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Bava Basra 141a

בבא בתרא קמ״א ע״א

Bava Batra 141a

Learn Bava Basra 141a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Closing the טומטום discussion, why a father may give a daughter more than a son, and explaining ברייתות about twin births

Overview

This amud first finishes the discussion of a טומטום (a child whose gender is unknown). The ברייתא's words 'sustained like a daughter' and 'inherits like a son' are shown to mean only 'fitting to receive, but gets nothing.' Then the גמרא turns to the משנה where a man promises 100 for a son and 200 for a daughter. It asks how a daughter can be preferred, since רבי שמעון בן יוחאי says God is angry at a man who leaves no son. Three answers are given. First, a son is better for inheritance, but a daughter needs more support. Second, שמואל says it is a first birth, and a daughter first is a good sign for sons. Third, the משנה follows רבי יהודה, who says daughters must be fed even more than sons so they won't be shamed. Finally, the גמרא explains two ברייתות about the birth of a boy and a girl. רב אשי explains the first as a reversed gift with an unknown birth order. רבינא begins explaining the second as a reward to whoever brings the news, and he continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

אֶלָּא לְאַבָּיֵי,

But according to אביי,

מַאי ״נִיזּוֹן כְּבַת״?

what does 'sustained like a daughter' mean?

וּלְטַעְמָיךְ – לְרָבָא

And by your logic, according to רבא,

מַאי ״יוֹרֵשׁ כְּבֵן״?

what does 'inherits like a son' mean?

The steps (16)

  1. ChallengeHow can אביי explain 'sustained like a daughter'?
  2. ResolutionSame problem for רבא, so read it as 'fitting but gets nothing'
  3. StatementQuoting the משנה about a son or daughter being born
  4. ChallengeIs a daughter really better than a son?
  5. ResolutionSon for inheritance, daughter for comfort
  6. Resolutionשמואל: the משנה is about a first birth
  7. StatementTwo reasons why a daughter first is a good sign
  8. Statementרב חסדא: I personally prefer daughters
  9. ResolutionAnother answer: the משנה follows רבי יהודה
  10. QuestionWhich teaching of רבי יהודה? Maybe the daughter named 'בכל'
  11. RejectionRejected: a daughter as a blessing is not better than a son
  12. ResponseThe real source: feeding daughters even more than sons
  13. QuestionA ברייתא where the son gets more: what case is it?
  14. Responseרב אשי explains the case as a reversed gift with a doubtful birth order
  15. QuestionAsking about another ברייתא where 'he' gets only one hundred
  16. Responseרבינא begins: a case of 'whoever brings me the news'