For the source text click/tap here: Bava Metzia 24
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The Gemora relates an incident: A silver cup was stolen from the host of Mar Zutra the Pious. Mar Zutra saw a certain student wash his hands and dry them on his friend’s garment. He said: Someone who is not concerned for his friend’s property is a prime suspect on the thievery. He was bound to a post until he eventually confessed to the crime.
We analyze the literary motifs in this story and the similarity to the goblet “stolen” in the Jospeh story.
We then examine the troubling history of torture to Jews and by Jews.