Bava Kamma 80a

בבא קמא פ׳ ע״א

Learn Bava Kamma 80a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The ban on raising small animals (בהמה דקה): its limits, stories of its seriousness, related leniencies, and its adoption in Babylonia

Overview

This amud is about the rabbinic ban on raising small animals like sheep and goats in ארץ ישראל, because they graze in other people's fields. A ברייתא allows a butcher to hold animals before slaughter for up to thirty days. It also reports that רבן גמליאל allowed 'raising' them. The גמרא corrects this wording: he only allowed keeping one briefly, tied to the bed legs so it cannot graze. A story follows about a sick חסיד who kept a goat for its milk. His friends treated the goat as a sin, and he admitted it was his only sin. רבי ישמעאל tells how his family lost its wealth by leading animals through another person's field and by judging money cases with one judge. Another ברייתא lets a repentant shepherd sell his flock gradually and limits sweeping vows to what is fitting. It also extends the ban to small wild animals, though רבי ישמעאל allows pest-catching animals like cats and חולדות סנאים. Finally, רב says Babylonia took on the same ban. רב אדא בר אהבה curses רב הונא for keeping guarded animals, and a new story begins about רב, שמואל and רב אסי at a celebration, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (21)

1. StatementA butcher may hold animals before slaughter, up to thirty days
2. StatementThe students ask רבן גמליאל about raising animals, and he permits it
3. ChallengeBut our משנה forbids raising them
4. ResolutionThey really asked about keeping an animal briefly, tied to the bed
5. StatementThe story of the sick חסיד and the goat tied to his bed
6. StatementThe friends call the goat an armed bandit
7. StatementThe goat was his only sin
8. StatementWhy רבי ישמעאל's family estates were destroyed
9. StatementA repentant shepherd may sell his flock gradually
10. StatementA vow to buy a house or marry in Israel need not be fulfilled at once
11. ProofThe woman who swore to marry anyone who came
12. StatementNo raising small wild animals, but רבי ישמעאל allows pest-catchers
13. QuestionWhat are חולדות סנאים?
14. Responseרב יהודה identifies the animal
15. QuestionWhy the animal is called שרצא
16. StatementBabylonia took on the ban against raising small animals
17. Challengeרב אדא asks רב הונא about his own animals
18. Resolutionרב הונא says his wife חובה guards the animals
19. Rejectionרב אדא curses רב הונא and the curse comes true
20. StatementAnother version: the practice began when רב came to Babylonia
21. Statementרב, שמואל and רב אסי arrive at a celebration