Bava Basra 96a

בבא בתרא צ״ו ע״א

Bava Batra 96a

Learn Bava Basra 96a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Wine that turned to vinegar: readings of the ברייתא about checking a barrel for תרומה, the ברכה over wine that smells like vinegar, and who bears the loss when a sold barrel sours.

Overview

The גמרא brings a ברייתא about a man who checks a barrel of wine so he can keep separating תרומה from it, and later finds it has turned to vinegar. The ברייתא says 'three days are certain, after that is a doubt' but does not say what is certain. רבי יוחנן reads it as: the first three days after the check are definitely wine, because wine sours from the top and a vinegar smell with a wine taste is still wine. רבי יהושע בן לוי reads it as: the last three days before the discovery are definitely vinegar, because souring may start at the bottom, and a vinegar smell with a wine taste already counts as vinegar. The scholars of the South report a three-part version: first days wine, last days vinegar, middle days a doubt. The גמרא asks how that version can be consistent, and answers that it is talking about strong vinegar, which proves real souring three days earlier. רב מרי and רב זביד then disagree over which reading רב יוסף used to decide the ברכה over such wine. Finally, a new topic opens: when a sold barrel turns to vinegar, רב rules that the first three days are the seller's responsibility and after that the buyer's.

Opening lines

The steps (14)

1. ProofThe ברייתא about a barrel that turned to vinegar
2. QuestionWhat does the ברייתא mean?
3. Responseרבי יוחנן: the first three days are definitely wine
4. ResponseWhy the first days are wine: wine sours from the top
5. ResolutionEven if it began souring right after the taste, it still counts as wine
6. Statementרבי יהושע בן לוי: the last three days are definitely vinegar
7. ResponseWhy רבי יהושע בן לוי worries: souring may start at the bottom
8. ResolutionEven if souring starts at the top, a vinegar smell already counts as vinegar
9. StatementThe דרומאי's three-part version: first days wine, last days vinegar, middle a doubt
10. ChallengeThe three-part version seems to contradict itself
11. ResolutionThe case is strong vinegar, which needs three days of real souring
12. QuestionWhich explanation did רב יוסף rely on?
13. Responseרב מרי and רב זביד disagree about רב יוסף's view
14. StatementA sold barrel turns to vinegar: the first three days are the seller's responsibility