Is a non-Jew's acquisition by kesef or meshichah? My chevrusa thinks it is the opposite of a Jew's. Is he correct, and if so, why?
Barry Epstein, Dallas, USA
Your Chavrusa is right. For the reason, see Bechoros 13a.
D. Zupnik
Which way is he right? I don't have Bechoros. Is the non-Jew's acquisition by kesef or meshichah?
Barry
There is a Machlokes among the Amora'im as to which method of aquisition works for a *Jew*, according to the Torah. (Mid'Rabanan, all agree that it was instituted that only Meshichah can acquire and Kesef cannot.) Those who maintain one works for a Jew, will say that the other works for the non-Jew.
The source for this is a verse cited in Bechoros 13a which implies that the Jew and non-Jew have *different* methods of attaining acquisition of an object.
Be well,
M. Kornfeld