Nedarim 45a
נדרים מ״ה ע״א
Learn Nedarim 45a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.
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Topic
How many people must be present for a declaration of הפקר (making something ownerless) to work, and the closing of the פרק אין בין המודר
Overview
On the previous amud the גמרא found two ברייתות that seem to contradict each other about הפקר. One says an item leaves its owner as soon as he declares it ownerless. The other says it stays his until someone else takes it. This amud opens with a second answer: it depends on how many people heard the declaration. Before three people it is real הפקר, and before two it is not. This follows רבי יוחנן quoting רבי שמעון בן יהוצדק. רבי יהושע בן לוי disagrees: by Torah law even one person is enough, and the חכמים asked for three only so that one can take the item and two can testify. The פרק אין בין המודר then ends with the הדרן.
Opening lines
אִיבָּעֵית אֵימָא:
If you wish, say:
הָא דְּאַפְקְרֵיהּ בְּאַנְפֵּי תְרֵין,
That one is where he declared it ownerless before two people,
וְהָא דְּאַפְקְרֵיהּ בְּאַפֵּי תְלָתָא.
and this one is where he declared it ownerless before three people.
דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן
As Rabbi Yoḥanan said
The steps (4)
- ResolutionSecond answer: two listeners versus three listeners
- ProofSource: רבי יוחנן says three listeners are required
- Statementרבי יהושע בן לוי: by Torah law one listener is enough
- ConclusionHadran — Closing פרק אין בין המודר