One may not open a bakery or a paint shop under his neighbor's store room; nor a stable. In truth, with (a store room of) wine it was permitted, [the vapors rising from the bakery or the paint shop not harming the wine, heat improving (the quality) of wine in Eretz Yisrael. But in a place where it is known that heat harms wine, one may not open up such shops even under a store room of wine.] A shop in a courtyard may be protested against. [If one of the courtyard occupants wished to open a shop there, the others can stop him.] (He may be told:) "I cannot sleep because of those going in and going out." One may make vessels (in the courtyard) and go out and sell them in the marketplace. But one may not protest and say I cannot sleep: neither because of the sound of the hammer, nor the sound of the mill, nor the sound of the schoolchildren [who learn Torah. And even though it is a sound produced by others (and not by the courtyard occupant himself), one cannot protest, because of the greater glory of Torah. And if he does not teach the children Torah, but a trade or arithmetic or fractions, one can protest and say: "I cannot sleep because of the children going in and out."]
Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Batra
ביין התירו – The smoke that goes up from the baker’s oven and from the dyer’s shop is not difficult for the wine, for the heat actually improves the wine that is in the Land of Israel. And in a place where it is known that the heat damages the wine, even under the wine storehouse, one should not not open a dyer’s shop or of a baker.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Batra
Introduction
Mishnah three discusses types of professions or businesses that a person can or cannot have in his home or near his home lest they disturb his neighbor.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Batra
חנות שבחצר – one of the members of the courtyard that comes to open a store in the courtyard and the members of the courtyard prevent him.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Batra
One may not open a bakery or a dyer’s shop under his fellow’s storehouse, nor a cattle stall. In truth, they have permitted these things under a winestore but not a cattle stall. A bakery, a dyer’s shop, and cattle stall, if placed underneath a storehouse of produce will damage the produce. The bakery and dyer’s shop will produce heat, which can be damaging to the fruit, and the stench of the cattle stall will, for obvious reasons, also damage the fruit. However, as we learn in section 1a, if the storehouse was for wine, one can place a bakery or dyer’s shop underneath, since the wine will improve due to the heat. However, the stench of the cattle stall will not improve the taste of the wine! (Yuk)
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Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Batra
לא מקול התינוקות – school children. And even though that the sound comes on account of others, they cannot protest, because of making the Torah great and glorious. But, if he is not teaching children Torah, but rather trades or accounting or תשבורת he can protest and say to him that he is not able to sleep because of the young children coming in and leaving.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Batra
A man may protest against [another that opens] a shop within the courtyard and say to him, “I cannot sleep because of the noise of them that go in and out.” As we have learned on several occasions, in the time of the mishnah a courtyard was usually shared between several neighbors. If one’s neighbor began to sell his wares in the courtyard the other neighbors could protest against the noise pollution caused by the customers.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Batra
One who makes utensils, should go outside and sell them in the market. But none may protest and say to him, “I cannot sleep because of the noise of the hammer” or “because of the noise of the mill-stones” or “because of the noise of children.” Section three is a continuation of the subject began in section two. A utensil maker is allowed to make his utensils in the courtyard, even though the hammer will cause noise pollution. He must, however, sell them in the market, as we also learned in the previous section. Similarly, a person can grind flour in the courtyard but he must sell it in the market. Finally, a teacher may bring students into the courtyard to learn, even though they will make much noise.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Batra
Questions for Further Thought: • Why does the mishnah allow one to bring students into a courtyard even though it will cause noise pollution?
