Bava Basra 81b
בבא בתרא פ״א ע״ב
Bava Batra 81b
Learn Bava Basra 81b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.
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Topic
Why a person whose land ownership is doubtful brings ביכורים without reading the פרשה, and how the doubtful fruit is handled: הקדש, redemption, תרומה and מעשר, and bringing it without the recitation.
Overview
רבי שמעון בן אליקים asks רבי אלעזר why someone who owns one tree (according to רבי מאיר) or two trees (according to רבנן) brings ביכורים but does not read the פרשה. רבי אלעזר answers that even the earlier sages gave no reason. רבה explains that both opinions are unsure whether the tree-owner also owns the land. So he brings, in case he is obligated, but does not read. The גמרא then works out how to handle such doubtful fruit. He makes it הקדש, it is redeemed so the כהן can eat it, and תרומה and מעשר are separated from it. Every gift goes to a כהן, and מעשר ראשון also goes to a כהן, following רבי אלעזר בן עזריה. The גמרא says the missing recitation is not essential, and רבי זירא's rule challenges this: a step that cannot be done at all does hold things back. The גמרא answers with רבי יוסי בר חנינא's case of ביכורים that are brought without any recitation, and his proof from the פסוק continues on the next amud.
Opening lines
מַאי טַעְמָא דְּרַבִּי מֵאִיר בְּאִילָן אֶחָד,
What is the reason of Rabbi Meir regarding one tree,
וּמַאי טַעְמָא דְּרַבָּנַן בִּשְׁנֵי אִילָנוֹת?
and what is the reason of the Rabbis regarding two trees?
אָמַר לוֹ:
He said to him:
דָּבָר שֶׁהָרִאשׁוֹנִים לֹא אָמְרוּ בּוֹ טַעַם,
A matter for which the earlier ones did not give a reason,
The steps (17)
- QuestionWhy bring the fruit but not read the passage?
- Responseרבי אלעזר: Even the early sages gave no reason
- Resolutionרבה: Both opinions are unsure about owning the land
- ChallengeBut רבי מאיר sounds certain, not doubtful
- ResolutionRead it as 'perhaps he did not acquire land'
- ChallengeProblem: Bringing ordinary fruit into the עזרה
- ResolutionHe makes the fruit הקדש
- ChallengeBut the כהן must eat the ביכורים
- ResolutionThe כהן redeems the fruit
- ChallengeProblem: Skipping תרומה and מעשר
- ResolutionHe separates תרומה and מעשר anyway
- ChallengeWho can receive the first tithe from doubtful fruit?
- ResolutionHe gives the first tithe to a כהן
- ChallengeBut real ביכורים need the recitation
- ResolutionThe recitation does not hold back the מצוה
- Challengeרבי זירא: what cannot be done at all becomes essential
- ResolutionFruit that is brought with no recitation at all