Exodus 22:8 "In every case of trespass...in which one can say: This is it"'

Ari and Izzy were playing ball on the lawn.

Suddenly, Ari felt his glove beginning to slip of his hand.

He shouted to Izzy to wait a second, but Izzy threw the ball anyway. It landed in the street sewer because Ari wasn't ready to catch it.

"Hey! I asked you to wait!" Ari yelled. "I'm sorry, I didn't hear you," Izzy answered. "Yes you did. I could tell! Now you've got to buy me a new ball!" Ari demanded. "No I don't" Izzy protested.

In cases like these, where an argument arises and people disagree about who bears responsibility for a loss or damage, the Torah teaches us how to come to a fair decision.