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Prepared by Rabbi P. Feldman of Kollel Iyun Hadaf, Yerushalayim Rosh Kollel: Rabbi Mordecai Kornfeld
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Bava Kama 94
1) CHANGING AN OBJECT ("SHINUY") DOES NOT ACQUIRE IT
(a) (Abaye): The following Tana'im all hold that change does
not acquire: R. Shimon ben Yehudah, Beis Shamai, R.
Eliezer ben Yakov, R. Shimon ben Elazar, and R. Yishmael.
1. R. Shimon ben Yehudah - as above;
2. Beis Shamai - (Beraisa #1): A man paid a harlot for
her services with wheat, olives or grapes; she made
them into flour, oil or wine - these may not be
brought as a sacrifice (they are still considered
wages of a harlot);
i. (Beraisa #2): They may be brought as a
sacrifice.
ii. (Rav Yosef - Beraisa): Beis Shamai forbid this,
Beis Hillel permit.
iii. Question: Why do Beis Shamai forbid?
iv. Answer: The verse (forbidding a harlot's wages
and something traded for a dog as sacrifices)
says "Also", to include what they are
transformed into.
v. Beis Hillel explain, they are forbidden - not
what they are transformed into.
vi. Beis Shamai explain, they are forbidden - not
their offspring.
vii. Beis Hillel say, both are excluded.
viii.Question: What do Beis Hillel learn from
"Also"?
ix. This is left difficult.
3. R. Eliezer ben Yakov - (Beraisa - R. Eliezer ben
Yakov): Reuven stole wheat; he ground, kneaded and
baked it and separated Chalah from it - his blessing
only angers Hash-m;
i. "A thief who blesses, he blasphemes."
4. R. Shimon ben Elazar - (Beraisa - R. Shimon ben
Elazar): The general rule is, whatever improvement a
thief made on a stolen object, he has the upper
hand: he may keep the improvement, or say behold,
here is your object.
i. Question: What does this mean?
ii. Answer (Rav Sheshes): If he improved it, he
receives the added value; if he decreased its
value, he returns the object and says behold,
here is your object, since he did not acquire
it.
iii. Question: If so, when he improved it, why does
he receive the added value?
iv. Answer: That is an enactment to facilitate
repentance of thieves.
5. R. Yishmael - (Beraisa): Pei'ah should be designated
and not harvested; if it was harvested, one
separates (the amount which should have been left)
from the sheaves (and gives it to the poor); if this
was not done, he separates from the stack before
Miru'ach (final processing);
i. If Miru'ach was already done, he separates the
proper amount, takes Ma'aseros on it, and gives
it to the poor.
ii. R. Yishmael says, even if he made a dough, he
separates from the dough and give to the poor
(he still did not acquire it).
(b) Objection #1 (Rav Papa): Do all these Tana'im hold as
Beis Shamai?!
(c) Answer (Abaye): No, they say that Beis Hillel agree that
change does not acquire.
(d) Objection #2 (Rava): We need not say that they hold that
change does not acquire!
1. Perhaps R. Shimon ben Yehudah only says that dying
does not acquire because it can be removed through
soap!
2. Perhaps Beis Shamai only say that change does not
acquire regarding a sacrifice, because it is
despised (having once been a harlot's wages)!
3. Perhaps R. Eliezer ben Yakov only says that change
does not acquire regarding blessing, because the
Mitzvah came through a sin!
4. Perhaps R. Shimon ben Elazar only says that
reversible change does not acquire!
5. Perhaps R. Yishmael only says that change does not
acquire regarding Pei'ah because the verse says an
extra "Leave" (for the poor).
i. Question: If R. Yishmael held in general that
change does not acquire, why does the verse say
an extra "Leave"? What do Chachamim learn from
it?
ii. Answer (Beraisa): One who declares his vineyard
Hefker and harvests it, he must leave Peret
(loose grapes), Olelos (deficient clusters),
Shichchah and Pei'ah for the poor, but he is
exempt from Ma'aseros.
2) HOW WE RULE WITH REGARD TO "SHINUY KONEH"
(a) (Rav Yehudah citing Shmuel): The law is as R. Shimon ben
Elazar.
(b) Question: Did Shmuel really say that?!
1. (Shmuel): We do not make an evaluation (of an animal
that died) for thieves nor for (open) robbers
(because they acquire the carcass), only for
damages.
2. This is not difficult for Rava - R. Shimon ben
Elazar only said that reversible change does not
acquire.
3. But Abaye says that R. Shimon ben Elazar holds that
even irreversible change does not acquire!
(c) Answer: Abaye says that Shmuel reported that some rule as
R. Shimon ben Elazar, but he himself does not.
94b---------------------------------------94b
(d) (R. Chiya bar Aba citing R. Yochanan): Mid'oraisa, one
who changes a stolen object must return it - "He will
return the stolen object that he stole" - even if it
changed;
1. The Mishnah says that he acquires it - this is an
enactment to facilitate repentance of thieves.
(e) Question: Did R. Yochanan really say that?!
1. (R. Yochanan): The law is as an anonymous Mishnah.
2. (Mishnah): If he dyed the shearings before giving
them to a Kohen, he is exempt.
(f) Answer (R. Yakov): R. Yochanan establishes our Mishnah by
stealing smooth wood, so making vessels is a reversible
change. (This only acquires mid'Rabanan - but
irreversible change acquires mid'Oraisa).
3) AN ENACTMENT TO FACILITATE REPENTANCE
(a) (Beraisa): Thieves or people that collected usury that
want to return what they took - we do not accept from
them; Chachamim are unhappy with one who accepts from
them.
(b) (R. Yochanan): This was taught in Rebbi's time.
1. (Beraisa): There was a case in which a thief wanted
to repent. His wife dissuaded him, for then he would
have to return even his belt!
2. It was then enacted not to accept from thieves or
people that collected usury that want to return what
they took.
(c) Question (Beraisa): A man died, leaving his orphans money
he collected as usury - even though they know this, they
need not return it.
1. Inference: They need not return it - but their
father would have to return it!
(d) Answer: Really, even their father is exempt; the Beraisa
spoke of them for parallel structure to the end of the
Beraisa.
1. (End of the Beraisa): If their father left them a
cow, garment or any specific item, they must return
it because of the honor of their father.
(e) Question: Why should they have to return it for the honor
of their father?!
1. "Do not curse a Nasi of your people" - one who acts
as your people (but we are not concerned for honor
of the wicked)!
(f) Answer: As Rav Pinchas answered (elsewhere) - the case
is, the father repented.
1. Question: If he repented, he should have returned
it!
2. Answer: He died before he was able to.
(g) Question (Beraisa): Thieves or people that lent on usury
- even if they collected, they return it.
1. Question: The language 'collected' does not apply to
thieves!
2. Correction: The Beraisa means, thieves, i.e. people
that lent on usury, even if they collected, they
return.
(h) Answer: They return, but (the borrowers) do not accept.
1. Question: If so, why does the Beraisa tell them to
return it?
2. Answer: By offering, they fulfill their obligation
at the hands of Heaven.
(i) Question (Beraisa): Shepherds (they graze their animals
in others' fields), tax collectors (who take more than
they should) - it is difficult for them to repent;
1. They must return to the people they know they stole
from
(j) Answer #1: They return, but (the ones they stole from) do
not accept.
1. Question: If so, why does the Beraisa tell them to
return it?
2. Answer: By offering, they fulfill their obligation
at the hands of Heaven.
3. Question #1: If so, why is it hard for them to
repent?
4. Question #2 (end of Beraisa): To atone for those
they do not know, they pay for public needs;
i. (Rav Chisda): They build pits to store water.
(k) Answer #2: This Beraisa was before the enactment.
(l) Answer #3: We can even say, the Beraisa is after the
enactment - Rav Nachman taught, if they still have the
stolen object, they must return it.
(m) Question: But the enactment was made because of a case in
which a man didn't repent lest he must return his belt!
(n) Answer: It meant, the value of his belt (the belt itself
was not stolen).
(o) Question: Is it really true that the enactment does not
apply if the stolen object is still here?
1. (Mishnah): There was an enactment to help repenters
that if one built a stolen beam into a building,
that he only returns its value.
(p) Answer: That case is different - the loss of the building
is so great, Chachamim consider it as if the beam is not
here.
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