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Prepared by Rabbi P. Feldman of Kollel Iyun Hadaf, Yerushalayim Rosh Kollel: Rabbi Mordecai Kornfeld
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Bava Basra 6
1) A MIGO AGAINST A CHAZAKAH
(a) Question: Shimon claimed payment from Reuven after the
set time, and Reuven said that he paid before the set
time - what is the law?
1. Do we believe Reuven because of a Migo (if he wanted
to lie, he could have lied better, he could have
said that he paid on the set day), even though this
opposes a Chazakah (that people do not pay before
the set time)?
2. Or, do we not believe a Migo that opposes a Chazakah?
(b) Answer #1 (Mishnah): We assume that both paid unless one
can prove that the other did not.
1. Question: What is the case?
i. If Levi claimed payment after the time, and
Yehudah says that he paid on the proper day -
this is obvious!
2. Answer: Rather, Levi claimed payment after the time,
and Yehudah says that he paid before the proper day;
i. This shows that we believe the Migo against the
Chazakah!
(c) Rejection: This case is different, for he cannot wait to
pay - he owes him as every row of bricks is laid!
(d) Answer #2 (Mishnah): If the wall was originally more than
four Amos, neither can force the other to rebuild it more
than four Amos;
1. If Reuven built it more than four, and Shimon built
a wall near it...We assume that Shimon did not pay
for it unless he can prove that he did.
2. Question: What is the case?
i. If Levi claimed payment after the time, and
Yehudah says that he paid on the proper day -
he should be believed!
3. Answer: Rather, Levi claimed payment after the time,
and Yehudah says that he paid before the proper day;
i. This shows that we do not believe the Migo
against the Chazakah!
(e) Rejection: This case is different - since he does not
think that he must pay, he would not pay early.
(f) Answer #3 (Mishnah): Shimon claimed that Reuven owes him;
Reuven admitted. Shimon demanded the money the next day:
1. If Reuven says 'I paid you', he is exempt;
2. If Reuven says 'I do not owe you', he is liable.
3. Suggestion: 'I paid you' means, I paid on the day
due; 'I do not owe you' means, I paid before the day
due (and he is not believed)!
(g) Answer: No - 'I do not owe you' means, I never borrowed
from you;
1. That is like an admission that he never paid (and
since he admitted earlier that he did owe, he must
pay).
2) CHAZAKAH OF USAGE
(a) (Mishnah): ...If Shimon built a wall near it, he must
share the entire cost of the wall (that Reuven built).
(b) (Rav Huna): Building a wall close to half the wall is as
building a wall by all of it (he must share the expense
of the whole wall).
(c) (Rav Nachman): He only shares the expense of the part of
the wall that he built by.
(d) Rav Huna admits when a cornerstone was placed (showing
that the wall will not be continued, he only pays for the
part he built by).
(e) Rav Nachman admits when holes were made in the wall for
holding beams (showing that a second story will be added,
he pays for the additional height).
(f) (Rav Huna): Shimon built a tall wall dividing between his
yard and Reuven's. Holes in a wall for holding beams (on
Reuven's side) are no proof that Reuven paid his share of
the extra height, even if Shimon has boards near the
holes to support beams;
(g) Shimon can say, I expected that you will later pay your
share, and it would weaken the wall if the holes were
made later.
1. Version #1 (Rav Nachman): A Chazakah for (Reuven to
rest) light beams (on Shimon's wall) is not a
Chazakah for heavy beams; a Chazakah for heavy beams
is a Chazakah for light beams;
2. (Rav Yosef): Even a Chazakah for light beams is a
Chazakah for heavy beams.
3. Version #2 (Rav Nachman): A Chazakah for light beams
is a Chazakah for heavy beams, and vice-versa.
(h) Version #1 (Rav Nachman): A Chazakah for (Reuven to have
rainwater) drip (off his roof into Shimon's yard) is a
Chazakah for (having a pipe to collect the water so it
will) gush (in one place); a Chazakah for gushing is not
a Chazakah for dripping;
(i) (Rav Yosef): Even a Chazakah for gushing is a Chazakah
for dripping.
(j) Version #2 (Rav Nachman): A Chazakah for gushing is a
Chazakah for dripping and vice-versa - but not to have
water drip off a roof of willow branches (for the drops
are very close to each other.
(k) (Rav Yosef): It is even a Chazakah to have water drip off
a roof of willow branches.
1. Rav Yosef ruled in a case according to his teaching.
(l) (Rav Nachman citing Rabah bar Avuha): One who rents an
apartment in a big building - he may use the ledges and
walls up to four Amos (Rashi - past the length of his
house; Rambam - up to a height of four Amos), where that
is the custom;
6b---------------------------------------6b
(m) One may not hang things on walls surrounding the special
garden of the building.
(n) (Rav Nachman himself): One may use walls of the special
garden - but not the area in back of the building.
(o) (Rava): One may even use in back of the building.
(p) (Ravina): Reuven placed beams (of a hut made for shade)
on Shimon's wall - if they are there over 30 days and
Shimon does not protest, Reuven has a Chazakah to leave
them there permanently (Rashi - we assume, he bought the
rights to leave them there);
(q) A Sukah made for the Mitzvah - if he leaves it there
after Sukos ends, he has a Chazakah.
(r) If he fixed the beams with mud, he immediately has a
Chazakah.
3) LOSS OF PRIVACY
(a) (Abaye): Reuven and Shimon have houses on opposite sides
of a public road (which goes north-south) - each makes a
wall (four Amos tall) on the side of the roof facing his
neighbor, more than half the length of that side; one
builds on the north half, one builds on the south half.
(b) Question: Why does it depend on having a public road in
between - the law should apply even to a private path!
(c) Answer: It is a bigger Chidush by a public road - one
might have thought, Reuven can say, I need not build,
even without me, you have no privacy because of people on
the road!
1. Abaye teaches, this is not so - Shimon can say, they
only see me by day, you see me also at night;
2. Or - they only see me when I stand, you see me even
when I sit;
3. Or - they only see me when they look, you see me
automatically!
(d) Question: Why did Abaye teach that each builds on half
his roof - this is obvious!
(e) Answer: It is not obvious when Reuven built half a wall
before consulting Shimon. One might have thought, Shimon
can say, finish the wall and I will share the expense;
1. Abaye teaches, this is not so - Reuven can say, you
didn't build it because you don't want the weight to
weaken the wall of your house - also I don't want a
full wall for that reason!
(f) (Rav Nachman citing Shmuel): Reuven's roof overlooks
Shimon's yard - Reuven must build a four Amos wall on his
roof;
1. If they have adjacent roofs, no wall is needed.
(g) (Rav Nachman himself): A four Amos wall is not needed,
but a ten Tefachim divider is needed.
(h) Question: What does this divider do?
1. If for privacy - four Amos are needed!
2. If to prevent one neighbor from trespassing - even
if he crosses a wall shorter than tan Tefachim, he
shows himself to be a thief!
3. If because of goats or lambs -a divider that stops
them from sticking their heads across suffices!
(i) Answer: Really, it is to prevent trespassing; if he
crosses a short wall, he could say, I was retrieving
something I dropped;
1. He cannot claim this by a ten Tefachim wall.
(j) Question (Beraisa): If Reuven's yard was above Shimon's
roof, he is exempt.
(k) Suggestion: He is exempt from building anything.
(l) Answer: No - he need not build a four Amos wall, but he
must build a ten Tefachim wall.
(m) (Rav Huna): Reuven's yard borders Shimon's yard, but is
higher than it - Shimon builds below, until he reaches
the level of Shimon's yard; they build four more Amos
together.
(n) (Rav Chisda): Reuven must also share the cost of the wall
below.
(o) Support (Beraisa): Reuven's yard borders Shimon's yard,
but is higher - Reuven must share the cost of the wall
below;
(p) If Reuven's yard is higher than Shimon's roof, he is
exempt.
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