The word damim in biblical Hebrew means both blood and money. Lo ta’amod al dam reacha (…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/380x240/public/rat_small.jpeg?itok=RjZPOiq9)
Bava Metzia 61: Let's Eat Some Rodents
Teaching in a community school, I often hear from many of my students that they are “not…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/380x240/public/marriage-break-up-after-baby.jpg?itok=xVM0ycSZ)
VaYetze: Listen to Your Mother
The Torah tells us nothing about the upbringing of Abraham; we do not even know the name of his…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/380x240/public/interest_free.jpg?itok=qkfo7ZDJ)
Bava Metzia 61: A Free Loan
One of most difficult laws to comprehend, both technically and philosophically, is the Torah…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/380x240/public/a0ff3e217e4e1e1128138067dd7f64a6_1.jpg?itok=rD7aQwVx)
Bava Metzia 59: A Broken Oven
“If an oven is cut into rings, and sand is placed between the rings, Rabbi Eliezer says it is…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/380x240/public/torah_not_in_heaven.jpg?itok=i_hpgXXB)
Bava Metzia 59: Torah Is Not in Heaven
One of the most famous, powerful and tragic stories in all of Talmudic literature is that of the…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/380x240/public/shutterstock_122152585-anastasiia-kucherenko-opener.jpg?itok=6h7t_Sd3)
Bava Metzia 58: Verbal Abuse
“Just as there is ona’ah, oppression, regarding commerce, so too there is ona’ah…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/380x240/public/canadian_penny_-_reverse.png?itok=hFMBicTV)
Bava Metzia 55: What is a Penny Worth?
There is not too much one can do with a penny; so little, in fact, that the Canadian government…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/380x240/public/2024-05/shutterstock_696138958%20%281%29.jpg?itok=2Z4eLaoT)
Bava Metzia 49: What Did You Say it Cost?
“Ona’ah is four silver maot in twenty-four…1/6th of the price” (Bava…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/380x240/public/2024-06/shutterstock_2320655091.jpg?itok=36tOLM0C)
Bava Metzia 49: Let's Not Make a Deal
The Ramban, in perhaps his most famous biblical comment, notes that one can observe every law in…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/380x240/public/2024-05/shutterstock_2182844533.jpg?itok=0QAblUDP)
Bava Metzia 42: Where is My Money?
In our last post we discussed the responsibilities of a shomer entrusted to guard produce. The…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/380x240/public/2024-06/shutterstock_2326428433.jpg?itok=c4Nr3idK)
Bava Metzia 40: I Love My Fruit
“Milveh lhotzah nitna”, money is loaned to be spent (Kiddushin 47a). When one loans…
![](/themes/vwm_base/images/article-default-380x240.jpg)
Bava Metzia 37: What Does the Cheater Lose?
It is a beautiful character trait to be trusting of others. It is also, all too often, foolhardy.…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/380x240/public/2024-06/shutterstock_2190968521.jpg?itok=eVPTIFFR)
Bava Metzia 35: Making a Quick Dollar
The difference between a smart businessperson and an ethically challenged one can be fine indeed -…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/380x240/public/2024-05/shutterstock_1636066123.jpg?itok=FGx4mhoG)
Bava Metzia 33: 40 Long Years
One of the beautiful things about studying Gemara is delighting in how it seamlessly flows from one…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/380x240/public/2024-06/shutterstock_2445639599.jpg?itok=t1H-yKaQ)
Bava Metzia 33: You Go First
There are few mitzvoth of greater importance than kibud av veim. This is so well-known and obvious…
![](/sites/default/files/styles/380x240/public/shutterstock_1925953832.jpg?itok=QIyCfoU4)
Noach: What is Your Name?
"And Lemech called him Noach saying, this one will bring us relief, yenachmeinu, …
![](/themes/vwm_base/images/article-default-380x240.jpg)
Bava Metzia 32: Helping the Enemy
“G-d is good to all and His mercy is upon all His creations” (Tehillim 145:9). If G-d…