Bava Metzia 119a

בבא מציעא קי״ט ע״א

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Topic

A parallel מחלוקת between רבי מאיר and רבי יהודה about a tree that sprouts from an old trunk or roots (in ערלה), why both disputes are needed, and how far the upper garden owner may reach under רבי שמעון's rule in the משנה.

Overview

The גמרא first brings a ברייתא about ערלה in which רבי מאיר and רבי יהודה argue about new growth from an old tree's trunk or roots, just as they argued earlier about who owns such growth. It then explains why both disputes had to be taught: money cases and איסור cases could be judged differently. Next it returns to רבי שמעון's rule in the משנה about the upper and lower gardens. דבי רבי ינאי add that the upper owner only gets what he can reach without straining. רב ענן, or רבי ירמיה, asks what happens if the owner can reach only the leaves or only the root, and the question ends as תיקו. ריש לקיש rules that the הלכה follows רבי שמעון, and שבור מלכא praises the ruling as fair. The amud closes with the הדרן, ending the פרק and all of מסכת בבא מציעא.

Opening lines

The steps (9)

1. StatementThe same dispute appears about ערלה
2. ResolutionWhy both disputes had to be taught
3. StatementQuoting רבי שמעון's rule in the משנה
4. StatementOnly a normal reach, without straining
5. QuestionWhat if he can reach only part of the plant?
6. ConclusionThe question stays unanswered
7. ConclusionThe הלכה Follows רבי שמעון
8. Statementשבור מלכא Praises רבי שמעון
9. Conclusionהדרן — Closing פרק הבית והעלייה and מסכת בבא מציעא