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Bava Basra 91

BAVA BASRA 91-95 - Sponsored by a generous grant from an anonymous donor. Kollel Iyun Hadaf is indebted to him for his encouragement and support and prays that Hashem will repay him in kind.

1) EXPORTING PRODUCE OF ERETZ YISRAEL

(a) (Beraisa): We may not export life-essential produce of Eretz Yisrael such as wine, oil and flour;
(b) R. Yehudah ben Beseira permits exporting wine, this reduces (drunkenness and) immorality.
(c) Just as we may not export to Chutz la'Aretz, we may not export to Surya;
(d) Rebbi permits exporting from a town of Eretz Yisrael to a nearby town of Surya.
(e) (Beraisa): We may not deal (buy in order to resell at a profit) in life-essential produce of Eretz Yisrael such as wine, oil and flour;
1. R. Elazar ben Azaryah used to deal in wine and oil.
2. Regarding wine, he holds like R. Yehudah ben Beseira;
3. Oil was plentiful in his area (so it was permitted to deal in it).
(f) (Beraisa): It is forbidden to make a double profit on eggs.
(g) (Mari bar Mari): Rav and Shmuel argue about this:
1. One explains, it is forbidden to buy and resell them (Tosfos - even to sell one's own eggs) for double the price;
2. The other explains, it is forbidden to buy and resell them to a second dealer (rather, he must sell them for consumption).
(h) (Beraisa): We Masri'a (Rashbam - cry out in prayer; Tur - blow shofars) on account of a drop in prices of non-life-essentials, even on Shabbos.
(i) (R. Yochanan): For example, a drop in prices of linen garments in Bavel, or wine and oil in Eretz Yisrael.
(j) (Rav Yosef): This is if what normally sells for 10 now sells for six.
(k) (Beraisa): One may not leave Eretz Yisrael (on account of inflated prices) until wheat sells for Sa'atayim for a Sela;
(l) R. Shimon says, this is when he cannot afford to buy - if he can afford, even if it sells for a Se'ah for a Sela, he may not leave.
1. R. Shimon: Elimelech, Machlon and Chilyon were the leaders of their generation and the philanthropists of their generation; they were punished for leaving Eretz Yisrael - "Va'Tehom Kol ha'Ir...ha'Zos No'omi".
2) ELIMELECH AND RELATED AGADATA
(a) Question: What does it mean "Ha'Zos No'omi"?
(b) Answer (R. Yitzchak): This hints to 'Chazisem No'omi',
(have you seen what happened to her for leaving Eretz Yisrael?)
(c) (R. Yitzchak): The day Rus came to Eretz Yisrael, Boaz' wife died;
1. Before someone dies, his replacement is prepared.
(d) (Rabah bar Rav Huna): (The Shofet) Ivtzan is Bo'az.
(e) Question: What do we learn from this?
(f) Answer: This and Rabah bar Rav Huna's other teaching are needed to learn (5) below.
1. (Rabah bar Rav Huna): Bo'az made 120 feasts for his children - "...U'Shloshim Banos Shilach ha'Chutzah u'Shloshim Banos Hevi l'Vanav";
2. For each child he made one feast in the house of the Chasan, and one in the house of the father of the Kalah.
3. He did not invite Mano'ach to even one of them - since he is (really, Mano'ach's wife was) sterile, he will never have occasion to invite me to such a feast. (Maharsha - Bo'az knew that Mano'ach would bring a gift, and Bo'az would never be able to give in return.)
4. All 60 children died in Bo'az' lifetime.
5. This is as people say - what gain is there in 60 children that will die, it is better to remarry and have one child that will be zealous.
6. (Rav Chanan bar Rava): Elimelech, Salmon, Ploni Almoni and No'omi's father all descended from Nachshon ben Aminadav.
(g) Question: What do we learn from this?
(h) Answer: Even great merits of one's fathers do not help him if he goes to Chutz la'Aretz.
(i) (Rav Chanan bar Rava): Avraham's mother was called Amaslai bas Karnevo; Haman's mother was called Amaslai bas Orvasai;
(j) A way to remember this: Tamei comes from Tamei (Orvasai is like Orev (raven)), Tahor comes from Tahor (Karnevo is a language of Karim (pillows, which come from wool of sheep)).
(k) David's mother was Nitzvas bas Ad'el; Shimshon's mother was Hatzlelfoni; his sister was Nashyin.
(l) Question: Why must we know this?
(m) Answer: So we can answer Minim that ask these questions.
(n) (Rav Chanan bar Rava): Avraham was imprisoned for 10 years, three in Kusa, seven in Kardo (Ararat). (Rav Dimi taught vice-versa.)
(o) (Rav Chisda): Ivra Ze'ira of Kusa is Or Kasdim.
(p) (Rav Chanan bar Rava): The day Avraham died, all the important Nochrim bewailed: 'The world lost its leader, the ship lost its captain.
91b---------------------------------------91b

(q) (Rav Chanan bar Rava): "Veha'Misnasei l'Chol l'Rosh" - even the overseer of who draws water from the pit is appointed from Heaven.
3) FAMINE, AND NOSTALGIA
(a) (R. Chiya bar Avin): Elimelech and his family would not have left Eretz Yisrael if they found food, even bran!
1. They were punished because they did not pray for their generation - "B'Za'akech Yatziluch Kibutzayich".
(b) (Rabah bar bar Chanah): Permission to leave Eretz Yisrael depends on the price of grain only when money is cheap and produce is expensive, but if money is scarce, even if four Se'im sell for a Sela, one may leave.
1. (R. Yochanan): I remember when four Se'im sold for a Sela, and many people had swelled stomachs from hunger in Teveryah, because money was scarce.
2. I remember when workers would refuse to work in the east part of the city, because they would die from the smell of bread.
3. I remember when a child would cut a carob and honey would spurt on his arms.
(c) (R. Elazar): I remember when a raven would take meat, and a stream of fat would extend from the wall (of the city) to the ground.
(d) (R. Yochanan): I remember when boys 16 or 17 years old would play together with girls and not sin.
(e) (R. Yochanan): I remember, they would say in the Beis Midrash, one who admits to (flatters) idolaters will fall to them (rather, one must refute everything they say);
1. If one is secure that they will not harm him and lets others see what he has, they will take all he owns.
4) EXPOUNDING NAMES AND VERSES ABOUT RUTH
(a) Question: In Megilas Rus, Elimelech's children are called Machlon and Chilyon; in Divrei ha'Yamim, they are called Yo'ash and Saraf!
(b) Answer #1 (Rav or Shmuel): Their real names were Machlon and Chilyon; they are called Yo'ash and Saraf because they Nisya'ashu (despaired) of salvation and were worthy to be Nisrafim (burned).
(c) Answer #2 (The other of Rav and Shmuel): Their real names were Yo'ash and Saraf; they are called Machlon and Chilyon because they made themselves Chulin and were worthy of Kelayah (to be wiped out).
(d) Support (for the first opinion - Beraisa): (The verse lists people of Yehudah): "V'Yokim" - this is Yehoshua (perhaps his mother was from Yehudah), who Hekim (fulfilled) the oath to the Givonim; "v'Anshei Kozeva" - these are the Givonim, lied to Yehoshua; "v'Yo'ash v'Saraf" - these are Machlon and Chilyon;
1. They are called Yo'ash and Saraf because they despaired of salvation and were worthy to be burned.
(e) "Asher Ba'alu l'Mo'av" - they married Moabite women; "v'Yashuvi Lechem" - this is Rus, who returned and clung to Beis Lechem; "veha'Devarim Atikim" - these matters were said by the Ancient One of the World;
1. It says "Matzasi David Avdi", and "Shtei Venosecha ha'Nimtza'os" David and (Rechavam) descended from Lot's daughters, who were saved (and permitted to marry into Yisrael, unlike men of Amon and Mo'av).
(f) "Hemah ha'Yotzerim" - these are the children of Yonadav, who guarded their father's oath; "v'Yoshevei Neta'im" - this is Shlomo, who was like a sapling regarding kingship (he grew greatly); "u'Gderah" - this is the Sanhedrin, who fenced the breaches in Yisrael; "Im ha'Melech bi'Mlachto Yashvu Sham" - this is Rus, who saw the kingship of Shlomo, her grandson's grandson.
1. (R. Elazar): "Va'Yasem Kisei l'Em ha'Melech" - this was for Rus, the mother of the kingly line.
(g) (Beraisa): "Va'Achaltem Min ha'Tevu'ah Yashan" - without Salamanton.
(h) Question: What does this mean?
(i) Answer #1 (Rav Nachman): Worms will not make it rot.
(j) Answer #2 (Rav Sheshes): Hot winds will not prevent you from aging it.
(k) Support (for Rav Nachman - Beraisa): "Va'Achaltem...Yashan" - one might have thought, Yisrael will be hoping for new grain because old grain ceased (through worms);
1. "Ad Bo Tevu'asah" - you (will not be rushed to harvest, you) will wait until it is properly ripened.
(l) Support (for Rav Sheshes - Beraisa): "Va'Achaltem...Yashan" - one might have thought, Yisrael will be hoping for new grain because the old grain is bad (because of hot winds);
1. "Ad Bo Tevu'asah" - you will wait until it is properly ripened.
(m) (Beraisa): "Va'Achaltem Yashan Noshan" - this teaches that older grain is better.
1. Suggestion: Perhaps that only applies to things that are normally aged.
2. Rejection: "Yashan Noshan" - even things that are not normally aged.
3. "V'Yashan Mipenei Chadash Totzi'u" - this teaches that all the storehouses will be full of old produce, and the granaries will new produce, and Yisrael will have to clear out the old to make room for the new.
(n) (Rav Papa): Everything is better old, except for dates, beer and small fish.
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