יום ו Date: 13 Elul, 5776 (9/16/16) – Bava Kama Daf 108 {Eliezer}

PILING PAYMENTS

[108a middle] Ravina: Two watchers on one item both lie that it was stolen; one swears falsely and then admits (which requires adding a ⅕ onto the original payment), while the other swears falsely and is proven wrong due to subsequent witnesses (which makes him liable to a double payment). Normally, the rule is that an item cannot carry both a ⅕ addition and a double payment, but does this apply with two separate people carrying double responsibility on one item?

D-E-ep Thoughts: Even though additional payments are in question, we see that both individuals are (at least) liable to full base payments. We may not shirk our responsibilities in this world. Even if others do things that are wrong, we still have our own full accountabilities (and should not look to excuse ourselves because of what goes on around us).