יום א Date: 16 Cheshvan, 5774 (11/9/14) – Yevamos#36 {Eliezer}

ABSOLUTE OWNERSHIP

[36b middle] Gemarah: A father bequeaths his son the ownership of the father’s tree, provided that while the father is alive, the father still has the rights to the tree’s fruits. R’ Yochanan: Ownership of the fruits of a tree (even when the tree itself has been handed over to another’s estate) is considered full ownership of the entire tree. Reish Lakish: Ownership over a tree’s fruits does not entitle one to ownership of the entire tree.
Ksos (quoting the Rosh): According to all opinions, even when the case of limited ownership (just of the fruits) is only matter of time (and the entire rights will be lost later), while the person actually has the rights to the fruits, he is viewed as being the full complete owner of the tree during that moment in time.

D-E-ep Thoughts: We are all entitled to Hashem’s fruits in this world. Even though all roots and branches are His, while we are here for an infinitesimal amount of time, we have “ownership” of our possessions. We must remember to whom everything ultimately belongs, and treat our land, property, and bodies with the highest regard for our Creator.