Bava Metzia 118b

בבא מציעא קי״ח ע״ב

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Topic

Finishing the dispute about volunteer guards; damage from manure and building materials in רשות הרבים; who pays among builders; and vegetables growing between two gardens

Overview

The גמרא first explains what the חכמים meant when they answered רבי יוסי with 'אתה אומר?'. It then gives רבין's report, in the name of רבי יוחנן, that their dispute depends on whether we worry about בעלי זרועות. A new משנה teaches that manure, clay and building stones may not be left lying in רשות הרבים, and that whoever causes damage must pay. רבן שמעון בן גמליאל allows a person to prepare his building materials thirty days ahead. The גמרא shows that this משנה does not follow רבי יהודה, who exempts anyone the חכמים allowed to use the street. אביי adds that רבן שמעון בן גמליאל and רבי שמעון hold the same view. A ברייתא then explains which worker pays when a building stone causes damage, and the גמרא settles a contradiction by separating hired workers (שכירות) from a contract job (קבלנות). Finally, a new משנה discusses who owns vegetables growing between an upper and a lower garden. רבא explains that רבי מאיר and רבי יהודה argue only about the leaves, and a ברייתא about a tree's sprouts shows each keeps his own reasoning.

Opening lines

The steps (25)

1. QuestionWhat did the Sages mean by 'You say?'
2. ResponseYour view would mean the public offerings are not paid by the public
3. Statementרבין: the dispute is about worrying over powerful people
4. Statementמשנה: manure and clay in the public road
5. Statementמשנה: building stones in the public road, and רבן שמעון בן גמליאל
6. QuestionDoes the משנה disagree with רבי יהודה?
7. Proofרבי יהודה lets manure be piled in the street for thirty days
8. Resolutionרבי יהודה may agree that damage must be paid
9. ChallengeChallenge from the נר חנוכה
10. ResolutionIt means permission of a מצוה
11. ChallengeA ברייתא shows רבי יהודה exempts
12. ConclusionThe משנה does not follow רבי יהודה
13. Statementאביי: three תנאים exempt anyone acting with permission
14. ProofSources for רבי יהודה and רבן שמעון בן גמליאל
15. ProofSource for רבי שמעון: the oven in the upper story
16. StatementThe chain of workers and who is responsible at each stage
17. ChallengeAnother ברייתא says only the last worker pays
18. ResolutionHired workers versus a contract job
19. StatementNew משנה: vegetables between an upper and a lower garden
20. Proofרבי מאיר's reason: the upper owner can remove the dirt
21. Rejectionרבי יהודה's answer: the lower owner can fill in his garden
22. Statementרבי מאיר: since both can block it, look where the vegetable draws its life
23. Statementרבי שמעון: whatever the upper owner can reach is his
24. Statementרבא explains that the argument is only about the leaves
25. ProofBoth תנאים keep their same reasoning in the case of a tree's sprouts