How does a buyer acquire a Canaanite servant through chazakah?
Chazakah for servants means performing a servant's typical act — tying shoes, carrying articles, lifting the master — in the presence of the previous owner. This demonstrates assumed service.
Question 2
Where is meshichah (pulling) of an animal effective as acquisition?
Meshichah works only in a simta (semi-public alley) or a courtyard jointly owned by buyer and seller — not in the public domain or in one party's exclusive domain.
Question 3
When a seller transfers the lead animal (mashkuchit) of a herd, does the buyer acquire the rest?
Transferring the mashkuchit is equivalent to telling the buyer 'go, pull and acquire' — once he pulls the herd, he acquires it all, even outside the seller's presence.
Question 4
A seller says 'pull this cow and you will acquire it after 30 days.' The buyer pulls. Did he acquire?
The expression 'you will acquire' is future tense and implies the sale is not yet finalized. The seller must say 'acquire now' or 'from now' for the kinyan to be valid.
Question 5
A minor Canaanite servant can be acquired by meshichah without forceful pulling. Why?
A minor servant is treated like an animal for acquisition purposes — he can be acquired through all methods for both animals and servants, including simple meshichah without the forceful 'tekifah' required for adults.