Bava Kama

Embark on a journey of Jewish learning and discovery, exploring the depth of our Bava Kama resources, where tagged items including audio, programs, and podcast episodes await your exploration.

The Law of the Land: Bava Kamma 113

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Dina demalchuta dina, the law of the land is the law, is one of the most famous, far-reaching and even revolutionary laws of the Talmud. At its most basic level it requires Jews to be law-abiding citizens of whatever country they find themselves in…
Article
Sep 28, 2016

Travelling for Teshuva: Bava Kamma 103

Rabbi Jay Kelman

The distinction between a ganav and a gazlan is fairly well known. The former in trying to hide his crime pays double the amount stolen whereas the latter consistent in his fear of neither G-d nor man must return that which he stole and is…
Article
Sep 25, 2016

Keep the Money: Bava Kamma 94

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Doing teshuva is hard work. Sinning can be fun, easy to do, financially beneficial and habit forming. Change is hard. It requires hard work, commitment, dedication and sacrifice. And such is when we are talking about changing our actions. Changing a…
Article
Sep 20, 2016

The Wisdom of the Common Man: Bava Kamma 92

Rabbi Jay Kelman

One of the revolutions of Judaism was its democratization. No person is inherently superior to another--all are created in the same Divine image. One may not sacrifice the life of the criminal in order to save the life of the leading rabbi of the…
Article
Sep 16, 2016

Please Forgive Me: Bava Kamma 92

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“Even though he repays him he is not forgiven until he asks him.” (Bava Kamma 92a) In our last couple of postings we have discussed the five categories of damages one must pay if one assaults another. These can easily add up to many,…
Article
Sep 12, 2016

Let's Have a Party!: Bava Kamma 87

Rabbi Jay Kelman

In our last post we discussed Rabbi Yehuda’s (rejected) view that the blind are exempt from mitzvoth. This exemption actually brought great joy to Rav Yosef. Being blind himself he was exempt from mitzvoth yet he performed them voluntarily. He…
Article
Sep 5, 2016

The Death Penalty?: Bava Kamma 86

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Rav Yaakov Ettlinger in his collection of responsa (Binyan Tzion #172) discusses the powerful and scary question of whether one has to give up one’s life rather than embarrass somebody in public[1]. If so, “whitening someone’s face…
Article
Sep 4, 2016

Take Five:Bava Kamma 85

Rabbi Jay Kelman

Masechet Bava Kamma begins by describing one’s responsibility to pay for damages caused by one’s animals. It then discusses damages one indirectly causes through leaving objects in the public square or causing a fire. In the above cases…
Article
Sep 1, 2016

A Perfect Ten: Bava Kamma 82

Rabbi Jay Kelman

“Rav Yossi said: It would have been proper for the Torah to be given by Ezra had Moshe not preceded him.” (Sanhedrin 21b) It was Moshe who prepared the Jewish people for their first entry to the Land and it was Ezra some 1.000 years…
Article
Aug 30, 2016

Only One Chance: Bava Kamma 80

Rabbi Jay Kelman

When opportunity knocks, answer – you may not get a second chance. Or to quote the language of our Sages “a closed door does not easily [re]open.” (Bava Kamma 80b) One must always be ready to immediately take advantage of…
Article
Aug 26, 2016