Bava Metzia 53b

בבא מציעא נ״ג ע״ב

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Topic

Explaining the ברייתא about מעשר שני that entered ירושלים and left, the walls 'capturing' produce, מעשר שני worth less than a פרוטה, and how the חומש is calculated

Overview

The גמרא is trying to explain a ברייתא that says מעשר שני which entered ירושלים and then left may not be redeemed. It first rejects reading the case as טמא produce, because רבי אלעזר says טמא מעשר שני may be redeemed even inside ירושלים. Next it tries food bought with מעשר שני money, following רבי יהודה, who says such food is buried. That reading fails too, so the גמרא explains the case as טהור produce whose city walls fell. רבא says walls 'capture' produce only by rabbinic decree, which seems to cover only standing walls. The answer is that the רבנן made no distinction between standing walls and fallen ones. רב ששת then reads the ברייתא as one case: produce worth less than a פרוטה, where the walls fell, and he teaches that even such small produce is captured. A new ברייתא learns from 'ממעשרו' that מעשר שני worth less than a פרוטה cannot be redeemed. אמוראים argue whether this means the produce itself or its חומש, and a ברייתא's word 'דיו' leaves a קשיא on the view that it means the produce itself. Finally the גמרא asks whether the חומש is counted from within or from without, and רבינא begins a proof that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (21)

1. ChallengeImpure second tithe can be redeemed even in Jerusalem
2. ResolutionThe case is food bought with second-tithe money
3. ChallengeA משנה says impure purchased food can be redeemed
4. ResolutionThe ברייתא follows רבי יהודה, who says to bury it
5. ChallengeAccording to רבי יהודה, leaving the city should not matter
6. ResolutionPure produce, and 'left' means the walls fell
7. Challengeרבא: walls capture only by rabbinic decree, and only when standing
8. ResolutionThe רבנן made no distinction about standing walls
9. Resolutionרב ששת: the ברייתא describes one single case
10. ChallengeWhy not bring it back in and eat it?
11. ResolutionThe walls fell
12. ChallengeThen let him redeem it, based on רבא
13. ResolutionThe רבנן did not make a distinction
14. ChallengeWhy mention less than a פרוטה?
15. ResolutionTeaching even the less obvious case
16. StatementA פסוק excludes מעשר שני worth less than a פרוטה
17. StatementLess than a פרוטה: the produce or its fifth?
18. ChallengeA ברייתא about tiny מעשר שני is brought as a challenge
19. ChallengeThe word 'enough' fits only one opinion
20. QuestionIs the חומש counted from inside or outside?
21. Proofרבינא begins a proof from owners redeeming הקדש