Ancient signs TB Baba Kama 69

Sometimes people will post funny signs to mark their territory. Here are some of my favorites. “Prayer is the best way to meet God. Trespassing is the fastest.” “The last car park here is still missing.” “Those who throw objects at the crocodiles, will be asked to retrieve them.”

Today’s daf TB Baba Kama 69 mentions three different signs people used to warn people about their property.

1.    The first sign concerns kerem revei (כֶּרֶם רְבָעִי). The fruit of a newly planted vineyard is completely forbidden for three years. During the fourth-year the fruit is sanctified. It either must be taken to Jerusalem and eaten there or redeemed by transferring the sanctification onto money. That money is taken to Jerusalem and used to buy food to be eaten there. “We learned in a mishna (Ma’aser Sheni 5:1): With regard to a vineyard in its fourth year, they would demarcate it with clods of earth [bikzozot] placed around it on the ground, to alert people that they may not eat or derive any benefit from its grapes without redeeming them. The Gemara interrupts its quotation of the mishna to explain: This particular distinguishing mark of earth is used because a vineyard in its fourth year is like earth: Just as with regard to earth there is permission to derive benefit from it through its cultivation, so too, with this fruit, when it has been redeemed by means of coins, it is likewise permitted to benefit from it.” (Sefaria.org translation)

2.    The second sign concerns orla (עׇרְלָה ), the first three years of the vineyards growth. “And a grapevine of orla is demarcated with potsherds [ḥarsit] placed around it, to alert people that its grapes may not be eaten nor may any benefit be derived from them at all (see Leviticus 19:23). The Gemara explains: This particular distinguishing mark is used because orla is like potsherds: Just as no benefit is derived from potsherd, so too, no benefit may be derived from this orla.” (Sefaria.org translation)

3.     Anybody was concerned about being in a state of ritual readiness like a priest or a khaver (חָבֵר), was not allowed to come into contact with anything dead including a grave. “The mishna continues: And an area of graves is demarcated with lime, to notify people that the demarcated area is ritually impure and will impart impurity to those who pass over it. The Gemara explains: The reason this particular distinguishing mark is used is that lime is white, like bones. The mishna further states: And one dissolves the lime in water and pours it out around the gravesite. The Gemara explains: This is performed in order that the lime should be whiter than in its non-dissolved form.” (Sefaria.org translation)

By the way traditional kohanim still won’t enter a cemetery except for the seven closest relatives, mother, father, wife, son, daughter, brother, and sister. We encircle the cemetery with a fence as a nonverbal sign warning them not enter. Tombstones are also a sign that this is a cemetery as well.