Pisqa’ 225⁸⁴

1. “You shall not see your brother’s ox” (Dt. 22:4)— This is a proscriptive commandment. Now, elsewhere, he says: “When you see your rival’s ass” (Ex. 23:5)— this is a prescriptive commandment.

footnotes: ⁸⁴ H;235-236;JN2:134:135:

I might infer only that this rule applies to your brother’s ass. How do I know that it also applies to your rival’s ass? The Teaching states: “Your rival’s ass” (Ex. 23:5)— [thus, anyone’s animal is included in the rule]. If so, why does it specify your brother? Actually, it teaches that the point of the Torah is to defeat the rebellious urge **[which can even overcome brotherly love]!**⁸⁵ 222.2 on the same theme and in the same words.

footnotes: ⁸⁵ Cf. Pisqa’

2. “Or his ox has fallen” (Dt. 22:4)— without getting up.

“In the road” (Dt. 22:4)— but not in the barn. On this basis they taught: If he found her in the barn, he us under no obligation, But if he found her in the public domain, **he is obliged to help her up.**⁸⁶

footnotes: ⁸⁶ //M, BM.2:10.

3. “And you turn a blind eye” (Dt. 22:4)— Sometimes you do turn a blind eye, And sometimes you don’t turn a blind eye. For example? If the passer-by is a Priest and the cows are in a graveyard [which Priests may not enter, lest they contract the uncleanness of corpses]; or, if the passer-by is old, and chasing cows is beneath his dignity; or, if the cost to the passer-by [of retrieval] is greater than the value of the cow to its owner— the passer-by is exempt from the rule.

“You turn a blind eye to them” (Dt. 22:1)— Sometimes you turn a blind eye, And sometimes you don’t turn a blind eye, **[for your obligation varies with the situation].**⁸⁷ 222.4.

footnotes: ⁸⁷ Cf. M. BM 2:9. Virtually identical with Pisqa’

4. “You must labor with him to get it on its feet” (Dt. 22:4)— If he helped it up, and it fell; he helped it up again, and again it fell —even five times!— he is obliged to help it up again,

“You must labor with him to get it on its feet” (Dt. 22:4)— If the owner sat himself down,

Look! This is your commandment! If you want to fulfill it, be my guest!— [the passer-by] is relieved of his obligation.

“You must labor with him to get it on its feet” (Dt. 22:4)— **[but you needn’t do all the work]!**⁸⁸ Is it possible to say that even if [the passer-by] is old, even if he is sick, or even if he is stricken with boils— [he is required to assist the owner]? The Teaching states: “You must labor with him to get him on his feet” (Dt. 22:4).

footnotes: ⁸⁸ // M. BM 2:10.