For the source text click/tap here: Bava Batra 8
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Our daf informs us of the mitzva of ransoming captives as a "great mitzva", and one is even permitted to sell a Torah scroll to fulfill it
Why so? Rabba bar Mari explains:
From the verse: "And it shall come to pass when they say unto you, Whither shall we go forth, then you shall tell them, Thus says the Lord, Such as are for death, to death, and such as are for the sword, to the sword, and such as are for famine, to the famine, and such as are for captivity, to captivity.”
We explore the currently painful issue affecting us all, of the halachot of hostage rescue.