Bava Basra 21a

בבא בתרא כ״א ע״א

Bava Batra 21a

Learn Bava Basra 21a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

יהושע בן גמלא's school system, why neighbors cannot block teaching children Torah, and רבא's rules for running children's schools

Overview

The גמרא explains the end of the משנה, which says neighbors cannot object to the noise of schoolchildren. That rule comes from the תקנה of יהושע בן גמלא. רב tells the history of Jewish education in stages: first only fathers taught, then teachers were set up in ירושלים, then in every region for teens, and finally יהושע בן גמלא set up teachers in every town for children of six or seven. רב also gives a teacher practical advice about starting age, gentle discipline and keeping weaker students in class. The גמרא then answers three ברייתות that seem to let neighbors block a children's teacher. It explains that they are talking about teachers of non-Jewish children or the town scribe. Next, רבא gives practical rules about where children may be sent to learn, class size, and replacing teachers. רב דימי מנהרדעא disagrees with him twice about how to choose a teacher. The amud ends as the גמרא begins a proof for רב דימי from יואב's war against אדום, and the proof continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (21)

1. ResolutionThe end of the משנה is about schoolchildren after יהושע בן גמלא's enactment
2. Statementרב praises יהושע בן גמלא for saving the Torah
3. StatementFirst stage: only fathers taught their own sons
4. StatementSecond stage: teachers set up in ירושלים
5. StatementThird stage: a school in every region for teenagers
6. Statementיהושע בן גמלא sets up teachers in every town for young children
7. StatementStart children at six, then teach them a lot
8. StatementDiscipline gently and keep weaker students in class
9. ChallengeA ברייתא says neighbors can stop a children's teacher
10. ResolutionThe ברייתא is about teaching non-Jewish children
11. ChallengeA second ברייתא: one neighbor can stop the other
12. ResolutionSame answer: non-Jewish children
13. ChallengeA third ברייתא names a Jewish teacher
14. ResolutionThe סופר here is the town scribe
15. StatementWhere a child may be sent to learn
16. StatementHow many students one teacher may have
17. StatementDon't replace a teacher with a better one
18. Statementרב דימי says rivalry makes teachers better
19. StatementHire the teacher who covers more
20. Statementרב דימי says hire the precise teacher
21. ProofA proof begins from יואב's war against אדום