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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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