Un árbol está distanciado a veinticinco codos de un pozo; y un algarrobo y un sicómoro, [cuyas raíces son profusas], cincuenta codos—ya sea desde arriba, [es decir, si uno de ellos está arriba en una pendiente de montaña y el otro, abajo], o en el costado [en terreno llano]. Si la fosa fuera (allí) primero, él (el propietario de la fosa) corta (baja el árbol) y compensa (su propietario). [Porque desde que se le permitió plantar, sin causar daños hasta después de mucho tiempo, los sabios no lo obligaron a cortar (derribar su árbol) sin compensación por el daño que podría causar a un individuo.] Y si el árbol llegara antes la planta, él (el propietario del pozo) no puede cortarla. Si no se supiera cuál fue primero, es posible que no lo reduzca. R. Yossi dice: Incluso si el pozo llegó antes que el árbol, no puede cortarlo; porque uno cava en su propia (tierra), y las otras plantas en su propia (tierra). [La halajá está de acuerdo con R. Yossi.]
Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Batra
ובחרוב ובשקמה – their roots are numerous.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Batra
Introduction
Mishnah eleven deals with distancing trees from cisterns lest the roots break the underground walls of the cisterns.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Batra
בין מלמעלה – because one of them is above in height of the slope of the mountain.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Batra
A tree may not be grown within twenty five cubits of a cistern, or within fifty cubits if it is a carob or a sycamore, whether it is higher or on the same level. Section one prohibits one from planting a tree either twenty five or fifty cubits, depending on the type of tree, from another’s cistern lest the roots damage the cistern. This is true whether the tree is on higher or equal ground to the cistern.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Batra
בין מן הצד – on level ground.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Batra
If the cistern was there first the tree shall be cut down and compensation given. If the tree was there first it shall not be cut down. If it is in doubt which was there first, the tree shall not be cut down. Rabbi Yose says: “Even if the cistern was there before the tree it should not be cut down, since this one dug within his own domain and the other planted within his own domain.” Section two deals with the consequences of a tree that was planted closer than twenty five or fifty cubits. If the cistern was there first, the tree must be cut down, but the owner will receive compensation. Even though he was not supposed to plant there, it is still his property and therefore he is paid for the loss of the tree. However, the cistern owner can at least take the initiative and force him to remove his tree. If, however, the tree was there first, the owner of the cistern cannot even force the tree owner to remove the tree. If it is unclear which is there first, the tree is not removed. Rabbi Yose has a different opinion. According to him, so long as each person’s activities are confined to his property, the other cannot force him to remove the potentially offending object, in this case a tree. Rabbi Yose is what we might in our time call a right to privacy advocate.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Batra
ונותן דמים – for since he planted with permission, that he doesn’t damage until a great time [passes], the Sages did not require him to cut it down without payment because of the wind/blast of an individual [tree].
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English Explanation of Mishnah Bava Batra
Questions for Further Thought • In mishnah seven we discussed a similar issue to this mishnah. What are the differences between the two mishnayoth and why do you think they exist?
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Bartenura on Mishnah Bava Batra
רבי יוסי אומר – And the Halakha is according to Rabbi Yosi.
