Shmuel listed three areas in which we can assume Torah scholars may be dishonest. Why? Can we assume they are honest in all other areas? Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar says that if something is lost in a public place, we can assume the owner despaired (has given up hope of ever getting the item back) and the finder can take the item. The Gemara questions whether he meant this only in a place where the majority of the people are Gentiles or even in a place where the majority are Jews. If he included also a place where the majority are Jews, do the rabbis agree, or do they disagree with him about both, or only in a case where the majority are Jews? Do we hold like Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar and if so, in both cases or only in the case where the majority are Gentiles? The Gemara tries to answer these questions by bringing various tannaitic sources and cases from the amoraim but most attempts to answer the questions are inconclusive.
Bava Metzia 75 - Yom Hazikaron - May 13, 5 Iyar
Bava Metzia 74 - May 12, 4 Iyar
Bava Metzia 73 - Shabbat May 11, 3 Iyar
Bava Metzia 72 - May 10, 2 Iyar
Bava Metzia 71 - 2nd Day of Rosh Chodesh Iyar - May 9, 1 Iyar
Bava Metzia 70 - First Day of Rosh Chodesh Iyar - May 8, 30 Nissan
Bava Metzia 69 - May 7, 29 Nissan
Bava Metzia 68 - May 6, 28 Nissan
Bava Metzia 67 - May 5, 27 Nissan
Bava Metzia 66 - Shabbat May 4, 26 Nissan
Bava Metzia 65 - May 3, 25 Nissan
Bava Metzia 64 - May 2, 24 Nissan
Bava Metzia 63 - May 1, 23 Nissan
Bava Metzia 62 - April 30, 22 Nissan
Bava Metzia 61 - 7th Day of Pesach - April 29, 21 Nissan
Bava Metzia 60 - 6th Day of Pesach - April 28, 20 Nissan
Bava Metzia 59 - Shabbat Chol Hamoed Pesach - April 27, 19 Nissan
Bava Metzia 58 - 4th Day of Pesach - April 26, 18 Nissan
Bava Metzia 57 - 3rd Day of Pesach - April 25, 17 Nissan
Bava Metzia 56 - 2nd Day of Pesach - April 24, 16 Nissan
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Rav Gershon Ribner
For Heaven’s Sake
Unorthodox
18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers
Unpacking Israeli History