## Sanhedrin Daf 29b

###### Sanhedrin 29b:1
[Sanhedrin 29b:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/29b:1)

״לֹא הָיוּ דְבָרִים מֵעוֹלָם״ – הוּחְזַק כַּפְרָן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**These matters never occurred,** i.e., I never admitted to this, the defendant **assumes the presumptive status of one who** falsely **denies** his debts, as the witnesses heard his admission. Consequently, he is not trusted to take an oath that he is exempt.


###### Sanhedrin 29b:2
[Sanhedrin 29b:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/29b:2)

אָמַר רַב פָּפָּא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַב אַחָא בַּר אַדָּא, הָכִי אָמְרִינַן מִשְּׁמֵיהּ דְּרָבָא: כֹּל מִילֵּי דִּכְדִי לָא דְּכִירִי אִינָשֵׁי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Pappa, son of Rav Aḥa bar Adda, says: This** is what **we say in the name of Rava:** The defendant is not rendered a liar, because **people do not remember all frivolous matters.** Since the admission was not made seriously, perhaps the defendant forgot the incident. Therefore, his denial of its having occurred was not necessarily an outright lie.


###### Sanhedrin 29b:3
[Sanhedrin 29b:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/29b:3)

הָהוּא דְּאַכְמֵין לֵיהּ עֵדִים לְחַבְרֵיהּ בְּכִילְּתֵיהּ. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: ״מָנֶה לִי בִּידָךְ״. אָמַר לֵיהּ: ״הֵן״. אָמַר: ״עֵירֵי וְשָׁכְבֵי לֶיהֱווֹ עֲלָךְ סָהֲדֵי״. אֲמַר לֵיהּ: ״לָא״. אֲמַר רַב כָּהֲנָא: הָא אֲמַר לֵיהּ ״לָא״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara relates: There was **a certain** man **who hid witnesses in** the **canopy** above **his** bed **to** hear the statement of **another.** That certain man **said to him: I** have **one hundred dinars in your possession.** The latter **said to him: Yes.** The claimant then **said: Let those awake and those asleep bear witness about you,** hoping to induce him to agree to this testimony, as the respondent might assume that everyone was asleep. The latter **said to him: No.** When the matter came to court **Rav Kahana said:** Since **he said no to him,** his admission did not render him liable.


###### Sanhedrin 29b:4
[Sanhedrin 29b:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/29b:4)

הָהוּא דְּאַכְמֵין עֵדִים בְּקִיבְרָא לְחַבְרֵיהּ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: ״מָנֶה לִי בִּידָךְ״. אָמַר לֵיהּ: ״הֵן״. חַיֵּי וּמִיתֵי לֶיהֱווֹ עֲלָךְ סָהֲדִי, אָמַר לֵיהּ: ״לָא״. אֲמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן [בֶּן לָקִישׁ]: הָא אֲמַר לֵיהּ ״לָא״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara relates another incident: There was **a certain** man **who hid witnesses in a grave to** hear the statement of **another.** That certain man **said to him: I** have **one hundred dinars in your possession.** The latter **said to him: Yes.** The claimant then **said: Let the living and the dead bear witness about you.** The respondent **said to him: No. Rabbi Shimon said:** Since **he said no to him,** his admission did not render him liable.


###### Sanhedrin 29b:5
[Sanhedrin 29b:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/29b:5)

אָמַר רָבִינָא, וְאִיתֵּימָא רַב פָּפָּא: שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ מֵהָא, הָא דְּאָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: צָרִיךְ שֶׁיֹּאמַר ״אַתֶּם עֵדַיי״, לָא שְׁנָא כִּי אָמַר לֹוֶה, וְלָא שְׁנָא כִּי אָמַר מַלְוֶה וְשָׁתֵיק לֹוֶה. טַעְמָא דְּאָמַר לֹוֶה ״לָא״, אֲבָל אִי שָׁתֵיק – הָכִי נָמֵי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Ravina said, and some say Rav Pappa** said it: **Conclude from it** that with regard to **that which Rav Yehuda says** that **Rav says,** that one **needs to say** to the witnesses of the admission: **You are my witnesses,** there **is no difference whether the debtor said** it, **and** there **is no difference whether the creditor said** it **and the debtor remained silent.** The inference is that **the reason** the Sages deemed the purported debtor exempt in the above cases **is that the debtor** explicitly **said no,** i.e., that he does not accept the witnesses, **but had he remained silent** his admission would have **indeed** rendered him liable.


###### Sanhedrin 29b:6
[Sanhedrin 29b:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/29b:6)

הָהוּא דַּהֲוָה קָרוּ לֵיהּ ״קַב רָשׁוּ״, אֲמַר: מַאן מַסֵּיק בִּי אֶלָּא פְּלוֹנִי וּפְלוֹנִי? אֲתוֹ, תַּבְעוּהּו לְדִינָא קַמֵּיהּ דְּרַב נַחְמָן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara relates: There was **a certain** man **whom** people **called: A *kav* of debts,** as everyone claimed debts from him, who once **said: Who can claim** debts **from me, other than so-and-so and so-and-so?** I do not owe money to as many as assumed. Those whom he admitted that he owed **came** and **took him to judgment before Rav Naḥman** to claim what he owed them, and he responded in court that his admittance was in jest.


###### Sanhedrin 29b:7
[Sanhedrin 29b:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/29b:7)

אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן: אָדָם עָשׂוּי שֶׁלֹּא לְהַשְׂבִּיעַ אֶת עַצְמוֹ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Naḥman said: A person is prone** to make false statements **so as not to make himself** appear **sated,** i.e., it is possible that he might say falsely in public that he owes money in order that he should not be considered wealthy. Therefore, as long as he has not made a proper admission that he owes a specific sum to a specific individual, he is not liable.


###### Sanhedrin 29b:8
[Sanhedrin 29b:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/29b:8)

הָהוּא דַּהֲווֹ קָרוּ לֵיהּ ״עַכְבְּרָא דְּשָׁכֵיב אַדִּינָרֵי״. כִּי קָא שָׁכֵיב, אֲמַר: ״פְּלָנְיָא וּפְלָנְיָא מַסְּקוּ בִּי זוּזֵי״. בָּתַר דִּשְׁכֵיב, אֲתוֹ תַּבְעִינְהוּ לְיוֹרְשִׁין.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara relates: There was **a certain** man **whom** people **called: A mouse that lies on dinars,** as he was a miser who did not benefit from his money, like a mouse that sits and safeguards gold dinars. This man **said on his deathbed: So-and-so and so-and-so claim dinars from me. After he died,** they **came** and **sued the heirs.**


###### Sanhedrin 29b:9
[Sanhedrin 29b:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/29b:9)

אֲתוֹ לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי. אֲמַר לְהוּ: כִּי אָמְרִינַן ״אָדָם עָשׂוּי שֶׁלֹּא לְהַשְׂבִּיעַ אֶת עַצְמוֹ״, הָנֵי מִילֵּי מֵחַיִּים, אֲבָל לְאַחַר מִיתָה – לָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**They came** to judgment **before Rabbi Yishmael, son of Rabbi Yosei. He said to them: When we say a person is prone** to make false statements **so as not to make himself** appear **sated, this statement** applies to an admission **during his lifetime. But after death,** i.e., on his deathbed, this does **not** apply; rather, we presume he told the truth.


###### Sanhedrin 29b:10
[Sanhedrin 29b:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/29b:10)

פְּרַעוּ פַּלְגָא, תַּבְעִינְהוּ לְדִינָא לְאִידַּךְ פַּלְגָא. אֲתוֹ לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרַבִּי חִיָּיא. אֲמַר לְהוּ: כְּשֵׁם שֶׁאָדָם עָשׂוּי שֶׁלֹּא לְהַשְׂבִּיעַ אֶת עַצְמוֹ, כָּךְ אָדָם עָשׂוּי שֶׁלֹּא לְהַשְׂבִּיעַ אֶת בָּנָיו. אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ: נֵיזִיל וְנַיהְדַּר? אֲמַר לְהוּ: כְּבָר הוֹרָה זָקֵן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The heirs **paid half** the amount of the claim. The claimants then **sued them for the other half. They came** to judgment **before Rabbi Ḥiyya.** Rabbi Ḥiyya **said to them: Just as a person is prone** to make false statements **so as not to make himself** appear **sated, so too, a person is prone** to make false statements **so as not to make his sons** appear **sated.** One might claim falsely on his deathbed that he owes money so that his children will not be considered wealthy. Therefore, there is no room for a claim against the heirs. The heirs then **said to him:** If so, **let us go and overturn** the former verdict, and retrieve the amount we paid the claimants. Rabbi Ḥiyya **said to them: The elder,** i.e., Rabbi Yishmael, son of Rabbi Yosei, **has already issued a ruling** in this case, and it is not in my power to overturn his ruling.


###### Sanhedrin 29b:11
[Sanhedrin 29b:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/29b:11)

הוֹדָה בִּפְנֵי שְׁנַיִם, וְקָנוּ מִיָּדוֹ – כּוֹתְבִין, וְאִם לָאו – אֵין כּוֹתְבִין.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ If one **made an admission in the presence of two** witnesses that he owes money **and they performed** a formal **act of acquisition with him** to verify the admission, the witnesses **can write** a record of the admission in a document and sign it, thereby granting the creditor more rights. **But if** they did **not** perform a formal act of acquisition **they may not write** a record of the admission in a document, as the debtor presumably wants the loan to retain its status as a loan by oral agreement, which grants fewer rights to the creditor than a loan with a promissory note.


###### Sanhedrin 29b:12
[Sanhedrin 29b:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/29b:12)

בִּפְנֵי שְׁלֹשָׁה, וְלֹא קָנוּ מִיָּדוֹ. רַב אַמֵּי אָמַר: כּוֹתְבִין, וְרַב אַסִּי אָמַר: אֵין כּוֹתְבִין. הֲוָה עוֹבָדָא, וְחַשׁ לַהּ רַב לְהָא דְּרַב אַסִּי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
If he made an admission **in the presence of three** witnesses **and they did not perform** a formal **act of acquisition with him, Rav Ami says: They can write** a record of the admission in a document. Since the admission was made in the presence of three individuals, who are considered a court, it is permitted for a court to write its verdicts. **And Rav Asi says: They may not write** it in a document; perhaps the debtor intended for them to serve only as witnesses, not as a court. **There was an incident** in which a person admitted his debt before three witnesses, **and Rav was concerned for this** opinion **of Rav Asi,** and ruled that they may not write a record of the admission.


###### Sanhedrin 29b:13
[Sanhedrin 29b:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/29b:13)

אָמַר רַב אַדָּא בַּר אַהֲבָה: הָא אוֹדִיתָא, זִימְנִין כָּתְבִינַן וְזִימְנִין לָא כָּתְבִינַן. כְּנִיפִי וְיָתְבִי – לָא כָּתְבִינַן, כַּנְפִינְהוּ אִיהוּ – כָּתְבִינַן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Adda bar Ahava says:** With regard to **this** document of **admission, sometimes we write** it **and sometimes we do not write** it. If the three witnesses were **gathered and sitting** when the debtor made his admission before them, **we do not write** it, as perhaps he did not intend for them to serve as a court. But if the debtor **gathered them, we write** the document of admission, as the fact that he took care to bring three people and not just two proves that he intended for them to serve as a court.


###### Sanhedrin 29b:14
[Sanhedrin 29b:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/29b:14)

רָבָא אָמַר: אֲפִילּוּ כַּנְפִינְהוּ אִיהוּ – לָא כָּתְבִינַן, עַד דְּאָמַר לְהוּ: ״הֱווֹ עֲלַי דַּיָּינֵי״.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rava says: Even** if **he gathered them we do not write** it, **unless he says to them: Be my judges.**


###### Sanhedrin 29b:15
[Sanhedrin 29b:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/29b:15)

מָר בַּר רַב אָשֵׁי אָמַר: אֲפִילּוּ אָמַר ״הֱווֹ עֲלַי דַּיָּינֵי״, לָא כָּתְבִינַן עַד דְּקָבְעִי דּוּכְתָּא, וְשָׁלְחִי, וּמַזְמְנִי לֵיהּ לְבֵי דִינָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Mar bar Rav Ashi says: Even** if **he says: Be my judges, we do not write** it **unless they establish a place** for judgment **and send** messengers **and summon him to court.** Unless the entire procedure of an admission in court is implemented, the debtor may not have intended that they serve as a court with regard to this matter.


###### Sanhedrin 29b:16
[Sanhedrin 29b:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/29b:16)

הוֹדָה בְּמִטַּלְטְלֵי, וְקָנוּ מִיָּדוֹ – כּוֹתְבִין, וְאִם לָאו – אֵין כּוֹתְבִין. בִּמְקַרְקְעֵי, וְלֹא קָנוּ מִיָּדוֹ, מַאי? אַמֵּימָר אָמַר: אֵין כּוֹתְבִין. מָר זוּטְרָא אָמַר: כּוֹתְבִין. וְהִלְכְתָא: כּוֹתְבִין.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
If **he made an admission with regard to movable property** that he owes, **and** the witnesses **performed** a formal **act of acquisition with him, they can write** a record of the admission in a document; **but if** they did **not** perform a formal act of acquisition **they may not write** a record of the admission. But if he made an admission **with regard to land, and they did not perform** a formal **act of acquisition with him, what** is the *halakha*? Is it considered as though an act of acquisition was performed, as land is always available for collection? **Ameimar says: They may not write** it. **Mar Zutra says: They may write** it. **And the *halakha*** is that **they may write** it.


###### Sanhedrin 29b:17
[Sanhedrin 29b:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/29b:17)

רָבִינָא אִיקְּלַע לְדִמְהַרְיָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב דִּימִי בַּר רַב הוּנָא מִדִּמְהַרְיָא לְרָבִינָא: מִטַּלְטְלִי וְאִיתַנְהוּ בְּעֵינַיְיהוּ, מַאי? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: כִּמְקַרְקְעֵי דָּמוּ. רַב אָשֵׁי אָמַר: כֵּיוָן דִּמְחַסְּרִי גּוּבְיָינָא, לָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Ravina happened** to come **to Damharya. Rav Dimi bar Rav Huna of Damharya said to Ravina:** If one makes an admission that he owes **movable property that is extant,** i.e., it is available to be taken immediately, **what** is the *halakha*? Should it be considered like land, as it is similarly available for collection, and therefore the witnesses can write a record of the admission? Ravina **said to him: It is** considered **like land. Rav Ashi says: Since it** still **lacks collection,** i.e., it has not been physically transferred from one party to the other, it is not considered like land, and the witnesses **may not** write a record of the admission unless the debtor asks them to write it.


###### Sanhedrin 29b:18
[Sanhedrin 29b:18](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/29b:18)

הָהִיא אוֹדִיתָא דְּלָא הֲוָה כְּתִב בַּהּ ״אֲמַר לַנָא, כְּתֻבוּ וַחֲתֻמוּ וְהַבוּ לֵיהּ״, אַבָּיֵי וְרָבָא דְּאָמְרִי תַּרְוַיְיהוּ: הַיְינוּ דְּרֵישׁ לָקִישׁ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ With regard to **a certain** document of **admission in which** the following statement **was not written: He,** the one making the admission, **said to us: Write** a deed, **and sign** it, **and give** it **to** the creditor, **Abaye and Rava both say** that **this is** a case in which the principle **of Reish Lakish** is applicable.


###### Sanhedrin 29b:19
[Sanhedrin 29b:19](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/29b:19)

דְּאָמַר רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ: חֲזָקָה אֵין הָעֵדִים חוֹתְמִין עַל הַשְּׁטָר, אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן נַעֲשָׂה גָּדוֹל.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**As Reish Lakish says:** There is **a presumption** that **witnesses do not sign on the document unless** the deal **was transacted with** each party being **an adult,** even if it is not mentioned explicitly in the document that the witnesses verified this. This reflects the principle that a document is not written by a scribe and signed by witnesses unless they know that the action to which it attests was performed appropriately. In light of this, the fact that a certain detail is missing from the wording of the document does not prove that the detail did not take place, as the action was presumably performed properly. Consequently, a document of admission lacking the sentence: He said to us: Write a deed, and sign it, and give it to the creditor, is valid.


###### Sanhedrin 29b:20
[Sanhedrin 29b:20](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/29b:20)

מַתְקֵיף לַהּ רַב פַּפֵּי, וְאִיתֵּימָא רַב הוּנָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַב יְהוֹשֻׁעַ: מִי אִיכָּא מִידֵּי דַּאֲנַן לָא יָדְעִינַן, וְסָפְרֵי דְּבֵי דִינָא יָדְעִי?

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Pappi objects to this, and some say** it is **Rav Huna, son of Rav Yehoshua,** who raises this objection: **Is there anything that we,** the Sages, **do not know, and the scribes of the court** do **know?** Since not all of the Sages are aware that the witnesses of an admission cannot write a deed of admission unless the one making the admission asks them to, the scribes certainly cannot be expected to ensure that this condition is fulfilled.


###### Sanhedrin 29b:21
[Sanhedrin 29b:21](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/29b:21)

שְׁאֵילִינְהוּ לְסָפְרֵי דְאַבָּיֵי, וְיָדְעִי. לְסָפְרֵי דְרָבָא, וְיָדְעִי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara relates that **Abaye’s scribes were asked** whether they were aware of this *halakha*, **and** they answered that **they were aware** of it. **Rava’s scribes** were also asked, **and they were** also **aware** of it. Apparently, since writing documents is their profession, scribes are aware of the relevant *halakhot*.


###### Sanhedrin 29b:22
[Sanhedrin 29b:22](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sanhedrin/r/29b:22)

הָהִיא אוֹדִיתָא דַּהֲוָה כְּתִב בַּיהּ ״דּוּכְרַן פִּיתְגָמֵי״,

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara recounts: There was **a certain** document of **admission in which** it **was written** that it was **a record of the proceedings** that took place in the presence of the witnesses,