Talmud for Bava Batra 3:7

לֹא יִפְתַּח אָדָם חַלּוֹנוֹתָיו לַחֲצַר הַשֻּׁתָּפִין. לָקַח בַּיִת בְּחָצֵר אַחֶרֶת, לֹא יִפְתְּחֶנָּה לַחֲצַר הַשֻּׁתָּפִין. בָּנָה עֲלִיָּה עַל גַּבֵּי בֵיתוֹ, לֹא יִפְתָּחֶנָּה לַחֲצַר הַשֻּׁתָּפִין. אֶלָּא אִם רָצָה, בּוֹנֶה אֶת הַחֶדֶר לִפְנִים מִבֵּיתוֹ, וּבוֹנֶה עֲלִיָּה עַל גַּבֵּי בֵיתוֹ וּפוֹתְחָהּ לְתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ. לֹא יִפְתַּח אָדָם לַחֲצַר הַשֻּׁתָּפִין פֶּתַח כְּנֶגֶד פֶּתַח וְחַלּוֹן כְּנֶגֶד חַלּוֹן. הָיָה קָטָן, לֹא יַעֲשֶׂנּוּ גָדוֹל. אֶחָד, לֹא יַעֲשֶׂנּוּ שְׁנָיִם. אֲבָל פּוֹתֵחַ הוּא לִרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים פֶּתַח כְּנֶגֶד פֶּתַח וְחַלּוֹן כְּנֶגֶד חַלּוֹן. הָיָה קָטָן, עוֹשֶׂה אוֹתוֹ גָדוֹל. אֶחָד, עוֹשֶׂה אוֹתוֹ שְׁנָיִם:

One may not open his windows to a courtyard held in partnership, [and, it goes without saying, to his neighbor's courtyard, because of "sight damage."] If one (of the partners to the courtyard) bought a house in a different courtyard [close to the first], he may not open it [i.e., he may not open an entrance in it] to the common courtyard, [for he thereby increases passage into it by the inhabitants of that house.] If he built an upper story on his house, he may not open it to the common courtyard. But if he wishes, he may build a room inside his house, [in which instance he adds nothing, but simply divides his house in two. (For even without this, he may fill up his house with dwellers if he wishes)], and he may build an upper story atop his house and open it into his house. One may not open to a common courtyard a door opposite a door, or a window opposite a window, [it being written (Numbers 24:2): "And Bilam opened up his eyes and he saw Israel dwelling according to its tribes." What did he see? He saw that their (tent-) openings were not opposite each other.] If it were small, he may not make it large. [For the other can say: "With a small opening, I could conceal myself from you; with a large one, I cannot."] If it were one, he may not make it two. [For the other can say: "With one opening I can conceal myself; with two, I cannot."] But a door may be opened opposite a door, and a window opposite a window, to a public domain. If it (the opening) were small, he may make it large. If it were one, he may make it two. [For he can tell the other: "In any event, you have to conceal yourself from those in the public domain."]

Explore talmud for Bava Batra 3:7. In-depth commentary and analysis from classical Jewish sources.