תלמוד בבלי מסכת שבת דף קמ עמוד ב
ואמר רב חסדא: האי מאן דאפשר ליה למיכל נהמא דשערי ואכל דחיטי - קעבר משום בל תשחית. ואמר רב פפא: האי מאן דאפשר למישתי שיכרא ושתי חמרא - עובר משום בל תשחית.
Rav Hisda says, "one who could eat barley bread, but eats wheat bread has violated "ba'al taschit." Rav Pappa says, one who could drink wine, but drinks beer, has violated ba'al taschit. (note: ba'al taschit refers to the Torah's prohibition on wasteful or pointless destruction of property or resources). [Soncino translation]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
[Adapted from, The Jewish Climate Initiative, http://www.jewishclimateinitiative.org/ethics/consumption.php]
1. Wheat requires a great deal more land, water and labor in order to grow the same amount of barley. How does this information help explain Rav Hisda's position?
2. Given this understand of Rav Hisda's position, how can we understand ba'al tashchit in today's world?
Time Period: Rabbinic (Maccabees through the Talmud)