Talmud Shiur 5784 #3

(1)

1. These found objects belong to the finder
2. and these ones must be proclaimed [in the lost and found].
3. These found objects belong to the finder:
   1. if a man found scattered fruit,
      1. scattered money,
      2. small sheaves in the public domain,
      3. cakes of figs,
      4. bakers’ loaves,
      5. strings of fish,
      6. pieces of meat,
      7. wool shearings [as they come] from the country of origin,
      8. stalks of flax
      9. and strips of purple wool,
   2. These all belong to the finder,
      1. according to Rabbi Meir.
4. Rabbi Judah says:
   1. “Anything which has in it something unusual, must be proclaimed.
   2. How is this so?
      1. If he found a round cake with a potsherd in it or a loaf with coins in it [he must proclaim them].”
5. Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar says:
   1. “New merchandise need not be proclaimed.”

(2)

1. And these must be proclaimed:
2. if a man found fruit in a vessel,
   1. or an vessel as it appears;
   2. or money in a bag,
   3. or an empty bag;
   4. piles of fruit
   5. or piles of money;
   6. three coins one on top of the other;
   7. small sheaves in the private domain;
   8. home-made loaves of bread;
   9. wool shearings as they come from the craftsman’s shop;
   10. jugs of wine
   11. or jugs of oil,
3. these must be proclaimed.

(Mishnah 1)

Mishna - Elu Metziot:

If he found scattered fruit- their owners have abandoned them; so they are ownerless, as it says in the gemara.

Scattered money- Since they do not have a clear identifying mark, he abandons [them], and they become ownerless. And this is the reason for all of [these items].

Small sheaves (Kerichot) - Small sheaves. [It is] like we translate "gathering bundles" (Genesis 37:7), [as] mekarkhan kerichan in the Jerusalem Talmud.

In the public domain - as everyone tramples them. And if they had an identifying mark, it is surely destroyed.

Bakers' - All baker's bread is the same, but bread [from the kitchen] of a homeowner has an identifying mark.

From their country of origin- As they are, when they are shorn like all of the the shearings in the state. [This is] to exclude those that come from the craftsman's home, as it is learned in the lower part (the next mishnah).

Stalks of Flax - Ristes in the language of Ashkenaz (Germany); and in our place (France), it is popedes.

Strips (literally, tongues) of purple wool - Combed and pulled wool, then dyed purple; and they are common.

Found a round cake - of figs.

New Merchandise (Anpurya) - it will be explained in the gemara.

Mishnah:

Found fruit in a vessel - and the typical vessel has a marker.

As it appears - Empty.

Bag - which has markers of an owner.

Piles of Fruit - The Gemara will explain its signs, or its number, or its place.

Three coins one on top of another - The Gemara will explain its signs.