Talking Talmud

Contracting for produce in advance - even when the harvest or processing isn't finished, but the raw goods are already in the offing, and some number of steps are needed to complete the product. But whose process? Human handling or natural (or divine) ripening, etc.? Also, a series of cases to back the respective views of Rav and Shmuel. Plus, a new mishnah on lending seed wheat to one's sharecroppers.

Surcharges for sharecroppers - is that interest or not? Plus, real cases vs. theoretical ones. And the details of how those real cases are manifest.

The daf asks the question what happens if a non-Jew converts and was charged interest by a Jew - can the interest still be collected. A new mishnah discussed forward contracting and price setting of produce.

Some reflections by the sages on how bad it is to lend with interest - where the mishnah seemed to allow it after all, at least with regard to non-Jews. The distinction between righteous people and regular people provides good food for thought. Also, what happens when one has lend funds with a guarantor, and how interest can apparently become part of the transaction, including when a non-Jew decides to function in accord with Jewish law. But a Jew can lend out a non-Jew's money with the non-Jew's consent.

How being an orphan (minor) changes the terms of the prohibition against interest. Also, a new mishnah: fixed costs on what becomes a loan (via caring for an animal as an investment) cannot be paid back differently - to a Jew. When dealing with a non-Jew, extra payment is indeed allowed.

More on the partnerships of yesterday's daf, but in story form. Plus, a new mishnah on appraising animals and their progeny, and when adding sums to the costs smacks of interest and when it doesn't at all.

Rav Ashi shares a halacha about pledged property from the sages of Mechoza and explains the root of the word mishkanta. A new mishnah introduces iska and how it relates to a concern about interest.

A case where a woman instructs a man to go buy property from her relatives on her behalf, which gives rise to the relative's question whether he'll be able to buy the property back, if and when he gets the money to do so. Which in turn gives rise to a discussion of whether that re-purchase can happen, and then the fruits of the field in the interim is either fully fixed interest or possibly a "hint" or the "dust" of interest (which is a rabbinic prohibition). Plus, how does the sale compare to a loan under comparable terms? Also, delving into a case of fixed interest and, over time, a reduction of debt. Plus, loans canceled due to the shemittah year.

The daf discusses different scenarios where a states condition may or may not be binding. The terms asmachta is used but in a way that is different than how it has been used before.

The daf has two mishnayiot. The first describes circumstances when a higher price is allowed to be paid. The second discusses partial payment on a field and does the buyer or seller have access to the produce.