Bava Metsia 41

המבטל שדה חבירו חייב לשפות לו. המבטל ספינת חבירו וחנות חבירו מהו. המוליך פירות ממקום הזול למקום היוקר אמר לחבירו תנם לי ואני נותן לך כדרך שאתה נותנן למקום פלוני אם באחריות הנותן אסור והלוקח מותר. המוליך חבילה ממקום למקום אמר לו תנייה לי ואני נותן לך כדרך שאתה נותן במקום פלוני אם באחריות הנותן אסור והלוקח מותר. אבל חמרין המקבלין מבעלי בתים מעמידין להן פירות במקום היוקר כשער הזול. רבי יודה בר פזי עד מקום שדרכו לילך ולבוא בו ביום. רב הונא אמר נעשה שלוחו. ודא מתיבין הונה שליח שנאנס חייב על האונסין שנאנס פטור על האונסין. לא פעמים מתנה שומר חנם להיות כשואל.

There they taught: Shimon the Righteous was of the remnants of the Men of the Great Assembly. He used to say ‘the world rests on three things – on the Torah on the Service and on Acts of Loving-kindness.’ The three of them are found in one verse (Isaiah 51:16) “And I placed My words into your mouth…” refers to Torah, “…and with the shadow of My hand I covered you…” refers to acts of loving-kindness, to teach you that anyone who is occupied with Torah and acts of loving-kindness merits to sit in the shadow of the Holy One. This is what is written “How precious is Your kindness, O God, and the sons of man will take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.” (Psalms 36:8) “…to plant the heavens and to found the earth…” (Isaiah 51:16) this refers to the sacrifices “…and to say to Zion [that] you are My people,” (ibid.) this refers to Israel. R’ Chanina bar Pappa said: I went over all of the Scripture and did not find that Israel was called Zion except here “…and to say to Zion [that] you are My people.” Mishna. The dues collectors who entered the house and the [thieves] (collectors) who returned the vessels are trustworthy to say that they did not touch anything, and in Jerusalem they are trustworthy regarding holy vessels. And at the time of the festivals even regarding priestly offerings. Gemara. The dues collectors who entered into a house – it is impure. If there is a non-Jew with them they are trustworthy to say ‘we went in but touched nothing.’ Give this two explanations. They are trustworthy to say ‘we entered but touched nothing’ when there are witnesses and they know this. And in Jerusalem they are trustworthy regarding holy vessels even when there are witnesses which they know about. Another explanation – they are trustworthy to say ‘we entered but touched nothing’ therefore we need the other teaching when there are witnesses they know about. And in Jerusalem they are trustworthy even on holy vessels even though there are witnesses that they know about. R’ Yehoshua ben Levi said: “The built-up Jerusalem is like a city that was joined (chubra) together within itself.” (Psalms 122:3) A city which makes all of Israel friends (chaverim – also a term for those who are trustworthy regarding tithes and matters of ritual purity). If so, let this be true during the rest of the year. R’ Zeira said: only at the time “There ascended the tribes…” (Psalms 122:4)