Tuesday 2 February 2016

Gittin 52: Steward and Orphans

A new Mishna teaches us that orphans who are minors require stewards or other responsible adults to care for their needs and guard their inheritance.  There is an argument about whether a steward appointed by a court or a steward appointed by the (now deceased) parent need not make an oath at the end of their service.  The oath states that the steward used the orphans' monies with restraint.

Almost all of today's daf is a deeper examination of how stewards are supposed to behave toward the orphans they care for.  There are a number of specific guidelines regarding this relationship. Each recommendation addresses either protection of minors or protection of the steward's reputation as an upstanding person worthy of his trust.  If the father appointed the steward, more trust seems to be put into that trust than if he were court appointed.  Further, great effort is taken to ensure that stewards do not sell the property of orphans unless that is required for food that is used immediately.

At the end of today's daf, a new Mishna teaches about teruma and property value.  A person is not permitted to render another's food ritually impure, mix another's teruma with their non-sacred food, or pour another's wine in front of an idol.  If one of these things is done accidentally, there is no fine.  But if this is done intentionally, an additional fine is paid.

The Gemara begins to discuss the different monetary fines that are paid in the case of each of these transgressions.  


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