## Bava Metzia Daf 56a

###### Bava Metzia 56a:1
[Bava Metzia 56a:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/56a:1)

מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאָמְרוּ: מְחַלְּלִין (אוֹתוֹ), כֶּסֶף עַל נְחֹשֶׁת, מִדּוֹחַק, לֹא שֶׁיְּקַיֵּים כֵּן, אֶלָּא שֶׁחוֹזֵר וּמְחַלְּלָן עַל הַכֶּסֶף. קָתָנֵי מִיהַת: מְחַלְּלִין מִדּוֹחַק, מִדּוֹחַק – אִין, שֶׁלֹּא מִדּוֹחַק – לָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The reason one must employ this procedure is **due to** the fact **that** the Sages **said: One desacralizes** second-tithe **silver** coins **upon copper** coins **under duress.** And it is **not that he will maintain** them in **that** form; **rather,** it is **that he again desacralizes them upon silver** coins. **In any event,** the *tanna* **teaches** that **one desacralizes** second-tithe coins in this manner **under duress,** from which it may be inferred: **Under duress, yes; not under duress, no.** This is the *halakha* with regard to redemption of second-tithe coins by Torah law. By contrast, in the case of *demai*, which is by rabbinic law, Rabbi Meir permits desacralizing it in this manner *ab initio*. Apparently, Rabbi Meir is more lenient with regard to matters of rabbinic law than he is with regard to matters of Torah law.


###### Bava Metzia 56a:2
[Bava Metzia 56a:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/56a:2)

אָמַר רַב יוֹסֵף: אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁמֵּיקֵל רַבִּי מֵאִיר בְּפִדְיוֹנוֹ, מַחְמִיר הוּא בַּאֲכִילָתוֹ, דְּתַנְיָא: לֹא הִתִּירוּ לִמְכּוֹר דְּמַאי אֶלָּא לְסִיטוֹן בִּלְבָד, וּבַעַל הַבַּיִת. בֵּין כָּךְ וּבֵין כָּךְ, צָרִיךְ לְעַשֵּׂר, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Yosef said: Although Rabbi Meir is lenient with regard to redemption** of second-tithe *demai*, **he is stringent with regard to its consumption.** This is **as it is taught** in a *baraita*: The Sages **permitted only a wholesaler to sell *demai*.** Since a wholesaler acquires grain from numerous sources and sells large quantities, he would suffer significant loss if he were required to separate tithes each time. **But** in the case of **a proprietor** who purchased produce from an *am ha’aretz*, **whether** he purchased large quantities to sell in bulk **or whether** he purchased small quantities to sell little by little, he **must tithe** the produce; this is **the statement of Rabbi Meir.**


###### Bava Metzia 56a:3
[Bava Metzia 56a:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/56a:3)

וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים: אֶחָד הַסִּיטוֹן וְאֶחָד בַּעַל הַבַּיִת – מוֹכֵר, וְשׁוֹלֵחַ לַחֲבֵירוֹ, וְנוֹתֵן לוֹ בְּמַתָּנָה, וְאֵינוֹ חוֹשֵׁשׁ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The *baraita* continues: **And the Rabbis say: Both a wholesaler and a proprietor** who sells in bulk **may sell** *demai*, **or send** it **to another, or give** it **to him as a gift, and** they need **not be concerned.** The one who receives the produce separates the tithes and consumes the remaining produce. In this *baraita*, Rabbi Meir was stringent with regard to the concern that someone will consume *demai* without the tithes being separated.


###### Bava Metzia 56a:4
[Bava Metzia 56a:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/56a:4)

מֵתִיב רָבִינָא: הַלּוֹקֵחַ מִן הַנַּחְתּוֹם, מְעַשֵּׂר מִן הַחַמָּה עַל הַצּוֹנֶנֶת, וּמִן הַצּוֹנֶנֶת עַל הַחַמָּה, וַאֲפִילּוּ מִדְּפוּסִים הַרְבֵּה, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Ravina raises an objection** from a mishna (*Demai* 5:3): **One who purchases** bread **from a baker** who is unreliable with regard to tithes [*am ha’aretz*] **may tithe from warm** bread **for,** i.e., to exempt, **cold** bread, **and from cold** bread **for warm** bread, **and** one may do so **even** if the bread is in different shapes **from many molds;** this is **the statement of Rabbi Meir.**


###### Bava Metzia 56a:5
[Bava Metzia 56a:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/56a:5)

בִּשְׁלָמָא מִן הַצּוֹנֶנֶת עַל הַחַמָּה, כִּדְרַבִּי אִילְעַאי. דְּאָמַר רַבִּי אִילְעַאי: מִנַּיִן לַתּוֹרֵם מִן הָרָעָה עַל הַיָּפָה שֶׁתְּרוּמָתוֹ תְּרוּמָה? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְלֹא תִשְׂאוּ עָלָיו חֵטְא בַּהֲרִימְכֶם אֶת חֶלְבּוֹ מִמֶּנּוּ״. אִם אֵינוֹ קֹדֶשׁ, נְשִׂיאַת חֵטְא לָמָּה? מִכָּאן לַתּוֹרֵם מִן הָרָעָה עַל הַיָּפָה, שֶׁתְּרוּמָתוֹ תְּרוּמָה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Granted,** one may tithe **from cold** bread **for warm** bread, **in accordance with** the opinion of **Rabbi Elai, as Rabbi Elai says: From where** is it derived **with regard to one who separates *teruma* from poor-quality** produce **for superior-quality** produce **that his *teruma* is *teruma*?** It is **as it is stated: “And you shall bear no sin by reason of it, seeing that you have set apart from it the best thereof”** (Numbers 18:32). The Torah warns the Levites not to separate *teruma* from low-quality produce. The question arises: **If** when one separates lower-quality produce, that produce **is not sacred, why** would one think that **he bears sin?** He did nothing. **From here** it is derived **that** although the Levite acted improperly, in the case of **one who separates *teruma* from poor-quality** produce **for superior-quality** produce, **his *teruma* is *teruma*.**


###### Bava Metzia 56a:6
[Bava Metzia 56a:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/56a:6)

אֶלָּא אֲפִילּוּ מִדְּפוּסִים הַרְבֵּה, לֵיחוּשׁ דִּלְמָא אָתֵי לְאַפְרוֹשֵׁי מִן הַחִיּוּב עַל הַפְּטוּר, וּמִן הַפְּטוּר עַל הַחִיּוּב!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rather,** with regard to the *halakha* that one may tithe **even** if the bread is in different shapes **from many molds, let** Rabbi Meir **be concerned lest** the buyer **come to tithe from the** loaves that one is **obligated** to tithe **for the** loaves that one is **exempt** from tithing, **or from the exempt for the obligated.** Since these loaves are all *demai*, it is possible that the loaves shaped in one mold were baked from produce that was tithed and the loaves shaped in another mold were baked from produce that was not tithed. Apparently, Rabbi Meir rules leniently in cases of rabbinic law, e.g., *demai*.


###### Bava Metzia 56a:7
[Bava Metzia 56a:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/56a:7)

אָמַר אַבָּיֵי: רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר שַׁפִּיר קָא קַשְׁיָא לֵיהּ, וּשְׁמוּאֵל לָא שַׁפִּיר קָא מְשַׁנֵּי לֵיהּ. דְּקַשְׁיָא לֵיהּ לְרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: מִיתָה דְּבִידֵי שָׁמַיִם, וּמְשַׁנֵּי לֵיהּ שְׁמוּאֵל: מִיתַת בֵּית דִּין. דִּלְמָא שָׁאנֵי מִיתַת בֵּית דִּין דַּחֲמִירָא!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara returns to discuss the difficulties raised above. **Abaye said:** The problem raised by **Rabbi Elazar was legitimately difficult for him, and Shmuel did not legitimately responded to his** difficulty by stating that the mishna is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Meir. The reason the response is insufficient is **that** it was the case in the mishna of *teruma* of the tithe, which is punishable with **death at the hand of Heaven,** that **was difficult for Rabbi Elazar,** who was questioning whether the Sages reinforced their pronouncements concerning such a prohibition and rendered them parallel to Torah law; **and Shmuel responded to him** by citing Rabbi Meir’s opinion concerning a bill of divorce, which involves **court**-imposed **capital punishment. Perhaps** the case involving **court**-imposed **capital punishment is different, as** it is more **stringent,** and Rabbi Meir renders rabbinic law parallel to Torah law only in such a case.


###### Bava Metzia 56a:8
[Bava Metzia 56a:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/56a:8)

וְרַב שֵׁשֶׁת לָא שַׁפִּיר קָא מוֹתֵיב לֵיהּ, דְּקָאָמְרִי אִינְהוּ מִיתָה. וּמוֹתֵיב רַב שֵׁשֶׁת לָאו, דִּכְתִיב ״לֹא תוּכַל לֶאֱכֹל בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ״. וּלְמַאי דְּמוֹתֵיב רַב שֵׁשֶׁת, רַב יוֹסֵף שַׁפִּיר קָא מְשַׁנֵּי לֵיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Abaye continued: **And Rav Sheshet does not legitimately raise an objection, as** Rabbi Elazar and Shmuel **are speaking** about cases punishable by **death, and Rav Sheshet raised** his **objection** from a case involving a mere **prohibition, as it is written** with regard to second tithe: **“You may not eat within your gates** the tithe of your grain, or of your wine, or of your oil” (Deuteronomy 12:17). **And to** that **which Rav Sheshet raised** as **an objection, Rav Yosef legitimately respond to his** difficulty.


###### Bava Metzia 56a:9
[Bava Metzia 56a:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/56a:9)

אֶלָּא רָבִינָא, עַד דְּמוֹתֵיב מִנַּחְתּוֹם לְסַיַּיע לֵיהּ מִפַּלְטֵר! דִּתְנַן: הַלּוֹקֵחַ מִן הַפַּלְטֵר – מְעַשֵּׂר מִן כׇּל דְּפוּס וּדְפוּס, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**But** as for **Ravina,** the question arises: **Rather than raising an objection from** this case of **a baker,** from which proof is cited that Rabbi Meir does not draw a parallel between rabbinic law and Torah law, **let him** cite **support for** the assessment of the opinion of Rabbi Meir **from** the case of a bread **merchant [*mipalter*], as we learned** in a mishna (*Demai* 5:4): **One who purchases** bread **from a merchant tithes** separately **from** the bread of **each and every mold;** this is **the statement of Rabbi Meir.** In this case, Rabbi Meir is stringent with regard to *demai*.


###### Bava Metzia 56a:10
[Bava Metzia 56a:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/56a:10)

אֶלָּא מַאי אִית לָךְ לְמֵימַר? פַּלְטֵר מִתְּרֵי תְּלָתָא גַּבְרָא זָבֵין, נַחְתּוֹם נָמֵי מֵחַד גַּבְרָא הוּא זָבֵין.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rather, what have you to say** in explaining why Ravina did not cite a proof from this mishna? It is because **a merchant purchases** his supply **from two** or **three people.** Therefore, Rabbi Meir holds that one must be concerned that perhaps one of the suppliers separated tithes and another did not, so the customer must separate tithes from the bread of each and every mold. But if that is the case, Ravina should not cite a proof from the case of the **baker, as well;** as the baker discussed in the mishna typically **purchases** his stock of grain **from** only **one person.** Therefore, in that case there is no concern that perhaps the customer will tithe from the loaves that he is exempt from tithing for the loaves that he is obligated to tithe.


###### Bava Metzia 56a:11
[Bava Metzia 56a:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/56a:11)

רָבָא אָמַר: שְׁמוּאֵל שַׁפִּיר קָא מְשַׁנֵּי לֵיהּ, שֵׁם מִיתָה בָּעוֹלָם.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rava said: Shmuel responds well to** that which was difficult to Rabbi Elazar, as **the category of death in the world** is one. Therefore, it is appropriate to cite proof from the case of court-imposed capital punishment to the case of death at the hand of Heaven.


###### Bava Metzia 56a:12
[Bava Metzia 56a:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Metzia/r/56a:12)

**מַתְנִי׳** אֵלּוּ דְּבָרִים שֶׁאֵין לָהֶם אוֹנָאָה: הָעֲבָדִים, וְהַשְּׁטָרוֹת, וְהַקַּרְקָעוֹת, וְהַהֶקְדֵּשׁוֹת. אֵין לָהֶן תַּשְׁלוּמֵי כֶפֶל, וְלֹא תַּשְׁלוּמֵי אַרְבָּעָה וַחֲמִשָּׁה. שׁוֹמֵר חִנָּם אֵינוֹ נִשְׁבָּע, וְנוֹשֵׂא שָׂכָר אֵינוֹ מְשַׁלֵּם. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר:

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**MISHNA:** **These are matters that are not** subject to the *halakhot* of **exploitation** even if the disparity between the value and the payment is one-sixth or greater: **Slaves, and documents, and land, and consecrated** property. In addition, if they are stolen, these items are subject **neither** to **payment of double** the principal for theft **nor** to **payment of four or five** times the principal, if the thief slaughtered or sold a stolen sheep or cow, respectively. **An unpaid bailee does not take an oath and a paid bailee does not pay** if these items were stolen or lost. **Rabbi Shimon says:**