Bava Basra 90b

בבא בתרא צ׳ ע״ב

Bava Batra 90b

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Topic

Enlarging communal measures, and the rules against hoarding, price-gouging and exporting food from ארץ ישראל.

Overview

The גמרא finishes the פסוק in יחזקאל that seems to make a מנה equal sixty שקלים. It learns three rules from it: the holy מנה was double, a community may enlarge measures by up to a sixth, and that sixth is counted as part of the new total. In a story, רב פפא בר שמואל makes a bigger measure and defends it as a brand-new measure. Some towns accepted it and some did not. A memory aid then opens a new topic: protecting the public's food supply and prices. A ברייתא says the נביא עמוס condemns hoarders, lenders who charge רבית, people who cheat on measures, and price-gougers. The גמרא compares how שמואל and his father sold produce and explains why selling early is better. It then sets the limits of the hoarding ban: one's own produce, spices, and the years around שביעית are allowed, but in a drought nothing may be stored. Finally, a ברייתא forbids taking basic foods out of ארץ ישראל, even to סוריא. רבי's lenient view begins at the end of the amud and continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (24)

1. ChallengeA מנה can't be sixty שקלים
2. ResolutionThree lessons from the פסוק in יחזקאל
3. Statementרב פפא בר שמואל makes a larger measure
4. ChallengeChallenge from שמואל's one-sixth limit
5. ResolutionIt is a brand-new measure
6. ConclusionSome towns accepted the new measure
7. StatementMemory aid for the coming topics
8. StatementFour kinds of cheaters condemned by the prophet
9. ProofGod swears never to forget their deeds
10. QuestionWho is an example of a produce hoarder?
11. Responseשבתי the hoarder
12. StatementHow שמואל's father and שמואל sold produce
13. ConclusionThe father's way is better
14. QuestionWhy is the father's way better?
15. ResponseA low price stays low
16. StatementA person may store his own produce
17. ProofA ברייתא supports רב
18. StatementHoarding is allowed in the years around שביעית
19. StatementIn drought years, no storing at all
20. ProofA sage stores three years of produce
21. StatementNo taking basic foods out of ארץ ישראל
22. Statementרבי יהודה בן בתירא allows exporting wine
23. StatementThe ban includes taking food to סוריא
24. Statementרבי begins a lenient opinion