Julian Ungar-Sargon

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Daf Ditty

A wide-ranging commentary on the daily page of Talmud.

Bava Metzia 44: בְּיַלְדוּתֵיהּ מַאי סְבַר, וּבְזִקְנוּתֵיהּ מַאי סָבַר

jyungar April 12, 2024

For the source text click/tap here: Bava Metzia 44

To download, click/tap here: PDF

In this new Perek (IV) , several conclusions were reached with regard to the halakhot of transactions. One conclusion is that, by Torah law, monetary transactions are proper transactions.

By rabbinic law, a commodity can be acquired only by pulling it or lifting it, i.e., modes of transaction that involve physically taking possession of the item. Evidently, what is defined as money is not fixed.

Even coins used in commerce are not always considered currency, but rather a commodity. The principle is that market value is calculated based on the price of silver, and even other coins are considered commodities vis-à-vis silver.

At the same time, all coins have the legal status of currency relative to commodities.

We explore the halachic definitions of currency as well as example of contracts from the Dead Sea scrolls as a window into first century trading.

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Julian Ungar-Sargon

This is Julian Ungar-Sargon's personal website. It contains poems, essays, and podcasts for the spiritual seeker and interdisciplinary aficionado.​