Talking Talmud Yardaena Osband & Anne Gordon

The last daf of the fifth perek wraps up the discussion of interest with two final mishnahs. The Genara after the first mishnah shares an opinion if Hillel that is not followed. Why does the Gemara share this opinion? The second mishnah discusses multiple transactions that could be seen as having an interest payment. The perek ends with a discussion of three groups of people who cannot find justice in the courts.

Contracting for produce in advance - even when the harvest or processing isn't finished, but the raw goods are already in the offing, and some number of steps are needed to complete the product. But whose process? Human handling or natural (or divine) ripening, etc.? Also, a series of cases to back the respective views of Rav and Shmuel. Plus, a new mishnah on lending seed wheat to one's sharecroppers.

Surcharges for sharecroppers - is that interest or not? Plus, real cases vs. theoretical ones. And the details of how those real cases are manifest.

The daf asks the question what happens if a non-Jew converts and was charged interest by a Jew - can the interest still be collected. A new mishnah discussed forward contracting and price setting of produce.

Some reflections by the sages on how bad it is to lend with interest - where the mishnah seemed to allow it after all, at least with regard to non-Jews. The distinction between righteous people and regular people provides good food for thought. Also, what happens when one has lend funds with a guarantor, and how interest can apparently become part of the transaction, including when a non-Jew decides to function in accord with Jewish law. But a Jew can lend out a non-Jew's money with the non-Jew's consent.

How being an orphan (minor) changes the terms of the prohibition against interest. Also, a new mishnah: fixed costs on what becomes a loan (via caring for an animal as an investment) cannot be paid back differently - to a Jew. When dealing with a non-Jew, extra payment is indeed allowed.