Un lavoratore può mangiare una zucca, anche se vale un dinaro; una data, (cioè date) persino un dinaro. R. Eliezer Chisna dice: Un lavoratore non può mangiare più del suo salario, [scritto (Deuteronomio 23:25): "come la tua anima"—come (il salario) del suo noleggio, per il quale dà la sua anima, per arrampicarsi su un terrapieno e "appendere" su un albero.] I saggi lo permettono, ma a un uomo (cioè all'operaio) viene insegnato di non essere un ghiotta e chiudi la porta davanti a lui [per mezzo di "buoni consigli". E il primo tanna differisce dai saggi, dicendo che non è così avvisato. L'halachah è conforme ai saggi. ("e chiudi la porta davanti a lui"): cioè, e fai in modo che le persone non lo assumano.]
Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Metzia
אפילו בדינר – even if it is worth the equivalent of a denar.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Metzia
A laborer may eat cucumbers even to a denar’s worth, and dates even to a denar’s worth. Rabbi Elazar ben Hisma says: “A laborer may not eat more than the value of his wages. But the Sages permit it, but they teach a man not to be gluttonous as to close the door against himself. According to the anonymous opinion in section one of the mishnah, a laborer may eat as much food as he wants. Rabbi Elazar ben Hisma disagrees and states that by law a laborer may not eat more than he earns. The Sages, who are the same Rabbis who held the opinion in the first clause, permit a laborer to eat more than he earns. However, they state that for the laborer’s own good we teach him not to eat too much for if he does he will not be rehired. In other words while it may be legal for him to eat gluttonously, it will damage his reputation and in the future prevent him from being able to earn an income.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Metzia
לא יאכל פועל יותר על שכרו – as Scripture states, “until you are full,” while he is hired, for it is upon him as he obligates himself to ascend the ramp or to hang in the tree.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Metzia
מלמדין – we say to him via advice that is appropriate, but the first Tanna disputes the Sages and states that we don’t teach him, and Halakha is according to the Sages.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Metzia
ויהא סותם את הפתח – and they will be prevented from hiring him.
