As part of a discussion about the Mishna which described in which direction of the city may/may not one set up a tannery due to the bad smell and the direction that the winds travel, the Gemara discusses the strengths of each of the winds (winds from each of the four directions). A braita attempts to explain why we only see the sun during the day and also why summer days and winter days have different amounts of sunlight/daytime hours. One must distance a tree from a neighbor’s pit as the roots will damage the pit. Details of this law are discussed.
Bava Batra
Masechet Bava Batra is sponsored by Lori Stark in loving memory of her mother in law, Sara Shapiro z”l and her father Nehemiah Sosewitz z”l.
This week’s learning is sponsored by Robert and Paula Cohen in loving memory of Joseph Cohen, Yosef ben Moshe HaCohen, z”l. “He was hard working, loved to sing, esp. as a chazan, and was very dedicated to his family and community.”
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Bava Batra
Masechet Bava Batra is sponsored by Lori Stark in loving memory of her mother in law, Sara Shapiro z”l and her father Nehemiah Sosewitz z”l.
This week’s learning is sponsored by Robert and Paula Cohen in loving memory of Joseph Cohen, Yosef ben Moshe HaCohen, z”l. “He was hard working, loved to sing, esp. as a chazan, and was very dedicated to his family and community.”
Bava Batra 25
שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה אוֹתוֹ גָּלָל.
he turns it into manure, i.e., the chaff acts like manure, and an excessive amount of manure damages the seeds.
מַתְנִי׳ מַרְחִיקִין אֶת הַנְּבֵלוֹת וְאֶת הַקְּבָרוֹת וְאֶת הַבּוּרְסְקִי מִן הָעִיר – חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה. אֵין עוֹשִׂין בּוּרְסְקִי אֶלָּא לְמִזְרַח הָעִיר. רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אוֹמֵר: לְכׇל רוּחַ הוּא עוֹשֶׂה, חוּץ מִמַּעֲרָבָהּ; וּמַרְחִיק חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה. וּמֵרְחִיקִין אֶת הַמִּשְׁרָה מִן הַיָּרָק, וְאֶת הַכְּרֵישִׁין מִן הַבְּצָלִים, וְאֶת הַחַרְדָּל מִן הַדְּבוֹרִים. וְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי מַתִּיר בְּחַרְדָּל.
MISHNA: One must distance animal carcasses, and graves, and a tannery [haburseki], a place where hides are processed, fifty cubits from the city. One may establish a tannery only on the east side of the city, because winds usually blow from the west and the foul smells would therefore be blown away from the residential area. Rabbi Akiva says: One may establish a tannery on any side of a city except for the west, as the winds blowing from that direction will bring the odors into the city, and one must distance it fifty cubits from the city. One must distance from vegetables water in which flax is steeped, because this water ruins them; and likewise one must distance leeks from onions, and mustard from bees. And Rabbi Yosei permits one not to do so in the case of mustard.
גְּמָ׳ אִיבַּעְיָא לְהוּ: רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא הֵיכִי קָאָמַר? לְכׇל רוּחַ הוּא עוֹשֶׂה וְסוֹמֵךְ, חוּץ מִמַּעֲרָבָהּ – דְּמַרְחִיק חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה וְעוֹשֶׂה; אוֹ דִּלְמָא: לְכׇל רוּחַ הוּא עוֹשֶׂה וּמַרְחִיק חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה, חוּץ מִמַּעֲרָבָהּ – דְּאֵינוֹ עוֹשֶׂה כְּלָל?
GEMARA: A dilemma was raised before the Sages: With regard to what case is Rabbi Akiva speaking? Did he mean that one may establish a tannery on any side of a city, and one may even place the tannery close to the city, except for the west side, where one must establish it at a distance of fifty cubits? Or perhaps he meant that one may establish a tannery on any side and distance it fifty cubits, except for the west side, where one may not establish a tannery at all.
תָּא שְׁמַע: דְּתַנְיָא, רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אוֹמֵר: לְכׇל רוּחַ הוּא עוֹשֶׂה וּמַרְחִיק חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה, חוּץ מִמַּעֲרָבָהּ דְּאֵינוֹ עוֹשֶׂה כׇּל עִיקָּר, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִיא תְּדִירָא.
The Gemara cites a proof: Come and hear, as it is taught in a baraita: Rabbi Akiva says that one may establish a tannery on any side of the city and distance it fifty cubits, except for the west side, where one may not establish a tannery at all, because the western wind is frequent.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ רָבָא לְרַב נַחְמָן: מַאי תְּדִירָא? אִילֵּימָא תְּדִירָא בְּרוּחוֹת, וְהָא אָמַר רַב חָנָן בַּר אַבָּא אָמַר רַב: אַרְבַּע רוּחוֹת מְנַשְּׁבוֹת בְּכׇל יוֹם, וְרוּחַ צְפוֹנִית עִם כּוּלָּן; שֶׁאִילְמָלֵא כֵּן – אֵין הָעוֹלָם מִתְקַיֵּים אֲפִילּוּ שָׁעָה אַחַת. וְרוּחַ דְּרוֹמִית קָשָׁה מִכּוּלָּן, וְאִילְמָלֵא בֶּן נֵץ שֶׁמַּעֲמִידָהּ – מַחְרֶבֶת אֶת הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הֲמִבִּינָתְךָ יַאֲבֶר נֵץ, יִפְרֹשׂ כְּנָפָו לְתֵימָן״!
§ With regard to the last statement of the baraita, Rava said to Rav Naḥman: What does frequent mean in this context? If we say it means frequent among the winds, i.e., this wind blows all the time, that is difficult. But doesn’t Rav Ḥanan bar Abba say that Rav says: Four winds blow every day from different directions, and the northern wind blows with each of the other three; as, if this were not so, i.e., if it did not blow, the world would not exist for even one hour, as the northern wind is pleasant and tempers the bitter effects of the other winds. And the southern wind is harsher than all of them, and were it not for the angel named Ben Netz, who stops it from blowing even harder, it would destroy the entire world, as it is stated: “Does the hawk [netz] soar by your wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?” (Job 39:26). This indicates that the northern wind is the most constant, not the western wind.
אֶלָּא מַאי תְּדִירָא – תְּדִירָא בִּשְׁכִינָה. דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי: בּוֹאוּ וְנַחֲזִיק טוֹבָה לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁהוֹדִיעוּ מְקוֹם תְּפִלָּה – דִּכְתִיב: ״וּצְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם לְךָ מִשְׁתַּחֲוִים״.
Rather, what is the meaning of frequent? It means frequent with the Divine Presence, i.e., the Divine Presence is found on the western side, and therefore it is inappropriate to set up a tannery there with its foul odors. As Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: Come and let us be grateful to our ancestors who revealed to us the place of prayer, as it is written: “And the hosts of heaven bow down to You” (Nehemiah 9:6). Since the celestial bodies move from east to west, they bow in that direction, which indicates that the Divine Presence is in the west.
מַתְקֵיף לַהּ רַב אַחָא בַּר יַעֲקֹב: וְדִלְמָא כְּעֶבֶד שֶׁנּוֹטֵל פְּרָס מֵרַבּוֹ, וְחוֹזֵר לַאֲחוֹרָיו וּמִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה! קַשְׁיָא.
Rav Aḥa bar Ya’akov objects to this: But perhaps the celestial bodies are like a servant who receives a gift from his master and walks backward while bowing. If so, the Divine Presence is in the east and the celestial bodies are moving backward. The Gemara comments: Indeed, this is difficult, i.e., the verse does not provide a definitive proof.
וְרַבִּי אוֹשַׁעְיָא סָבַר: שְׁכִינָה בְּכׇל מָקוֹם. דְּאָמַר רַבִּי אוֹשַׁעְיָא, מַאי דִּכְתִיב: ״אַתָּה הוּא ה׳ לְבַדֶּךָ, אַתָּה עָשִׂיתָ אֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְגוֹ׳״? שְׁלוּחֶיךָ לֹא כִּשְׁלוּחֵי בָּשָׂר וָדָם; שְׁלוּחֵי בָּשָׂר וָדָם, מִמָּקוֹם שֶׁמִּשְׁתַּלְּחִים – לְשָׁם מַחֲזִירִים שְׁלִיחוּתָן; אֲבָל שְׁלוּחֶיךָ, לְמָקוֹם שֶׁמִּשְׁתַּלְּחִין – מִשָּׁם מַחְזִירִין שְׁלִיחוּתָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הַתְשַׁלַּח בְּרָקִים וְיֵלֵכוּ וְיֹאמְרוּ לְךָ הִנֵּנוּ״ – ״יָבוֹאוּ וְיֹאמְרוּ״ לֹא נֶאֱמַר, אֶלָּא ״וְיֵלֵכוּ וְיֹאמְרוּ״, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהַשְּׁכִינָה בְּכׇל מָקוֹם.
The Gemara comments: And Rabbi Oshaya holds that the Divine Presence is found in every place, as Rabbi Oshaya says: What is the meaning of that which is written: “You are the Lord, even You alone, You have made heaven…You preserve them all alive and the hosts of heaven bow down to You” (Nehemiah 9:6)? This indicates that Your messengers are not like the messengers of flesh and blood. The messengers of flesh and blood return to the place from where they were sent to report on their mission. But Your messengers return and report on their mission from the very same place to which they are sent, as it is stated “Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go out and say to you: Here we are?” (Job 38:35). The verse does not state: They will come and say, i.e., they do not return to their point of departure, but: “They may go out and say,” which teaches that the Divine Presence is found in every place.
וְאַף רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל סָבַר שְׁכִינָה בְּכׇל מָקוֹם. דְּתָנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל: מִנַּיִן שֶׁשְּׁכִינָה בְּכׇל מָקוֹם? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הִנֵּה הַמַּלְאָךְ הַדֹּבֵר בִּי יֹצֵא, וּמַלְאָךְ אַחֵר יֹצֵא לִקְרָאתוֹ״ – ״אַחֲרָיו״ לֹא נֶאֱמַר, אֶלָּא ״לִקְרָאתוֹ״, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁשְּׁכִינָה בְּכׇל מָקוֹם.
The Gemara comments: And Rabbi Yishmael, too, holds that the Divine Presence is in every place, as one of the Sages of the school of Rabbi Yishmael taught: From where is it derived that the Divine Presence is in every place? As it is stated: “And behold the angel who spoke with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him” (Zechariah 2:7). Although both angels were coming from the Divine Presence, the verse does not state: After him, but: “To meet him,” which teaches that the Divine Presence is in every place, and therefore the angels depart for their missions from every place.
וְאַף רַב שֵׁשֶׁת סָבַר שְׁכִינָה בְּכׇל מָקוֹם. דַּאֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב שֵׁשֶׁת לְשַׁמָּעֵיהּ: לְכׇל רוּחָתָא אוֹקְמַן, לְבַר מִמִּזְרָח. וְלָאו מִשּׁוּם דְּלֵית בֵּיהּ שְׁכִינָה, אֶלָּא מִשּׁוּם דְּמוֹרוּ בֵּהּ מִינֵי.
And Rav Sheshet, too, holds that the Divine Presence is in every place, as Rav Sheshet said to his servant: Set me facing any direction to pray except for the east. Rav Sheshet, who was blind, required the assistance of his aide to prepare for prayer. He explained to his servant: And the reason I do not wish to face east is not because it does not contain the Divine Presence, but because the heretics instruct people to pray in that direction.
וְרַבִּי אֲבָהוּ אָמַר: שְׁכִינָה בַּמַּעֲרָב – דְּאָמַר רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ: מַאי ״אוֹרְיָה״? אֲוִיר יָהּ.
But Rabbi Abbahu says: The Divine Presence is in the west, as Rabbi Abbahu says: What is the meaning of oriyya, which is a name for the west? It means the air of God [avir Yah], i.e., this is the place of the Divine Presence.
אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה, מַאי דִּכְתִיב ״יַעֲרֹף כַּמָּטָר לִקְחִי״? זוֹ רוּחַ מַעֲרָבִית, שֶׁבָּאָה מֵעׇרְפּוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם.
The Gemara cites a statement connected to the four winds. Rav Yehuda said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distill as the dew; as the small rain upon the tender growth, and as the showers upon the herb” (Deuteronomy 32:2)? “My doctrine shall drop [ya’arof ] as the rain”; this is the western wind, which comes from the back of [me’orpo] the world, as the west is also referred to as the back.
״תִּזַּל כַּטַּל אִמְרָתִי״ – זוֹ רוּחַ צְפוֹנִית, שֶׁמַּזֶּלֶת אֶת הַזָּהָב. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר: ״הַזָּלִים זָהָב מִכִּיס״.
“My speech shall distill [tizzal] as the dew”; this is the northern wind, which brings dry air that reduces the rain and grain and thereby devalues [mazzelet] gold. When grain crops are reduced their price appreciates, and consequently the value of gold decreases. And in addition, it says: “You who lavish [hazzalim] gold out of the bag” (Isaiah 46:6).
״כִּשְׂעִירִם עֲלֵי דֶשֶׁא״ – זוֹ רוּחַ מִזְרָחִית, שֶׁמַּסְעֶרֶת אֶת כׇּל הָעוֹלָם כְּשָׂעִיר. ״וְכִרְבִיבִים עֲלֵי עֵשֶׂב״ – זוֹ רוּחַ דְּרוֹמִית, שֶׁהִיא מַעֲלָה רְבִיבִים וּמְגַדֶּלֶת עֲשָׂבִים.
“As the small rain [kisirim] upon the tender growth”; this is the eastern wind that rages through [maseret] the entire world like a demon [sa’ir] when it blows strongly. “And as the showers upon the herb”; this is the southern wind, which raises showers and causes herbs to grow.
תַּנְיָא, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: עוֹלָם
It is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Eliezer says: The world
לְאַכְסַדְרָה הוּא דּוֹמֶה, וְרוּחַ צְפוֹנִית אֵינָהּ מְסוּבֶּבֶת, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁהִגִּיעָה חַמָּה אֵצֶל קֶרֶן מַעֲרָבִית צְפוֹנִית – נִכְפֶּפֶת וְעוֹלֶה לְמַעְלָה מִן הָרָקִיעַ. וְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אוֹמֵר: עוֹלָם לְקוּבָּה הוּא דּוֹמֶה, וְרוּחַ צְפוֹנִית מְסוּבֶּבֶת, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁחַמָּה מַגַּעַת לְקֶרֶן מַעֲרָבִית צְפוֹנִית – מַקֶּפֶת וְחוֹזֶרֶת אֲחוֹרֵי כִיפָּה;
is similar to a partially enclosed veranda [le’akhsadra], enclosed on three sides, and the northern side of the world is not enclosed with a partition like the other directions. The sun begins its revolution in the east and passes to the south and the west, and once the sun reaches the northwestern corner it turns around and ascends throughout the night above the sky to the east side and does not pass the north side. And Rabbi Yehoshua says: The world is similar to a small tent [lekubba], and the north side is enclosed with a partition as well, but once the sun reaches the northwestern corner it emerges from this small tent, and circles and passes behind the dome, i.e., outside the northern partition, until it reaches the east.
שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הוֹלֵךְ אֶל דָּרוֹם, וְסוֹבֵב אֶל צָפוֹן וְגוֹ׳״; ״הוֹלֵךְ אֶל דָּרוֹם״ – בַּיּוֹם. ״וְסוֹבֵב אֶל צָפוֹן״ – בַּלַּיְלָה. ״סוֹבֵב סֹבֵב הוֹלֵךְ הָרוּחַ וְעַל סְבִיבֹתָיו שָׁב הָרוּחַ״ – אֵלּוּ פְּנֵי מִזְרָח וּפְנֵי מַעֲרָב, שֶׁפְּעָמִים מְסַבַּבְתָּן וּפְעָמִים מְהַלַּכְתָּן.
As it is stated: “The sun also rises and the sun goes down, and hastens to its place, where it rises again. It goes toward the south, and turns about to the north; round and round goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns” (Ecclesiastes 1:5–6). The verse is understood as describing the sun’s movements, as follows: “It goes toward the south” during the day, “and turns about to the north,” on the outside of the firmament, at night. “Round and round goes the wind [ruaḥ] and the wind returns again to its circuits”; as the word ruaḥ can also mean direction or side, Rabbi Yehoshua explains that these are the face of the east and the face of the west. Sometimes, in the short winter days, the sun turns about them without being seen, and sometimes, in the long summer days, it traverses them visibly.
הוּא הָיָה אוֹמֵר – אֲתָאן לְרַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר: ״מִן הַחֶדֶר תָּבֹא סוּפָה״ – זוֹ רוּחַ דְּרוֹמִית. ״וּמִמְּזָרִים קָרָה״ – זוֹ רוּחַ צְפוֹנִית. ״מִנִּשְׁמַת אֵל יִתֶּן קָרַח״ – זוֹ רוּחַ מַעֲרָבִית. ״וְרֹחַב מַיִם בְּמוּצָק״ – זוֹ רוּחַ מִזְרָחִית.
The baraita continues: He would say. Before continuing its citation, the Gemara interjects: In this statement, we arrive at the opinion of Rabbi Eliezer that the world is like a partially enclosed veranda. The Gemara resumes its citation of the baraita: There is proof from a verse that the north side is open: “Out of the chamber comes the storm”; this is the southern side that forms a room with the other two sides. “And cold out of the dispersed parts” (Job 37:9); this is the northern side, which is open, and from which a cold wind comes. “By the breath of God ice is given”; this is the western side. “And the breadth of the waters is straitened” (Job 37:10); this is the eastern side, from which the rains come.
וְהָאָמַר מָר: רוּחַ דְּרוֹמִית מַעֲלָה רְבִיבִים וּמְגַדֶּלֶת עֲשָׂבִים! לָא קַשְׁיָא; הָא דְּאָתְיָא מִטְרָא בְּנִיחוּתָא, הָא בִּשְׁפִיכוּתָא.
The Gemara asks: But doesn’t the Master say that the southern wind raises showers and causes herbs to grow? The Gemara answers that this is not difficult: This is referring to rain that falls gently, which waters plants and brings growth; that is referring to a downpour of rain that causes damage.
אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא, מַאי דִּכְתִיב: ״מִצָּפוֹן זָהָב יֶאֱתֶה״? זוֹ רוּחַ צְפוֹנִית שֶׁמַּזֶּלֶת אֶת הַזָּהָב. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר: ״הַזָּלִים זָהָב מִכִּיס״.
Rav Ḥisda said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “Out of the north comes gold” (Job 37:22)? This is the northern wind, which devalues gold by causing a drought that raises the price of grain. And, in addition, it says: “You who lavish gold out of the bag” (Isaiah 46:6).
אָמַר רַפְרָם בַּר פָּפָּא אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: מִיּוֹם שֶׁחָרַב בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ לֹא הוּגְשְׁמָה רוּחַ דְּרוֹמִית, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּגְזֹר עַל יָמִין וְרָעֵב, וַיֹּאכַל עַל שְׂמֹאל וְלֹא שָׂבֵעוּ״, וּכְתִיב: ״צָפוֹן וְיָמִין אַתָּה בְרָאתָם״.
§ Rafram bar Pappa says that Rav Ḥisda says: From the day the Temple was destroyed the southern wind has not brought rain, as it is stated in the description of the destruction of the Temple: “He decrees on the right and there is hunger, and consumes on the left and they are not satisfied” (Isaiah 9:19). This means that God decreed that the southern wind, which is called right, shall bring famine with it. And it is written: “North and right, You have created them” (Psalms 89:13). This proves that the term right means south.
וְאָמַר רַפְרָם בַּר פָּפָּא אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: מִיּוֹם שֶׁחָרַב בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ אֵין הַגְּשָׁמִים יוֹרְדִין מֵאוֹצָר טוֹב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״יִפְתַּח ה׳ לְךָ אֶת אוֹצָרוֹ הַטּוֹב״ – בִּזְמַן שֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל עוֹשִׂין רְצוֹנוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם, וְיִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁרוּיִין עַל אַדְמָתָם – גְּשָׁמִים יוֹרְדִין מֵאוֹצָר טוֹב; בִּזְמַן שֶׁאֵין יִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁרוּיִין עַל אַדְמָתָם – אֵין גְּשָׁמִים יוֹרְדִין מֵאוֹצָר טוֹב.
And Rafram bar Pappa says that Rav Ḥisda says: From the day the Temple was destroyed, the rains no longer descend from the good storehouse, as it is stated: “The Lord will open to you His good storehouse, the skies, to give the rain of your land in its season” (Deuteronomy 28:12). In a time when the Jewish people perform God’s will, and the Jewish people are settled in their land, rain descends from the good storehouse. In a time when the Jewish people are not settled in their land, rain does not descend from the good storehouse.
אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: הָרוֹצֶה שֶׁיַּחְכִּים – יַדְרִים, וְשֶׁיַּעֲשִׁיר – יַצְפִּין, וְסִימָנָיךְ: שֻׁלְחָן בַּצָּפוֹן וּמְנוֹרָה בַּדָּרוֹם. וְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי אָמַר: לְעוֹלָם יַדְרִים, שֶׁמִּתּוֹךְ שֶׁמִּתְחַכֵּם מִתְעַשֵּׁר – שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: אֹרֶךְ יָמִים בִּימִינָהּ, בִּשְׂמֹאלָהּ עֹשֶׁר וְכָבוֹד״.
Rabbi Yitzḥak says: One who wishes to become wise should face south, and one who wishes to become wealthy should face north. And your mnemonic for this is that in the Temple the Table, which symbolized blessing and abundance, was in the north, and the Candelabrum, which symbolized the light of wisdom, was in the south of the Sanctuary. And Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: One should always face south, as once he becomes wise he will subsequently also become wealthy, as it is stated with regard to the Torah: “Length of days is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor” (Proverbs 3:16).
וְהָא רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי אָמַר: שְׁכִינָה בַּמַּעֲרָב! דְּמַצְדֵּד אַצְדּוֹדֵי. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי חֲנִינָא לְרַב אָשֵׁי: כְּגוֹן אַתּוּן, דְּיָתְבִיתוּ בִּצְפוֹנָהּ דְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל – אַדְרִימוּ אַדְרוֹמֵי. וּמְנָא לַן דְּבָבֶל לִצְפוֹנָהּ דְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל קָיְימָא? דִּכְתִיב: ״מִצָּפוֹן תִּפָּתַח הָרָעָה עַל כׇּל יֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ״.
The Gemara asks: But Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says that the Divine Presence is in the west. How, then, can one pray facing south? The Gemara explains that one should turn aside slightly, so that he faces southwest. Rabbi Ḥanina said to Rav Ashi: An individual such as you, who lives to the north of Eretz Yisrael, should face south when you pray. And from where do we derive that Babylonia is located to the north of Eretz Yisrael? As it is written in a prophecy concerning the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians: “Out of the north evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land” (Jeremiah 1:14).
מַרְחִיקִין אֶת הַמִּשְׁרָה מִן הַיָּרָק וְכוּ׳. תָּנָא: רַבִּי יוֹסֵי מַתִּיר בַּחַרְדָּל, שֶׁיָּכוֹל לוֹמַר לוֹ: עַד שֶׁאַתָּה אוֹמֵר לִי הַרְחֵק חַרְדָּלֶךָ מִן דְּבוֹרַיי; הַרְחֵק דְּבוֹרֶךָ מִן חַרְדָּלַיי, שֶׁבָּאוֹת וְאוֹכְלוֹת לִגְלוּגֵי חַרְדָּלַיי.
§ The mishna teaches that one must distance from vegetables the water in which flax is steeped, and distance mustard from bees. A Sage taught that Rabbi Yosei permits one not to do so in the case of mustard because he can say to the beekeeper: Before you tell me: Distance your mustard from my bees, I can tell you: Distance your bees from my mustard, as they come and eat my mustard plants. In other words, you are also causing damage to my property. Since they each cause damage to the other, neither can force his neighbor to move.
מַתְנִי׳ מַרְחִיקִין אֶת הָאִילָן מִן הַבּוֹר עֶשְׂרִים וְחָמֵשׁ אַמָּה, וּבְחָרוּב וּבַשִּׁקְמָה – חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה; בֵּין מִלְּמַעְלָה בֵּין מִן הַצַּד. אִם הַבּוֹר קָדְמָה – קוֹצֵץ וְנוֹתֵן דָּמִים, וְאִם אִילָן קָדַם – לֹא יָקוֹץ. סָפֵק זֶה קָדַם וְסָפֵק זֶה קָדַם – לֹא יָקוֹץ. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהַבּוֹר קוֹדֶמֶת לָאִילָן – לֹא יָקוֹץ, שֶׁזֶּה חוֹפֵר בְּתוֹךְ שֶׁלּוֹ וְזֶה נוֹטֵעַ בְּתוֹךְ שֶׁלּוֹ.
MISHNA: One must distance a tree twenty-five cubits from a cistern, and in the case of a carob and of a sycamore tree, whose roots extend farther, one must distance the tree fifty cubits. This is the halakha whether the cistern or tree is located above or to the side of the other. If the digging of the cistern preceded the tree, the owner of the tree cuts down the tree and the owner of the cistern pays him money. And if the tree preceded the cistern the owner of the tree need not cut down the tree. If it is uncertain whether this came first or that came first, the owner of the tree need not cut down the tree. Rabbi Yosei says: Even if the cistern preceded the tree, the owner of the tree need not cut down the tree. This is due to the fact that this one digs in his own property, and that one plants in his own property.
גְּמָ׳ תָּנָא: בֵּין שֶׁהַבּוֹר לְמַטָּה וְאִילָן לְמַעְלָה, בֵּין שֶׁהַבּוֹר לְמַעְלָה וְאִילָן לְמַטָּה. בִּשְׁלָמָא בּוֹר לְמַטָּה וְאִילָן לְמַעְלָה – קָא אָזְלִין שׇׁרָשִׁין מַזְּקִי לַהּ לְבוֹר. אֶלָּא בּוֹר לְמַעְלָה וְאִילָן לְמַטָּה, אַמַּאי? אָמַר רַבִּי חַגָּא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹסֵי: מִפְּנֵי שֶׁמַּחְלִידִין אֶת הַקַּרְקַע וּמַלְקִין קַרְקָעִיתָהּ שֶׁל בּוֹר.
GEMARA: The Gemara discusses the mishna’s statement that a tree must be distanced if it is above a cistern. A Sage taught: This is the halakha whether the cistern is below and the tree is above, or whether the cistern is above and the tree is below. The Gemara asks: Granted, if the cistern is below and the tree is above, it will cause damage, as the roots extend and damage the cistern when they breach its walls. But if the cistern is above and the tree is below, why should he have to distance the tree, considering that the roots extend downward? Rabbi Ḥagga says in the name of Rabbi Yosei: He must distance the tree because its roots form holes in the ground and ruin the floor of the cistern.
רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהַבּוֹר קוֹדֶמֶת לְאִילָן – לֹא יָקוֹץ, שֶׁזֶּה חוֹפֵר בְּתוֹךְ שֶׁלּוֹ וְזֶה נוֹטֵעַ בְּתוֹךְ שֶׁלּוֹ. אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: הֲלָכָה כְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי. אָמַר רַב אָשֵׁי: כִּי הֲוָאן בֵּי רַב כָּהֲנָא הֲוָה אָמְרִינַן: מוֹדֵי רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּגִירֵי דִידֵיהּ.
Rabbi Yosei says: Even if the cistern preceded the tree, the owner of the tree need not cut down the tree. This is due to the fact that this one digs in his own property, and that one plants in his own property. Rav Yehuda says that Shmuel says: The halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yosei. Rav Ashi said: When we were studying in the study hall of Rav Kahana, we would say that Rabbi Yosei concedes with regard to one’s arrows, i.e., one must distance his activities from his neighbor if his actions will cause immediate damage to his neighbor, even if he is acting on his own property.
פָּאפִּי יוֹנָאָה עָנִי וְהֶעֱשִׁיר הֲוָה. בְּנָה אַפַּדְנָא. הֲווֹ הָנָךְ עָצוֹרֵי בְּשִׁיבָבוּתֵיהּ, דְּכִי הֲווֹ דָּיְיקִי שׁוּמְשְׁמֵי הֲוָה נָיְידָא אַפַּדְנֵיהּ. אֲתָא לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרַב אָשֵׁי, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: כִּי הֲוָאן בֵּי רַב כָּהֲנָא הֲוָה אָמְרִינַן: מוֹדֵי רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּגִירֵי דִילֵיהּ.
The Gemara relates that a man called Pappei Yona’a was poor and became wealthy. He built a mansion [appadna] on his land. There were these sesame seed pressers in his neighborhood who would work, and when they would press the sesame seeds their activity would shake his mansion. He came before Rav Ashi to complain. Rav Ashi said to him: When we were studying in the study hall of Rav Kahana, we would say that Rabbi Yosei concedes with regard to one’s arrows. Here too, because the sesame seed pressers cause immediate damage they must distance themselves.
וְכַמָּה?
The Gemara asks: And how much must the mansion shake for the owner to have the right to compel the sesame seed pressers to distance themselves?
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Rachel Rotenberg
Tekoa, Israel
With Rabbanit Dr. Naomi Cohen in the Women’s Talmud class, over 30 years ago. It was a “known” class and it was accepted, because of who taught. Since then I have also studied with Avigail Gross-Gelman and Dr. Gabriel Hazut for about a year). Years ago, in a shiur in my shul, I did know about Persians doing 3 things with their clothes on. They opened the shiur to woman after that!
Sharon Mink
Haifa, Israel
After experiences over the years of asking to join gemara shiurim for men and either being refused by the maggid shiur or being the only women there, sometimes behind a mechitza, I found out about Hadran sometime during the tail end of Masechet Shabbat, I think. Life has been much better since then.
Madeline Cohen
London, United Kingdom
In July, 2012 I wrote for Tablet about the first all women’s siyum at Matan in Jerusalem, with 100 women. At the time, I thought, I would like to start with the next cycle – listening to a podcast at different times of day makes it possible. It is incredible that after 10 years, so many women are so engaged!
Beth Kissileff
Pittsburgh, United States
As Jewish educator and as a woman, I’m mindful that Talmud has been kept from women for many centuries. Now that we are privileged to learn, and learning is so accessible, it’s my intent to complete Daf Yomi. I am so excited to keep learning with my Hadran community.
Sue Parker Gerson
Denver, United States
I began my Daf Yomi journey on January 5, 2020. I had never learned Talmud before. Initially it struck me as a bunch of inane and arcane details with mind bending logic. I am now smitten. Rabbanit Farber brings the page to life and I am eager to learn with her every day!
Lori Stark
Highland Park, United States
After reading the book, “ If All The Seas Were Ink “ by Ileana Kurshan I started studying Talmud. I searched and studied with several teachers until I found Michelle Farber. I have been studying with her for two years. I look forward every day to learn from her.
Janine Rubens
Virginia, United States
I started with Ze Kollel in Berlin, directed by Jeremy Borowitz for Hillel Deutschland. We read Masechet Megillah chapter 4 and each participant wrote his commentary on a Sugia that particularly impressed him. I wrote six poems about different Sugiot! Fascinated by the discussions on Talmud I continued to learn with Rabanit Michelle Farber and am currently taking part in the Tikun Olam course.
Yael Merlini
Berlin, Germany
Bava Batra 25
שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה אוֹתוֹ גָּלָל.
he turns it into manure, i.e., the chaff acts like manure, and an excessive amount of manure damages the seeds.
מַתְנִי׳ מַרְחִיקִין אֶת הַנְּבֵלוֹת וְאֶת הַקְּבָרוֹת וְאֶת הַבּוּרְסְקִי מִן הָעִיר – חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה. אֵין עוֹשִׂין בּוּרְסְקִי אֶלָּא לְמִזְרַח הָעִיר. רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אוֹמֵר: לְכׇל רוּחַ הוּא עוֹשֶׂה, חוּץ מִמַּעֲרָבָהּ; וּמַרְחִיק חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה. וּמֵרְחִיקִין אֶת הַמִּשְׁרָה מִן הַיָּרָק, וְאֶת הַכְּרֵישִׁין מִן הַבְּצָלִים, וְאֶת הַחַרְדָּל מִן הַדְּבוֹרִים. וְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי מַתִּיר בְּחַרְדָּל.
MISHNA: One must distance animal carcasses, and graves, and a tannery [haburseki], a place where hides are processed, fifty cubits from the city. One may establish a tannery only on the east side of the city, because winds usually blow from the west and the foul smells would therefore be blown away from the residential area. Rabbi Akiva says: One may establish a tannery on any side of a city except for the west, as the winds blowing from that direction will bring the odors into the city, and one must distance it fifty cubits from the city. One must distance from vegetables water in which flax is steeped, because this water ruins them; and likewise one must distance leeks from onions, and mustard from bees. And Rabbi Yosei permits one not to do so in the case of mustard.
גְּמָ׳ אִיבַּעְיָא לְהוּ: רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא הֵיכִי קָאָמַר? לְכׇל רוּחַ הוּא עוֹשֶׂה וְסוֹמֵךְ, חוּץ מִמַּעֲרָבָהּ – דְּמַרְחִיק חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה וְעוֹשֶׂה; אוֹ דִּלְמָא: לְכׇל רוּחַ הוּא עוֹשֶׂה וּמַרְחִיק חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה, חוּץ מִמַּעֲרָבָהּ – דְּאֵינוֹ עוֹשֶׂה כְּלָל?
GEMARA: A dilemma was raised before the Sages: With regard to what case is Rabbi Akiva speaking? Did he mean that one may establish a tannery on any side of a city, and one may even place the tannery close to the city, except for the west side, where one must establish it at a distance of fifty cubits? Or perhaps he meant that one may establish a tannery on any side and distance it fifty cubits, except for the west side, where one may not establish a tannery at all.
תָּא שְׁמַע: דְּתַנְיָא, רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא אוֹמֵר: לְכׇל רוּחַ הוּא עוֹשֶׂה וּמַרְחִיק חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה, חוּץ מִמַּעֲרָבָהּ דְּאֵינוֹ עוֹשֶׂה כׇּל עִיקָּר, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִיא תְּדִירָא.
The Gemara cites a proof: Come and hear, as it is taught in a baraita: Rabbi Akiva says that one may establish a tannery on any side of the city and distance it fifty cubits, except for the west side, where one may not establish a tannery at all, because the western wind is frequent.
אֲמַר לֵיהּ רָבָא לְרַב נַחְמָן: מַאי תְּדִירָא? אִילֵּימָא תְּדִירָא בְּרוּחוֹת, וְהָא אָמַר רַב חָנָן בַּר אַבָּא אָמַר רַב: אַרְבַּע רוּחוֹת מְנַשְּׁבוֹת בְּכׇל יוֹם, וְרוּחַ צְפוֹנִית עִם כּוּלָּן; שֶׁאִילְמָלֵא כֵּן – אֵין הָעוֹלָם מִתְקַיֵּים אֲפִילּוּ שָׁעָה אַחַת. וְרוּחַ דְּרוֹמִית קָשָׁה מִכּוּלָּן, וְאִילְמָלֵא בֶּן נֵץ שֶׁמַּעֲמִידָהּ – מַחְרֶבֶת אֶת הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הֲמִבִּינָתְךָ יַאֲבֶר נֵץ, יִפְרֹשׂ כְּנָפָו לְתֵימָן״!
§ With regard to the last statement of the baraita, Rava said to Rav Naḥman: What does frequent mean in this context? If we say it means frequent among the winds, i.e., this wind blows all the time, that is difficult. But doesn’t Rav Ḥanan bar Abba say that Rav says: Four winds blow every day from different directions, and the northern wind blows with each of the other three; as, if this were not so, i.e., if it did not blow, the world would not exist for even one hour, as the northern wind is pleasant and tempers the bitter effects of the other winds. And the southern wind is harsher than all of them, and were it not for the angel named Ben Netz, who stops it from blowing even harder, it would destroy the entire world, as it is stated: “Does the hawk [netz] soar by your wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?” (Job 39:26). This indicates that the northern wind is the most constant, not the western wind.
אֶלָּא מַאי תְּדִירָא – תְּדִירָא בִּשְׁכִינָה. דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי: בּוֹאוּ וְנַחֲזִיק טוֹבָה לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁהוֹדִיעוּ מְקוֹם תְּפִלָּה – דִּכְתִיב: ״וּצְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם לְךָ מִשְׁתַּחֲוִים״.
Rather, what is the meaning of frequent? It means frequent with the Divine Presence, i.e., the Divine Presence is found on the western side, and therefore it is inappropriate to set up a tannery there with its foul odors. As Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: Come and let us be grateful to our ancestors who revealed to us the place of prayer, as it is written: “And the hosts of heaven bow down to You” (Nehemiah 9:6). Since the celestial bodies move from east to west, they bow in that direction, which indicates that the Divine Presence is in the west.
מַתְקֵיף לַהּ רַב אַחָא בַּר יַעֲקֹב: וְדִלְמָא כְּעֶבֶד שֶׁנּוֹטֵל פְּרָס מֵרַבּוֹ, וְחוֹזֵר לַאֲחוֹרָיו וּמִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה! קַשְׁיָא.
Rav Aḥa bar Ya’akov objects to this: But perhaps the celestial bodies are like a servant who receives a gift from his master and walks backward while bowing. If so, the Divine Presence is in the east and the celestial bodies are moving backward. The Gemara comments: Indeed, this is difficult, i.e., the verse does not provide a definitive proof.
וְרַבִּי אוֹשַׁעְיָא סָבַר: שְׁכִינָה בְּכׇל מָקוֹם. דְּאָמַר רַבִּי אוֹשַׁעְיָא, מַאי דִּכְתִיב: ״אַתָּה הוּא ה׳ לְבַדֶּךָ, אַתָּה עָשִׂיתָ אֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְגוֹ׳״? שְׁלוּחֶיךָ לֹא כִּשְׁלוּחֵי בָּשָׂר וָדָם; שְׁלוּחֵי בָּשָׂר וָדָם, מִמָּקוֹם שֶׁמִּשְׁתַּלְּחִים – לְשָׁם מַחֲזִירִים שְׁלִיחוּתָן; אֲבָל שְׁלוּחֶיךָ, לְמָקוֹם שֶׁמִּשְׁתַּלְּחִין – מִשָּׁם מַחְזִירִין שְׁלִיחוּתָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הַתְשַׁלַּח בְּרָקִים וְיֵלֵכוּ וְיֹאמְרוּ לְךָ הִנֵּנוּ״ – ״יָבוֹאוּ וְיֹאמְרוּ״ לֹא נֶאֱמַר, אֶלָּא ״וְיֵלֵכוּ וְיֹאמְרוּ״, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהַשְּׁכִינָה בְּכׇל מָקוֹם.
The Gemara comments: And Rabbi Oshaya holds that the Divine Presence is found in every place, as Rabbi Oshaya says: What is the meaning of that which is written: “You are the Lord, even You alone, You have made heaven…You preserve them all alive and the hosts of heaven bow down to You” (Nehemiah 9:6)? This indicates that Your messengers are not like the messengers of flesh and blood. The messengers of flesh and blood return to the place from where they were sent to report on their mission. But Your messengers return and report on their mission from the very same place to which they are sent, as it is stated “Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go out and say to you: Here we are?” (Job 38:35). The verse does not state: They will come and say, i.e., they do not return to their point of departure, but: “They may go out and say,” which teaches that the Divine Presence is found in every place.
וְאַף רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל סָבַר שְׁכִינָה בְּכׇל מָקוֹם. דְּתָנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל: מִנַּיִן שֶׁשְּׁכִינָה בְּכׇל מָקוֹם? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הִנֵּה הַמַּלְאָךְ הַדֹּבֵר בִּי יֹצֵא, וּמַלְאָךְ אַחֵר יֹצֵא לִקְרָאתוֹ״ – ״אַחֲרָיו״ לֹא נֶאֱמַר, אֶלָּא ״לִקְרָאתוֹ״, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁשְּׁכִינָה בְּכׇל מָקוֹם.
The Gemara comments: And Rabbi Yishmael, too, holds that the Divine Presence is in every place, as one of the Sages of the school of Rabbi Yishmael taught: From where is it derived that the Divine Presence is in every place? As it is stated: “And behold the angel who spoke with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him” (Zechariah 2:7). Although both angels were coming from the Divine Presence, the verse does not state: After him, but: “To meet him,” which teaches that the Divine Presence is in every place, and therefore the angels depart for their missions from every place.
וְאַף רַב שֵׁשֶׁת סָבַר שְׁכִינָה בְּכׇל מָקוֹם. דַּאֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב שֵׁשֶׁת לְשַׁמָּעֵיהּ: לְכׇל רוּחָתָא אוֹקְמַן, לְבַר מִמִּזְרָח. וְלָאו מִשּׁוּם דְּלֵית בֵּיהּ שְׁכִינָה, אֶלָּא מִשּׁוּם דְּמוֹרוּ בֵּהּ מִינֵי.
And Rav Sheshet, too, holds that the Divine Presence is in every place, as Rav Sheshet said to his servant: Set me facing any direction to pray except for the east. Rav Sheshet, who was blind, required the assistance of his aide to prepare for prayer. He explained to his servant: And the reason I do not wish to face east is not because it does not contain the Divine Presence, but because the heretics instruct people to pray in that direction.
וְרַבִּי אֲבָהוּ אָמַר: שְׁכִינָה בַּמַּעֲרָב – דְּאָמַר רַבִּי אֲבָהוּ: מַאי ״אוֹרְיָה״? אֲוִיר יָהּ.
But Rabbi Abbahu says: The Divine Presence is in the west, as Rabbi Abbahu says: What is the meaning of oriyya, which is a name for the west? It means the air of God [avir Yah], i.e., this is the place of the Divine Presence.
אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה, מַאי דִּכְתִיב ״יַעֲרֹף כַּמָּטָר לִקְחִי״? זוֹ רוּחַ מַעֲרָבִית, שֶׁבָּאָה מֵעׇרְפּוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם.
The Gemara cites a statement connected to the four winds. Rav Yehuda said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distill as the dew; as the small rain upon the tender growth, and as the showers upon the herb” (Deuteronomy 32:2)? “My doctrine shall drop [ya’arof ] as the rain”; this is the western wind, which comes from the back of [me’orpo] the world, as the west is also referred to as the back.
״תִּזַּל כַּטַּל אִמְרָתִי״ – זוֹ רוּחַ צְפוֹנִית, שֶׁמַּזֶּלֶת אֶת הַזָּהָב. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר: ״הַזָּלִים זָהָב מִכִּיס״.
“My speech shall distill [tizzal] as the dew”; this is the northern wind, which brings dry air that reduces the rain and grain and thereby devalues [mazzelet] gold. When grain crops are reduced their price appreciates, and consequently the value of gold decreases. And in addition, it says: “You who lavish [hazzalim] gold out of the bag” (Isaiah 46:6).
״כִּשְׂעִירִם עֲלֵי דֶשֶׁא״ – זוֹ רוּחַ מִזְרָחִית, שֶׁמַּסְעֶרֶת אֶת כׇּל הָעוֹלָם כְּשָׂעִיר. ״וְכִרְבִיבִים עֲלֵי עֵשֶׂב״ – זוֹ רוּחַ דְּרוֹמִית, שֶׁהִיא מַעֲלָה רְבִיבִים וּמְגַדֶּלֶת עֲשָׂבִים.
“As the small rain [kisirim] upon the tender growth”; this is the eastern wind that rages through [maseret] the entire world like a demon [sa’ir] when it blows strongly. “And as the showers upon the herb”; this is the southern wind, which raises showers and causes herbs to grow.
תַּנְיָא, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר: עוֹלָם
It is taught in a baraita that Rabbi Eliezer says: The world
לְאַכְסַדְרָה הוּא דּוֹמֶה, וְרוּחַ צְפוֹנִית אֵינָהּ מְסוּבֶּבֶת, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁהִגִּיעָה חַמָּה אֵצֶל קֶרֶן מַעֲרָבִית צְפוֹנִית – נִכְפֶּפֶת וְעוֹלֶה לְמַעְלָה מִן הָרָקִיעַ. וְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אוֹמֵר: עוֹלָם לְקוּבָּה הוּא דּוֹמֶה, וְרוּחַ צְפוֹנִית מְסוּבֶּבֶת, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁחַמָּה מַגַּעַת לְקֶרֶן מַעֲרָבִית צְפוֹנִית – מַקֶּפֶת וְחוֹזֶרֶת אֲחוֹרֵי כִיפָּה;
is similar to a partially enclosed veranda [le’akhsadra], enclosed on three sides, and the northern side of the world is not enclosed with a partition like the other directions. The sun begins its revolution in the east and passes to the south and the west, and once the sun reaches the northwestern corner it turns around and ascends throughout the night above the sky to the east side and does not pass the north side. And Rabbi Yehoshua says: The world is similar to a small tent [lekubba], and the north side is enclosed with a partition as well, but once the sun reaches the northwestern corner it emerges from this small tent, and circles and passes behind the dome, i.e., outside the northern partition, until it reaches the east.
שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הוֹלֵךְ אֶל דָּרוֹם, וְסוֹבֵב אֶל צָפוֹן וְגוֹ׳״; ״הוֹלֵךְ אֶל דָּרוֹם״ – בַּיּוֹם. ״וְסוֹבֵב אֶל צָפוֹן״ – בַּלַּיְלָה. ״סוֹבֵב סֹבֵב הוֹלֵךְ הָרוּחַ וְעַל סְבִיבֹתָיו שָׁב הָרוּחַ״ – אֵלּוּ פְּנֵי מִזְרָח וּפְנֵי מַעֲרָב, שֶׁפְּעָמִים מְסַבַּבְתָּן וּפְעָמִים מְהַלַּכְתָּן.
As it is stated: “The sun also rises and the sun goes down, and hastens to its place, where it rises again. It goes toward the south, and turns about to the north; round and round goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns” (Ecclesiastes 1:5–6). The verse is understood as describing the sun’s movements, as follows: “It goes toward the south” during the day, “and turns about to the north,” on the outside of the firmament, at night. “Round and round goes the wind [ruaḥ] and the wind returns again to its circuits”; as the word ruaḥ can also mean direction or side, Rabbi Yehoshua explains that these are the face of the east and the face of the west. Sometimes, in the short winter days, the sun turns about them without being seen, and sometimes, in the long summer days, it traverses them visibly.
הוּא הָיָה אוֹמֵר – אֲתָאן לְרַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר: ״מִן הַחֶדֶר תָּבֹא סוּפָה״ – זוֹ רוּחַ דְּרוֹמִית. ״וּמִמְּזָרִים קָרָה״ – זוֹ רוּחַ צְפוֹנִית. ״מִנִּשְׁמַת אֵל יִתֶּן קָרַח״ – זוֹ רוּחַ מַעֲרָבִית. ״וְרֹחַב מַיִם בְּמוּצָק״ – זוֹ רוּחַ מִזְרָחִית.
The baraita continues: He would say. Before continuing its citation, the Gemara interjects: In this statement, we arrive at the opinion of Rabbi Eliezer that the world is like a partially enclosed veranda. The Gemara resumes its citation of the baraita: There is proof from a verse that the north side is open: “Out of the chamber comes the storm”; this is the southern side that forms a room with the other two sides. “And cold out of the dispersed parts” (Job 37:9); this is the northern side, which is open, and from which a cold wind comes. “By the breath of God ice is given”; this is the western side. “And the breadth of the waters is straitened” (Job 37:10); this is the eastern side, from which the rains come.
וְהָאָמַר מָר: רוּחַ דְּרוֹמִית מַעֲלָה רְבִיבִים וּמְגַדֶּלֶת עֲשָׂבִים! לָא קַשְׁיָא; הָא דְּאָתְיָא מִטְרָא בְּנִיחוּתָא, הָא בִּשְׁפִיכוּתָא.
The Gemara asks: But doesn’t the Master say that the southern wind raises showers and causes herbs to grow? The Gemara answers that this is not difficult: This is referring to rain that falls gently, which waters plants and brings growth; that is referring to a downpour of rain that causes damage.
אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא, מַאי דִּכְתִיב: ״מִצָּפוֹן זָהָב יֶאֱתֶה״? זוֹ רוּחַ צְפוֹנִית שֶׁמַּזֶּלֶת אֶת הַזָּהָב. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר: ״הַזָּלִים זָהָב מִכִּיס״.
Rav Ḥisda said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “Out of the north comes gold” (Job 37:22)? This is the northern wind, which devalues gold by causing a drought that raises the price of grain. And, in addition, it says: “You who lavish gold out of the bag” (Isaiah 46:6).
אָמַר רַפְרָם בַּר פָּפָּא אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: מִיּוֹם שֶׁחָרַב בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ לֹא הוּגְשְׁמָה רוּחַ דְּרוֹמִית, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּגְזֹר עַל יָמִין וְרָעֵב, וַיֹּאכַל עַל שְׂמֹאל וְלֹא שָׂבֵעוּ״, וּכְתִיב: ״צָפוֹן וְיָמִין אַתָּה בְרָאתָם״.
§ Rafram bar Pappa says that Rav Ḥisda says: From the day the Temple was destroyed the southern wind has not brought rain, as it is stated in the description of the destruction of the Temple: “He decrees on the right and there is hunger, and consumes on the left and they are not satisfied” (Isaiah 9:19). This means that God decreed that the southern wind, which is called right, shall bring famine with it. And it is written: “North and right, You have created them” (Psalms 89:13). This proves that the term right means south.
וְאָמַר רַפְרָם בַּר פָּפָּא אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: מִיּוֹם שֶׁחָרַב בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ אֵין הַגְּשָׁמִים יוֹרְדִין מֵאוֹצָר טוֹב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״יִפְתַּח ה׳ לְךָ אֶת אוֹצָרוֹ הַטּוֹב״ – בִּזְמַן שֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל עוֹשִׂין רְצוֹנוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם, וְיִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁרוּיִין עַל אַדְמָתָם – גְּשָׁמִים יוֹרְדִין מֵאוֹצָר טוֹב; בִּזְמַן שֶׁאֵין יִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁרוּיִין עַל אַדְמָתָם – אֵין גְּשָׁמִים יוֹרְדִין מֵאוֹצָר טוֹב.
And Rafram bar Pappa says that Rav Ḥisda says: From the day the Temple was destroyed, the rains no longer descend from the good storehouse, as it is stated: “The Lord will open to you His good storehouse, the skies, to give the rain of your land in its season” (Deuteronomy 28:12). In a time when the Jewish people perform God’s will, and the Jewish people are settled in their land, rain descends from the good storehouse. In a time when the Jewish people are not settled in their land, rain does not descend from the good storehouse.
אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: הָרוֹצֶה שֶׁיַּחְכִּים – יַדְרִים, וְשֶׁיַּעֲשִׁיר – יַצְפִּין, וְסִימָנָיךְ: שֻׁלְחָן בַּצָּפוֹן וּמְנוֹרָה בַּדָּרוֹם. וְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי אָמַר: לְעוֹלָם יַדְרִים, שֶׁמִּתּוֹךְ שֶׁמִּתְחַכֵּם מִתְעַשֵּׁר – שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: אֹרֶךְ יָמִים בִּימִינָהּ, בִּשְׂמֹאלָהּ עֹשֶׁר וְכָבוֹד״.
Rabbi Yitzḥak says: One who wishes to become wise should face south, and one who wishes to become wealthy should face north. And your mnemonic for this is that in the Temple the Table, which symbolized blessing and abundance, was in the north, and the Candelabrum, which symbolized the light of wisdom, was in the south of the Sanctuary. And Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: One should always face south, as once he becomes wise he will subsequently also become wealthy, as it is stated with regard to the Torah: “Length of days is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor” (Proverbs 3:16).
וְהָא רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי אָמַר: שְׁכִינָה בַּמַּעֲרָב! דְּמַצְדֵּד אַצְדּוֹדֵי. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי חֲנִינָא לְרַב אָשֵׁי: כְּגוֹן אַתּוּן, דְּיָתְבִיתוּ בִּצְפוֹנָהּ דְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל – אַדְרִימוּ אַדְרוֹמֵי. וּמְנָא לַן דְּבָבֶל לִצְפוֹנָהּ דְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל קָיְימָא? דִּכְתִיב: ״מִצָּפוֹן תִּפָּתַח הָרָעָה עַל כׇּל יֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ״.
The Gemara asks: But Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says that the Divine Presence is in the west. How, then, can one pray facing south? The Gemara explains that one should turn aside slightly, so that he faces southwest. Rabbi Ḥanina said to Rav Ashi: An individual such as you, who lives to the north of Eretz Yisrael, should face south when you pray. And from where do we derive that Babylonia is located to the north of Eretz Yisrael? As it is written in a prophecy concerning the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians: “Out of the north evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land” (Jeremiah 1:14).
מַרְחִיקִין אֶת הַמִּשְׁרָה מִן הַיָּרָק וְכוּ׳. תָּנָא: רַבִּי יוֹסֵי מַתִּיר בַּחַרְדָּל, שֶׁיָּכוֹל לוֹמַר לוֹ: עַד שֶׁאַתָּה אוֹמֵר לִי הַרְחֵק חַרְדָּלֶךָ מִן דְּבוֹרַיי; הַרְחֵק דְּבוֹרֶךָ מִן חַרְדָּלַיי, שֶׁבָּאוֹת וְאוֹכְלוֹת לִגְלוּגֵי חַרְדָּלַיי.
§ The mishna teaches that one must distance from vegetables the water in which flax is steeped, and distance mustard from bees. A Sage taught that Rabbi Yosei permits one not to do so in the case of mustard because he can say to the beekeeper: Before you tell me: Distance your mustard from my bees, I can tell you: Distance your bees from my mustard, as they come and eat my mustard plants. In other words, you are also causing damage to my property. Since they each cause damage to the other, neither can force his neighbor to move.
מַתְנִי׳ מַרְחִיקִין אֶת הָאִילָן מִן הַבּוֹר עֶשְׂרִים וְחָמֵשׁ אַמָּה, וּבְחָרוּב וּבַשִּׁקְמָה – חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה; בֵּין מִלְּמַעְלָה בֵּין מִן הַצַּד. אִם הַבּוֹר קָדְמָה – קוֹצֵץ וְנוֹתֵן דָּמִים, וְאִם אִילָן קָדַם – לֹא יָקוֹץ. סָפֵק זֶה קָדַם וְסָפֵק זֶה קָדַם – לֹא יָקוֹץ. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהַבּוֹר קוֹדֶמֶת לָאִילָן – לֹא יָקוֹץ, שֶׁזֶּה חוֹפֵר בְּתוֹךְ שֶׁלּוֹ וְזֶה נוֹטֵעַ בְּתוֹךְ שֶׁלּוֹ.
MISHNA: One must distance a tree twenty-five cubits from a cistern, and in the case of a carob and of a sycamore tree, whose roots extend farther, one must distance the tree fifty cubits. This is the halakha whether the cistern or tree is located above or to the side of the other. If the digging of the cistern preceded the tree, the owner of the tree cuts down the tree and the owner of the cistern pays him money. And if the tree preceded the cistern the owner of the tree need not cut down the tree. If it is uncertain whether this came first or that came first, the owner of the tree need not cut down the tree. Rabbi Yosei says: Even if the cistern preceded the tree, the owner of the tree need not cut down the tree. This is due to the fact that this one digs in his own property, and that one plants in his own property.
גְּמָ׳ תָּנָא: בֵּין שֶׁהַבּוֹר לְמַטָּה וְאִילָן לְמַעְלָה, בֵּין שֶׁהַבּוֹר לְמַעְלָה וְאִילָן לְמַטָּה. בִּשְׁלָמָא בּוֹר לְמַטָּה וְאִילָן לְמַעְלָה – קָא אָזְלִין שׇׁרָשִׁין מַזְּקִי לַהּ לְבוֹר. אֶלָּא בּוֹר לְמַעְלָה וְאִילָן לְמַטָּה, אַמַּאי? אָמַר רַבִּי חַגָּא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹסֵי: מִפְּנֵי שֶׁמַּחְלִידִין אֶת הַקַּרְקַע וּמַלְקִין קַרְקָעִיתָהּ שֶׁל בּוֹר.
GEMARA: The Gemara discusses the mishna’s statement that a tree must be distanced if it is above a cistern. A Sage taught: This is the halakha whether the cistern is below and the tree is above, or whether the cistern is above and the tree is below. The Gemara asks: Granted, if the cistern is below and the tree is above, it will cause damage, as the roots extend and damage the cistern when they breach its walls. But if the cistern is above and the tree is below, why should he have to distance the tree, considering that the roots extend downward? Rabbi Ḥagga says in the name of Rabbi Yosei: He must distance the tree because its roots form holes in the ground and ruin the floor of the cistern.
רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהַבּוֹר קוֹדֶמֶת לְאִילָן – לֹא יָקוֹץ, שֶׁזֶּה חוֹפֵר בְּתוֹךְ שֶׁלּוֹ וְזֶה נוֹטֵעַ בְּתוֹךְ שֶׁלּוֹ. אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: הֲלָכָה כְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי. אָמַר רַב אָשֵׁי: כִּי הֲוָאן בֵּי רַב כָּהֲנָא הֲוָה אָמְרִינַן: מוֹדֵי רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּגִירֵי דִידֵיהּ.
Rabbi Yosei says: Even if the cistern preceded the tree, the owner of the tree need not cut down the tree. This is due to the fact that this one digs in his own property, and that one plants in his own property. Rav Yehuda says that Shmuel says: The halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yosei. Rav Ashi said: When we were studying in the study hall of Rav Kahana, we would say that Rabbi Yosei concedes with regard to one’s arrows, i.e., one must distance his activities from his neighbor if his actions will cause immediate damage to his neighbor, even if he is acting on his own property.
פָּאפִּי יוֹנָאָה עָנִי וְהֶעֱשִׁיר הֲוָה. בְּנָה אַפַּדְנָא. הֲווֹ הָנָךְ עָצוֹרֵי בְּשִׁיבָבוּתֵיהּ, דְּכִי הֲווֹ דָּיְיקִי שׁוּמְשְׁמֵי הֲוָה נָיְידָא אַפַּדְנֵיהּ. אֲתָא לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרַב אָשֵׁי, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: כִּי הֲוָאן בֵּי רַב כָּהֲנָא הֲוָה אָמְרִינַן: מוֹדֵי רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּגִירֵי דִילֵיהּ.
The Gemara relates that a man called Pappei Yona’a was poor and became wealthy. He built a mansion [appadna] on his land. There were these sesame seed pressers in his neighborhood who would work, and when they would press the sesame seeds their activity would shake his mansion. He came before Rav Ashi to complain. Rav Ashi said to him: When we were studying in the study hall of Rav Kahana, we would say that Rabbi Yosei concedes with regard to one’s arrows. Here too, because the sesame seed pressers cause immediate damage they must distance themselves.
וְכַמָּה?
The Gemara asks: And how much must the mansion shake for the owner to have the right to compel the sesame seed pressers to distance themselves?
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