Study Bava Metzia folio 33A with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
״רבץ״ ולא רבצן, ״רבץ״ ולא עומד. ״תחת משאו״ ולא מפורק. ״תחת משאו״, משאוי שיכול לעמוד בו. ואי אמרת צער בעלי חיים דאורייתא, מה לי רובץ, ומה לי רבצן, ומה לי עומד!
It is written: “If you see the donkey…collapsed under its burden” (Exodus 23:5). The baraita infers that this obligation to unload a burden applies with regard to an animal that is “collapsed,” but not with one that is a habitual collapser; “collapsed,” but not standing; “under its burden,” but not when it is unloaded; and “under its burden,” meaning a burden that is not excessive, that the animal can bear. The Talmud reasons: And if you say that the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is by Torah law, what is it to me if the animal is collapsed; and what is it to me if the animal is a habitual collapser; and what is it to me if the animal is standing? One should be obligated to unload its burden in any case, if the animal is suffering.
הא מני? רבי יוסי הגלילי היא, דאמר צער בעלי חיים דרבנן.
The Talmud answers: In accordance with whose opinion is this baraita? It is in accordance with the opinion of R' Yosei HaGelili, who says that the requirement to prevent suffering to animals is by rabbinic law, and the ordinance does not apply in these circumstances.
הכי נמי מסתברא, דקתני: ״תחת משאו״ – משאוי שיכול לעמוד בו, מאן שמעת ליה דאית ליה האי סברא – רבי יוסי הגלילי, שמע מינה.
The Talmud supports its answer: So too, it is reasonable to explain the baraita in this manner, as it is taught in the baraita cited above: “Under its burden” indicates a burden that the animal can bear. About whom did you hear that he holds that line of reasoning? It is R' Yosei HaGelili. The Talmud affirms: Learn from it that the baraita is in accordance with the opinion of R' Yosei HaGelili.