daf bit: Bava Batra 90

[cellio]

The rabbis consider hoarding of food (specifically fruit) to be in the same category as lending money on usury and reducing the size of one's measures (to cheat the buyer). Rab said that a person may store produce he grew himself (rather than buying); however, he may not hoard life's necessities (wine, oil, flour). Even so there is a limit; in Eretz Yisrael one may store produce for three years, to cover the current year, the sabbatical year to follow, and the year folowing that. And in years of famine one may not hoard even carob. (90b)

(If you have never eaten carob, let me just say that your theoretical understanding of the last sentence is limited. :-) )

Comments

[dsrtao]

I've eaten carob as "carob chips" and as a hot drink. I don't understand why anyone would hoard it.

[talvinamarich.livejournal.com]

This strikes me as somewhat contrary to one of the classic stories, specifically that of Yosef son of Ya'aqov. (Joseph, son of Jacob, in case I screwed that up entirely.)

Joseph advised the Pharaoh to store seven years of grain against famine.

Is the difference that one is hoarding for oneself, and that is forbidden, and the other is hoarding for the community, which may be seen as needful?

Caveat: I of course base this on the story as presented in English in the Protestant tradition. Your text may vary in some significant detail?

[530nm330hz.livejournal.com]

Ah, carob. The worst part of the Tu Bishvat bags they have us every year as kids. The flavor of old tires with the consistency of old tires.

[fauxklore]

I actually like carob and thought it was the best part of the Tu B´shvat bags we got as kids. (I hate raisins and dates and figs, however.)