Bava Metzia - A Paid Trustee ("Shomer Sakhar", Chaps. Vi-vii)

A Paid Trustee ("Shomer Sakhar", Chaps. Vi-vii)

A paid trustee is liable to pay for all losses except those caused by an accident ("ones"). He has to swear that such an accident happened, and is thereupon free from payment (ch. vii. 8-10). The example given in the Mishnah of shomer sakhar is that of an artisan who undertakes to produce certain work out of a given material. If the material is spoiled, or the work produced is not according to agreement, he has to pay. As the hirer ("sokher") has the same liability as the shomer sakhar, some laws relating to the sokher are included in ch. vi. From the paid trustee the Mishnah passes over (ch. vii.) to the workman ("po'el") in general, and regulates the working time, the food, and also the rights of the workman to partake of the fruit of the field or vineyard while working there (Deut 23:25-26).