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Bava Basra 101a

בבא בתרא ק״א ע״א

Bava Batra 101a

Learn Bava Basra 101a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The layout of a family burial cave (niches, chambers and courtyard), and the גמרא's question about where רבי שמעון's two entrance niches are dug.

Overview

The amud opens in the middle of a משנה about the family burial cave a buyer is entitled to. It finishes the size of each burial niche (כוך), which is six טפחים wide. רבי שמעון gives a larger burial chamber: 6 by 8 אמות with 13 niches, including one on each side of the entrance. The משנה then describes a 6-by-6 courtyard (חצר) in front of the chambers, big enough for the bier and its bearers. The תנא קמא says two chambers open onto the courtyard, while רבי שמעון says four. רבן שמעון בן גמליאל says it all depends on the strength of the rock. The גמרא asks where רבי שמעון's two entrance niches can go, since digging them under the courtyard would mean people walk on the graves, and a משנה treats the courtyard as טהור. רבי יוסי ברבי חנינא answers that they are cut upright like a door bolt, and the גמרא begins a challenge from רבי יוחנן that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

וְרׇחְבָּן שִׁשָּׁה.

And their width is six.

רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר:

Rabbi Shimon says:

עוֹשֶׂה תּוֹכָהּ שֶׁל מְעָרָה

He makes the inside of the cave

שֵׁשׁ אַמּוֹת עַל שְׁמוֹנֶה,

six cubits by eight,

The steps (10)

  1. StatementFinishing the measurements of each burial niche
  2. Statementרבי שמעון's layout for the burial chamber
  3. StatementThe courtyard at the cave entrance
  4. StatementHow many chambers open onto the courtyard
  5. StatementEverything depends on the rock
  6. QuestionWhich way do the two entrance niches point?
  7. ChallengeOutward niches would be walked on
  8. ChallengeA משנה says the courtyard is pure
  9. ResolutionThe niches are dug like a door bolt
  10. ChallengeA challenge from רבי יוחנן begins