(Permission is granted to print and redistribute this material as long as this header and the footer at the end are included.) |
1a) [line 1] [BIRCHAN B'SHEMONEH] MI'"V'HAYAH IM SHAMO'A TISHMA" - (lit.
[Moshe] blessed [Yisrael] with eight in [the verse] "v'Hayah Im Shamo'a
Tishma") In Parshas Ki Savo, HaSh-m promises (through Moshe Rabeinu, who
spoke the words of the Book of Devarim) that if Benei Yisrael study the
Torah diligently and keep all of the Mitzvos, they will be showered with
bountiful blessings. The first word of the first verse of the verses of
blessing (Devarim 28:1-14) begins with the letter "Vav" which is *eight*
letters away from the last letter of the last word of the last verse (the
letter "Mem"). 2) [line 4] (SIMAN EIN ME'AYNIN V'EIN GODSHIN B'AGARDEMIN UV'LITRA SHELOSHAH V'ESER NEFESH MISHKALOS MEMACHEK AVEH LO SA'ASU LO (YA'ASEH) [YASH'HEH]) - this is a mnemonic device for remembering the following Beraisa'os that the Gemara brings that discuss matters of weights related to the end of our Mishnah (the first two seem to be interchanged): 1. *Ein Me'aynin* refers to "Tanu Rabanan, Minayin *she'Ein Me'aynin* b'Makom she'Machri'in..." (line 10)3a) [line 10] ME'AININ - [in a place where] they weigh an exact measurement (such as in a place where the practice is not to bend down the scales an extra Tefach for the buyer) b) [line 10] MACHRI'IN - [in a place where] they bend down [the side of the scale for the buyer, in order to give him more merchandise] 4) [line 13] "LO YIHEYEH LECHA B'VEISCHA EIFAH V'EIFAH, [GEDOLAH U'KETANAH.]" - "You shall not have in your house a measure and a measure, [a large one and a small one]." (Devarim 25:14) - The Gemara interprets the verse as saying, "You will not have [anything] in your house, [because of the sin of having] a measure and a measure, a large one and a small one." The Gemara interprets the preceding verse (Devarim 25:13) in the same manner, "You will not have [anything] in your money-purse, [because of the sin of having] a weight and a weight, a large one and a small one." 5) [line 16] AGARDEMIN - a public official appointed to check the weights and measures being used and to punish those who use deceitful weights and measures
6a) [line 16] MIDOS - weights and measures 11) [line 23] D'MASKENINAN MASKELEI AD HACHI - that we (Beis Din) establish weights in these denominations (to be used as the standard measures in order to prevent errors from occuring, and to prevent intentional fraudulent activity) 12) [line 24] SHEKOL LI SHELOSHAH REVA'EI LITRA ACHAS ACHAS - weigh for me [the 3/4 of a Litra of meat that I want to buy by measuring] three one-quarter-Litra weights (as counter-weights), one at a time 13) [line 25] SHOKEL LITRA U'MENI'ACH REVI'A LITRA IM HA'BASAR - [rather,] he weighs one Litra (as a counter-weight) and he places a one-quarter-Litra weight together with the meat 14) [line 26] V'HACHRI'A - and bend down [the scale one Tefach in favor of the buyer]
15a) [line 27] NEFESH MOZNAYIM - the hollow tube of a balance scale, which
constitutes the mechanism by which the scale is attached to the string from
which it is suspended from the roof (or by which the scale is held by hand).
The hollow tube is attached to the midpoint of the "Kaneh," the horizontal
beam of the scale itself, lying with its length across the width of the
Kaneh. The string is strung through the hollow tube in order to support the
scales and serve as the fulcrum, allowing it to tip freely to either side.
Attached to the top of this hollow tube is a "Lashon" ("tongue") which is
affixed perpendicular to the Kaneh. Its purpose is to indicate, visually,
whether the weights on the two sides of the Kaneh are evenly balanced. 16) [line 28] GEVOHAH MIN HA'ARETZ SHELOSHAH TEFACHIM - it must be raised above the ground [at least] three Tefachim
17a) [line 28] KANEH - the horizontol beam of the scale, to which the two
scales are attached on each of its two far sides
20) [line 1] DIGRUMEI - coppersmiths and ironsmiths (RASHBAM) 21) [line 2] TUM'ASAN - their ability to become Tamei. If the parts of the respective types of scales are not the prescribed sizes, then the scales are not considered Kelim and cannot become Tamei. (TUM'AS KELIM) A utensil is considered "ready" to receive Tum'ah only after it is completely finished. If the artisan only *decided* that the utensil needs no more work, it is considered complete and may become Tamei. In our Sugya, the Gemara states that a scale that is not built with the proper-sized parts is not considered a utensil and cannot become Tamei. (For a further discussion of the principles of Tum'ah and Taharah, see Background to Nazir 54:13.)
22) [line 3] CHUT MOZNAYIM - the rope by which the scale is hung from the
ceiling
27) [line 9] DELA'AS - a gourd or pumpkin
29) [line 9] MATECHES - metal
31a) [line 10] ZAYIS - olive-wood 32) [line 22] "LO SA'ASU AVEL BA'MISHPAT, BA'MIDAH, BA'MISHKAL, UVA'MESURAH." - ""You shall not make a corruption of justice, in measures of length, in weight, and in volume." (Vayikra 19:35) - "Mesurah" is used here as a general term for volume, although it literally means a specific measure of volume (i.e. 1/36th of a Log), as the Gemara describes. 33) [line 25] SHE'LO YATMIN MISHKELOSAV B'MELACH - that one shall not store his weights in salt. According to Rashi in Bava Metzia (61b), and the Rashbam and Rabeinu Gershom here, this refers to the buyer's weights (as it was occasionally the buyer who brought his own weights with which to weigh the merchandise); the salt caused the weights to become heavier than they were labeled. According to other Rishonim (Ritva, Bava Metzia 61b), this refers to the seller's weights; the salt corroded the weights, causing them to become lighter than they were labeled. (One transgresses this prohibition the moment that he stores his weights in salt, even before he uses the weight to cheat someone.) 34) [line 26] SHE'LO YARTI'ACH - (O.F. escume) that one shall not cause it to foam up (when pouring the wine or other liquid into the buyer's vessel, making it appear full when it is not full) 35) [line 27] MESURAH - a measure of volume, equal to 1/36th of a Log
36) [line 28] HIN / LOG / REVI'IS / TOMAN / UCHLA (MEASURES OF CAPACITY :
LIQUIDS)
(b) Modern-day equivalents:
b) [line 32] YESERAH - a weight or measure that is more [than its specified measure] 38) [line 32] AVIT SHEL MEIMEI RAGLAYIM - a clay vessel used for the collection of urine 39) [line 33] B'ASRA D'LO CHASIMEI - in a place where they (the goverment authorities) do not stamp [an official seal of approval on measures] 40) [line 36] MEHANDESEI - appointed officials who check the accuracy of weights and measures and punish those who have inaccurate weights and measures
41) [line 37] ZIMNIN D'MIKRI BEIN HA'SHEMASHOS - sometimes it happens [that
a person comes to buy merchandise] during Beis ha'Shemashos, at the end of
the day [when people are in a hurry to finish their dealings and return
home] 42a) [line 40] AVAL OSEH HU SE'AH - but he is permitted to keep the following types of dry measures in his home: a Se'ah, etc. [see detailed list that follows] b) [line 40] SE'AH / TARKAV / KAV / ROVA / TOMAN / UCHLA (MEASUREMENTS OF DRY VOLUME)
|