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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 108
1) MULTPILE FINES ON 1 PRINCIPLE
(a) Question (Rami bar Chama): Money on which a thief pays
double - does he add a fifth for it, or not?
1. Question: What is the case?
2. Answer: Reuven (claimed and) swore that a deposit
was stolen; he later swore that it was lost.
Witnesses later testified that Reuven had the
deposit when he took the first oath, and he admitted
that he swore falsely the second time.
i. Do we say, since he pays double, he is exempt
from the added fifth?
ii. Or - only an oath that obligates double payment
exempts from the added fifth; since the second
oath does not obligate double payment, he adds
a fifth for that oath.
(b) Answer (Rava - Mishnah): Levi accepted (answered 'Amen'
to) an oath that the deposit he was watching for Yehudah
was lost; witnesses testified that he ate it - he pays
double;
1. If Levi admitted by himself, he pays principle, the
added fifth and brings an Asham.
2. Here, the witnesses obligate him to pay double - and
he only adds a fifth if he admits by himself, not
after witnesses testify;
3. If only an oath that obligates double payment
exempts from the added fifth, why is he exempt if he
admits after witnesses came?
i. Since his oath does not obligate double
payment, he should add a fifth!
4. Rather, we conclude that double payment exempts from
the added fifth; not an oath obligating double
payment.
(c) Question (Ravina): Can 1 man be obligated to pay an added
fifth, and another man double payment on the same
principle?
1. Question: What is the case?
2. Answer: Reuven gave his ox to Shimon and Levi to
watch. They (claimed and) swore that it was stolen.
Shimon admitted that he swore falsely, witnesses
testified that it was not stolen.
i. Do we say - the Torah was concerned that 1 man
not pay double and an added fifth (on 1
principle) - but both may be paid (by different
men)?
ii. Or - the Torah does not obligate double payment
and an added fifth on 1 principle?
iii. This question is unsettled.
(d) Question (Rav Papa): Can 1 man be obligated to pay 2
added fifths or 2 double payments on 1 principle?
1. Question: What is the case?
(e) Answer #1 (Regarding 2 fifths): Reuven swore that a
deposit was lost, admitted that he swore falsely, and
again swore that it was lost, and admitted that this also
was false.
(f) Answer #2 (Regarding 2 double payments): Reuven swore
that a deposit was stolen, witnesses testified that he
really stole it; he again swore that it was stolen,
witnesses testified that he really stole it.
1. Do we say - the Torah was concerned that a man not
pay 2 types of monetary fines (double and an added
fifth) on 1 principle - but the same type may be
paid more than once?
i. Or - the Torah does not obligate more than 1
fine on 1 principle?
(g) Answer: We may learn from Rava.
1. (Rava): "V'Chamishisav (and its fifths) he will add"
- the Torah teaches that many fifths can be added
for 1 principle.
2) CAN A WATCHMAN RECEIVE DOUBLE PAYMENT?
(a) Question: Reuven claimed his deposit from Shimon. Shimon
swore that it was stolen; he then decided to pay for it
(even though he is exempt). The thief was found - who
receives the double payment?
(b) Answer #1 (Abaye): Reuven.
(c) Answer #2 (Rava): Shimon.
1. Abaye holds that Reuven gets it - since Shimon did
not pay immediately, Reuven does not give Shimon
(ownership of the object in order that Shimon should
acquire) the double payment (if the thief will be
found).
2. Rava holds that Shimon gets it - since Shimon paid
in the end, Reuven gives him (ownership in order
that Shimon should acquire) the double payment.
(d) They argue on how to explain the Mishnah.
1. (Mishnah): Levi deposited an animal or vessels by
Yehudah, a free watchman; they were lost or stolen.
He could have sworn to be exempt, but he paid and
did not want to swear. If the thief is found, he
pays double (or 4 or 5, if he slaughtered or sold)
to Yehudah.
i. If Yehudah swore and did not want to pay, and
the thief is found, he pays double (or 4 or 5)
to Levi.
(e) Abaye learns from the first clause - it says, he paid and
did not want to swear;
108b---------------------------------------108b
1. We infer, had he sworn, even if he later paid, the
thief would pay Levi.
(f) Rava learns from the second clause - it says, he swore
and did not want to pay;
1. We infer, had he paid, even though he swore, the
thief would pay Yehudah.
(g) Question: The second clause is not as Abaye!
(h) Answer (Abaye): It means, if he swore and did not want to
pay before swearing, only after swearing, he pays Levi.
(i) Question: The first clause is not as Rava!
(j) Answer (Rava): It means, if he swore and did not want to
rely on his oath, rather he paid, he pays Yehudah.
3) WHEN THE WATCHMAN CLAIMS FROM THE THIEF
(a) Levi claimed the deposit from Yehudah, and Yehudah swore.
It became known that Reuven had stolen it; Yehudah
claimed from him, and Reuven admitted. Levi claimed from
Reuven, and Reuven denied the theft. Witnesses testified
that he stole it.
(b) Question: Is Reuven exempt from double payment because he
admitted to Yehudah?
(c) Answer (Rava): If Yehudah swore truthfully (that it was
stolen), Reuven is exempt (because Levi still trusts
Yehudah, Yehudah was in Levi's place when he claimed the
deposit, it is as if Reuven admitted to Levi);
1. If Yehudah swore falsely (e.g. that it died), Reuven
is liable (Levi no longer trusts Yehudah, Yehudah
was not in Levi's place when he claimed the deposit,
it is not as if Reuven admitted to Levi).
(d) Question (Rava): Yehudah was about to swear falsely, but
Levi did not allow him - what is the law (is it as if he
swore falsely)?
(e) This question is unsettled.
(f) Levi claimed the deposit from Yehudah, and Yehudah paid.
It became known that Reuven had stolen it; Levi claimed
from him, and Reuven admitted. Yehudah claimed from
Reuven, and Reuven denied the theft. Witnesses testified
that he stole it.
(g) Question: Is Reuven exempt from double payment because he
admitted to Levi?
1. Can Yehudah tell Levi - since I paid you, you have
no further claim on the stolen object?
2. Or - Can Levi say, just as you acted kindly to me
(by paying), I should act kindly for you (to claim
from Reuven to return your money)?
(h) This question is unsettled.
(i) (Abaye): A deposit was stolen through Ones (the watchman
was not negligent); the thief was found - if the watchman
was a free watchman, he may choose to claim the deposit
from the thief, or to swear that it was stolen through
Ones;
1. If he was a paid watchman, he must claim the deposit
from the thief - swearing that it was stolen through
Ones will not exempt him.
(j) (Rava): Even a free watchman must claim the deposit from
the thief.
(k) Suggestion: Rava argues on Rav Huna bar Avin.
1. (Rav Huna bar Avin): A deposit was stolen through
Ones; the thief was found - if the watchman was a
free watchman, he may choose to claim the deposit
from the thief, or to swear that it was stolen
through Ones;
2. If he was a paid watchman, he must claim the deposit
from the thief - swearing that it was stolen through
Ones will not exempt him.
(l) Rejection: No - Rav Huna speaks when the watchman already
swore (but l'Chatchilah, he must claim from the thief).
(m) Question: But it says, he may choose to claim the deposit
from the thief, or to swear!
(n) Answer: It means, he may choose to rely on his oath, or
to claim the deposit from the thief.
(o) Question (Rabah Zuti): A deposit was stolen through Ones;
the thief returned it to the watchman's house, then it
died through negligence - what is the law?
1. Do we say - once it was stolen through Ones, he
ceases to be a watchman (even after it is returned,
so he is exempt)?
2. Or - when the thief returns it, he resumes being a
watchman (and is liable)?
3. This question is unsettled.
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