Bava Kamma 36 - 1st Day of Chanuka - December 8, 25 Kislev

Study Guide Bava Kamma 36

This week's learning is sponsored by Adina and Danny Gewirtz in honor of the newest Meir in their family, Meir Amichai, and in loving memory of the original Meir, Adina's father, Melvin Rishe, on his 22nd yahrtzeit. "Dad was a man of many talents, a great talmid chacham, community leader, and a staunch defender of Israel in both his personal and professional life, but for us, he is most remembered for the love he showered on his family and friends. The many children named after him attest to how much he is loved and missed. He would be so proud to have this newest member of the family named after him and also with the hope that the name Meir Amichai expresses. Am Yisrael Chai!" 

Today’s daf is sponsored by Arthur Gould in Olam haZeh and Carol Robinson in Olam haBa in loving memory of Carol’s father Louis Robinson, Yehuda Leib ben Moshe z”l. “Today, the first day of Hanukkah, we mark his 24th yahrzeit. Louis was a devoted family man and active participant in his synagogue. Lou was the consummate dad; he never went to bed until his daughters came safely home from dates and outings. For sure he is with Carol right now. We loved him and miss him very much." 

When there is a doubt about which ox injured another, but both the oxen who potentially caused the injury are owned by the same owner, the Mishna rules that they are both liable. Is this a case of a short muad or a short tam? Why is the language "both are liable" used when it seems to mean the owner is responsible? The fourth chapter begins with a debate between Rabbi Meir and Rabbi Shimon about a shor tam who attacks 4 or 5 times in a row. Who gets paid what? What is the reasoning behind their opinions and how do they fit in with the broader approaches of Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Yishmael regarding whether the owner of the damaged one has rights to the animal who caused the damage or is more like a creditor who is owed money? Can we derive from our Mishna whether or not when a Mishna refers to a sela, they mean the sela tzuri, higher valued currency (4 zuzim) or the sela medina, lower valued currency, (half a zuz) one-eighth the value of the tzuri?