שבת Date: 11 Cheshvan, 5776 (11/12/16) – Bava Metzia Daf 47 ~ Eliezer Guterman

PROMISING PROJECTS

[47a top] Gemarah: A and B agree to exchange A’s donkey for B’s cow and sheep. If A took hold of and pulled the cow only (and has not yet made an acquisition of B’s sheep), the sale is considered incomplete [since only half of the acquisition was done and the whole process is viewed as not finished (for one does not acquire ‘half a donkey’)].

D-E-ep Thoughts: Sometimes, people who get busy in long tasks, may abandon their projects. Many times, there is no ‘half-credit’ for starting and only partially completing a job [indeed, even just the ones who finish Mitzvos get all the credit]. Inspiration is greatest at initial exciting moments and we must learn to carry that momentum with us through our missions’ completions.