Talmud Bavli
Talmud Bavli

Responsa for Bava Batra 12:7

לא צריכא דקדים חד מנייהו ועבד מהו דתימא נימא ליה אידך שקול אוזינקא ועבדיה את כוליה קמ"ל דא"ל את מ"ט לא עבדת משום דמיתרע אשיתך אנא נמי מיתרע ליה אשיתאי

Why [does Abaye] state [this rule in connection with] a public thoroughfare, [seeing that] it could apply equally to private ground? It was more necessary to state it in connection with a public thoroughfare. For you might think that in this case one might [refuse to build], Saying to the other: When all is said and done you have to guard your privacy against the public;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And the steps which you take to protect yourself against them will suffice to protect you against me. ');"><sup>11</sup></span> therefore we are told here that this is not so, since the other can retort: The public can only see me by day but not by night, whereas you can see me both by day and night; or again, the public can see me when I am standing but not when I am sitting, but you can see me whether I am standing or sitting; the public can see me when they look directly at me, but not otherwise, but you see me even without looking.

Explore responsa for Bava Batra 12:7. In-depth commentary and analysis from classical Jewish sources.

Previous VerseFull ChapterNext Verse