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Bava Basra, 127
BAVA BASRA 126-128 - have been generously dedicated by Dick and Beverly
Horowitz of Los Angeles, California. May they be blessed with a life of joy
and much Nachas from their children and grandchildren.
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1) THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A "KASHYA" AND A "TIYUVTA"
QUESTIONS: Rav Shizbi states that it is not permitted to perform a Bris
Milah on a Tumtum on Shabbos, because the verse which permits Milah to be
performed on Shabbos says specifically that the child must be a Zachar, a
fully-recognizable male, from the time that he is born. Similarly, Rav
Sheravya states that a woman who gives birth to a Tumtum is not Tamei with
Tum'as Leidah, since the verse implies that the child must be a
fully-recognizable male (or female) at the time of birth in order for the
mother to become Tamei with Tum'as Leidah.
The Gemara challenges both opinions from the Mishnah in Nidah (28a) which
says that a woman who gives birth to a stillborn Tumtum is Tamei, out of
doubt, for 14 days as if she gave birth to a female, and afterwards she has
only 26 days of Taharah (until 40 days after her birth) as if she gave birth
to a male. This clearly contradicts Rav Sheravya's statement, who rules
leniently and says that the birth of a Tumtum does not make the mother Tamei
at all, and thus the Gemara says "Tiyuvta."
The Gemara suggests that it does not contradict Rav Shizbi's assertion.
Perhaps the Mishnah in Nidah is saying that the woman must conduct herself
stringently, out of doubt whether or not the verse indeed excludes the birth
of a Tumtum from the law of Tum'as Leidah. Rav Shizbi, too, requires that we
be stringent and not perform the Milah of a Tumtum on Shabbos, out of doubt
whether or not the verse excludes a Tumtum from the allowance to perform
Milah on Shabbos.
The Gemara refutes this answer and says that if the Mishnah in Nidah means
that the woman should conduct herself stringently out of doubt whether or
not the birth of a Tumtum is considered a birth, then it should have also
required her to conduct herself like a Nidah out of doubt that perhaps a
Tumtum is excluded altogether from Tum'as Leidah. It must be that the
Mishnah in Nidah holds that the birth of a Tumtum *definitely* makes the
mother Tamei, and the only doubt is whether the Tumtum is considered a male
or a female. The Gemara calls its refutation of the view of Rav Shizbi a
"Kashya."
(a) The RASHBAM writes that although the Gemara concludes with a "Kashya" on
Rav Shizbi, we may still rule in accordance with Rav Shizbi. This is because
the Gemara does not conclude its challenge with the word "Tiyuvta." Indeed,
the RIF rules like Rav Shizbi for this reason (see BEIS YOSEF, YD 266 and
PILPULA CHARIFTA #200).
However, the Rashbam seems to contradict his comments earlier. Earlier (52b,
DH u'Pasak), the Rashbam cites the opinion of RABEINU CHANANEL who says that
whenever the Gemara concludes a challenge with the word "Tiyuvta," that
opinion is considered refuted entirely, but when the Gemara concludes a
challenge with the word "Kashya," the opinion that it challenged is *not*
refuted and it is possible to find an answer to the Gemara's challenge and
to rule in accordance with that opinion. The Rashbam there disagrees with
Rabeinu Chananel and maintains that there is no essential difference between
these two expressions. The only difference is that when the challenge is
from a Tana, the Gemara uses the word "Tiyuvta," and when the challenge is
from an Amora, the Gemara uses the word "Kashya." The Rashbam in our Sugya,
though, is agreeing with Rabeinu Chananel!
(b) There also appears to be a contradiction in the words of the
(8:16). The Rosh asks how can the Rif rule in accordance with Rav Shizbi
after the Gemara refutes his opinion from a Mishnah. The Rosh earlier
(3:58), however, rules in accordance with the view of Shmuel, even though
the Gemara there (52b) refutes Shmuel's opinion and concludes with the word
"Kashya!" Why, then, does the Rosh question the Rif's ruling in the case of
our Gemara?
Similarly, the RAMBAM does not rule like Rav Shizbi, presumably because his
opinion is refuted and the Gemara concludes with the word "Kashya." However,
the Rambam (Hilchos Nachalos 9:8) does rule like Shmuel, even though the
Gemara refutes his opinion and concludes "Kashya!"
ANSWERS:
(a) The NODA B'YEHUDAH (Mahadura Tinyana, YD 163) answers the contradiction
in the words of the Rashbam by explaining that when the challenge is from an
Amora and the Gemara concludes "Kashya" as in the case of the Gemara earlier
(52b), there is no indication that the position being refuted can be
answered. In the case of our Gemara, however, the challenge on Rav Shizbi is
from a Mishnah. When the challenge is from a Mishnah, the Gemara should
conclude "Tiyuvta." Since our Gemara concludes "Kashya," it is hinting that
there is an answer to the question and we can rule like Rav Shizbi.
(b) The questions on the Rosh and the Rambam can be answered if the Rosh and
Rambam concur with the view of TOSFOS in Moed Katan (2b, DH Chayav). Tosfos
writes that the Gemara concludes "Kashya" *only* when the question is from a
*Tana* (the opposite of the Rashbam's approach according to the Noda
b'Yehudah). Accordingly, when the question is from an Amora and the Gemara
concludes "Kashya," that word is an error, since one Amora can argue with
another Amora. Therefore, the Gemara earlier (52b) which challenges Shmuel's
opinion from an Amora should not have concluded with the word "Kashya;" that
word in the text of the Gemara is a mistake, and the Halachah indeed can
follow the view of Shmuel. In our Gemara, the challenge was from a Tana, and
thus the Gemara appropriately concluded "Kashya," refuting the opinion of
Rav Shizbi. (Y. Marcus)
127b
2) RETRACTING ONE'S STATEMENT CONCERNING A SON OR DAUGHTER
QUESTION: The Gemara says that a father is believed to say that his son is a
Bechor, and, similarly, to say that his son is the son of a divorcee
(thereby disqualifying him from serving as a Kohen). A father is also
believed to say that his son is an Eved. Nevertheless, if a man says that
the person accompanying him is an Eved and then says that he is his son, he
is believed, and the son does *not* have the status of an Eved. This is
because he may explain his original statement (that his son is an Eved) by
saying that he merely meant that he son serves him as diligently as an Eved
serves his master. It appears that even though the father was believed when
he said that his son is an Eved, he can now explain himself and retract his
original statement.
This Gemara seems to contradict the view of the TESHUVOS MAHARAN LEV (1:43).
The Mishnah in Kidushin (64a) teaches that a father is believed to say that
he married off his daughter, as long as his daughter has not yet reached the
age of a Bogeres (twelve and a half years old). The Maharan Lev cites the
opinion of the Chachamim of Provence who rule that once the father says that
his daughter is married, he cannot retract his words, even if gives an
excuse for why he said that she was married.
Our Gemara, though, says that a father may retract his original statement
when he provides a valid excuse for why he said it. Why, when a father says
that his daughter was married, can he not retract his statement, according
to the Maharan Lev?
ANSWER: The SHEV SHEMAITSA (6:8) answers that the Chachamim of Provence were
referring only to a case in which the second statement is a complete
retraction of the first statement, such as when the father first said that
his daughter was married and now completely denies it. In the case of our
Gemara, however, the father is only explaining the *meaning* of his first
statement, but he is not denying its truth. Therefore, he is believed. (Y.
Marcus)
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