## Bava Batra Daf 7b

###### Bava Batra 7b:1
[Bava Batra 7b:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/7b:1)

מָר יָנוֹקָא וּמָר קַשִּׁישָׁא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַב חִסְדָּא לְרַב אָשֵׁי: נְהַרְדָּעֵי לְטַעְמַיְיהוּ – דְּאָמַר רַב נַחְמָן אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: הָאַחִין שֶׁחָלְקוּ – אֵין לָהֶן לֹא דֶּרֶךְ זֶה עַל זֶה,

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
i.e., **Mar Yenuka and Mar Kashisha, sons of Rav Ḥisda,** said to **Rav Ashi: The** Sages **of Neharde’a** follow **their** usual line of **reasoning,** as Rav Ḥama, who was from Neharde’a, issued his ruling in accordance with the opinion of Shmuel, who was also from that city. **As Rav Naḥman says** that **Shmuel says:** In the case of **brothers who divided** their father’s estate, **they do not have** a right-of-**way against each other.** Although the father would traverse the outer field from the inner field to access the public domain, the brother who received the inner field as an inheritance does not have the right to traverse his brother’s outer field.


###### Bava Batra 7b:2
[Bava Batra 7b:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/7b:2)

וְלֹא חַלּוֹנוֹת זֶה עַל זֶה, וְלֹא סוּלָּמוֹת זֶה עַל זֶה, וְלֹא אַמַּת הַמַּיִם זֶה עַל זֶה, וְהִזָּהֲרוּ בָּהֶן שֶׁהֲלָכוֹת קְבוּעוֹת הֵן. וְרָבָא אָמַר: יֵשׁ לָהֶן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Shmuel continues: **Nor** do they have the right of **windows against each other,** i.e., the right to prevent the other from building a wall facing his windows; **nor** do they have the right of **ladders against each other,** i.e., the right to set up a ladder in the other’s property in order to get to his own; **nor** do they have the right of **a water channel against each other,** i.e., the right to pass a water channel through the other’s property. **And be careful with these, since they are established *halakhot*. Rava says:** The brothers **do have** all of the aforementioned rights. Rav Ḥama agrees with Shmuel’s opinion, that each brother can do as he pleases on his own property without the other one preventing him from doing so.


###### Bava Batra 7b:3
[Bava Batra 7b:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/7b:3)

הָהוּא שְׁטָרָא דְיַתְמֵי, דְּנָפֵיק עֲלֵיהּ תְּבָרָא. אָמַר רַב חָמָא: אַגְבּוֹיֵי לָא מַגְבִּינַן לֵיהּ, וּמִיקְרָע לָא קָרְעִינַן לֵיהּ. אַגְבּוֹיֵי לָא מַגְבִּינַן לֵיהּ – דִּנְפַק תְּבָרָא עֲלֵיהּ. מִיקְרָע לָא קָרְעִינַן לֵיהּ – דְּכִי גָּדְלִי יַתְמֵי, דִּילְמָא מַיְיתוּ רְאָיָה וּמַרְעִי לֵיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Since Rav Ḥama’s rulings were mentioned, the Gemara cites another halakhic ruling in his name. There was **a certain promissory note** inherited **by orphans** from their father, stating that somebody owed them money, **against which a receipt was produced** by the borrower, stating that the debt was already paid. **Rav Ḥama said: We cannot** use the note to **collect** the debt on behalf of the orphans, **nor can we tear it up.** The Gemara explains: **We cannot collect** with the note because **a receipt against it was produced** by the borrower; and **we cannot tear** the note **up because perhaps when the orphans grow up they will bring proof** that the receipt was forged **and undermine it.**


###### Bava Batra 7b:4
[Bava Batra 7b:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/7b:4)

אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב אַחָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרָבָא לְרָבִינָא: הִלְכְתָא מַאי? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: בְּכוּלְּהוּ הִלְכְתָא כְּרַב חָמָא, לְבַר מִתְּבָרָא – דְּסָהֲדֵי בְּשַׁקָּרֵי לָא מַחְזְקִינַן.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Aḥa, son of Rava, said to Ravina: What** is **the *halakha*?** Ravina **said to him: In all** the cases in this discussion, **the *halakha*** is **in accordance with** the opinion of **Rav Ḥama, except for** the case of **the receipt, because we do not presume that the witnesses are liars.** Since witnesses signed the receipt, the court trusts that the debt was paid and they tear up the promissory note.


###### Bava Batra 7b:5
[Bava Batra 7b:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/7b:5)

מָר זוּטְרָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַב מָרִי אָמַר: בְּהָא נָמֵי הִלְכְתָא כְּרַב חָמָא; דְּאִם אִיתָא דִּתְבָרָא מְעַלְּיָא הוּא – אִיבְּעִי לֵיהּ לְאַפּוֹקֵי בְּחַיֵּי אֲבוּהוֹן, וּמִדְּלָא אַפְּקֵיהּ – שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ זַיּוֹפֵי זַיְּיפֵיהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Mar Zutra, son of Rav Mari, said: In this** case **as well, the *halakha*** is **in accordance with** the opinion of **Rav Ḥama,** because the validity of the receipt is in doubt. **As, if it is so** that **it** is **a valid receipt,** the borrower **should have produced it during their father’s lifetime. And since he did not produce it** at the proper time, **we learn from this that he** may have **forged it.** Even though this is not an absolute proof, it is sufficient reason not to tear up the promissory note.


###### Bava Batra 7b:6
[Bava Batra 7b:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/7b:6)

**מַתְנִי׳** כּוֹפִין אוֹתוֹ לִבְנוֹת בֵּית שַׁעַר וָדֶלֶת לֶחָצֵר. רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר: לֹא כׇּל הַחֲצֵרוֹת רְאוּיוֹת לְבֵית שַׁעַר. כּוֹפִין אוֹתוֹ לִבְנוֹת לָעִיר חוֹמָה וּדְלָתַיִם וּבְרִיחַ. רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר: לֹא כׇּל הָעֲיָירוֹת רְאוּיוֹת לְחוֹמָה.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**MISHNA:** The residents of a courtyard **can compel** each inhabitant of that courtyard **to** financially participate in the **building of a gatehouse and a door to the** jointly owned **courtyard. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel** disagrees and **says: Not all courtyards require a gatehouse,** and each courtyard must be considered on its own in accordance with its specific needs. Similarly, the residents of a city **can compel** each inhabitant of that city **to** contribute to the **building of a wall, double doors, and a crossbar for the city. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel** disagrees and **says: Not all towns require a wall.**


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

כַּמָּה יְהֵא בָּעִיר וִיהֵא כְּאַנְשֵׁי הָעִיר? שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ. קָנָה בָּהּ בֵּית דִּירָה – הֲרֵי הוּא כְּאַנְשֵׁי הָעִיר מִיָּד.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
With regard to this latter obligation, the mishna asks: **How long** must one live **in the city to be** considered **like** one of **the people of the city** and therefore obligated to contribute to these expenses? **Twelve months.** But if he **bought** himself **a residence in** the city, **he is immediately** considered **like** one of **the people of the city.**


###### Bava Batra 7b:8
[Bava Batra 7b:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/7b:8)

**גְּמָ׳** לְמֵימְרָא דְּבֵית שַׁעַר מְעַלְּיוּתָא הִיא?! וְהָא הָהוּא חֲסִידָא דַּהֲוָה רְגִיל אֵלִיָּהוּ דַּהֲוָה מִשְׁתַּעֵי בַּהֲדֵיהּ; עֲבַד בֵּית שַׁעַר, וְתוּ לָא מִשְׁתַּעֵי בַּהֲדֵיהּ! לָא קַשְׁיָא: הָא מִגַּוַּאי, הָא מִבָּרַאי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**GEMARA:** The Gemara asks: **Is this to say that** making **a gatehouse is beneficial? But** wasn’t there **that pious man, with whom** the prophet **Elijah was accustomed to speak,** who **built a gatehouse, and** after-ward Elijah **did not speak with him again?** The objection to the building of a gatehouse is that the guard who mans it prevents the poor from entering and asking for charity. The Gemara answers: This is **not difficult: This,** the case presented in the mishna, is referring to a gatehouse built **on the inside** of the courtyard, in which case the poor can at least reach the courtyard’s entrance and be heard inside the courtyard; **that,** the story of the pious man and Elijah, involves a gatehouse that was built **on the outside** of the courtyard, completely blocking the poor’s access to the courtyard’s entrance.


###### Bava Batra 7b:9
[Bava Batra 7b:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/7b:9)

וְאִי בָּעֵית אֵימָא: הָא וְהָא מִבָּרַאי, וְלָא קַשְׁיָא: הָא דְּאִית לֵיהּ דֶּלֶת, הָא דְּלֵית לֵיהּ דֶּלֶת. אִי בָּעֵית אֵימָא: הָא וְהָא דְּאִית לֵיהּ דֶּלֶת, וְלָא קַשְׁיָא: הָא דְּאִית לֵיהּ פּוֹתַחַת, הָא דְּלֵית לֵיהּ פּוֹתַחַת. אִי בָּעֵית אֵימָא: הָא וְהָא דְּאִית לֵיהּ פּוֹתַחַת, וְלָא קַשְׁיָא: הָא דְּפוֹתַחַת דִּידֵיהּ מִגַּוַּאי, הָא דְּפוֹתַחַת דִּידֵיהּ מִבָּרַאי.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And if you wish, say** instead that in **both** cases the gatehouse was built **outside** the courtyard, **and** yet this is **not difficult:** In the one case, **there is a door** to the gatehouse, so that the poor cannot be heard inside the courtyard, while in the other case **there is no door. Or if you wish, say** that in **both** cases **there is a door, and** still this is **not difficult:** In the one case, **there is a key** needed to open the door, and the key is not available to the poor people, whereas in the other case, **there is no key** needed. **Or if you wish, say** that in **both** cases **there is a key** needed, **and** even so this is **not difficult:** In the one case **the key is on the inside,** so that the poor cannot reach it, while in the other case of the mishna, **the key is on the outside.**


###### Bava Batra 7b:10
[Bava Batra 7b:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/7b:10)

כּוֹפִין אוֹתוֹ לִבְנוֹת בֵּית שַׁעַר וָדֶלֶת לֶחָצֵר. תַּנְיָא, רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר: לֹא כָּל חֲצֵרוֹת רְאוּיוֹת לְבֵית שַׁעַר; אֶלָּא חָצֵר הַסְּמוּכָה לִרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים – רְאוּיָה לְבֵית שַׁעַר, וְשֶׁאֵינָהּ סְמוּכָה לִרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים – אֵינָהּ רְאוּיָה לְבֵית שַׁעַר. וְרַבָּנַן – זִימְנִין דְּדָחֲקִי בְּנֵי רְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים, וְעָיְילוּ וְאָתוּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ The mishna teaches that the residents of a courtyard **can compel** each inhabitant of that courtyard **to** financially participate in the **building of a gatehouse and a door to the** jointly owned **courtyard. It is taught** in a *baraita* that **Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: Not all courtyards require a gatehouse. Rather, a courtyard that adjoins the public domain requires a gatehouse** to prevent people from peering in. **But** a courtyard **that does not adjoin the public domain does not require a gatehouse.** The Gemara asks: **And** why don’t **the Rabbis** make this distinction? The Gemara answers: Even if a courtyard does not adjoin the public domain, **people in the public domain sometimes are forced** toward the courtyard due to crowding in the public domain, **and come and enter** the courtyard.


###### Bava Batra 7b:11
[Bava Batra 7b:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/7b:11)

כּוֹפִין אוֹתוֹ לִבְנוֹת לָעִיר כּוּ׳. תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: כּוֹפִין אוֹתוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת לָעִיר דְּלָתַיִם וּבְרִיחַ. וְרַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר: לֹא כָּל הָעֲיָירוֹת רְאוּיוֹת לְחוֹמָה; אֶלָּא עִיר הַסְּמוּכָה לַסְּפָר – רְאוּיָה לְחוֹמָה, וְשֶׁאֵינָהּ סְמוּכָה לַסְּפָר – אֵינָהּ רְאוּיָה לְחוֹמָה. וְרַבָּנַן – זִימְנִין דְּמִקְּרוּ וְאָתֵי גְּיָיסָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ The mishna teaches that the residents of a city **can compel** each inhabitant of that city **to** contribute to the **building** of a wall, double doors, and a crossbar **for the city. The Sages taught** in a *baraita*: The residents of a city **can compel** each inhabitant of that city **to build double doors and a crossbar for the city. And Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: Not all cities require a wall. Rather, a city that adjoins the** state **border requires a wall, whereas** a city **that does not adjoin the** state **border does not require a wall.** The Gemara asks: **And** why don’t **the Rabbis** make this distinction? The Gemara answers: Even if a city does not adjoin the border, **it sometimes happens that** invading **troops come** into the area. Therefore, it is always good for a city to be protected by a wall.


###### Bava Batra 7b:12
[Bava Batra 7b:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/7b:12)

בְּעָא מִינֵּיהּ רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר מֵרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: כְּשֶׁהֵן גּוֹבִין, לְפִי נְפָשׁוֹת גּוֹבִין, אוֹ דִילְמָא לְפִי שֶׁבַח מָמוֹן גּוֹבִין? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לְפִי מָמוֹן גּוֹבִין; וְאֶלְעָזָר בְּנִי, קְבַע בָּהּ מַסְמְרוֹת!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
With regard to this issue, **Rabbi Elazar asked Rabbi Yoḥanan: When** the residents of the city **collect** money to build a wall, **do they collect based on** the number of **people** living in each house, **or perhaps they collect based on the** net **worth** of each person? Rabbi Yoḥanan **said to him: They collect based on the** net **worth** of each person, **and Elazar, my son,** you shall **fix nails in this,** i.e., this is an established *halakha*, and you must not veer from it.


###### Bava Batra 7b:13
[Bava Batra 7b:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/7b:13)

אִיכָּא דְּאָמְרִי, בְּעָא מִינֵּיהּ רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר מֵרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: כְּשֶׁהֵן גּוֹבִין, לְפִי קֵירוּב בָּתִּים הֵן גּוֹבִין, אוֹ דִילְמָא לְפִי מָמוֹן גּוֹבִין? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לְפִי קֵירוּב בָּתִּים הֵן גּוֹבִין; וְאֶלְעָזָר בְּנִי, קְבַע בָּהּ מַסְמְרוֹת!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**There are** those **who say** that **Rabbi Elazar asked Rabbi Yoḥanan: When they collect** money to build a wall, **do they collect based on the proximity of the houses** to the wall, so that those people who live closer to the wall pay more? **Or perhaps they collect based on the** net **worth** of each person. Rabbi Yoḥanan **said to him: They collect based on the proximity of the houses** to the wall, **and Elazar, my son,** you shall **fix nails in this.**


###### Bava Batra 7b:14
[Bava Batra 7b:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/7b:14)

רַבִּי יְהוּדָה נְשִׂיאָה רְמָא דְּשׁוּרָא אַדְּרַבָּנַן. אָמַר רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ: רַבָּנַן לָא צְרִיכִי נְטִירוּתָא, דִּכְתִיב: ״אֶסְפְּרֵם מֵחוֹל יִרְבּוּן״ – אֶסְפְּרֵם לְמַאן? אִילֵימָא לְצַדִּיקִים – דִּנְפִישִׁי מֵחָלָא; הַשְׁתָּא כּוּלְּהוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּתִיב בְּהוּ: ״כַּחוֹל אֲשֶׁר עַל שְׂפַת הַיָּם״, צַדִּיקִים עַצְמָם ״מֵחוֹל יִרְבּוּן״?!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ It is related that **Rabbi Yehuda Nesia** once **imposed** payment of the tax for **the wall** even **on the Sages. Reish Lakish said to him: The Sages do not require protection, as it is written:** “How precious are your dear ones to me, O God…**If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand”** (Psalms 139:17–18). **If I should count whom? If we say** this is referring to **the righteous,** and the verse is saying **that they are greater in number than the** grains of **sand,** this is difficult. **Now** if **it is written about all of Israel: “As the sand which is upon the seashore”** (Genesis 22:17), can **the righteous themselves,** who are a part of Israel, **be greater in number than the** grains of **sand?** How can they possibly outnumber the grains of sand upon the seashore?


###### Bava Batra 7b:15
[Bava Batra 7b:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/7b:15)

אֶלָּא הָכִי קָאָמַר: אֶסְפְּרֵם לְמַעֲשֵׂיהֶם שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים, מֵחוֹל יִרְבּוּן. וְקַל וָחוֹמֶר: וּמָה חוֹל, שֶׁמּוּעָט – מֵגֵין עַל הַיָּם; מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים, שֶׁהֵם מְרוּבִּים – לֹא כׇּל שֶׁכֵּן שֶׁמְּגִינִּים עֲלֵיהֶם.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rather, this** is what the verse **is saying:** If **I should count the deeds of the righteous, they are greater in number than the** grains of **sand. And** it follows by **an *a fortiori*** inference: **If the** grains of **sand, which are fewer** in number, **protect** the shore from **the sea,** barring it from flowing inland (see Jeremiah 5:22), **do not all the more so the deeds of the righteous, which are greater** in number, **protect them?** Consequently the Sages do not need additional protection.


###### Bava Batra 7b:16
[Bava Batra 7b:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Bava%20Batra/r/7b:16)

כִּי אֲתָא לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: מַאי טַעְמָא לָא תֵּימָא לֵיהּ מֵהָא: ״אֲנִי חוֹמָה וְשָׁדַי כַּמִּגְדָּלוֹת״; ״אֲנִי חוֹמָה״ – זוֹ תּוֹרָה, ״וְשָׁדַי כַּמִּגְדָּלוֹת״ –

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**When** Reish Lakish **came before Rabbi Yoḥanan** and reported the exchange to him, Rabbi Yoḥanan **said to him: What is the reason** that **you did not quote this** verse **to him: “I am a wall and my breasts are like towers”** (Song of Songs 8:10), which may be explained as follows: **“I am a wall”; this** is referring to **the Torah. “And my breasts are like towers”;**