Bava Basra 11b

בבא בתרא י״א ע״ב

Bava Batra 11b

Learn Bava Basra 11b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Space rights in shared courtyards and alleyways: the four cubits in front of entrances, and neighbors' power to block changes to doors and alleyway use

Overview

This amud discusses the space that houses around a shared courtyard or alleyway are entitled to. It opens with the ארבע אמות (four cubits) given in front of an entrance, and the reason for them: room to unload an animal (פירוק משאו). Using that test, רב הונא rules that an אכסדרה gets no four cubits, and the גמרא settles a ברייתא against him by saying it means a Roman portico. A chicken coop and a half-roofed house also get none, since there is no unloading or one can unload inside. רב הונא then asks רבי אמי two questions. Can residents stop a man from moving his door onto their alleyway? Yes. Is the burden of housing soldiers split by people or by doors? By people. רב הונא rules that neighbors can stop someone from building in front of his own door. A ברייתא seems to contradict him, and the גמרא answers that this is a dispute between רבי and רבי שמעון בן אלעזר. Finally, רבא rules that a sealed door may be reopened only if its doorposts were never broken, and אביי begins quoting a ברייתא that supports him, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (25)

1. StatementA set entrance gets only four cubits in front of it
2. StatementA portico gets no four cubits, since one can unload inside
3. ChallengeA ברייתא says porticos do get four cubits
4. ResolutionThe ברייתא means the portico of a study hall
5. ChallengeA study hall's portico is obviously a full room
6. ResolutionThe ברייתא means a Roman portico
7. StatementGatehouse, portico and balcony get four cubits; five houses on a balcony share them
8. QuestionDoes a chicken coop get four cubits?
9. ResponseNo four cubits for a coop: chickens just climb up and down
10. QuestionDoes a half-roofed house get four cubits?
11. ResponseA half-roofed house gets no four cubits
12. ConclusionNo four cubits whether the roof is on the inner or outer half
13. QuestionCan neighbors stop a man from moving his entrance to another alleyway?
14. ResponseYes, the alleyway residents can stop him
15. QuestionHow is the burden of housing soldiers shared?
16. ResponseIt is divided by the number of people
17. ProofA ברייתא supports the answer: dung by entrances, billeting by people
18. StatementNeighbors can stop someone from building in front of his own door
19. ChallengeA ברייתא about five courtyards on one alleyway
20. ChallengeThe innermost courtyard has a private area
21. ResolutionIt is a dispute between תנאים
22. QuestionWhy does this ברייתא mention courtyards?
23. ResponseThe ברייתא is missing words
24. Statementרבא: reopening is allowed only if the doorposts remain
25. Proofאביי offers support for רבא