דשתיך טפי.
where the item is extremely rusted, indicating that it had been left there for a long time.
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דשתיך טפי.
where the item is extremely rusted, indicating that it had been left there for a long time.
בכותל חדש, מחציו ולחוץ – שלו, מחציו ולפנים – של בעל הבית.
§ The Mishnah teaches: If one found lost items in a new wall from its midpoint and outward, they belong to him. But if he found the items from its midpoint and inward, they belong to the homeowner.
אמר רב אשי: סכינא בתר קתא, וכיסא בתר שנציה.
Rav Ashi said: The determination of ownership with regard to a knife found in a wall follows the handle, and the determination of ownership with regard to a money pouch follows the laces at the opening of the pouch. If the handle or laces face inward, they belong to the homeowner. If the handle or laces face outward, they belong to the finder.
ואלא מתניתין דקתני: מחציו ולחוץ – שלו, מחציו ולפנים – של בעל הבית. ולחזי, אי קתא לגאו אי קתא לבר! אי שנציה לגאו אי שנציה לבר! מתניתין באודרא ונסכא.
The Talmud asks: But if so, what is the applicability of the ruling of the Mishnah, which teaches: If one found lost items in a new wall from its midpoint and outward, they belong to him, and from its midpoint and inward, they belong to the homeowner? But instead, to determine ownership, let us see if its handle faces inward or if its handle faces outward, or if its straps face inward or if its straps face outward. The Talmud answers: The Mishnah is referring to a case where one found rags or metal strips.
תנא: אם היה כותל ממולא מהן – חולקין. פשיטא! לא צריכא, דמשפע בחד גיסא, מהו דתימא: אשתפוכי אישתפוך, קא משמע לן.
It is taught: If the hollow in the wall was filled with lost items, e.g., coins, the homeowner and the finder divide them. The Talmud asks: Isn’t that obvious? The Talmud answers: No, it is necessary to teach this only in a case where the hollow in the wall is inclined toward one side of the wall. Lest you say that all the items were initially on the elevated side, and due to the incline they slipped and filled the entire space, the tanna teaches us that the homeowner and the finder divide them.
Text data via Sefaria: William Davidson Edition - English and William Davidson Edition - Vocalized Aramaic, CC-BY-NC; edition provenance: Koren. Display terminology has been modernized for readability.