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Bava Basra 61a

בבא בתרא ס״א ע״א

Bava Batra 61a

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Topic

Selling a house: which attached structures are not included, what a יציע is, and the four-אמות minimum

Overview

The משנה teaches that when someone sells a house without spelling out what is included, some attached areas stay with the seller: the יציע, the inner room, and a roof that has a ten-טפחים railing. רבי יהודה adds that a roof with a צורת פתח is also not sold. The גמרא asks what a יציע is. One view says it is an attic (אפתא), and רב יוסף says it is a windowed side structure (בדקא חלילה). The גמרא then shows how these two definitions lead to different results. רב יוסף also teaches that this kind of structure has three names, יציע, צלע and תא, and brings a source for each. מר זוטרא limits the משנה: a יציע is held back from the sale only if it is at least four אמות. רבינא challenges him from the בור and דות, which are held back at any size, and מר זוטרא answers that a pit has a different use from the house, while a יציע has the same use. Finally, the גמרא asks why the משנה needs to mention the inner room at all, since a יציע is already not sold. The answer comes on the next amud.

Opening lines

הַמּוֹכֵר אֶת הַבַּיִת – לֹא מָכַר יָצִיעַ,

One who sells the house has not sold the gallery,

וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהִיא פְּתוּחָה לְתוֹכוֹ;

even though it opens into it;

וְלֹא אֶת הַחֶדֶר שֶׁלְּפָנִים הֵימֶנּוּ;

nor the room that is inside it;

וְלֹא אֶת הַגָּג –

nor the roof,

The steps (11)

  1. StatementSelling a house does not include the gallery, the inner room, or a fenced roof
  2. Statementרבי יהודה: a doorway-shaped frame also keeps the roof out of the sale
  3. QuestionWhat is a יציע?
  4. ResponseTwo definitions: an attic or a windowed side structure
  5. ConclusionThe practical difference between the two definitions
  6. Statementרב יוסף: three names for an attached structure, each with a verse
  7. ProofAnother source for the name תא
  8. Statementמר זוטרא: the יציע is excluded only if it is four אמות
  9. Challengeרבינא asks: does a pit also need four אמות?
  10. ResolutionA pit has a different use; a gallery has the same use as the house
  11. ChallengeWhy does the משנה need to mention the inner room?