A renter hires a donkey for valley travel but uses it in the mountains. The donkey slips and is injured. Who is liable?
Mountains are more slippery than valleys. Since the renter took the animal to the more slippery route (mountains instead of the agreed valley), and slipping is the specific risk of that route, he is liable for the slip.
Question 2
A renter loads 200 litra of barley instead of the agreed 200 litra of wheat. The animal dies. Is the renter liable?
Barley has more volume (bulk) than equal-weight wheat. The additional volume creates extra strain. Substituting barley for wheat is therefore a form of overloading, and the renter is liable for the animal's death.
Question 3
At what fraction of overloading above the agreed weight does a renter become liable for an animal's death?
The Rambam rules that adding one thirtieth beyond the agreed or customary load triggers liability. Less than this amount does not constitute significant overloading, though the renter must still pay for the extra load at the standard rate.
Question 4
An employer adds one kav extra to a porter's load. The porter is injured by this extra weight. Who is liable for the injury?
The employer is liable for the porter's injury. Although the porter can feel the weight, he might attribute the discomfort to illness, not to the extra load. The one who added the burden bears responsibility.
Question 5
A renter hires a donkey to ride. He is allowed to place what on the animal without the owner's objection?
A rider may load his personal garments, flask, and food for the journey — since it is not practical to stop at each inn to buy food. Anything beyond these travel essentials can be blocked by the owner.