Bava Metzia 71a

בבא מציעא ע״א ע״א

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Topic

Lending with רבית to non-Jews, priority in lending, and רבי's puzzle about a גר and a גר תושב

Overview

This amud begins by finishing an answer: lending with רבית to a non-Jew is allowed only as much as one needs to make a living. רבינא gives another answer: the משנה is about תלמידי חכמים, who will not learn from the non-Jew's ways. Another version places רב הונא's teaching on רב יוסף's ברייתא about who comes first for a loan. A Jew comes first even if the גוי would pay רבית. Next come strong words against lending with רבית, and a promise that the honest lender may fall but will rise again. The גמרא then works through רבי's puzzle about a גר in the sale of a slave. רב נחמן בר יצחק explains that a גר can buy an עבד עברי only under the rules of a gentile owner. Along the way, the גמרא explains why a woman may not buy an עבד עברי, and why a widow may not raise a dog. Finally, 'מאתו' shows that the ban on רבית covers only a Jew, so it is allowed with a גר תושב, and a person may be a guarantor for a loan with interest.

Opening lines

The steps (25)

1. ResolutionFinishing the earlier answer: only enough to make a living
2. ResolutionAnother answer: the משנה is talking about Torah scholars
3. StatementAnother version: רב יוסף's teaching on who comes first in lending
4. ChallengeIsn't it obvious that a Jew comes first?
5. ResolutionA Jew comes first even when the גוי would pay interest
6. StatementThe blindness of those who lend with interest
7. StatementLending without interest keeps one from falling
8. ChallengeBut honest lenders also lose their money
9. ResolutionHonest people fall but rise again
10. StatementThe wicked can only swallow a partly righteous person
11. Statementרבי is puzzled by גר צדק and גר תושב
12. ResponseThe source for a sale to a convert
13. ChallengeCan a convert really buy a Hebrew slave?
14. StatementWhy a convert cannot be sold as a Hebrew slave
15. StatementWhy a woman or a convert cannot buy a Hebrew slave
16. ResolutionA גר can buy an עבד עברי, but only under the rules of a gentile owner
17. ProofA ברייתא shows what 'like a gentile owner' means
18. ChallengeDoes 'a woman cannot buy an עבד עברי' go against רבן שמעון בן גמליאל?
19. Resolutionרבן שמעון בן גמליאל was speaking only about an עבד כנעני
20. StatementWhy an עבד עברי is a bigger concern than an עבד כנעני
21. ChallengeWhy can a widow not raise a dog?
22. ResolutionPeople will blame the meat
23. ChallengeCan you take interest from a גר תושב?
24. Resolution'From him' means from a Jew
25. StatementYou may be a guarantor