the seller does retract at such a point, he has not acted in the manner of proper, upstanding Jews (RAMBAM Hilchos Mechirah 7:1).

(b)If one of them wishes to retract in any case, he is brought to Beis Din to accept upon himself the curse of "Mi she'Para" from Beis Din. Beis Din says to him, "He Who took retribution from the Generation of the Flood (Bereishis 6:1 - 7:23) and from the Generation of the Dispersion (Bereishis 11:1-9) and from the inhabitants of Sedom and Amorah (Bereishis 19:24-25) and from the Egyptians who were drowned in the sea (Shemos 14:26-31) will punish he who does not stand by his word" (Bava Metzia 48a).

10a)[line 36]דור המבולDOR HA'MABUL- the Generation of the Flood (Bereishis 6:1 - 7:23)

b)[line 36]ומדור הפלגהUMI'DOR HA'PELAGAH- the Generation of the Dispersion (Bereishis 11:1-9)

11)[line 38]כל שהכסף בידו ידו על העליונהKOL SHEHA'KESEF B'YADO; YADO AL HA'ELYONAH- the seller, once he has received the money has the upper hand, and has the choice to annul the sale, while the buyer does not

12)[line 44]דחשיבCHASHIV- important, valuable

13a)[line 45]טבעאTIV'A- currency

b)[line 45]פיראPEIRA- (lit. fruits) merchandise

14)[last line]וקני ליה פירא לטבעאV'KANI LEI PEIRA L'TIV'A- (lit. merchandise buys currency) performing a Kinyan Meshichah on the merchandise consummates a sale (see above, entry #5c)

44b----------------------------------------44b

15)[line 1]דחריףCHARIF- (lit. sharp) is legal tender

16)[line 11]באתרא דסגייB'ASRA D'SAGYEI- in a place where they are accepted as legal tender (lit. where they "go")

17)[line 12]כיון דאיכא דוכתא דלא סגי ביהKEIVAN D'IKA DUCHTA D'LO SAGI BEI- since there are places that do not accept them as legal tender

18)[line 14]אוזיףOZIF- borrowed

19)[line 15]מברתיה דרבי חייאBERATEI D'REBBI CHIYA- the daughter of Rebbi Chiya

20)[line 17]טבין ותקיליןTAVIN U'SEKILIN- good and full-weight [coins]

21)[line 19]סאה בסאהSE'AH B'SE'AH (RIBIS: SE'AH B'SE'AH)

(a)It is forbidden to lend money with interest (Shemos 22:24, Vayikra 25:36, Devarim 23:20). Even if interest is charged conditionally, and it is eventually not collected, the transaction is prohibited mid'Oraisa according to some Tana'im. It is also forbidden to take money in order to allow the borrower more time to complete the payment of the loan. (Such payment is known as "Agar Natar.")

(b)The Torah forbids lending with interest only if the rate or amount of interest was fixed at the time that the loan was made. This is called Ribis Ketzutzah. If interest was paid but the amount paid was not fixed at the time of the loan, or if a higher price was paid in a sale in order that the seller should allow the buyer more time to complete his payment for the purchase, it is called Avak Ribis or Ribis d'Rabanan. In addition to these, certain payments that are not actually Ribis mid'Oraisa or mid'Rabanan were prohibited because they have similarities to Ribis. Chazal refer to this as "Ha'aramas Ribis."

(c)One case of Ribis d'Rabanan is known as Se'ah b'Se'ah. This refers to a person who receives a Se'ah (or any other amount) of produce (or any other commodity) and agrees to pay back the same amount of produce at a future date, even if the value of the produce increases in the interim. Paying back the produce at the higher rate is considered Ribis, since the lender is receiving in return for his loan produce valued at more than the produce that he lent. However, since this is only Ribis d'Rabanan, the Rabanan permitted such an exchange when, at the time of the loan, the recipient of the loan has enough produce at home to pay back the loan, even if the produce is inaccessible to him at the time of the loan.

22)[line 23]פרוטה שאמרוPERUTAH SHE'AMRU (CURRENCY OF THE TALMUD)

(a)The relationship between the various coins mentioned in the Talmud is as follows:

1.1 Maneh = 25 Sela'im = 100 Dinerin

2.1 Dinar Zahav (gold Dinar) = 25 Dinerin

3.1 Sela = 2 Shekel

4.1 Shekel = 2 Dinerin

5.1 Dinar = 6 Me'ah

6.1 Rova Shekel (or Sela Medinah) = 3 Me'ah

7.1 Me'ah = 2 Pundeyon

8.1 Pundeyon = 2 Isar

9.1 Isar = 8 Perutah (or sometimes 6 Perutah - see Kidushin 12a)

(b)Another name for a Dinar is a Zuz. All of the coins listed above (including the standard Dinar) are silver, except for the Dinar Zahav, which is gold, and the Perutos, which are copper.

23)[line 23]באיסר האיטלקיISAR HA'ITALKI- the Roman coin known as an ''As,'' which is the equivalent of 1/24 of a Dinar (see previous entry)

24)[line 24]לקדושי אשהKIDUSHEI ISHAH (KIDUSHIN)

See Background to Kidushin 2:1

25)[line 28]לפדיון הבןPIDYON HA'BEN

(a)The Torah requires that every Yisrael sanctify the firstborn male of his children, Kosher animals and donkeys, as it is written, "קַדֶּשׁ לִי כָל בְּכוֹר, פֶּטֶר כָּל רֶחֶם בִּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, בָּאָדָם וּבַבּהֵמָה; לִי הוּא" "Kadesh Li Kol Bechor, Peter Kol Rechem bi'Vnei Yisrael, ba'Adam uva'Behemah; Li Hu" - "Sanctify to Me every firstborn that initiates the womb among the children of Yisrael, among both man and beast; it is Mine." (Shemos 13:2)

(b)The Mitzvah of Pidyon ha'Ben applies to a Yisrael and not to a child whose father or mother is a Kohen or a Levi. The first male born to a mother must be redeemed by his father as stated in Shemos 13:13, "וְכֹל בְּכוֹר אָדָם בְּבָנֶיךָ, תִּפְדֶּה" "v'Chol Bechor Adam b'Vanecha, Tifdeh."

(c)The Bechor must be redeemed when he is one month old by giving five silver Shekalim of Kodesh (each of which weighs 19.2 or 17 grams; see Midos v'Shi'urei Torah, C. P. Benish, Benei Brak, 5760, pp. 487-488) to a Kohen, as stated in Bamidbar (18:16). This applies only if the son was the first issue (i.e. he was not preceded by a Nefel — stillborn) and was delivered through the womb (i.e. he was not delivered by Caesarian section). (Sefer ha'Chinuch #392)

26)[line 29]משער תנא במידי דקיץMESHA'ER TANA B'MIDI D'KITZ- the Tana gives a value using a quantity that is well defined

27)[line 34]לא יעשה אדם סלעין דינרי זהבLO YA'ASEH ADAM SIL'IN DINREI ZAHAV (MA'ASER SHENI: CHILUL / PIDYON)

The Torah requires that Ma'aser Sheni (see Background to Bava Metzia 38:5:e) be brought and eaten by its owner in Yerushalayim. Alternatively, Ma'aser Sheni produce may be redeemed, in which case the money used to redeem it is brought to Yerushalayim. The food that is bought with this money in Yerushalayim becomes Kodesh like Ma'aser Sheni and must be eaten b'Taharah. If the owner himself redeems the produce, he must add an additional fifth (of the ensuing total, or a quarter of the original value). Ma'aser Sheni that was redeemed by anyone besides the owner is exempt from the additional fifth.

28)[line 37]וטבעא אפירא לא מחללינןTIV'A A'PEIRA LO MECHALELINAN- one is not permitted to exchange currency of Ma'aser Sheni for merchandise

29)[line 51]תסתייםTISTAYEM- you may conclude (deduce)