Bava Batra 110 - October 13, 11 Tishrei

This week's learning is sponsored by Rhona Fink in loving memory of my mother, Malca bat Avraham v'Sarah, on her shloshim. "My mother was a woman of honor, modest and accomplished, a great listener, who was so proud that I was studying the Daf. And in honor of the Hadran daffers who have been so supportive during my difficult time." Rava recommends that in choosing a wife, one should check out her brothers as it will be an indication of how their future sons will behave, as sons are often similar in behavior to their maternal uncle. This is derived from the verse describing Aharon's marriage to Elisheva who is introduced as the daughter of Aminadav, sister of Nachshon. Yonatan, the Levi who helped Micah in the story of Micah's idol, was descended from Moshe, according to an interpretation of the verse. When the people questioned his behavior and why he worked with idols if he was a descendant of Moshe, he explained that he was taught that it is better to work with idols than to depend on others for sustenance. However, he misinterpreted that lesson as its true interpretation is that it is better to work in a strange job (avoda zara), meaning, even something demeaning, than to take charity. A verse in Chronicles is assumed to refer to Yonatan and indicates that he repented in the time of King David and was given the job of the head of the treasury. Where in the Torah is the source that a daughter only inherits if there are no sons? The Gemara analyzes four different possibilities—two are rejected. Where in the Torah is the source that only brothers who share the same father inherit and bequeath to/from each other?