Bava Basra 25b

בבא בתרא כ״ה ע״ב

Bava Batra 25b

Learn Bava Basra 25b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The shape of the world and the winds, facing south or north, and then neighbor damages: mustard and bees, a tree near a בור, and רבי יוסי's 'arrows' exception.

Overview

The amud opens in the middle of a ברייתא about the shape of the world. רבי אליעזר says it is like an אכסדרה open on the north, so at night the sun rises above the sky. רבי יהושע says it is a closed dome, so at night the sun goes behind it. Each view gets support from פסוקים, and the גמרא explains that the south wind brings both gentle rain and harmful downpours. Then come teachings about the winds and rain: the north wind makes gold cheap, and since the חורבן the south wind brings no rain and rain no longer comes from the 'good storehouse.' רבי יצחק and רבי יהושע בן לוי discuss facing south for wisdom and north for wealth. The גמרא settles this with the שכינה being in the west and explains which way people in בבל should face. The גמרא then returns to the משנה: רבי יוסי says mustard need not be moved away from bees, because the bees damage the mustard too. A new משנה sets how far a tree must be from a neighbor's בור, depending on who came first. The הלכה follows רבי יוסי that each person may use his own land. But רבי יוסי agrees about 'his own arrows,' meaning direct damage, as in the case of the sesame pressers who shook פאפי יונאה's mansion. The amud ends by asking how much shaking counts, and the answer comes on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (27)

1. Statementרבי אליעזר: The world is like a porch open on the north
2. Statementרבי יהושע: The world is like a closed dome
3. Proofרבי יהושע's proof from the verse in קהלת
4. ProofProof for רבי אליעזר from verses in איוב
5. ChallengeChallenge: Doesn't the southern wind bring the rain?
6. ResolutionAnswer: Gentle rain versus a downpour
7. StatementThe north wind makes gold cheap
8. StatementSince the חורבן the south wind brings no rain
9. StatementRain no longer comes from the good storehouse
10. StatementFace south for wisdom, north for wealth
11. StatementAlways face south, since wisdom brings wealth
12. ChallengeBut the Divine Presence is in the west
13. ResolutionTurn slightly to the side
14. StatementPeople living north of ארץ ישראל should face south
15. QuestionHow do we know בבל is north of ארץ ישראל?
16. ResponseProof from ירמיהו: evil comes from the north
17. Statementר׳ יוסי: the mustard grower can blame the bees
18. StatementNew משנה: how far a tree must be from a cistern
19. StatementWho came first decides whether the tree is cut
20. Statementר׳ יוסי: each one works in his own property
21. StatementThe rule applies whether the tree is above or below
22. ChallengeWhy does a lower tree harm a higher cistern?
23. ResolutionThe roots loosen the soil and ruin the cistern floor
24. StatementThe הלכה follows רבי יוסי
25. Statementרבי יוסי agrees when the damage comes straight from your own action
26. StatementSesame pressers shaking a neighbor's mansion
27. QuestionHow much shaking counts?