(Permission is granted to print and redistribute this material
as long as this header and the footer at the end are included.)


POINT BY POINT SUMMARY

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


Ask A Question on the daf

Previous daf

Sanhedrin 32

***** PEREK ECHAD DINEI MAMONOS ****

1) THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MONETARY AND CAPITAL CASES

(a) (Mishnah): The same laws of Drishah v'Chakirah apply to monetary and capital cases - "Mishpat Echad Yihyeh Lachem".
(b) The following are different in monetary and capital cases:
1. Monetary cases require three judges, capital cases require 23;
2. In monetary cases, the judges may begin their discussion with an opinion to Mezakeh or Mechayev, in capital cases we must begin with Zechus;
3. In monetary cases, a majority of one suffices for Zechus or Chiyuv; in capital cases, a majority of one suffices for Zechus, a majority of two is needed for Chiyuv;
4. In monetary cases, we can overturn the verdict, whether Zechus or Chiyuv; in capital cases, we can overturn a verdict of Chiyuv, not of Zechus.
5. In monetary cases, anyone (even Talmidim) can give a reason for Zechus or Chiyuv; in capital cases, anyone can give a reason for Zechus, not everyone can give a reason for Chiyuv.
6. In monetary cases, one who gave a reason for Zechus can give a reason for Chiyuv, or vice-versa; in capital cases, one who gave a reason for Chiyuv can give a reason for Zechus, but one who gave a reason for Zechus cannot give a reason for Chiyuv.
7. Monetary cases must be started during the day, they can be finished at night; capital cases are started and finished during the day.
8. Monetary cases are judged and finished on the same day, for Zechus or Chiyuv; capital cases can be finished on the same day for Zechus, a verdict of Chiyuv cannot be given until the next day;
i. Therefore, we do not begin capital cases on Erev Shabbos or Erev Yom Tov.
9. In monetary cases or questions of Tum'ah, the first opinion is given by the greatest Chacham; in capital cases, we may not begin with the greatest Chacham.
10. Everyone (even a Mamzer) is qualified to judge monetary cases, but capital cases require Kohanim, Leviyim or Yisraelim that are permitted to marry a Bas Kohen.
(c) (Gemara) Question: Is it really true that monetary cases require Drishah v'Chakirah?
1. Contradiction (Beraisa): If Ploni and Almoni were signed on a document dated 'Nisan 1, in Shemitah'; Reuven and David said 'They were with us that day in another place!', the document and its witnesses are Kesherim; we assume that it was postdated.
2. This shows that we do not require Drishah v'Chakirah (its basic purpose is to enable Hazamah)!
3. Question: Why not ask from a Mishnah?
i. (Mishnah): Predated loan documents are disqualified (because they can be used to swindle), postdated loan documents are Kesherim.
ii. If we require Drishah v'Chakirah, why are they Kesherim?
4. Answer: The Beraisa is a bigger Chidush - even though it is unlikely that one would postdate a document and give a date in Shemitah, since it looks suspicious (people usually refrain from lending in Shemitah, lest the loan be cancelled), we assume that this was the case;
i. Shemitah does not cancel loans until the end of Shemitah, therefore the document is valid.
(d) The contradiction has not been resolved yet.
(e) Answer #1 (R. Chanina): Our Mishnah teaches that *Mid'Oraisa*, the same laws of Drishah v'Chakirah apply to monetary and capital cases - "Mishpat Echad Yihyeh Lachem";
1. Chachamim enacted that monetary cases do not require Drishah v'Chakirah on account of Ne'ilas Delet (lest a person will not want to lend, lest the witnesses will remember the loan but forget Drishos or Chakiros, and he will be unable to collect).
32b---------------------------------------32b

(f) Question: If so, we should say that Beis Din does not pay if they err (since they could not interrogate the witnesses)!
(g) Answer: All the more so, that would discourage people from lending!
(h) Answer #2 (Rava): Our Mishnah discusses fines (Ne'ilas Delet does not apply, no enactment was made); the Beraisa discusses admissions and loans (in which Drishah v'Chakirah was abolished).
(i) Answer #3 (Rav Papa): Both discuss admissions and loans; our Mishnah discusses a Din Merumeh (when Beis Din senses that the claim is false), the Beraisa is a normal case.
1. Contradiction (Reish Lakish): It says "B'Tzedek Tishpot Amisecha" - it also says "Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof" (be extra zealous to reach the correct verdict)!
2. Answer #1 (Reish Lakish): One must be extra zealous in a Din Merumeh.
3. Answer #2 (Rav Ashi): (We resolve the Mishnah and Beraisa like R. Chanina or Rava;) "Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof" teaches to equally pursue Din (letter of the law) or compromise.
i. (Beraisa): "Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof" - Equally pursue Din or compromise: if two ships encounter each other in a narrow river, if they try to pass at the same time, both will sink; if they go one after the other, both will pass.
ii. The same applies to two camels alighting the incline to Beis Choron (in opposite directions) - if they go at the same time, they will (not have enough room at the top, they will) fall; if they go one after the other, both will alight;
iii. If one was laden and the other empty, the laden one goes first; if one was near its city and the other far, the far one goes first;
iv. If they are equal, make a compromise between them; the one that waits receives compensation.
(j) (Beraisa): "Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof" - go to a good Beis Din, to R. Eliezer in Lud, to R. Yochanan Ben Zakai in Beror Chayil.
(k) (Beraisa): If a mill is heard in Boreni, this was a sign of (grinding spices to cure the wound of) a circumcision (when the king decreed against circumcision, they could not openly announce it);
1. A lamp burning (by day, or many lamps at night) in Beror Chayil is a sign of a circumcision feast.
(l) (Beraisa): "Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof" - go to the Beis ha'Va'ad: to R. Eliezer in Lud, to R. Yochanan Ben Zakai in Beror Chayil...to the Great Sanhedrin in Liskas ha'Gazis.
2) WE BEGIN MONETARY CASES WITH ZECHUS
(a) (Mishnah): In monetary cases, we begin...
(b) Question: How do we begin (to interrogate the witnesses, for Zechus, in capital cases)?
(c) Answer #1 (Rav Yehudah): We say, 'Who says that it was as you say?!'
(d) Objection (Ula): This will make them retract!
1. Question: What is wrong with that?
i. (Beraisa - R. Shimon ben Elazar): We make the witnesses move from place to place, perhaps this will confound them and they will decide not to testify.
2. Answer: We encourage that they should retract on their own (if they are lying), we do not induce them to retract (perhaps they are telling the truth)!.
(e) Answer #2 (Ula): We ask the defendant if he has witnesses to Mezim them.
(f) Objection (Rabah): Do we begin with Zechus for the defendant which would make the witnesses liable to death?!
1. Question: This would not Mechayev them to die!
i. (Mishnah): Edim Zomemim are not killed unless there was a final verdict to kill the defendant.
2. Correction: Rabah meant, do we begin with Zechus for the defendant which (if there would be a final verdict before Mezimim were brought) could Mechayev the witnesses to die?!
(g) Answer #3 (Rabah): We ask the defendant if he has witnesses to contradict them.
(h) Answer #4 (Rav Kahana): We say 'From your words, Ploni is innocent'.
(i) Answer #5 (Abaye and Rava): We tell Ploni 'Don't worry, if you are innocent, you will not be killed.'
(j) Answer #6 (Rav Ashi): We say, 'Whoever knows Zechus for Ploni, let him say it!'
1. Support (for Abaye and Rava - Beraisa - Rebbi): "Im Lo Shachav..." - this teaches that in capital cases we begin with Zechus.
Next daf

Index


For further information on
subscriptions, archives and sponsorships,
contact Kollel Iyun Hadaf,
daf@shemayisrael.co.il