The Weekly Daf #60 Bava Basra 163-169 Week of 27 Adar Sheini - 4 Nisan 5755 / 29 March - 4 April 1995 By Rabbi Mendel Weinbach, Dean, Ohr Somayach Institutions ========================================================================== This issue is dedicated in the memory of R' Kaddish ben R' Moshe by his son, Jeremy Rose, of London ========================================================================== When Compliments Backfire Lashon Hara -- forbidden speech regarding other people -- is not limited to saying uncomplimentary things about them. Rabbi Dimi has warned us never to say nice things about another because this can lead to saying uncomplimentary things as well. The obvious question which such a ruling invites is resolved by the following approaches: 1) Don't be excessive in your praise of another for this will inevitably lead to mentioning his shortcomings as well. (Rashbam) 2) Don't praise someone in front of people who do not like him because you invite them to mention the features they dislike. (Rambam) Bava Basra 164b =========================================================================== The Sages Beat Him to It The Sage Abaye offered a bit of sage counsel which served him as well as others. When there is a need for a man who is signed as a witness on a document to submit a signature specimen to the court to help it in certifying his signature he should be careful to write this signature only at the very top of a sheet. Should he write it lower there is the danger that it may fall into the hands of an unscrupulous person who will then write a promissory note on top of that signature and present it for collection as a signed admission of indebtedness which is considered a valid document. An unscrupulous tax collector once came before Abaye and told him that he was prepared to offer an exemption from taxes to Torah scholars who presented a letter of accreditation signed by the Sage. He asked Abaye to give him a specimen of his signature and placed a sheet before him for this purpose. As Abaye started to write his signature on the top of the sheet this fellow attempted to pull the sheet away so that he would sign at the bottom and thus enable him to write what he pleased atop that signature. But Abaye simply reminded him: "The Sages have already beat you to it!" Bava Basra 167a =========================================================================== ** Spend This Coming Summer Break In Israel For As Little As $599 ** ** (including airfare from New York) ** =========================================================================== JLE Israel Summer Seminar '95 7 weeks of study and touring, optional Ulpan, and structured encounters with Israeli Dignitaries Departure June 14th Optional free week August 8th through August 14th For Jewish men between the ages of 19 & 30 with demonstrated academic achievement and a sincere motivation to explore their roots Minimum scholarship price: $599 Covers round trip ticket, room, board, tuition and tours Undergraduates attending college anywhere in North America who PERMANENTLY reside in New York City (the 5 boroughs), Long Island (Nassau & Suffolk counties) or Westchester County as well as undergraduates attending college in any of these areas although permanently residing elsewhere may qualify for additional scholarship monies. 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