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Talmud Study - Lesson 2

The Four Guardians

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Talmud Study - Lesson 2: The Four Guardians

This class serves as an introduction to the subject matter discussed in the third chapter of Bava Metzia, namely the laws of the four guardians.
Handouts:
 The Four Types of Guradians  
Thief's Fine  
Six Orders of the Mishnah  
Audio: Listen to Audio | Download this MP3
Topics: Bava Metzia, Talmud
Bava Metzia Talmud
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Jane Smith South Carolina, USA July 27, 2025

Are there transcripts for these lessons? I need to read them instead of listening. I don't see a link anywhere for transcripts. Reply

Chabad.org Staff July 28, 2025
in response to Jane Smith:

I am sorry, we do not have transcripts available for the video lessons at this time. Reply

David Herting Munich April 14, 2023

Just an amazing introduction (episode 1), so clear, so well structured! Shkoyach! Reply

Aimee H. Chicago, IL August 27, 2021

Thank you for such a helpful and clear presentation and f this material in the Talmud. I am confused by the spiritual compassion of our guardianship of our lives because a guardian whether paid or unpaid or even a renter assumes consciousness of entering into that agreement. We were not given the choice to become a guardian- it was imposed on us. As Rabbi M. Friedman says “we didn’t choose to be born”. How can someone “forced“ into guardianship be evaluated spiritually by this tractate? Reply

Gypsy Austin, TX August 23, 2021

I love your teaching style. very engaging. demonstrative. not boring. I love it. Reply

Jordan D Jay Borehamwood July 20, 2021

Why can't I cast???? Reply

Brenda Guilbault NYC May 24, 2020

Excellent teacher, I really enjoyed this first class presented so clearly. Reply

Ross March 1, 2020

How about: The Ox would take 2 1/2 years to develop into a good breeder. You’re paying double still.
The sheep is Smaller it only takes 2 years to come to full maturity. Again you’re paying double again. Because you didn’t just steal the animals but also the lost productivity.
With the ox you’re missing a second plow season in the fall. Reply

Dr. Claudia Tatum Dallas November 26, 2019

Wow he is so knowledgeable and inspiring. I loved it. Reply

Elizabeth Alcoba Olney January 18, 2019

Good class! thank you Rabbi. Do you have an on line Hebrew class? Reply

Yitzhak Grand Barnstaple, England October 23, 2018

Shalom rabbi - loving the series so far very interesting - if a paid guardian, renter or borrower pays compensation to the owner and then the thief is caught does he get the compensation returned to him? Also if the person who is supposed to get the compensation from the thief dies who receives the compensation on his behalf? Reply

Rabbi Mendel Adelman October 23, 2018
in response to Yitzhak Grand:

Hello Yitzchak,

If the guardian pays compensation to the owner, and then the thief is caught, the thief then returns the item to the guardian, plus double.

"If a man left an animal or implements with another for safekeeping and they were stolen or lost, and the bailee said: "I will rather make restitution than take an oath," and then the thief was found, the thief must make twofold restitution, and if he had slaughtered or sold the animal he must make fourfold or fivefold restitution to the bailee who had agreed to pay [rather than take an oath]" (Rambam Laws of Borrowers and Guardians 8:1).

However, if the item is still extant, it is returned to the original owner, the compensation is returned to the guardian, and the thief pays the double penalty to the guardian.

If the guardian dies, his children receive the payment in his stead (or whoever inherits him). Reply

Chananaya March 5, 2018

Thank you so much rabbi I'm loving the classes how do the get a work sheet to follow the class ? Reply

Benjamin Jones March 5, 2018
in response to Chananaya :

Shalom:
Click on the link under the video that is titled "Handouts" for resource to accompany class, beautiful you found this class. Reply

Donna Nall Chandler, AZ USA October 26, 2017

Rabbi Wolf,

I just listened to your Lesson 1 of Talmud Study. I cannot read Hebrew or Aramaic but I would love to study the Talmud, is there one that has been translated into English? I love that you said, "Truth can only be realized by rigorous effort and questioning is essential for understanding." paraphrased. I liked how you explained the Mishnah. I have studied God's word for many years but have not studied it from a Jewish prospective which I believe has to have more information because you are God's chosen people. He has always made sure there was a remnant of His people who loved and honored Him. Looking forward to lesson 2. Do you happen to work from an outline that we can use to take notes. It took me 2 hours to listen to the first one because I had to keep going back. No problem, you said some things that I wanted to listen to more than once. Reply

Jenifer Nech Houston USA February 28, 2017

Thank you so much. Rebbe Wolf, you are so easy to listen to. I am motivated to learn more. Reply

Eliezer Zalmanov for Chabad.org December 20, 2015

Re: The Renter If the rental policy included the furniture (TV, etc.) in the apartment, then it would only be logical for the renter to be responsible for anything stolen from it. Reply

Bonnie Kalbrosky San Francisco December 6, 2015

The Renter So if someone (A) rents an apartment from someone else (B) and the apartment is broken into during the day and a TV is stolen, are the Rabbi's saying that "B" is responsible / liable for "A"'s stolen goods and would therefore have to repay him/her? Reply

Benjamin Indianapolis June 9, 2015

Ox & Sheep/ Watch Additionally, I wonder if due to an Ox & Sheep being living, breathing life forms in relation to value? Just a thought 🌈 Reply

Gurdeep Badwal wolverhampton June 7, 2015

ox and sheep i thought maybe the ox and sheep have a higher value because they bring income to the household, a watch is a watch but if you steal an ox or a sheep not only have you stole the principal value you are also stealing future income that would have came from the ox plowing or transporting carts and the sheep for its wool or meat ..... its just a thought. By the way i think the course is fantastic and the rabbi a very articulate man. Reply

benjamin Indianapolis May 17, 2015

Rabbi Meir I do not see Rabbi Meir listed on the "Personalities' heading on the Class Resource f/ Lesson 1. I thought to look upon hearing the discussion of the Ox & Sheep between he & R. Zakkai. From there I looked Rabbi Meir up on Wikipedia....quite interesting. Looking forward to Lesson 3. Reply

Chana Bangkok April 4, 2015

thank you for sharing! i really love this lecture! Reply

Anonymous WI November 7, 2014

Thief's Fine How do you/is the factor of metal instability fit into this teaching and understanding? What if the 'thief' simply doesn't have the mental clarity to understand would 'they' be held to the law in the same way or is there exceptions to this line of thinking? If yes, who is deemed worthy to judge a person that suffers unlike the common people? Reply

Talmud for Beginners
These Talmud classes will be studying and analyzing the third chapter of tractate Bava Metzia, which presents the Jewish approach in many matters of civil law, particularly vis-à-vis the different degrees of liability assumed by guardians, renters and borrowers.
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