Bava Basra 8b

בבא בתרא ח׳ ע״ב

Bava Batra 8b

Learn Bava Basra 8b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

פדיון שבויים as a מצוה רבה, and the rules and praise of community charity (קופה, תמחוי, and גבאי צדקה)

Overview

The עמוד opens by saying that פדיון שבויים, freeing captives, is a great מצוה. רבה בר מרי proves this from a פסוק in ירמיהו that lists four punishments, and רבי יוחנן explains that each one is worse than the one before it. Captivity comes last, so it is the worst, because it includes all the others. Next, a ברייתא gives the rules of the town's two charities. The קופה (money fund) is collected by two people and given out by three, for the town's poor. The תמחוי (daily food) is collected and given out by three, for any poor person. The town may switch the funds, and it may also set prices and wages. The גמרא explains why two collectors are needed: it is because of authority, not trust. Collectors may even force a wealthy person to give. After words of praise for judges, collectors, teachers and Sages, more ברייתות teach how collectors must avoid any suspicion. The עמוד ends with אביי's stories about how רבה changed his charity practices, and the second story continues on the next עמוד.

Opening lines

The steps (37)

1. ConclusionRedeeming captives is a great מצוה
2. Questionרבא asks for the source
3. ResponseThe verse listing four punishments
4. Statementרבי יוחנן: each one is worse than the one before
5. StatementSword is worse than death: the logical reason
6. ProofSword is worse than death: the verse
7. StatementFamine is worse than sword: the logical reason
8. ProofFamine is worse than sword: the verse
9. ConclusionCaptivity is the worst, because it includes them all
10. StatementThe charity fund: collected by two, given out by three
11. StatementThe food platter: collected by three and given out by three
12. StatementWho each charity serves, and the town's right to switch them
13. StatementThe town may set measures, prices and wages, and fine violators
14. QuestionWhere do we learn that authority needs at least two people?
15. ResponseThe source is the plural 'they' in the משכן verse
16. StatementThe rule is about authority, not about trust
17. ProofThis supports רבי חנינא's story of two brothers
18. QuestionWhat authority does a charity collector have?
19. ResponseCollectors may take collateral to force giving
20. ChallengeBut a פסוק says God will punish charity collectors
21. ResolutionForce is allowed against the wealthy, not against others
22. Proofרבא forced רב נתן בר אמי to give 400 זוז
23. StatementA פסוק praising judges and צדקה collectors
24. StatementA ברייתא reads the same פסוק differently
25. QuestionWhich teachers deserve this praise?
26. Responseרב names רב שמואל בר שילת
27. ProofThe teacher who had not seen his garden in thirteen years
28. QuestionWhat praise is there for the Sages?
29. Responseרבינא: the Sages are like the rising sun
30. Statementצדקה collectors must collect together
31. StatementFound money goes into the צדקה purse first
32. StatementA loan repaid in the market follows the same rule
33. StatementCollectors may exchange charity coins with others, not with themselves
34. StatementFood collectors may sell extra food to others, not to themselves
35. StatementCharity coins are counted one by one
36. Statementרבה began sitting on the synagogue mats after hearing a ברייתא
37. Statementרבה's two charity purses and שמואל's advice to use one