Commentary for Bava Metzia 3:11

הַמַּפְקִיד מָעוֹת אֵצֶל שֻׁלְחָנִי, אִם צְרוּרִין, לֹא יִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בָּהֶם, לְפִיכָךְ אִם אָבְדוּ אֵינוֹ חַיָּב בְּאַחֲרָיוּתָן, מֻתָּרִין, יִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בָּהֶן, לְפִיכָךְ אִם אָבְדוּ חַיָּב בְּאַחֲרָיוּתָן. אֵצֶל בַּעַל הַבַּיִת, בֵּין צְרוּרִין וּבֵין מֻתָּרִים לֹא יִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בָּהֶן, לְפִיכָךְ אִם אָבְדוּ אֵינוֹ חַיָּב בְּאַחֲרָיוּתָן. חֶנְוָנִי כְּבַעַל הַבַּיִת, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, חֶנְוָנִי כַּשֻּׁלְחָנִי:

If one deposits money with a money changer, if it is bound [and sealed or tied with a distinct knot], he may not use it. Therefore, if it is lost, he is not liable for restoration. [But if it is not sealed or tied with a distinct knot, even though it is bound, it is regarded as open and not bound at all, and he may use it.] If it is unbound, he may use it. Therefore, if it is lost, he is liable for restoration, [Even if he did not use it, he is like a hired watchman in respect to it, for he can use it, and he is liable for theft or loss. And if he uses it, it is like a loan to him, and he is liable, also, for accident.] (If he deposits it) with a homeowner, whether bound or unbound, he may not use it. Therefore, if it is lost, he is not liable for restoration. A shopkeeper is like a homeowner. These are the words of R. Meir. R. Yehudah says: A shopkeeper is like a money lender. [The halachah is in accordance with R. Yehudah.]

Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Metzia

אם צרורין – and signed, or tied with a distinctive tie

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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Metzia

Introduction The final two mishnayoth of chapter three continue to deal with the laws of things left in another person’s guard. Mishnah eleven deals with coins left for another person to guard. Mishnah twelve deals with a guardian who uses something deposited with him, even though he does not have permission to do so.

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Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Metzia

לא ישתמש בהן – but if they are not signed or tied with a distinctive tie, even though they are wrapped, they are as permissible and as if they were not tied at all, and it is permissible to use them.

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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Metzia

This mishnah deals with two laws, one being directly related to the other. The first law is the legality of a guardian using coins deposited with him. The second is his responsibility if the coins were lost or stolen (in a case where the loss was not due to his negligence). The rule is that if the guardian has the right to use the coins than he is responsible if they are lost (even if he was not negligible with them).

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Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Metzia

חייב באחריותן – and even if they were not used, he is [considered] regarding them as a paid bailee, because he is able to use them, and he liable for theft and loss. And if they were used, he is like a lender towards it and he is liable even for unavoidable accidents.

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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Metzia

Eleven
If a man left coins with a money-changer: If they were tied up [in a bag], he may not use them. ( Therefore, if they were lost, he is not responsible. If they were loose, he may use they were. ( Therefore, they were was lost, he is responsible. If a person leaves coins with a money-changer and the coins are tied up, assumedly the person does not want the money-changer to use the coins. Therefore he may not use them and is not responsible if they were lost. If, however, the coins were not tied up, the money-changer may use them. The fact that the owner left the coins with a money-changer who frequently needs coinage, means that the owner gave them to him assuming that the money-changer would use them. Since he may use the coins, he is responsible for their loss.

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Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Metzia

רבי יהודה אמר: כשולחני – and the Halakha is according to Rabbi Yehuda

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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Metzia

[If a man left coins] with a householder, Whether they were loose or tied up, he may not use them. ( Therefore, if they were lost he his not responsible. A regular householder does not use coins nearly as much as a money-changer and therefore when the owner gives them to him he assumes that the householder will not use them. Therefore he cannot use them, even if they were loose. He is also not obligated if they are lost.

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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Metzia

A shopkeeper is like a householder, according to Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Judah says a shopkeeper is like a money-changer. According to Rabbi Meir the laws regarding a shopkeeper are like those regarding a householder and according to Rabbi Judah they are like those regarding a money-changer.

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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Metzia

Questions for Further Thought:
Mishnah eleven, section three: Explain the dispute between Rabbi Meir and Rabbi Judah. Why does Rabbi Meir think that a shopkeeper is like a householder and Rabbi Judah think he is like a money-changer?

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