For the source text click/tap here: Bava Kamma 35
To download, click/tap here: PDF
A new Mishnah states that if an ox was pursuing another ox and the ox being chased was found injured, and this one (the owner of the damaged ox) says, “Your ox caused the injury,” and this one (the chaser) says, “Not so; but it injured itself (while scratching itself) due to a rock,” the halachah is that whoever is attempting to take money from his fellow, he is the one who must bring the proof.
“Ha-motzi me-havero, alav ha-ra’ayah” – or, in more colloquial English, “Possession is nine-tenths of the law.” According to the halakha, if you want to make a claim on someone else, you will have to prove that you are right. This is the underlying message of our Mishna.
We continue our exploration of commonalities between Roman and Jewish law…