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Prepared by Rabbi P. Feldman
of Kollel Iyun Hadaf, Yerushalayim
Rosh Kollel: Rabbi Mordecai Kornfeld


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Bava Basra 166

1) UNSPECIFIC LANGUAGE IN A DOCUMENT

(a) Question: The Beraisa says that 'gold *b'*Dinarim' means at least two silver Dinarim worth of gold - perhaps he meant a gold ingot worth two gold Dinarim!!
(b) Answer (Abaye): The bearer of the document has the lower hand.
1. (Text of Maharshal) Question: If so, also in the beginning of the Beraisa ('Kesef *b'*Dinarim', he gets two gold Dinarim worth of Kesef) we should say that the bearer of the document has the lower hand!
(c) Answer (Rav Ashi): There, it says *Dinari* (implying gold Dinarim), here it says Dinari*m* (this connotes gold or silver).
(d) Question: What is the source to distinguish these languages?
(e) Answer (Mishnah): On five occasions, Leah had a doubt if she must bring a sacrifice for her miscarriage (or Zivah (non-menstrual blood)). Once she brings one sacrifice (two birds) she may eat Kodshim; she is obligated to bring the rest.
(f) Once, in Yerushalayim pairs of birds were selling for Dinari of gold. R. Shimon ben Gamliel resolved to cause the price to drop to *Dinarim*. He expounded in Beis Din that she brings one sacrifice, she may eat Kodshim; she is *not* obligated to bring the rest; the price plummeted to a quarter of a (silver Dinar).
166b---------------------------------------166b

(g) (Mishnah): If it says above...
(h) (Beraisa): We can learn one erased letter of the bottom from the top, but not two - e.g. if the bottom says 'Chanan' and the top says 'Chanani'.
(i) Question: Presumably, we cannot learn two letters, because sometimes this is half the name (when the name has four letters);
1. Also we should not learn one letter, sometimes this is half the name, when the name has two letters!
(j) Answer: Rather, we cannot learn two letters, because sometimes this is most of the name (when the name has three letters).
(k) (Rav Papa): If above it says 'Sefel' (Rashbam - bowl; alternatively, the Gematri'a (numerical value (170) of the word)), and below it says 'Kefel' (a doubled garment; or, its Gematri'a (210)), we follow the bottom (it is less; (Tosfos - 'Sefel' stands for 'Samech' (60) PaLgei (halves); alternatively, Se'ah and PaLga (a half); 'Kefel' stands for 'Kuf' (100) halves, or a Kor and a half);
(l) Question (Rav Papa): If it says 'Sefel' above and 'Kefel' below, what is the law?
1. (Do we follow the bottom, or) do we suspect that the 'Kuf' should be a 'Samech', some of the ink was moved by a fly?
(m) This question is not resolved. (Therefore, the bearer of the document has the lower hand, he only collects like Sefel.)
(n) Question (Rav Sharbiya): A document said '600 and a Zuz' - does this mean '600 Sela'im and a Zuz', or (could it mean) '600 Perutos and a Zuz'?
(o) Answer (Abaye): A person would not write (a large number of) Perutos in a document, he would give the value in Zuzim;
1. Version #1 (R. Chananel): He collects 600 (common) Sela'im (each is one eighth silver, i.e. half a Zuz) and a Zuz, because the bearer of a document has the lower hand.
2. Version #2: We do not know if '600' refers to Sela'im (each is four Zuzim) or Zuzim (Rashbam - these coins are pure silver; Ramah - they are common) - the bearer of the document has the lower hand (he gets 601 Zuzim).
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