Julian Ungar-Sargon

  • Home
  • Theological Essays
  • Healing Essays
  • Podcast
  • Poetry
  • Daf Ditty
  • Deep Dive Ditty
  • Videos
  • Publications
  • Military Service
  • Dominican University
  • Home
  • Theological Essays
  • Healing Essays
  • Podcast
  • Poetry
  • Daf Ditty
  • Deep Dive Ditty
  • Videos
  • Publications
  • Military Service
  • Dominican University
Julian Ungar-Sargon copy 3.jpg

Daf Ditty

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

Bava Metzia 61: נֶשֶׁךְ בְּלֹא תַּרְבִּית

jyungar April 29, 2024

For the source text click/tap here: Bava Metzia 61

To download, click/tap here: PDF

Our new perek V discusses the laws of interest

The Mishna had stated: What is tarbis? One who increases his assets through produce.

The Gemora asks: Were all the cases stated previously not cases of ribbis?

Rabbi Avahu says: Until now we mentioned cases prohibited by Torah law. Now we are mentioning cases prohibited by Rabbinic law.

Rava asks why the Torah must give three specific prohibitions against stealing -- Ribis, Gezel, and Ona'ah, when one of them would suffice to teach the others. The Gemara concludes that in truth the prohibition of Gezel could have been derived from the prohibitions of Ribis and Ona'ah (through a Tzad ha'Shaveh).

The Gemara makes it clear that the prohibition of Ribis stems from the concept of Gezel. There are, however, other ways of understanding the nature of Ribis.

We begin an exploration of the halachot of Ribis.

Tags48th
  • Daf Ditty
  • Older
  • Newer

Julian Ungar-Sargon

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