The Weekly Daf #35 Bava Metzia 107-113 Week of 30 Tishrei-6 Cheshvan 5755 / 5-11 Oct. 1994 By Rabbi Mendel Weinbach, Dean, Ohr Somayach Institutions ========================================================================= This issue is dedicated in the memory of Mr. Bernard Harris O.B.M. 17 Elul 5754 ========================================================================= A Neighborly Prerogative If a man sells a field, the owner of a property bordering on that field has the right to insist that the purchaser sell the field to him. This is a Rabbinic Law based on the Torah (Devarim 6:18) directive "to do what is proper and good in the eyes of Hashem" which suggests that you should show consideration to others when it is at no expense to you. The purchaser can easily acquire other property for the same money while the neighbor has a particular interest in purchasing property adjoining his. Even if the purchaser previously consulted the neighbor about purchasing the property and received his encouragement he can be compelled to subsequently sell it to the neighbor. The neighbor has the right to claim that he encouraged him to "front for him" in order to get the seller to sell at a fair price. Bava Metzia 108a ========================================================================= A Mixed Blessing Is it a blessing to live near a synagogue? "Yes" says the Sage Rav, who sees proximity to a house of worship as a fulfillment of the Torah's promise (Devarim 28:3) "You shall be blessed in the city". "No" says Rabbi Yochanan, who has a different interpretation of that promise. The problem of a next-door house of worship emerged from a lesson this sage learned from a widow who used to walk a long distance to pray in his synagogue. When he asked her why she didn't frequent a synagogue in her own neighborhood she replied that she wanted to earn the reward for all the steps she had to take to reach a far-away synagogue. Bava Metzia 107a ========================================================================= Yachad -Together The Ohr Somayach Electronic Alumni Newsletter. Keep up with the latest happenings at Ohr Somayach, Jerusalem. Find out about current rabbis & former alumni. -> Available via Internet! <- To subscribe, send the message: sub os-alum {your full name} to listserv@jerusalem1.datasrv.co.il The premier issue will be sent out soon, so subscribe today! ========================================================================= Spend this coming Winter Break in Israel for as little as $599 -> JLE Israel Winter Seminar '94/'95 <- 3 weeks of study and touring, optional Ulpan, and structured encounters with Israeli Dignitaries Departure December 22 Optional free week Jan 8-15 For Jewish men between the ages of 19 and 30 with demonstrated academic achievment and a sincere motivation to explore their roots. Minimum scholarship price: $599 Covers round trip ticket, room, board, tuition and tours Undergraduates attending college anywhere in North America who PERMANENTLY reside in New York City (Kings, Queens, New York, Bronx and Richmond counties), Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk counties) or Westchester County may qualify for a FULL SCHOLARSHIP _ an ALL EXPENSE paid trip to ISRAEL! For information: o send E-Mail to Rabbi Zalman Corlin o in 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 ========================================================================= (C) 1994 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved. This publication may be distributed to another person intact without prior permission. We also encourage you to include this material in other publications, such as synagogue newsletters. However, we ask that you contact us beforehand for permission.