Shevi鈥檌t 10:8
When may you accept or decline additional favors?
讛诪讞讝讬专 讞讜讘 讘砖讘讬注讬转 讬讗诪专 诇讜 诪砖诪讟 讗谞讬 讗诪专 诇讜 讗注”驻 讻谉 讬拽讘诇 诪诪谞讜 砖谞讗’ (讚讘专讬诐 讟讜) 讜讝讛 讚讘专 讛砖诪讟讛 讻讬讜爪讗 讘讜 专讜爪讞 砖讙诇讛 诇注讬专 诪拽诇讟 讜专爪讜 讗谞砖讬 讛注讬专 诇讻讘讚讜 讬讗诪专 诇讛诐 专讜爪讞 讗谞讬 讗诪专讜 诇讜 讗注驻”讻 讬拽讘诇 诪讛诐 砖谞讗诪专 (砖诐 讬讟) 讜讝讛 讚讘专 讛专讜爪讞:
If someone seeks to repay a debt during the sabbatical year [even though his debt has been canceled], the lender should say, “I forgive the loan.” If the borrower says, “even so” [I am paying you], then the lender can take it, as the Torah says, “this is the word of the annulment” (Deut. 15:2). Similarly, if a killer has been exiled to a city of refuge, and the local people wish to honor him, he should say to them, “I am a killer.” If they say to him, “even so,” then he can accept [the honor] from them, as the Torah says, “this is the word of the killer” (Deut. 19:4).
Comment
The Torah extends unusual protections to those who are vulnerable such as a borrower, whose loans get canceled every seven years, and an unintentional killer, who may live safely in exile. This Mishnah picks up on Deuteronomy鈥檚 unnecessary use of “davar” (the word) to ask what type of agency these individuals may exercise when negotiating with their neighbors.
Questions for Discussion
- What motivates the rabbis to give these permissions?
- Are the biblical commandments being honored or evaded?
- When should a person decline benefits and honors?
