## Bava Batra Daf 21a

###### Bava Batra 21a:1
[Bava Batra 21a:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/21a:1)

סֵיפָא אֲתָאן לְתִינוֹקוֹת שֶׁל בֵּית רַבָּן, וּמִתַּקָּנַת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן גַּמְלָא וְאֵילָךְ –

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
In **the latter clause we arrive at** the case of **schoolchildren** who come to learn Torah in his house, **and** this ruling applies **from** the time of **the ordinance of Yehoshua ben Gamla and onward.**


###### Bava Batra 21a:2
[Bava Batra 21a:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/21a:2)

דְּאָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: בְּרַם, זָכוּר אוֹתוֹ הָאִישׁ לַטּוֹב – וִיהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן גַּמְלָא שְׁמוֹ, שֶׁאִלְמָלֵא הוּא, נִשְׁתַּכַּח תּוֹרָה מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל. שֶׁבִּתְחִלָּה, מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ אָב – מְלַמְּדוֹ תּוֹרָה, מִי שֶׁאֵין לוֹ אָב – לֹא הָיָה לָמֵד תּוֹרָה. מַאי דְּרוּשׁ? ״וְלִמַּדְתֶּם אֹתָם״ – וְלִמַּדְתֶּם אַתֶּם.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
What was this ordinance? **As Rav Yehuda says** that **Rav says: Truly, that man is remembered for the good, and his name is Yehoshua ben Gamla. If not for him** the **Torah would have been forgotten from the Jewish people. Initially, whoever had a father** would have his father **teach him Torah,** and **whoever did not have a father would not learn Torah** at all. The Gemara explains: **What** verse **did they interpret homiletically** that allowed them to conduct themselves in this manner? They interpreted the verse that states: **“And you shall teach them [*otam*]** to your sons” (Deuteronomy 11:19), to mean: **And you yourselves [*atem*] shall teach,** i.e., you fathers shall teach your sons.


###### Bava Batra 21a:3
[Bava Batra 21a:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/21a:3)

הִתְקִינוּ שֶׁיְּהוּ מוֹשִׁיבִין מְלַמְּדֵי תִינוֹקוֹת בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם. מַאי דְּרוּשׁ? ״כִּי מִצִּיּוֹן תֵּצֵא תוֹרָה״. וַעֲדַיִין מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ אָב – הָיָה מַעֲלוֹ וּמְלַמְּדוֹ, מִי שֶׁאֵין לוֹ אָב – לֹא הָיָה עוֹלֶה וְלָמֵד. הִתְקִינוּ שֶׁיְּהוּ מוֹשִׁיבִין בְּכׇל פֶּלֶךְ וּפֶלֶךְ. וּמַכְנִיסִין אוֹתָן כְּבֶן שֵׁשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה כְּבֶן שְׁבַע עֶשְׂרֵה,

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
When the Sages saw that not everyone was capable of teaching their children and Torah study was declining, **they instituted** an ordinance **that teachers of children should be established in Jerusalem.** The Gemara explains: **What** verse **did they interpret homiletically** that enabled them to do this? They interpreted the verse: **“For Torah emerges from Zion”** (Isaiah 2:3). **But still, whoever had a father,** his father **ascended with him** to Jerusalem **and had him taught, but whoever did not have a father, he did not ascend and learn.** Therefore, the Sages **instituted** an ordinance **that** teachers of children **should be established** in one city **in each and every region [*pelekh*]. And they brought** the students **in at** the **age** of **sixteen** and **at** the **age** of **seventeen.**


###### Bava Batra 21a:4
[Bava Batra 21a:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/21a:4)

וּמִי שֶׁהָיָה רַבּוֹ כּוֹעֵס עָלָיו – מְבַעֵיט בּוֹ וְיֹצֵא. עַד שֶׁבָּא יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן גַּמְלָא וְתִיקֵּן, שֶׁיְּהוּ מוֹשִׁיבִין מְלַמְּדֵי תִינוֹקוֹת בְּכׇל מְדִינָה וּמְדִינָה וּבְכׇל עִיר וָעִיר, וּמַכְנִיסִין אוֹתָן כְּבֶן שֵׁשׁ כְּבֶן שֶׁבַע.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**But** as the students were old and had not yet had any formal education, a student **whose teacher grew angry at him** would **rebel against him and leave.** It was impossible to hold the youths there against their will. This state of affairs continued **until Yehoshua ben Gamla came and instituted** an ordinance **that teachers of children should be established in each and every province and in each and every town, and they** would **bring** the children **in** to learn **at** the **age** of **six** and **at** the **age** of **seven.** With regard to the matter at hand, since this system was established for the masses, the neighbors cannot prevent a scholar from teaching Torah in the courtyard.


###### Bava Batra 21a:5
[Bava Batra 21a:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/21a:5)

אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב לְרַב שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר שִׁילַת: עַד שֵׁית לָא תְּקַבֵּיל, מִכָּאן וְאֵילָךְ – קַבֵּיל, וְאַסְפִּי לֵיהּ כְּתוֹרָא. וַאֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב לְרַב שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר שִׁילַת: כִּי מָחֵית לְיָנוֹקָא, לָא תִּימְחֵי אֶלָּא בְּעַרְקְתָא דִמְסָנָא. דְּקָארֵי – קָארֵי, דְּלָא קָארֵי – לֶיהֱוֵי צַוְותָּא לְחַבְרֵיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Concerning that same issue, **Rav said to Rav Shmuel bar Sheilat,** a teacher of children: **Do not accept** a student **before** the age of **six,** as he is too young, and it is difficult for him to learn in a steady manner. **From this** point **forward, accept him and stuff him** with Torah **like an ox. And Rav** further **said to Rav Shmuel bar Sheilat: When you strike a child** for educational purposes, **hit him only with the strap of a sandal,** which is small and does not cause pain. Rav further advised him: **He who reads,** let him **read** on his own; **whoever does not read, let him be a companion to his friends,** which will encourage him to learn to read.


###### Bava Batra 21a:6
[Bava Batra 21a:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/21a:6)

מֵיתִיבִי: אֶחָד מִבְּנֵי חָצֵר שֶׁבִּיקֵּשׁ לֵעָשׂוֹת רוֹפֵא, אוּמָּן, וְגַרְדִּי, וּמְלַמֵּד תִּינוֹקוֹת – בְּנֵי חָצֵר מְעַכְּבִין עָלָיו! הָכָא בְּמַאי עָסְקִינַן – בְּתִינוֹקוֹת דְּגוֹיִם.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
With regard to a courtyard, the Gemara concluded that it is permitted for one to establish an elementary school to teach Torah and the neighbors cannot protest. The Gemara **raises an objection** to this ruling from a *baraita*: With regard to **one member of a courtyard who wishes to become a doctor, a bloodletter, a weaver [*vegardi*], or a teacher of children, the** other **members of the courtyard can prevent him** from doing so. This indicates that neighbors can protest the teaching of children in their shared courtyard. The Gemara answers: **With what are we dealing here,** i.e., when can they protest his teaching children? We are dealing **with** a case of **gentile children,** as there is no mitzva to educate them. In this situation, the neighbors can protest about the noise.


###### Bava Batra 21a:7
[Bava Batra 21a:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/21a:7)

תָּא שְׁמַע: שְׁנַיִם שֶׁיּוֹשְׁבִין בְּחָצֵר, וּבִיקֵּשׁ אֶחָד מֵהֶן לֵעָשׂוֹת רוֹפֵא, וְאוּמָּן, וְגַרְדִּי, וּמְלַמֵּד תִּינוֹקוֹת – חֲבֵירוֹ מְעַכֵּב עָלָיו! הָכָא נָמֵי בְּתִינוֹקוֹת דְּגוֹיִם.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Come** and **hear** another *baraita*: With regard to **two people who are residing in** one **courtyard, and one of them sought to become a doctor, a bloodletter, a weaver, or a teacher of children, the other can prevent him** from doing so. The Gemara answers: **Here too,** we are dealing **with** a case of **gentile children.**


###### Bava Batra 21a:8
[Bava Batra 21a:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/21a:8)

תָּא שְׁמַע: מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ בַּיִת בַּחֲצַר הַשּׁוּתָּפִין – הֲרֵי זֶה לֹא יַשְׂכִּירֶנּוּ לֹא לְרוֹפֵא, וְלֹא לְאוּמָּן, וְלֹא לְגַרְדִּי, וְלֹא לְסוֹפֵר יְהוּדִי, וְלֹא לְסוֹפֵר אַרְמַאי! הָכָא בְּמַאי עָסְקִינַן – בְּסוֹפֵר מָתָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara suggests: **Come** and **hear** another *baraita*: **One who has a house in a jointly owned courtyard may not rent it to a doctor, nor to a bloodletter, nor to a weaver, nor to a Jewish teacher [*sofer*], nor to a gentile teacher.** This indicates that one’s neighbors can prevent him from teaching Jewish children. The Gemara answers: **With what are we dealing here?** We are dealing **with the scribe [*sofer*] of the town,** who does not teach children but writes documents and letters for residents of the town. This type of work is not a mitzva, and since many people seek his services, the residents of the courtyard can prevent him from performing this job near their houses.


###### Bava Batra 21a:9
[Bava Batra 21a:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/21a:9)

אָמַר רָבָא: מִתַּקָּנַת יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן גַּמְלָא וְאֵילָךְ, לָא מַמְטִינַן יָנוֹקָא מִמָּתָא לְמָתָא; אֲבָל מִבֵּי כְנִישְׁתָּא לְבֵי כְנִישְׁתָּא – מַמְטִינַן. וְאִי מַפְסֵק נַהֲרָא – לָא מַמְטִינַן. וְאִי אִיכָּא תִּיתּוּרָא – מַמְטִינַן. וְאִי אִיכָּא גַּמְלָא – לָא מַמְטִינַן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ With regard to the ordinance of Yehoshua ben Gamla, and concerning teaching children in general, **Rava says: From** the time of **the ordinance of Yehoshua ben Gamla,** that schoolteachers must be established in each town, **and onward, one does not bring a child from one town to another.** Rather, each child is educated where he resides. **But one does bring them from one synagogue** where they learn **to another synagogue. And if a river separates** the areas **one does not bring** the children across, lest they fall into the river. **And if there is a bridge** spanning the river **one may bring** them across the river. **But if there is** only **a narrow bridge [*gamla*] one does not bring** them.


###### Bava Batra 21a:10
[Bava Batra 21a:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/21a:10)

וְאָמַר רָבָא: סַךְ מַקְרֵי דַרְדְּקֵי – עֶשְׂרִין וְחַמְשָׁה יָנוֹקֵי. וְאִי אִיכָּא חַמְשִׁין – מוֹתְבִינַן תְּרֵי; וְאִי אִיכָּא אַרְבְּעִין – מוֹקְמִינַן רֵישׁ דּוּכְנָא, וּמְסַיְּיעִין לֵיהּ מִמָּתָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And Rava said:** The maximum **number** of students for one **teacher of children** is **twenty-five children. And if there are fifty** children in a single place, **one establishes two** teachers, so that each one teaches twenty-five students. **And if there are forty** children, **one establishes an assistant, and** the teacher **receives help from** the residents of **the town** to pay the salary of the assistant.


###### Bava Batra 21a:11
[Bava Batra 21a:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/21a:11)

וְאָמַר רָבָא: הַאי מַקְרֵי יָנוֹקֵי דְּגָרֵיס, וְאִיכָּא אַחֲרִינָא דְּגָרֵיס טְפֵי מִינֵּיהּ – לָא מְסַלְּקִינַן לֵיהּ, דִּלְמָא אָתֵי לְאִיתְרַשּׁוֹלֵי. רַב דִּימִי מִנְּהַרְדְּעָא אָמַר: כׇּל שֶׁכֵּן דְּגָרֵיס טְפֵי – קִנְאַת סוֹפְרִים תַּרְבֶּה חָכְמָה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And Rava said:** If there is **a teacher of children who teaches** a few subjects, **and there is another who teaches more** subjects **than him, one does not remove** the first teacher from his position to hire the second, as **perhaps** the other teacher **will come to be negligent** due to the lack of competition. **Rav Dimi from Neharde’a said:** On the contrary, **all the more so** is it the case that he will **teach** in **a better** manner if he knows that he is the sole instructor in the place, as **jealousy among teachers increases wisdom.** The one who was dismissed will try to refine his skills so that he will be rehired, and this will prevent negligence on the part of the other teacher.


###### Bava Batra 21a:12
[Bava Batra 21a:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/21a:12)

וְאָמַר רָבָא: הָנֵי תְּרֵי מַקְרֵי דַרְדְּקֵי – חַד גָּרֵיס וְלָא דָּיֵיק, וְחַד דָּיֵיק וְלָא גָּרֵיס – מוֹתְבִינַן הָהוּא דְּגָרֵיס וְלָא דָּיֵיק; שַׁבֶּשְׁתָּא מִמֵּילָא נָפְקָא. רַב דִּימִי מִנְּהַרְדְּעָא אָמַר: מוֹתְבִינַן דְּדָיֵיק וְלָא גָּרֵיס; שַׁבֶּשְׁתָּא, כֵּיוָן דְּעָל – עָל;

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And Rava said:** If there are **two teachers of children, one** who **teaches** a lot of material **but is not precise** in his statements, **and one** who **is precise but does not teach** a lot of material, **one hires the one who teaches** a lot of material **but is not precise.** Why is this? **Errors will be corrected by themselves,** and no lasting harm will be caused. By contrast, **Rav Dimi of Neharde’a said: One hires** the instructor **who is precise and does not teach** a lot of material, **as once an error is taught, it is taught,** and cannot be easily corrected.


###### Bava Batra 21a:13
[Bava Batra 21a:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/21a:13)

דִּכְתִיב: ״כִּי שֵׁשֶׁת חֳדָשִׁים יָשַׁב שָׁם יוֹאָב וְכׇל יִשְׂרָאֵל, עַד הִכְרִית כׇּל זָכָר בֶּאֱדוֹם״. כִּי אֲתָא לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּדָוִד, אֲמַר לֵיהּ:

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara cites a proof for the opinion of Rav Dimi of Neharde’a: This is **as it is written: “For Joab and all Israel remained there six months until he had cut off every male in Edom”** (I Kings 11:16). **When** Joab **came before** King **David** after this episode, David **said to him:**