Bava Metzia

MISHNAH. IF A MAN DEPOSITED MONEY WITH HIS NEIGHBOUR, WHO BOUND IT UP AND SLUNG IT OVER HIS SHOULDER  [OR] ENTRUSTED IT TO HIS MINOR SON OR DAUGHTER AND LOCKED [THE DOOR] BEFORE THEM, BUT NOT PROPERLY, HE IS LIABLE, BECAUSE HE DID NOT GUARD [IT] IN THE MANNER OF BAILEES. BUT IF HE GUARDED IT IN THE MANNER OF BAILEES, HE IS EXEMPT. GEMARA. As for all, it is well, since indeed he did not guard it in the manner of bailees: but if HE BOUND IT UP AND SLUNG IT OVER HIS SHOULDER — what else should he have done? — Said Raba in R. Isaac's name: Scripture saith, and thou shalt bind up the money in thine hand  — even if bound up, it should be in thy hand. R. Isaac also said: One's money should always be ready to hand,  for it is written, and thou shalt bind up the money in thy hand. R. Isaac also said: One should always divide his wealth into three parts: [investing] a third in land, a third in merchandise, and [keeping] a third ready to hand. R. Isaac also said: A blessing is found only in what is hidden from the eye,  for it is written, The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy hidden things.  The School of R. Ishmael taught: A blessing comes only to  that over which the eye has no power,  for it is said, The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy hidden things. Our Rabbis taught: When one goes to measure [the corn in] his granary, he should pray, 'May it be Thy will, O Lord our God, to send a blessing upon the work of our hands.' Having started to measure, he prays, 'Blessed is He who sendeth a blessing on this pile.' But if he measured and then prayed,  it is a vain prayer, because a blessing is not found in that which is [already] weighed, measured, or counted, but only in that which is hidden from the eye, for it is said, The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy hidden things. Samuel said: Money can only be guarded [by placing it] in the earth.  Said Raba: Yet Samuel admits that on Sabbath eve at twilight the Rabbis did not put one to that trouble.  Yet if he tarried after the conclusion of the Sabbath long enough to bury it [the money] but omitted to do so, he is responsible [if it is stolen]. But if he [the depositor] was a scholar, he [the bailee] might have thought, He may require the money for habdalah.  But nowadays  that there are money-diviners,  it can be properly guarded only [by placing it] under the roof beams. But nowadays that there are house breakers,  it can be guarded only [within the void spaces] between bricks. Raba said: Yet Samuel admits [that it may be] hidden] in the wall. But nowadays that there are rappers,  It can be guarded only in the handbreadth nearest to the earth or to the uppermost beams. R. Aha, son of R. Joseph, said to R. Ashi: We learnt elsewhere: If ruins collapsed on leaven, it is regarded as removed.  R. Simeon b. Gamaliel said: Provided that  a dog cannot search it out.  And it was taught [thereon]: How far is the searching of a dog? Three handbreadths.  How is it here?  Do we require [that it shall be covered by] three handbreadths or not? — There, he replied, we require three handbreadths on account of the smell [of the leaven];  but here [it is put into the earth] in order to cover it from the eye; therefore three handbreadths are not required. And how much [is necessary]? — Said Rafram of Sikkara:  one handbreadth. A certain man deposited money with his neighbour, who placed it in a cot of bulrushes.  Then it was stolen. Said R. Joseph: Though it was proper care in respect to thieves,  yet it was negligence in respect to fire: hence the beginning [of the trusteeship] was with negligence though its end was through an accident, [and therefore] he is liable. Others Say: Though it was negligence in respect to fire, it was due care in respect to thieves, and when its beginning is with negligence and its end through an accident, he [the bailee] is not liable.  And the law is that when the beginning thereof is with negligence and the end through an accident, he is responsible. A certain man deposited money with his neighbour. On his demanding, 'Give me my money,' he replied, 'I do not know where I put it.' So he went before Raba, [who] said to him: Every [plea of] 'I do not know' constitutes negligence: go and pay him. A certain man deposited money with his neighbour, who entrusted it to his mother; she put it in her work basket and it was stolen. Said Raba: What ruling shall judges give in this case? Shall we say to him, 'Go and repay'?  Then he can reply,