Bava Basra 20a

בבא בתרא כ׳ ע״א

Bava Batra 20a

Learn Bava Basra 20a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Bava Basra 20a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Which objects placed in a window block the spread of טומאת אוהל (reduce the window's size), and the challenges to שמואל's rule that a usable item does not block

Overview

The גמרא first finishes a discussion about a barrel stuck in a window. A כלי חרס does not become טמא from its outside, so the גמרא explains that either the barrel's opening faces inward or it is a metal barrel. Then the גמרא brings a ברייתא listing things that reduce a window's size so that טומאה cannot pass through it. It uses this list to challenge שמואל, who holds that anything a person still has a use for, or will remove, does not reduce the window. The גמרא goes through the list item by item: grass, scraps of cloth, a limb dangling from an animal, a bird, a גוי, a בן שמונה, and salt. Each time it asks why the item would not be taken away. Each time it answers by narrowing the case until nothing will remove it, for example a tied, non-kosher, bony bird that scratches, or a government prisoner whom no one dares free. The amud ends with salt resting on a piece of pottery. The גמרא asks why the pottery itself does not do the blocking, and the answer comes on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (52)

1. ChallengeThe barrel itself should act as a barrier
2. ResolutionThe barrel's opening faces inward
3. ResolutionOr it is a metal barrel
4. ChallengeA ברייתא listing what reduces a window's size
5. ChallengeGrass is food for animals
6. ResolutionIt is poisonous grass
7. ChallengeGrass that grows by itself harms the wall
8. Resolutionרבה: a ruined wall
9. Resolutionרב פפא: grass rooted far from the window
10. ChallengeScraps of cloth can patch a torn garment
11. ResolutionThe rags are thick
12. ChallengeThick rags still help a bloodletter
13. ResolutionThe rags are rough sackcloth
14. ChallengeSackcloth would need a different size
15. ResolutionCloth that is only like sackcloth
16. ChallengeA dangling limb: the animal will walk away
17. ResolutionThe animal is tied
18. ChallengeThe owner will slaughter it
19. ResolutionThe animal is not kosher
20. ChallengeThe owner will sell it to a non-Jew
21. ResolutionThe animal is too thin to sell
22. ChallengeHe will cut off the piece for the dogs
23. ResolutionHe will not cut it because it would hurt the animal
24. StatementA bird resting in the window
25. ChallengeBut the bird will fly away
26. ResolutionThe bird is tied
27. ChallengeBut the owner will slaughter it
28. ResolutionThe bird is non-kosher
29. ChallengeBut he can sell it to a גוי
30. ResolutionIt is a bony קלניתא
31. ChallengeBut he can give it to a child
32. ResolutionThe bird scratches
33. ChallengeBut a קלניתא does not scratch
34. ResolutionA bird like a קלניתא
35. StatementA גוי sitting in the window
36. ChallengeBut he will get up and leave
37. ResolutionHe is tied up
38. ChallengeBut a friend will untie him
39. ResolutionHe is a מצורע
40. ChallengeBut another מצורע will untie him
41. ResolutionA prisoner of the king
42. StatementA בן שמונה placed in the window
43. ChallengeBut his mother will pick him up
44. ResolutionIt is on שבת
45. ProofA בן שמונה is like a stone on שבת
46. ChallengeSalt is useful, so someone will take it
47. ResolutionIt is bitter salt
48. ChallengeBitter salt is still good for hides
49. ResolutionThe salt has thorns in it
50. ChallengeSalt damages the wall, so he will remove it
51. ResolutionThe salt sits on a piece of pottery
52. ChallengeThen let the pottery itself shrink the window