בבא קמא, משנה ט
אֵין לוֹקְחִין מִן הָרוֹעִים צֶמֶר וְחָלָב וּגְדָיִים, וְלֹא מִשּׁוֹמְרֵי פֵרוֹת עֵצִים וּפֵרוֹת. אֲבָל לוֹקְחִין מִן הַנָּשִׁים כְּלֵי צֶמֶר בִּיהוּדָה, וּכְלֵי פִשְׁתָּן בַּגָּלִיל, וַעֲגָלִים בַּשָּׁרוֹן. וְכֻלָּן שֶׁאָמְרוּ לְהַטְמִין, אָסוּר. וְלוֹקְחִין בֵּיצִים וְתַרְנְגוֹלִים מִכָּל מָקוֹם:
We do not buy from shepherds wool, milk or kids; nor [do we buy] wood or fruit from fruit-keepers. But we do buy from women woolens in Judah, linens in the Galilee and calves in the Sharon. [However,] if any [vendor] says "keep it hidden" it is prohibited [to buy from them]. We may buy eggs and chickens anywhere.
Suggested Discussion Questions:
1) Why do you think such purchases are forbidden?
2) Why do you make negative inferences about people’s motives in this case, but otherwise are supposed to ‘judge the whole of a person favorably (Ethics of the Fathers 1:6)?’ What is the difference?
3) Is this any different than the Mishneh Torah’s law: “It is prohibited to buy from a thief any property he has stolen, such buying being a great sin, since it encourages criminals and causes the thief to steal other property. For if a thief finds no buyer, he will not steal.”
4) What are modern day examples of this? What should be forbid ourselves from buying today as a result of this ordinance?
Time Period: Rabbinic (Maccabees through the Talmud)