Gittin, Daf Yod Bet, Part 4

 

Introduction

The Talmud continues to discuss whether a master can initiate not supporting his slave. By now we should see an emerging structure. The sources brought all seem to intimate that a master can make such a statement. But the Talmud rejects them and rules that he cannot.

 

תָּא שְׁמַע דְּאָמַר רַב הַמַּקְדִּישׁ יְדֵי עַבְדּוֹ אוֹתוֹ הָעֶבֶד לֹוֶה וְאוֹכֵל וְעוֹשֶׂה וּפוֹרֵעַ שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ יָכוֹל הָרַב לוֹמַר לָעֶבֶד עֲשֵׂה עִמִּי וְאֵינִי זָנָךְ

 

Come and learn that Rav said: One who dedicates the earnings of his slave, the slave must borrow money and eat and then earn money and pay back the debt. Learn from this that a master can say to his slave: Work for me and I will not provide for you.

 

This is a bit of a difficult source and will be explained as we continue. The master dedicates his slave s earnings to the Temple. This seems to be effective. So how can the slave eat? The slave must borrow money and then he can use that money for sustenance. Then he can work and pay the debt back. These earnings will not go to the Temple (as shall be explained below). The source seems to prove that the master can dedicate his slave s earnings and yet not provide for him. The slave will have to borrow.

 

הָכָא בְּמַאי עָסְקִינַן בְּמַעֲלֶה לוֹ מְזוֹנוֹת אִי הָכִי לְמַאי לֹוֶה וְאוֹכֵל

לְהַעְדָּפָה

 

What are we dealing with here? Where the master is providing sustenance. If so, why must he borrow and eat? For the extra [sustenance he might need].

 

The Talmud now explains that in this scenario, the master is providing for his slave. The slave is borrowing money for something extra. But the master cannot dedicate his slave s earnings unless he is being provided for.

 

וְלֵימָא לֵיהּ הֶקְדֵּשׁ עַד הַשְׁתָּא סַגִּי לָךְ בְּלָא הַעֲדָפָה וְהַשְׁתָּא נָמֵי תִּיסְגֵּי לָךְ בְּלָא הַעֲדָפָה

הֶקְדֵּשׁ גּוּפֵיהּ נִיחָא לֵיהּ כִּי הֵיכִי דְּלַשְׁבַּח עַבְדֵּיהּ

 

And let the Temple say to him: Up until now it was sufficient for you without that extra, and now also it should be sufficient for you without that extra.

For the Temple itself it is beneficial so that the value of the slave will be increased.

 

The Talmud is perplexed why the dedication of the slave s work does not also apply to the extra, the amount beyond his normal needs. Why can the slave keep this extra? After all, before when he was working he does not seem to have needed this extra (and that is why this is extra).

The answer is that the Temple itself is interested in the slave having more food to eat. This will give him greater strength and he will be able to produce more for the Temple in the future.

Tomorrow we will continue to discuss some other issues involved in this halakhah.