ב"ה
Rambam - 1 Chapter a Day
Genevah - Chapter 6
Genevah - Chapter 6
1Whenever the prevailing assumption is that an article is stolen, one is forbidden to purchase it.1 Similarly, if the majority of a particular substance is stolen, one is forbidden to purchase it.2אכָּל דָּבָר שֶׁחֶזְקָתוֹ שֶׁהוּא גָּנוּב, אָסוּר לִקַּח אוֹתוֹ; וְכֵן אִם רֹב אוֹתוֹ הַדָּבָר שֶׁהוּא גָּנוּב, אֵין לוֹקְחִין אוֹתוֹ.
Therefore, one should not purchase wool, milk or kids from shepherds.3 This applies within a settled community. In the desert, by contrast, one may purchase milk and cheese from them.לְפִיכָךְ אֵין לוֹקְחִים מִן הָרוֹעִים צֶמֶר אוֹ חָלָב אוֹ גְּדָיִים; אֲבָל לוֹקְחִין מֵהֶן חָלָב וּגְבִנָּה בַּמִּדְבָּר, אֲבָל לֹא בַּיִּשּׁוּב.
Similarly, one may purchase four sheep or the shearing of four sheep from the shepherd of a small herd, or five from the shepherd of a large herd, for we do not presume that an amount of this size is stolen.4וּמֻתָּר לִקַּח מִן הָרוֹעִים אַרְבַּע צֹאן, אוֹ אַרְבַּע גִּזּוֹת שֶׁל צֶמֶר מֵעֵדֶר קָטָן, אוֹ חָמֵשׁ מֵעֵדֶר גָּדוֹל - שֶׁאֵין חֶזְקָתוֹ שֶׁהוּא גּוֹנֵב דָּבָר רַב.
2To state the general principle: Whenever a shepherd sells an article that would be noticed by the owner, it may be purchased from the shepherd. If the owner would not notice it, it is assumed to be stolen and may not be purchased from the shepherd.בכְּלָלוֹ שֶׁל דָּבָר: כָּל שֶׁהָרוֹעֶה מוֹכְרוֹ: אִם הָיָה בַּעַל הַבַּיִת מַרְגִּישׁ בּוֹ, מֻתָּר לְלָקְּחוֹ מִן הָרוֹעֶה; וְאִם אֵין בַּעַל הַבַּיִת מַרְגִּישׁ בּוֹ, אָסוּר לְלָקְּחוֹ.
3We may not purchase wood or produce from the watchmen of produce unless they sit openly and sell with baskets of produce and scales in front of them. In such an instance, the matter is overt and will be spoken about;5 therefore, we can conclude that theft is not involved.גאֵין לוֹקְחִין מִשּׁוֹמְרֵי פֵּרוֹת עֵצִים אוֹ פֵּרוֹת, אֶלָא בִּזְמַן שֶׁהֵן יוֹשְׁבִין וּמוֹכְרִים וְהַסַּלִּים לִפְנֵיהֶם וְהַפֶּלֶס לִפְנֵיהֶם, שֶׁהֲרֵי הַדָּבָר גָּלוּי וְיֵשׁ לוֹ קוֹל, וְאֵין זֶה גְּנֵבָה.
We may purchase from the entrance to a garden, but not from its rear.6וְלוֹקְחִין מִפֶּתַח הַגִּנָּה, אֲבָל לֹא מֵאֲחוֹרֵי הַגִּנָּה.
And whenever a seller says: “Hide the goods,” it is forbidden to purchase from him.7וְכֻלָּן שֶׁאָמְרוּ 'הַטְמֵן', אָסוּר לִקַּח מֵהֶן.
One may purchase from a sharecropper, for he has a share in the produce and the wood.8וּמֻתָּר לִקַּח מִן הָאָרִיס, שֶׁהֲרֵי יֵשׁ לוֹ חֵלֶק בַּפֵּרוֹת וּבָעֵצִים.
4We should not purchase articles from married women, servants or minors unless the prevailing assumption is that they were granted these articles by their owner;9 for example, women who sell linen garments in the Galilee or calves in the Sharon.10דאֵין לוֹקְחִין מִן הַנָּשִׁים וּמִן הָעֲבָדִים וּמִן הַקְּטַנִּים, אֶלָא דְּבָרִים שֶׁחֶזְקָתָן שֶׁהֵן שֶׁלָּהֶן מִדַּעַת הַבְּעָלִים, כְּגוֹן נָשִׁים שֶׁמָּכְרוּ כְּלֵי פִּשְׁתָּן בַּגָּלִיל, אוֹ עֲגָלִים בַּשָּׁרוֹן.
In all instances, if they say “Hide the goods,” it is forbidden to purchase from them, for we assume that the goods were stolen.וְכֻלָּן שֶׁאָמְרוּ 'הַטְמֵן' - אָסוּר לִקַּח מֵהֶן, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵן בְּחֶזְקַת גְּנֵבָה.
We may purchase eggs or roosters anywhere, from any person. If, however, one says “Hide what was sold,” it is forbidden.וְלוֹקְחִין בֵּיצִים וְתַרְנְגוֹלִים בְּכָל מָקוֹם מִכָּל אָדָם; וְאִם אָמַר 'הַטְמֵן', אָסוּר.
5One may purchase a large measure of olives or oil from an owner of an olive press. One may not, however, purchase a small amount of olives or oil, for the prevailing assumption is that these would be stolen goods. Similar laws apply in other like situations.הלוֹקְחִין מִן הַבַּדָּדִין זֵיתִים בְּמִדָּה, וְשֶׁמֶן בְּמִדָּה; אֲבָל לֹא זֵיתִים מוּעָטִים, וְלֹא שֶׁמֶן מוּעָט - שֶׁחֶזְקָתָן, גְּנֵבָה הֵם. וְכֵן כָּל כַּיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶם.
6A launderer of a new woolen garment is entitled to the fluff that he removes.11 The strands that the comber removes, by contrast, belong to the owner of the wool.12ומוּכִין שֶׁהַכּוֹבֵס מוֹצִיא, הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ שֶׁלּוֹ; וְשֶׁהַסּוֹרֵק מוֹצִיא, הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ שֶׁל בַעַל הַבַּיִת.
The launderer may take three strands. Anything more belongs to the owner of the garment.13הַכּוֹבֵס נוֹטֵל שְׁלוֹשָׁה חוּטִין, וְהֵן שֶׁלּוֹ; יָתֵר מִכָּאן, שֶׁל בַעַל הַבַּיִת.
If the additional strands were black against a white garment, the launderer may take all of them.אִם הָיָה שָׁחוֹר עַל גַּבֵּי לָבָן - נוֹטֵל אֶת הַכֹּל, וְהֵם שֶׁלּוֹ.
7When a tailor leaves more thread than necessary to sew with a needle,14 and a piece of cloth that is more than three fingerbreadths by three fingerbreadths,15 he is obligated to return it to the owner.16 Anything less than that, he may keep as his own.זהַחַיָּט שֶׁשִּׁיֵּר מִן הַחוּט כְּדֵי מְשִׁיכַת מַחַט, וְשִׁיַּר מִן הַבֶּגֶד מַטְלִית שֶׁהִיא שָׁלוֹשׁ אֶצְבָּעוֹת עַל שָׁלוֹשׁ אֶצְבָּעוֹת - חַיָּב לְהַחְזִירָן לַבְּעָלִים; פָּחוֹת מִכָּאן, שֶׁלּוֹ.
8A carpenter may keep the shavings of wood that he produces with a plane. The chips he produces with a hatchet, by contrast, belong to the owner.חנְסֹרֶת שֶׁהֶחָרָשׁ מוֹצִיא בַּמַּעֲצָד, שֶׁלּוֹ; וּבַכַּשִּׁיל, שֶׁל בַעַל הַבַּיִת.
If he is working for the owner as a hired hand,17 even the shavings belong to the owner.וְאִם הָיָה עוֹשֶׂה אֵצֶל בַּעַל הַבַּיִת, אַף הַנְּסֹרֶת שֶׁל בַעַל הַבַּיִת.
With regard to all these matters, the prevailing local custom is followed.18וְכָל הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלּוּ וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן, הוֹלְכִין בָּהֶן אַחַר מִנְהַג הַמְּדִינָה.
9Whenever a craftsman sells items to which he is not entitled according to the local practice - e.g., strands of fluff sold by a comber where it is” customary that they are returned to the owner - it is forbidden to purchase from him, for we assume that they are stolen. If, however, he sells a pillow filled with wool, one may purchase it from him.19טכָּל אֻמָּן שֶׁמָּכַר דָּבָר מִן הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁאֵינָן שֶׁלּוֹ כְּהִלְכוֹת הַמְדִינָה, כְּגוֹן מוּכִין שֶׁמְּכָרָן הַסּוֹרֵק בִּמְקוֹם שֶׁנָּהֲגוּ שֶׁיִּהְיוּ לְבַעַל הַבַּיִת - אָסוּר לִקַּח מִמֶּנּוּ, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵן בְּחֶזְקַת גְּנֵבָה. אֲבָל לוֹקְחִין מִמֶּנּוּ כַּר מָלֵא מוּכִין.
If a craftsman sells articles to which he is entitled according to the local practice, it is permitted to purchase them from him. If, however, he says, “Hide it,” purchase is forbidden.20וְאִם מָכַר הָאֻמָּן דְּבָרִים שֶׁהֵן שֶׁלּוֹ כְּהִלְכוֹת מְדִינָה, לוֹקְחִין מִמֶּנּוּ; וְאִם אָמַר 'הַטְמֵן', אָסוּר.
Footnotes
1.
See Chapter 5, Halachah 1, which explains the prohibition against purchasing from a thief.
2.
Even if one has no knowledge about the particular item that one is being offered, if most items of this type are stolen, one should not purchase the item in question. Note the apparent contrast to Hilchot Gezelah 6:8 and the resolution suggested by the Kessef Mishneh.
3.
For one may presume that the shepherd is selling goods that rightfully belong to the owner.
4.
For the amount is large enough to attract the owner’s notice, and thus the shepherd would not have sold it without permission.
5.
Hence, one can assume that the owner of the produce knows about its sale.
6.
When a sale is made in the front of a garden, it is a matter of public knowledge, and the owner can be assumed to be aware that such sales are taking place. When it is made in the rear of a garden, this is not necessarily the case, and it is more likely that theft is involved.
7.
This is an obvious indication that theft is involved.
8.
We assume that he is selling produce or wood that belongs to him and not to the owner of the field. The Ramah (Choshen Mishpat 358:4, based on - but not totally identical to - the words of the Tur) states that this applies only when the sharecropper and the owner have already divided the crops. Otherwise, we suspect that the sharecropper is making the sale before the division has been made.
The Kessef Mishneh cites an explicit instance related in Bava Metzia 22a to substantiate the Rambam’s position.
9.
None of the three individuals mentioned has an independent financial capacity. A woman’s earnings and property are on lien to her husband. A servant is the property of his master, and a child does not have an independent financial capacity until he attains majority. (Indeed in certain instances, even after the attainment of majority, he is considered to be unable to act on his own.)
Accordingly, we suspect that they are selling goods that belong to their husbands, masters or parents without their knowledge.
10.
The Galilee refers to the northern hills of Israel. In the times of the Mishnah, flax would grow abundantly there. Women would work spinning flax and weaving linen garments. The Sharon is a plain off the coast in the center of the country. In the times of the Mishnah, there was a flourishing cattle trade there (Rashi, Bava Kama 118a).
11.
For this is a small amount of wool and is not valuable.
12.
For this is a larger amount and would not be ignored by the owner.
13.
The weavers would leave a number of strands of wool hanging loosely at the end of a garment to preserve the weave when the garment is being laundered the first time. The launderer is entitled to take three of these strands, for it is taken for granted that the owner will not mind his taking such a small amount. Taking a larger amount, however, is considered to be theft.
14.
The Ra’avad and the Maggid Mishneh define this to be twice the length of the needle.
15.
For this is considered a cloth of significant size, as reflected in the Sabbath laws and the laws of ritual purity.
16.
In that era, the customer would provide the fabric and the thread for a garment.
17.
And not as a contractor.
18.
Indeed, it is given precedence over the above rules.
The prevailing local customs are followed because one of the governing principles in Jewish business law is that any conditional agreement made between the principals in a business transaction is binding. When there is a standard local custom, it is as if both parties agreed to follow this practice.
19.
Although it is likely that the comber stole the wool in the pillow, one may purchase the pillow from him, because by making the wool into a pillow, the comber is considered to have changed the article significantly enough for it to be considered his own (Chapter 1, Halachah 12).
The Maggid Mishneh notes that from Hilchot Gezelah 2:10, it would appear that such a change is not significant, for it is possible to empty the wool from the pillow easily. He explains that an exception is nevertheless made in this instance, for we are not certain that the wool is in fact stolen.
20.
For we assume that it was stolen.
Rabbi Eliyahu Touger is a noted author and translator, widely published for his works on Chassidut and Maimonides.
Published and copyright by Moznaim Publications, all rights reserved.
To purchase this book or the entire series, please click here.
To purchase this book or the entire series, please click here.
The text on this page contains sacred literature. Please do not deface or discard.
Vowelized Hebrew text courtesy Torat Emet under CC 2.5 license.
The text on this page contains sacred literature. Please do not deface or discard.
