Damages to Property Chapter 14

הַמַּדְלִיק בְּתוֹךְ שְׂדֵה חֲבִרוֹ וְעָבְרָה הַדְּלֵקָה [וְהִזִּיקָה] חַיָּב לְשַׁלֵּם נֵזֶק שָׁלֵם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כב ה) "כִּי תֵצֵא אֵשׁ וּמָצְאָה קֹצִים וְנֶאֱכַל גָּדִישׁ אוֹ הַקָּמָה" וְגוֹ' שַׁלֵּם יְשַׁלֵּם הַמַּבְעִר וְגוֹ'. וְהַבְּעֵרָה מֵאֲבוֹת נְזִיקִין הִיא:

When a person kindles a fire in a field belonging to someone else and the fire spreads and causes damage, [the person who kindled it] is liable to pay the full extent of the damages, as [Exodus 22:5] states: "When a fire spreads through thorns and consumes bound or standing grain..., [the one who started the fire] must pay." Kindling a fire is considered one of the major categories of sources of damage.

הִדְלִיק בְּתוֹךְ רְשׁוּתוֹ צָרִיךְ לְהַרְחִיק מִסּוֹף הַמֵּצַר כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא תַּעֲבֹר הַדְּלֵקָה לִשְׂדֵה חֲבֵרוֹ. וְכַמָּה שִׁעוּר הַהַרְחָקָה הַכּל לְפִי גֹּבַהּ הַדְּלֵקָה. וְאִם לֹא הִרְחִיק כָּרָאוּי וְעָבְרָה הָאֵשׁ וְהִזִּיקָה חַיָּב לְשַׁלֵּם נֵזֶק שָׁלֵם. הִרְחִיק כָּרָאוּי וְעָבְרָה וְהִזִּיקָה פָּטוּר שֶׁזּוֹ מַכָּה בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם הִיא. וְכֵן אִם עָבְרָה נָהָר אוֹ שְׁלוּלִית שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶן מַיִם וְרָחְבָּן שְׁמוֹנֶה אַמּוֹת פָּטוּר:

When a person kindles [a fire] on his own property, he must retreat a sufficient distance from his boundary to ensure that the fire will not spread to a field belonging to a colleague. How far must he move? Everything depends on the height of the fire. If he did not retreat an adequate distance and the fire spread and caused damage, he is liable to pay the full extent of the damages. If he retreated an appropriate distance, and [the fire] nevertheless spread and caused damage, he is not liable. This is considered an act of heaven. Similarly, if [the fire] crossed a stream or a pond of rainwater that was [at least] eight cubits wide, [the person who kindled the fire] is not liable.

עָבְרָה גָּדֵר אוֹמְדִין גֹּבַהּ הַגָּדֵר וְגֹבַהּ הַדְּלֵקָה וְהָעֵצִים אוֹ הַקּוֹצִים הַמְּצוּיִין שָׁם אִם אֵינָהּ רְאוּיָה לַעֲבֹר פָּטוּר וְאִם רְאוּיָה לַעֲבֹר חַיָּב. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בְּאֵשׁ הַקּוֹדַחַת. אֲבָל אִם הָיָה לָהּ לַהַב גָּדוֹל הָעוֹלֶה וְנִכְפָּף מִגֹּבַהּ עֲלִיַּת הַלַּהַב וְהָיוּ עֵצִים מְצוּיִין שָׁם אֵין לָהּ אֹמֶד אֶלָּא אֲפִלּוּ עָבְרָה אֶלֶף אַמָּה חַיָּב:

If the fire passed a wall, we measure the height of the wall and the height of the fire and the amount of foliage and bramble found there. If the fire was not of sufficient size to pass the wall ordinarily, he is not liable. If it is large enough, he is liable. When does the above apply? To a piercing flame]. If, however, the flame ascends upward and warps downward because of the height of the flame, and there were trees there, we do not make an estimation. Even if the fire spread for 1000 cubits, [the person who kindled it] is liable.

נָפְלָה דְּלֵקָה בַּחֲצֵרוֹ וְנָפַל גָּדֵר שֶׁלֹּא מֵחֲמַת הַדְּלֵקָה וְעָבְרָה הַדְּלֵקָה בְּחָצֵר אַחֶרֶת. אִם הָיָה יָכוֹל לִגְדֹּר הַגָּדֵר שֶׁנָּפַל וְלֹא גְּדָרוֹ חַיָּב. לְמָה הַדָּבָר דּוֹמֶה לְשׁוֹרוֹ שֶׁיָּצָא וְהִזִּיק שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ לְשָׁמְרוֹ וְלֹא שְׁמָרוֹ:

[The following rules apply when] a fire breaks out in a person's domain, and his wall falls from causes other than the fire. If he had had the opportunity to rebuild the wall that fell, and he neglected to do so, he is liable. To what can the matter be compared? To a person's ox that broke loose and caused damage. For [the owner] was responsible for guarding him, and he failed to do so.

הַשּׁוֹלֵחַ אֶת הַבְּעֵרָה בְּיַד חֵרֵשׁ שׁוֹטֶה וְקָטָן פָּטוּר מִדִּינֵי אָדָם וְחַיָּב בְּדִינֵי שָׁמַיִם. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים שֶׁמָּסַר לָהֶן גַּחֶלֶת וְלִבּוּהָ שֶׁדֶּרֶךְ הַגַּחֶלֶת לְהִכָּבוֹת מֵאֵלֶיהָ קֹדֶם שֶׁתַּעֲבֹר וְתַדְלִיק. אֲבָל אִם מָסַר לָהֶן שַׁלְהֶבֶת חַיָּב שֶׁהֲרֵי מַעֲשָׂיו גָּרְמוּ:

A person who sends a fire in the hands of a deaf mute, a mentally incompetent person or a child is not held liable by an earthly court; he does, however, have a moral and a spiritual obligation [to make restitution for the damages]. When does the above apply? When he gave them a coal and they fanned it into a flame, for it is normal for a coal to burn out before it causes a flame. If, however, [the person] gave them a flame, he is liable, for his deeds caused the damage.

שָׁלַח אֶת הַבְּעֵרָה בְּיַד פִּקֵּחַ זֶה הַפִּקֵּחַ שֶׁהִבְעִיר חַיָּב לְשַׁלֵּם וְהַשּׁוֹלֵחַ פָּטוּר. וְכֵן אִם הִנִּיחַ שׁוֹמֵר לִשְׁמֹר הַבְּעֵרָה הַשּׁוֹמֵר חַיָּב:

When a person sends a fire with a mentally competent individual, the agent who spread the flame is liable, and the principal is free of liability. Similarly, if he charged a watchman with guarding a fire, [and the fire nevertheless caused damage,] the watchman is liable.

אֶחָד הֵבִיא אֶת הָאוּר וְאֶחָד הֵבִיא אֶת הָעֵצִים הַמֵּבִיא אֶת הָעֵצִים חַיָּב. אֶחָד הֵבִיא אֶת הָעֵצִים וְאֶחָד הֵבִיא אֶת הָאוּר הַמֵּבִיא אֶת הָאוּר חַיָּב. בָּא אַחֵר וְלִבָּהּ הַמְלַבֶּה חַיָּב. לִבַּתּוּ רוּחַ שֶׁאֵינָהּ מְצוּיָה תָּמִיד הֲרֵי כֻּלָּן פְּטוּרִין. לִבָּה וְלִבַּתּוּ הָרוּחַ חַיָּב שֶׁהֲרֵי הוּא גָּרַם וְכָל הַגּוֹרֵם לְהַזִּיק מְשַׁלֵּם נֵזֶק שָׁלֵם מִן הַיָּפֶה שֶׁבַּנְּכָסִים כִּשְׁאָר כָּל הַמַּזִּיקִין:

When one person brings a flame, and [then] another person brings the wood, [and a fire is started, which causes damage], the person who brought the wood is liable. When one person brings the wood, and [then] another person brings a flame, [and a fire is started, which causes damage,] the person who brought the flame is liable. If another person comes and fans the fire, he is liable. If the fire is fanned by an uncommon wind, none of them is held liable. If a person fanned a fire, but it was also fanned by the wind, the person is liable, for his [actions] caused damage. And whenever a person's [actions] cause damage, he is liable to pay for the full amount of the damages from the choicest property he owns, as if the damage was inflicted directly.

אֵשׁ שֶׁיָּצְאָה וְאָכְלָה עֵצִים אוֹ אֲבָנִים אוֹ עָפָר חַיָּב לְשַׁלֵּם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כב ה) "וּמָצְאָה קֹצִים" כוּ' (שמות כב ה) "אוֹ הַשָּׂדֶה". אָכְלָה גָּדִישׁ וְכַיּוֹצֵא בּוֹ וְהָיוּ כֵּלִים טְמוּנִים בְּתוֹךְ הַגָּדִישׁ אִם הָיוּ כְּגוֹן מוֹרִיגִים וּכְלֵי בָּקָר וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן מִדְּבָרִים שֶׁדֶּרֶךְ אַנְשֵׁי הַשָּׂדֶה לְטָמְנָם בַּגָּדִישׁ חַיָּב לְשַׁלֵּם. הָיוּ בְּגָדִים וּכְלֵי זְכוּכִית וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן פָּטוּר עַל הַכֵּלִים:

When a fire spread and consumed wood, stone or earth, [the person who kindled the fire] is obligated to make restitution, as it is written: "[When a fire] spreads through thorns [and consumes...] a field." [The following rules apply when] a fire consumes a grain heap or the like and there were utensils hidden in the grain heap. If [the utensils include] a thresher, a yoke for cattle or other articles that it is likely for farmers to hide in their grain heaps, [the person who kindled the fire] is liable. If [the utensils include] clothes, glassware and the like, he is not liable for the damage to the utensils.

בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בְּמַדְלִיק בְּתוֹךְ שְׂדֵה חֲבֵרוֹ. אֲבָל בְּמַדְלִיק בְּתוֹךְ שֶׁלּוֹ וְעָבְרָה לִשְׂדֵה חֲבֵרוֹ פָּטוּר עַל כָּל הַכֵּלִים הַטְּמוּנִים בַּגָּדִישׁ אֲבָל מְשַׁלֵּם הוּא שִׁעוּר מְקוֹם הַכֵּלִים וְרוֹאִין אוֹתוֹ כְּאִלּוּ הוּא מָלֵא גָּדִישׁ שֶׁל חִטִּים אוֹ שֶׁל שְׂעוֹרִים:

When does the above apply? When a person kindles a fire in a field belonging to a colleague. If, however, he kindles the fire in his own [domain] and it spreads to a colleague's field, he is not liable for utensils hidden in a grain heap. He must, however, compensate [the owner] as if the space taken by the utensils had been filled with wheat or with barley.

הַמַּדְלִיק בְּתוֹךְ שְׂדֵה חֲבֵרוֹ וְיָצְאָה הָאֵשׁ וְנֶאֱכַל הַגָּדִישׁ וְהָיָה גְּדִי כָּפוּת לוֹ וְעֶבֶד סָמוּךְ לוֹ וְנִשְׂרַף עִמּוֹ חַיָּב. שֶׁכֵּן דֶּרֶךְ בְּנֵי אָדָם לַעֲשׂוֹת בְּגָדִישׁ. הָיָה עֶבֶד כָּפוּת לוֹ וּגְדִי סָמוּךְ לוֹ וְנִשְׂרַף עִמּוֹ פָּטוּר:

A person who kindles a fire in a field belonging to a colleague is also liable [in the following instance]. The fire spread and consumed a kid that was tied to the grain heap or a servant near the grain heap. For this is also the ordinary practice near a grain heap. If, however, the servant was tied [to the grain heap], or the goat was near the grain heap, [the person who kindled the fire is not liable].

הַמַּשְׁאִיל מָקוֹם לַחֲבֵרוֹ וְהִגְדִּישׁ בּוֹ וְהִטְמִין בּוֹ כֵּלִים וְהִדְלִיק הַמַּשְׁאִיל וְשָׂרַף הַגָּדִישׁ אֵינוֹ מְשַׁלֵּם אֶלָּא דְּמֵי גָּדִישׁ בִּלְבַד. הִשְׁאִילוֹ מָקוֹם לְהַגְדִּישׁ חִטִּים וְהִגְדִּישׁ שְׂעוֹרִים אוֹ לְהַגְדִּישׁ שְׂעוֹרִים וְהִגְדִּישׁ חִטִּים אוֹ שֶׁהִגְדִּישׁ חִטִּים וְחִפָּם בִּשְׂעוֹרִים אוֹ שֶׁהִגְדִּישׁ שְׂעוֹרִים וְחִפָּם בְּחִטִּים אֵינוֹ מְשַׁלֵּם לוֹ אֶלָּא דְּמֵי שְׂעוֹרִים בִּלְבַד:

When a person lends a colleague space to make a grain heap, the colleague makes that grain heap and hides utensils in it, and then the person who lent him the space burns the grain heap, [the person who kindled the fire] is liable to pay [his colleague] only for the grain heap. If he lent him space to make a heap of wheat and he made a heap of barley, or he lent him space to make a heap of barley and he made a heap of wheat, or he made a heap of wheat and covered it with barley, or he made a heap of barley and covered it with wheat, [the person who kindled the fire] is not liable to pay any more than the value of a heap of barley.

הַמַּדְלִיק אֶת הַבִּירָה שֶׁל חֲבֵרוֹ מְשַׁלֵּם כָּל מַה שֶּׁבְּתוֹכָהּ. שֶׁכֵּן דֶּרֶךְ בְּנֵי אָדָם לְהַנִּיחַ כָּל כְּלֵיהֶם וְכָל חֶפְצֵיהֶם בַּבָּתִּים. וְכָל שֶׁיִּטְעֹן בַּעַל הַבַּיִת הֲרֵי זֶה נִשְׁבָּע בִּנְקִיטַת חֵפֶץ וְנוֹטֵל. וּשְׁבוּעָה זוֹ מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר. וּבִלְבַד שֶׁיִּטְעֹן דְּבָרִים שֶׁהוּא אָמוּד בָּהֶן אוֹ שֶׁהוּא לָמוּד לִהְיוֹת אוֹתָן הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁטָּעַן פִּקָּדוֹן אֶצְלוֹ:

When a person sets fire to a home belonging to a colleague, he must compensate for everything it contains, for it is the ordinary practice for people to keep all their utensils and possessions in their homes. The person whose house [was burned] is entitled to collect everything he claims, provided he takes an oath while holding a [sacred] article. This oath is a Rabbinic institution, as will be explained. [The above applies] provided he claims articles that we can assume he owns or that it is customary for others to entrust to him.

גָּמָל שֶׁהוּא טָעוּן פִּשְׁתָּן וְעוֹבֵר בִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים וְנִכְנַס פִּשְׁתָּנוֹ לְתוֹךְ הַחֲנוּת וְדָלְקָה בְּנֵרוֹ שֶׁל חֶנְוָנִי וְהִדְלִיק אֶת כָּל הַבִּירָה בַּעַל הַגָּמָל חַיָּב מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִרְבָּה בְּמַשּׂאוֹי בֵּין שֶׁעָמְדָה הַבְּהֵמָה בֵּין שֶׁלֹּא עָמְדָה. הִנִּיחַ הַחֶנְוָנִי נֵרוֹ מִבַּחוּץ הַחֶנְוָנִי חַיָּב אַף בִּדְמֵי פִּשְׁתָּן מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִנִּיחַ נֵרוֹ מִבַּחוּץ. וַאֲפִלּוּ נֵר חֲנֻכָּה הָיָה לוֹ לֵישֵׁב וְלִשְׁמֹר:

[The following rules apply when] a camel that is loaded with flax passes through the public domain, the flax that enters the shop is ignited by the lamp belonging to the shopkeeper and then sets fire to the entire building. The owner of the camel is liable, because he overloaded [his beast]. [This applies regardless of] whether or not the animal stood. If the shopkeeper had placed his lamp outside, the shopkeeper is liable and must reimburse the camel driver even for the flax that burned, because he placed his lamp outside. [This applies] even with regard to a Chanukah lamp, for he should have sat [there] to guard it [from causing damage].

הַכּוֹפֵף קָמָתוֹ שֶׁל חֲבֵרוֹ לִפְנֵי הָאֵשׁ עַד שֶׁתִּדְלַק אִם אֵין הָאֵשׁ מַגַּעַת לָהּ אֶלָּא בְּרוּחַ שֶׁאֵינָהּ מְצוּיָה פָּטוּר מִדִּינֵי אָדָם וְחַיָּב בְּדִינֵי שָׁמַיִם. וְהַטּוֹמֵן קָמָתוֹ שֶׁל חֲבֵרוֹ בְּעָפָר אוֹ בְּתֶבֶן וְעָבְרָה הָאֵשׁ וְאָכְלָה אוֹתָהּ הֲרֵי הַטּוֹמֵן פָּטוּר מִדִּינֵי אָדָם וְחַיָּב בְּדִינֵי שָׁמַיִם מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהַמַּדְלִיק אֶת הָאֵשׁ פָּטוּר עַל הַטָּמוּן:

[The following rule applies when] a person bends standing grain belonging to a colleague toward a fire until it ignites. If the fire would not reach the grain unless it was spread by an uncommon wind, [the person who bent the grain] is not held liable by a mortal court. He does, however, have a moral and spiritual obligation to make reimbursement. When a person buries standing grain belonging to a colleague in earth or straw, and then a fire passes and consumes it, the person who buried [the grain] is not held liable by a mortal court. He does, however, have a moral and spiritual obligation to make reimbursement, because the person who kindled the fire is not liable for [the destruction of property that was] hidden.

אֵשׁ שֶׁעָבְרָה וְהִזִּיקָה אֶת הָאָדָם וְחָבְלָה בּוֹ הֲרֵי הַמַּבְעִיר חַיָּב בִּנְזָקָיו וּבְשִׁבְתּוֹ וּבְרִפּוּיוֹ וּבְצַעֲרוֹ וּבְבָשְׁתּוֹ כְּאִלּוּ הִזִּיקוֹ בְּיָדוֹ. שֶׁאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאִשּׁוֹ מָמוֹנוֹ הוּא הֲרֵי הוּא כְּמוֹ שֶׁהִזִּיקָה בְּחִצָיו. אֲבָל אִם הִזִּיקָה בְּהֶמְתּוֹ אוֹ בּוֹרוֹ אֶת הָאָדָם אֵינוֹ חַיָּב אֶלָּא בְּנֵזֶק בִּלְבַד כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ:

When a fire spreads and harms a human being and injures him, the person who kindled the fire is liable for the damages, unemployment benefits, medical costs, pain and embarrassment suffered by the injured party, as if he had personally injured him. Although fire is one of a person's possessions, it is as if he caused him damage with his arrows. If, by contrast, injury to a man is caused by a person's animal or cistern, he is liable for the damages alone, as we have explained.

כָּל תּוֹלְדוֹת הָאֵשׁ הֲרֵי הֵן כְּאֵשׁ. כֵּיצַד. הִנִּיחַ אֶבֶן אוֹ סַכִּין אוֹ מַשָּׂא בְּרֹאשׁ גַּגּוֹ וְנָפְלוּ בְּרוּחַ מְצוּיָה וְהִזִּיקוּ חַיָּב לְשַׁלֵּם נֵזֶק שָׁלֵם שֶׁכָּל אֵלּוּ וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן תּוֹלְדוֹת הַבְּעֵרָה הֵן. וְאִם נָפְלוּ בְּרוּחַ שֶׁאֵינָהּ מְצוּיָה וְהִזִּיקוּ פָּטוּר: סְלִיקוּ לְהוּ הִלְכוֹת נִזְקֵי מָמוֹן בְּסַ"ד

[The laws pertaining to] all the derivatives of fireare the same as [those pertaining to] fire itself. What is implied? If a person placed a stone, a knife or a burden on his roof, and it fell because of an ordinary wind and caused damage, he must pay the full extent of the damages. All these are derivatives of fire. If it was an uncommon wind that caused them to fall and create damage, he is not liable.