Commentary for Bava Batra 2:10
מַרְחִיקִין אֶת הַמִּשְׁרָה מִן הַיָּרָק, וְאֶת הַכְּרֵשִׁין מִן הַבְּצָלִים, וְאֶת הַחַרְדָּל מִן הַדְּבוֹרִים. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי מַתִּיר בַּחַרְדָּל:
A mishrah [a place where flax is soaked, which spoils greens that are near it] is distanced from greens, and leeks (are distanced) from onions, [leeks being harmful to onions which are near them], and mustard (is distanced) from bees, [mustard spoiling honey and making it sharp]. R. Yossi permits it with mustard, [for he can tell him: "Before you tell me to remove my mustard from your bees, remove your bees from my mustard! For they come and eat my mustard flowers!" The halachah is in accordance with R. Yossi.]
Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Batra
המשרה – a place where the steep the flax and cause loss to the vegetables that are near them.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Batra
Introduction
Mishnah ten deals with distancing foul-smelling things from foods which might be ruined due to the smell.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Batra
הכרישין – leeks in the language of the Talmud, and they destroy the onions that are near them.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Batra
A pool for soaking flax must be distanced from vegetables, and leeks from onions, and mustard plant from bees. Rabbi Yose permits mustard plant. This simple mishnah lists things that will spoil other things if kept near them and therefore must be distanced from them. [Note: part of the processing of flax, a major material for clothing, was soaking it in water].
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Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Batra
ואת החרדל מן הדבורים – which destroys the honey and makes it pungent and sharp.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Batra
Questions for Further Thought:
• Why does mishnah ten come after mishnah nine?
• Why does mishnah ten come after mishnah nine?
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Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Batra
רבי יוסי מתיר בחרדל – because he can say to him (i.e., his fellow): “Until you tell me: Distance your mustard plant from my bees; distance your bees from my mustard plant because they come and eat the buds of my mustard plants.” And the Halakha is according to Rabbi Yosi.
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