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Perek 2

Mishnayos Bava Metzia Perek 2 Mishnah 8

בבא מציעא פרק ב׳ משנה ח׳

8
If one found scrolls, he reads them once in thirty days in order to ventilate them and prevent mold. And if he does not know how to read, he rolls and unrolls them in order to ventilate them. But he shall not study passages in them for the first time, as he would leave the scroll exposed to the air for a lengthy period, thereby causing damage. And another person shall not read the scroll with him, as each might pull it closer to improve his vantage point, which could cause the scroll to tear. If one found a garment, he shakes it once in thirty days, and he spreads it out for its sake, to ventilate it, but he may not use it as a decoration for his own prestige. If one found silver vessels or copper vessels, he may use them for their own sake to prevent tarnish and rust, but he may not use them to the extent that he will erode them. If he finds gold vessels or glass vessels, which are not ruined by neglect, he may not touch them until Elijah will come and identify the owner. If a person found a sack or a basket or any other item that it is not his typical manner to take and carry because it is beneath his dignity, he shall not take it, as one need not demean himself in order to return a lost item.

מָצָא סְפָרִים, קוֹרֵא בָהֶן אַחַת לִשְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם. וְאִם אֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ לִקְרוֹת, גּוֹלְלָן. אֲבָל לֹא יִלְמֹד בָּהֶן בַּתְּחִלָּה, וְלֹא יִקְרָא אַחֵר עִמּוֹ. מָצָא כְסוּת, מְנַעֲרָהּ אַחַת לִשְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם. וְשׁוֹטְחָהּ לְצָרְכָּהּ, אֲבָל לֹא לִכְבוֹדוֹ. כְּלֵי כֶסֶף וּכְלֵי נְחֹשֶׁת, מִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בָּהֶן לְצָרְכָּן, אֲבָל לֹא לְשָׁחֳקָן. כְּלֵי זָהָב וּכְלֵי זְכוּכִית, לֹא יִגַּע בָּהֶן עַד שֶׁיָּבֹא אֵלִיָּהוּ. מָצָא שַׂק אוֹ קֻפָּה, וְכָל דָּבָר שֶׁאֵין דַּרְכּוֹ לִטֹּל, הֲרֵי זֶה לֹא יִטֹּל:

ח׳

Once in 30 days. Since they get moldy if you delay opening them. All of their books were made like a scroll.

Roll. From their beginning to their end to allow air to enter.

For the first time. What he has never learnt. This is because he would require leaving it [open] in front of him for longer.

And another should not read with him. Since this one pulls towards himself and this one pulls towards himself and it will break.

Spread it out for its sake. To allow it to air out so moths won't destroy it.

For their sake. This is because they get moldy in the ground. You need to put them in the ground since this is how they are guarded. Therefore they should be used occasionally.

But don't wear them out. Don't use them for a long time until they wear out.

Don't touch them. Gold doesn't get moldy in the ground. Similarly glass. Further it [glass] is easy to break.

Which is undignified to pick up. Something that is degrading to him. The Torah said "And you hid yourself from them", [implication is] that sometimes you can hide, for example an elder and it's beneath his dignity.

אחת לשלשים יום. שמתעפשין כששוהין מלפותחן. וכל ספריהן היו עשויין כעין גליון:

גוללן. מתחלתן לסופן שיכנס בהם האויר:

בתחילה. מה שלא למד מעולם. לפי שצריך להשהותן לפניו:

ולא יקרא אחר עמו. לפי שזה מושך אצלו וזה מושך אצלו ונקרע:

שוטחה לצרכה. לשלוט בה אויר שלא תאכלנה עש:

לצרכן. שמתעפשים בקרקע. שצריך לתתן בקרקע דזו היא שמירתן. ולפיכך משתמש בהם לפרקים:

אבל לא לשוחקן. ולא ישתמש בהן זמן ארוך עד שישחקם:

לא יגע בהן. זהב אינו מתעפש בארץ. וכן זכוכית. ועוד שהוא נוח להשבר:

שאין דרכו ליטול. דבר שגנאי הוא לו. והתורה אמרה והתעלמת מהם, פעמים שאתה מתעלם, כגון זקן ואינו לפי כבודו: