Wenn einer sein Heu und Stroh für Düngemittel öffentlich zugänglich macht [dh damit es zerfällt und zu Dünger für Felder oder Weinberge wird] und ein anderer dadurch verletzt wird, haftet er für seine Verletzung. Und wer zuerst sie nimmt, erwirbt sie, [die Rabbiner haben ihn bestraft.] R. Shimon b. Gamliel sagt: Alle, die den öffentlichen Bereich verderben [auch wenn sie dies legal tun (wie in der Zeit, in der der Dünger entfernt wird)], wenn dadurch eine Verletzung verursacht wird, müssen sie bezahlen; und wer zuerst ist (um die dort befindlichen Dinge zu nehmen), erwirbt sie. Wenn einer Tiermist gemeinfrei umdreht und ein anderer dadurch verletzt wird, haftet er für seine Verletzung.
Rambam on Mishnah Bava Kamma
If a man put out his chopped straw or stubble in the public domain....
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Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Kamma
לזבלים – that the straw and stubble will decay and become manure to manure the fields and vineyards.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Kamma
Introduction
The first mishnah we deal with today continues to discuss the topic of damages caused by a person’s property in the public domain. We learned in the previous two mishnayoth that if a person brings his belongings out to the public domain and someone damages them, the damager is not liable. Furthermore if someone is injured by these belongings, their owner is liable. This mishnah will add in a third principle: if a person brings an item out to the public domain, an item which is potentially damaging to others, any person who finds that item can take it. In other words, the owner of the item is punished for endangering other people’s safety.
Today’s second mishnah deals with the liability of a person who trips in the public domain and thereby causes damage to another.
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Rambam on Mishnah Bava Kamma
This that we said all who get there first is entitled to it, it is a fine.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Kamma
כל הקודם בהן זכה – that the Rabbis have fined him.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Kamma
In mishnah three a person put out straw and stubble in order to make fertilizer for his field. The mishnah states that this is an illegal action, the consequences of which are liability for damages done to others and loss of property. Note the double punishment: 1) anyone can claim the straw and stubble, meaning they are not really his anymore; 2) nevertheless if someone is injured by them, we make the owner, who is not really the owner anymore, pay for the injuries. Evidently the mishnah sees bringing the straw and stubble out to the public domain as a grave offense.
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Rambam on Mishnah Bava Kamma
And cattle dung, even at the season of taking out of manure, if it damages, they are obligated.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Kamma
כל המקלקלים ברה"ר – and even if they do it with permission such as the case at the time of removing the manure, and if they caused damage, they are liable.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Kamma
If a man turned over a piece of cattle dung in the public domain and another was injured thereby, he is liable for injury. Section two deals with a situation where a person saw an ownerless piece of dung in the public domain. (Believe it or not, people wanted to own this dung for fertilizing.) By turning it over, he has taken possession of the dung. Therefore if someone else is injured by it, he is obligated. The mishnah teaches that once you technically own something, you now have to make sure it doesn’t injure someone else. Mishnah four teaches us the principle that accidentally stumbling is not an excuse for causing damages. Although the person who tripped certainly did not intend to do so, and probably caused damage to the things he himself was carrying (pots), he is still liable. He should have walked more carefully.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Kamma
היה הופך את הגלל – cattle dung.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Kamma
Questions for Further Thought: • What is the difference between Rabban Shimon ben Gamaliel’s opinion and the statement that immediately preceded him? Is there even a disagreement in this mishnah?
