BAVA BASRA 151 (28 Sivan) - dedicated to the memory of Hagaon Rav Yisroel Zev (ben Rav Avrohom Tzvi) Gustman, ZT'L, Rosh Yeshiva of "Yeshivas Netzach Yisrael-Ramailes" (in Vilna, Brooklyn, and then Yerushalayim), author of Kuntresei Shi'urim, and renowned Dayan in pre-war and post-war Vilna, on the day of his Yahrzeit. Dedicated by Harav Eliezer Stern of Brooklyn NY, and Michoel Starr of Yerushalayim, who merited to learn from Rav Gustman in Yerushalayim.

1)

A DOCUMENT WITH UNCLEAR WORDING (Yerushalmi Halachah 6 Daf 29b)

ר' ינאי בשם ר' יד השטרות לתחתונ'

(a)

R. Yanai citing Rebbi: If the meaning of the wording of a document is unclear, one should read it to the detriment of the owner of the document.

א"ל ר' יוחנן ולא מתניתא היא לא כתב לה שכיב מרע והוא אומר שכיב מרע וכו'.

(b)

R. Yochanan to R. Yanai: Isn't this an explicit Mishnah? As the Mishnah (daf 147 (b) above) teaches - R. Meir says - If the document did not specify that he was deathly ill but he said that he was deathly ill at the time etc. (He must prove that he was ill.)

והוה ר' יניי מקלס ליה הזלים זהב מכיס בני אל יליזו מעיניך וגו'.

(c)

R. Yinai would praise R. Yochanan for this response with the pasuk (Yishayahu 46: 6), "to those who pour out gold from the purse" and the pasuk (Mishlei 4, 21), "Don't let (my words) leave from your eyes etc."

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