Bava Kamma - Daf 80
- Various laws pertaining to raising small animals in Eretz Yisroel
On the previous Daf, the Mishnah stated: אין מגדלין בהמה דקה בא"י – One may not raise small domesticated animals in Eretz Yisroel because of their tendency to wander into and graze in other people’s property. Rabban Gamliel permitted keeping them in one’s house, provided they do not go out to pasture, and they are tied to the legs of the bed. The Gemara relates an incident in which a pious man’s colleagues declined to visit him when they discovered he kept a goat in his house, although he required it for pain relief. They later determined that this was his singular shortcoming. In a Baraisa it was taught: רועה שעשה תשובה – a shepherd who has repented from raising small animals in Eretz Yisroel, אין מחייבין אותו למכור מיד – we do not obligate him to sell them all immediately, (which might prevent him from selling them for fear of financial loss) אלא מוכר על יד על יד – rather, he may sell them little by little. Similarly, a ger may incrementally sell off dogs or swine he inherits from his Gentile father.
- Owning cats
The Gemara relates that a cat once cut off the hand of a child, whereupon Rav declared publicly: חתול מותר להורגו – It is permitted to kill a cat, ואסור לקיימו – it is forbidden to keep it, ואין בו משום גזל – it has no prohibition against stealing it, ואין בו משום השב אבידה לבעלים – and concerning it there is no obligation of returning a lost item to its owner. Although Rav taught it is permitted to kill it, one could still think it is permitted to own if Rav had not taught otherwise. And although Rav taught it is permitted to steal it, making it obvious that it need not be returned when lost, the Gemara explains he referred to returning the skin of a dead cat, which is no longer harmful. Rav is challenged from a Baraisa, where Rebbe Shimon ben Elazar taught that it is permitted to raise cats and other small animals in Eretz Yisroel, מפני שעשויין לנקר את הבית – because they are used to clean the house of mice!? The Gemara answers that the Baraisa refers to black cats, which are harmless, and Rav’s ruling referred to white cats, which have violent tendencies. Although the cat which cut off the child’s hand was a black cat, it was the offspring of a white cat, and was also dangerous.
- דלת הננעלת לא במהרה תפתח
The Gemara quotes three statements from sons of Rav Pappa, one of them being: דלת הננעלת לא במהרה תפתח – a door which is closed (on a person’s success) will not quickly be opened. Mar Zutra explains it refers to סמיכה - ordination (i.e., if someone was supposed to receive semichah but was prevented, it will not be easily achieved). Rav Ashi explained: כל המריעין לו – Anyone who is treated badly, לא במהרה מטיבין לו – will not quickly be treated well. Rav Acha of Difti went further: לעולם אין מטיבין לו – They will never again treat him well. However, the Gemara comments that Rav Acha was speaking of his own experience, but generally, one’s fortunes can eventually improve. Rashi comments that the practical implication of this teaching is to increase in requesting Divine mercy.
