Gittin 12b

גיטין י״ב ע״ב

Learn Gittin 12b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Whether a master must feed his slave (רב versus רבי יוחנן), and whether freedom is a benefit or a loss for a כהן's slave

Overview

The גמרא finishes discussing רב's ruling about a master who is מקדיש his slave's hands. The slave borrows only for extra food, which the הקדש is happy to allow because it makes him stronger. He repays the loan with bits of work worth less than a פרוטה, which never become holy. From רב's two rulings, the גמרא concludes that according to רב a master cannot say to his slave, "Work for me, but I will not feed you." Then it brings רבי יוחנן's ruling about someone who cuts off a slave's hand: the master gets the payments and the slave lives on charity. From the exact word ניזון, the גמרא proves that רבי יוחנן holds a master can refuse to feed his slave. It also explains that even leftover medical money, saved because a harsh medicine healed the slave faster, goes to the master. Finally, a ברייתא records the debate between רבי מאיר and the Rabbis over whether freedom helps a כהן's slave or hurts him. The issue is that a freed slave loses the right to eat תרומה, while for a woman a גט is clearly a loss.

Opening lines

The steps (29)

1. ChallengeWhy would the slave need to borrow?
2. ResolutionHe borrows for extra food
3. ChallengeWhy not tell him to manage without the extra?
4. ResolutionThe הקדש wants a stronger slave
5. ChallengeHow can he repay if his work becomes holy?
6. ResolutionWork worth less than a פרוטה stays his
7. ProofSupport from another ruling of רב
8. ProofThe two rulings of רב fit together if the borrowing case is about a fed slave
9. ChallengeThe other reading makes רב's reason fall apart
10. ConclusionConclusion: according to רב, a master cannot refuse to feed his slave
11. Proofרבי יוחנן's case of the cut-off hand suggests a master can refuse to feed his slave
12. ResolutionThe master in רבי יוחנן's case does feed the slave
13. ChallengeThen why does he need charity?
14. ResolutionCharity is only for extras
15. RejectionThe word 'ניזון' does not fit extras
16. Conclusionרבי יוחנן holds the master may refuse to feed
17. QuestionPayment for lost work obviously goes to the master
18. ResponseThe new point is the medical costs
19. ChallengeIsn't the medical money for the slave's own healing?
20. ResolutionLeftover money after a fast, painful cure
21. ChallengeThe Rabbis challenge רבי מאיר: freedom is a benefit
22. Resolutionרבי מאיר: a כהן's slave loses תרומה
23. ChallengeThe Rabbis: the master doesn't have to feed him anyway
24. Resolutionרבי מאיר: a runaway slave still eats תרומה
25. StatementFor a woman, a גט is clearly a loss
26. QuestionHow are the two sides answering each other?
27. Responseרבי מאיר: you answered food, not תרומה
28. ChallengeBut the master can free him anyway
29. ResolutionThe slave can run away first