The Weekly Daf #11 Bava Kama 58-64 Week of 11-17 Iyar 5754/22-28 April 1994 By Rabbi Mendel Weinbach, Dean, Ohr Somayach Institutions ========================================================================= This issue is dedicated in memory of Bernard Greenman O.B.M. ========================================================================= Something for Everyone -- Two Lessons on Fire A dilemma of conflicting interests faced the Sage Rabbi Yitzchak Nafcha. Two disciples, Rabbi Ami and Rabbi Asi, implored him to teach them. However, one insisted on a topic of Halacha (Jewish Law) while the other insisted on a topic of Agadata (Biblical Exegesis, ethical guidelines or educational stories). His efforts to initiate a discourse in either one of these areas was frustrated by the obstinate insistence of the other to concentrate on the area of his choice. He explained his dilemma to his disciples with the following parable. A middle aged man had two wives, one young and one old. The young one kept plucking out the gray hairs from his head in order to maintain a youthful appearance The older one plucked the black hairs to keep him looking older. As a result he lost all of his hair. This Sage came up with a bold solution by focusing on a Biblical passage whose interpretation would satisfy the interests of both disciples. The passage he chose (Shmos 22:5) deals with responsibility for damage caused by human negligence in failing to control a fire. "If a fire breaks out and catches on to thorns causing standing sheaves of grain or the field to be consumed, he that set the fire shall surely be required to make compensation." THE HALACHA: The passage begins with a description of the fire as something not of his creation ("the fire breaks out") but rather his property, which he has failed to control. It concludes, however, by referring to the guilty party as "he that set the fire." The purpose of this description is to raise the level of responsibility of one who starts a fire on his property and fails to prevent it from spreading to another's property. The flames are not merely like an animal he has failed to control but are considered as arrows that he has launched against his neighbor. The wider range of payments -- pain, unemployment and medical expenses -- which the Torah places upon a man who physically causes damage to another person's body, but not when such damage is caused by negligence in controlling his animal, will therefore be incumbent upon one whose fire burns the hand of another. THE AGADATA: "I am obligated to pay for the damage caused by the fire I set," says Hashem. "I set a fire in Zion (`He has set a fire in Zion which consumed its foundations' --Eicha 4:11-- a reference to the burning of the two Holy Temples) and I shall rebuild it with fire (`I shall be a wall of fire surrounding her, says Hashem, and my glory shall dwell within her' -- Zecharia 2:9)." Bava Kama 60b NOTE: Our Weekly Daf is patterned after the formula described above. Our effort to present each week one item of Halacha and one of Agadata in order to satisfy the varying interests of our subscribers must overcome the challenges faced both by Rabbi Yitzchak Nafcha and the embattled husband in his parable. We rely on the sophistication of our readers to help us achieve the _bold_ success of the Sage and avoid the _bald_ failure of the other. ========================================================================= Spend this coming Summer in Israel for as little as $599 -> JLE Israel Summer Seminar '94 <- 6 weeks of study and touring (June 1 - July 17) for Jewish men between the ages of 19 and 30 with demonstrated academic achievement and a sincere motivation to explore their roots. Minimum scholarship price: $599 (for round trip ticket, room, board, tuition and tours) For information: o send E-Mail to Rabbi Zalman Corlin o from the U.S. call toll-free 800-431-2272 (212-344-2000) o Outside N. America, send E-Mail to: newman@jerusalem1.datasrv.co.il ========================================================================= Dedication opportunities are available for the Weekly Daf. Please contact us for details. ========================================================================= Jewish L EEEEEEEE Prepared by Ohr Somayach Institutions J L E 22 Shimon Hatzadik Street, POB 18103 J L Exchange Jerusalem 91180, Israel J J L E Tel: 02-810315 Fax: 02-812890 JJJJ Learning EEEEEEEE Internet: newman@jerusalem1.datasrv.co.il =========================================================================