The Weekly Daf - #51 Bava Basra 100-106 Week of 24-30 Shevat 5755 / 25-31 January 1995 By Rabbi Mendel Weinbach, Dean, Ohr Somayach Institutions =========================================================================== This issue is sponsored in loving memory of Harry M. Iskowitz O.B.M. by his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren =========================================================================== Short Division The Case: Two brothers, Reuven and Shimon inherit six fields from their father. Unaware that they have a brother in a distant land they divide the estate equally, each taking three fields. Then Levi appears, establishes his identity as a brother and makes a claim for his share of the estate. The sages Rav and Shmuel disagree as to the proper course of action -- invalidation of the original division in favor of a new division among all three brothers or leaving the first division intact but requiring Reuven and Shimon to each give one of their inherited fields to Levi. The Rule: Rav's opinion is accepted as law. The original division is invalidated and all three brothers must draw lots to determine which fields belong to them. The Problem: The law says that had Reuven and Shimon known of Levi's existence and divided the inheritance into three parts before a three-man court without Levi's consent he would not have been able to invalidate this division. If Levi's consent is not necessary why do we invalidate the division made in our case? The Resolution: In the case where they knew about Levi they properly divided the inheritance into three parts. Levi's lack of consent is insignificant because in any event he would have to submit to a drawing of lots. But where they were unaware of Levi and divided the inheritance into only two parts each brother received more than the share due to him and this division is therefore null and void. Bava Basra 106b =========================================================================== Walking The Land, Paving The Way Avraham Avinu was commanded by Hashem to walk the length and breadth of Eretz Yisrael which was being presented to him as a gift. The majority view of the Sages rejects the opinion of Rabbi Eliezer that this is proof that one who acquires a field can finalize the transaction by simply walking upon it. Their view is that one can only render a transaction irrevocable by demonstrating his ownership through making some improvement in the land. Avraham Avinu's walking was for a different purpose -- to pave the way for his descendants to easily conquer the land. This is best understood by applying our sages' principle of "Whatever happened to the forefathers happened to their descendants" which Ramban elaborates upon in his commentary on Chumash. The walking of Avraham is symbolic sovereignty which transforms in the future to concrete conquest by Joshua. Bava Basra 100a =========================================================================== MATAN TORAH got you mixed up? Rabbi Gavriel Reuven and Ohr Somayach present Rashi's explanation of the Chronology of the Giving of the Torah The chain of events surrounding the giving of the Torah is very difficult to follow, because, according to Rashi's understanding, the verses are not arranged chronologically. This file lists the events in correct chronological order so that you can easily understand how the Torah was given to the Jewish People. This file is available from the following sources: o The Jerusalem1 Gopher under the heading "Religious Institutions" and the sub-heading "Ohr Somayach" o CompuServe Religion Forum, Judaism Library (3), filename TORAH.TXT o Sent via E-Mail for those without access to one of the above. Send your request to newman@jerusalem1.datasrv.co.il. To speed processing, set your subject to "SEND ME TORAH" and do not include any other topics in your message. =========================================================================== 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) 1995 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, and then send us a sample of an issue.