לְאַכְסַדְרָה הוּא דּוֹמֶה, וְרוּחַ צְפוֹנִית אֵינָהּ מְסוּבֶּבֶת, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁהִגִּיעָה חַמָּה אֵצֶל קֶרֶן מַעֲרָבִית צְפוֹנִית – נִכְפֶּפֶת וְעוֹלָה לְמַעְלָה מִן הָרָקִיעַ; וְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אוֹמֵר: עוֹלָם לְקוּבָּה הוּא דּוֹמֶה, וְרוּחַ צְפוֹנִית מְסוּבֶּבֶת, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁחַמָּה מַגַּעַת לְקֶרֶן מַעֲרָבִית צְפוֹנִית – מַקֶּפֶת וְחוֹזֶרֶת אֲחוֹרֵי כִּיפָּה,

is similar to a partially enclosed veranda [le’akhsadra], enclosed on three sides, and the northern side of the world is not enclosed with a partition like the other directions. The sun begins its revolution in the east and passes to the south and the west, and once the sun reaches the northwestern corner it turns around and ascends throughout the night above the sky to the east side and does not pass the north side. And Rabbi Yehoshua says: The world is similar to a small tent [lekubba], and the north side is enclosed with a partition as well, but once the sun reaches the northwestern corner it emerges from this small tent, and circles and passes behind the dome, i.e., outside the northern partition, until it reaches the east.

שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״הוֹלֵךְ אֶל דָּרוֹם וְסוֹבֵב אֶל צָפוֹן״ וגו׳, ״הוֹלֵךְ אֶל דָּרוֹם״ – בַּיּוֹם, ״וְסוֹבֵב אֶל צָפוֹן״ – בַּלַּיְלָה, ״סוֹבֵב סֹבֵב הוֹלֵךְ הָרוּחַ וְעַל סְבִיבֹתָיו שָׁב הָרוּחַ״ – אֵלּוּ פְּנֵי מִזְרָח וּפְנֵי מַעֲרָב, שֶׁפְּעָמִים מְסַבַּבְתָּן וּפְעָמִים מְהַלַּכְתָּן.

As it is stated: “The sun also rises and the sun goes down, and hastens to its place, where it rises again. It goes toward the south, and turns about to the north; round and round goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns” (Ecclesiastes 1:5–6). The verse is understood as describing the sun’s movements, as follows: “It goes toward the south” during the day, “and turns about to the north,” on the outside of the firmament, at night. “Round and round goes the wind [ruaḥ] and the wind returns again to its circuits”; as the word ruaḥ can also mean direction or side, Rabbi Yehoshua explains that these are the face of the east and the face of the west. Sometimes, in the short winter days, the sun turns about them without being seen, and sometimes, in the long summer days, it traverses them visibly.

הוּא הָיָה אוֹמֵר, אֲתָאן לְרַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר: ״מִן הַחֶדֶר תָּבֹא סוּפָה״ – זוֹ רוּחַ דְּרוֹמִית, ״וּמִמְּזָרִים קָרָה״ – זוֹ רוּחַ צְפוֹנִית, ״מִנִּשְׁמַת אֵל יִתֶּן קָרַח״ – זוֹ רוּחַ מַעֲרָבִית, ״וְרֹחַב מַיִם בְּמוּצָק״ – זוֹ רוּחַ מִזְרָחִית.

The baraita continues: Rabbi Yehoshua would say: With this we arrive at the opinion of Rabbi Eliezer that the world is like a partially enclosed veranda. He cites a verse as proof that the north side is open: “Out of the chamber comes the storm”; this is the southern side that forms a room with the other two sides. “And cold out of the dispersed parts” (Job 37:9); this is the northern side, which is open, and from which a cold wind comes. “By the breath of God ice is given”; this is the western side. “And the breadth of the waters is straitened” (Job 37:10); this is the eastern side, from which the rains come.

וְהָאָמַר מָר: רוּחַ דְּרוֹמִית מַעֲלָה רְבִיבִים וּמְגַדֶּלֶת עֲשָׂבִים! לָא קַשְׁיָא: הָא דְּאָתְיָא מִטְרָא בְּנִיחוּתָא, הָא בִּשְׁפִיכוּתָא.

The Gemara asks: But doesn’t the Master say that the southern wind raises showers and causes herbs to grow? The Gemara answers that this is not difficult: This is referring to rain that falls gently, which waters plants and brings growth; that is referring to a downpour of rain that causes damage.

אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא, מַאי דִּכְתִיב: ״מִצָּפוֹן זָהָב יֶאֱתֶה״ – זוֹ רוּחַ צְפוֹנִית שֶׁמַּזֶּלֶת אֶת הַזָּהָב, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר: ״הַזָּלִים זָהָב מִכִּיס״.

Rav Ḥisda said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “Out of the north comes gold” (Job 37:22)? This is the northern wind, which devalues gold by causing a drought that raises the price of grain. And, in addition, it says: “You who lavish gold out of the bag” (Isaiah 46:6).

אָמַר רַפְרָם בַּר פַּפָּא אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: מִיּוֹם שֶׁחָרַב בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ – לֹא הוּגְשְׁמָה רוּחַ דְּרוֹמִית, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וַיִּגְזֹר עַל יָמִין וְרָעֵב וַיֹּאכַל עַל שְׂמֹאל וְלֹא שָׂבֵעוּ״, וּכְתִיב: ״צָפוֹן וְיָמִין אַתָּה בְרָאתָם״.

§ Rafram bar Pappa says that Rav Ḥisda says: From the day the Temple was destroyed the southern wind has not brought rain, as it is stated in the description of the destruction of the Temple: “He decrees on the right and there is hunger, and consumes on the left and they are not satisfied” (Isaiah 9:19). This means that God decreed that the southern wind, which is called right, shall bring famine with it. And it is written: “North and right, You have created them” (Psalms 89:13). This proves that the term right means south.

וְאָמַר רַפְרָם בַּר פַּפָּא אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא: מִיּוֹם שֶׁחָרַב בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ – אֵין הַגְּשָׁמִים יוֹרְדִין מֵאוֹצָר טוֹב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״יִפְתַּח ה׳ לְךָ אֶת אוֹצָרוֹ הַטּוֹב״, בִּזְמַן שֶׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל עוֹשִׂין רְצוֹנוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם וְיִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁרוּיִין עַל אַדְמָתָם – גְּשָׁמִים יוֹרְדִין מֵאוֹצָר טוֹב, בִּזְמַן שֶׁאֵין יִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁרוּיִין עַל אַדְמָתָם – אֵין גְּשָׁמִים יוֹרְדִין מֵאוֹצָר טוֹב.

And Rafram bar Pappa says that Rav Ḥisda says: From the day the Temple was destroyed, the rains no longer descend from the good storehouse, as it is stated: “The Lord will open to you His good storehouse, the skies, to give the rain of your land in its season” (Deuteronomy 28:12). In a time when the Jewish people perform God’s will, and the Jewish people are settled in their land, rain descends from the good storehouse. In a time when the Jewish people are not settled in their land, rain does not descend from the good storehouse.

אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק: הָרוֹצֶה שֶׁיַּחְכִּים – יַדְרִים, וְשֶׁיַּעֲשִׁיר – יַצְפִּין, וְסִימָנֵיךְ: שֻׁלְחָן בַּצָּפוֹן וּמְנוֹרָה בַּדָּרוֹם; וְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי אָמַר: לְעוֹלָם יַדְרִים, שֶׁמִּתּוֹךְ שֶׁמִּתְחַכֵּם מִתְעַשֵּׁר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״אֹרֶךְ יָמִים בִּימִינָהּ בִּשְׂמֹאלָהּ עֹשֶׁר וְכָבוֹד״.

Rabbi Yitzḥak says: One who wishes to become wise should face south, and one who wishes to become wealthy should face north. And your mnemonic for this is that in the Temple the Table, which symbolized blessing and abundance, was in the north, and the Candelabrum, which symbolized the light of wisdom, was in the south of the Sanctuary. And Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: One should always face south, as once he becomes wise he will subsequently also become wealthy, as it is stated with regard to the Torah: “Length of days is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor” (Proverbs 3:16).

וְהָא רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי אָמַר: שְׁכִינָה בַּמַּעֲרָב! דִּמְצַדֵּד אַצְדּוּדֵי. אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי חֲנִינָא לְרַב אַשִׁי: כְּגוֹן אַתּוּן דְּיָתְבִיתוּ בִּצְפוֹנָהּ דְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל – אַדְרִימוּ אַדְרוּמֵי. וּמְנָא לָן דְּבָבֶל לִצְפוֹנָהּ דְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל קַיְימָא? דִּכְתִיב ״מִצָּפוֹן תִּפָּתַח הָרָעָה עַל כָּל יֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ״.

The Gemara asks: But Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says that the Divine Presence is in the west. How, then, can one pray facing south? The Gemara explains that one should turn aside slightly, so that he faces southwest. Rabbi Ḥanina said to Rav Ashi: An individual such as you, who lives to the north of Eretz Yisrael, should face south when you pray. And from where do we derive that Babylonia is located to the north of Eretz Yisrael? As it is written in a prophecy concerning the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians: “Out of the north evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land” (Jeremiah 1:14).

״מַרְחִיקִין אֶת הַמִּשְׁרָה מִן הַיָּרָק״ וכו׳. תָּנָא: רַבִּי יוֹסֵי מַתִּיר בַּחַרְדָּל, שֶׁיָּכוֹל לוֹמַר לוֹ: עַד שֶׁאַתָּה אוֹמֵר לִי הַרְחֵק חַרְדָּלֶךָ מִן דְּבוֹרַיי, הַרְחֵק דְּבוֹרֶךָ מִן חַרְדָּלַיי, שֶׁבָּאוֹת וְאוֹכְלוֹת לִגְלוּגֵי חַרְדָּלַיי.

§ The mishna teaches that one must distance from vegetables the water in which flax is steeped, and distance mustard from bees. A Sage taught that Rabbi Yosei permits one not to do so in the case of mustard because he can say to the beekeeper: Before you tell me: Distance your mustard from my bees, I can tell you: Distance your bees from my mustard, as they come and eat my mustard plants. In other words, you are also causing damage to my property. Since they each cause damage to the other, neither can force his neighbor to move.

מתני׳ מַרְחִיקִין אֶת הָאִילָן מִן הַבּוֹר עֶשְׂרִים וְחָמֵשׁ אַמָּה, וּבֶחָרוּב וּבַשִּׁקְמָה – חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה, בֵּין מִלְמַעְלָה בֵּין מִן הַצַּד. אִם הַבּוֹר קָדְמָה – קוֹצֵץ וְנוֹתֵן דָּמִים, וְאִם אִילָן קָדַם – לֹא יָקוֹץ. סָפֵק זֶה קָדַם וְסָפֵק זֶה קָדַם – לֹא יָקוֹץ; רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהַבּוֹר קוֹדֶמֶת לָאִילָן – לֹא יָקוֹץ, שֶׁזֶּה חוֹפֵר בְּתוֹךְ שֶׁלּוֹ וְזֶה נוֹטֵעַ בְּתוֹךְ שֶׁלּוֹ.

One must distance a tree twenty-five cubits from a cistern, and in the case of a carob and of a sycamore tree, whose roots extend farther, one must distance the tree fifty cubits. This is the halakha whether the cistern or tree is located above or to the side of the other. If the digging of the cistern preceded the tree, the owner of the tree cuts down the tree and the owner of the cistern pays him money. And if the tree preceded the cistern the owner of the tree need not cut down the tree. If it is uncertain whether this came first or that came first, the owner of the tree need not cut down the tree. Rabbi Yosei says: Even if the cistern preceded the tree, the owner of the tree need not cut down the tree. This is due to the fact that this one digs in his own property, and that one plants in his own property.

גמ׳ תָּנָא: בֵּין שֶׁהַבּוֹר לְמַטָּה וְאִילָן לְמַעְלָה, בֵּין שֶׁהַבּוֹר לְמַעְלָה וְאִילָן לְמַטָּה. בִּשְׁלָמָא בּוֹר לְמַטָּה וְאִילָן לְמַעְלָה – קָא אָזְלִין שָׁרָשִׁין מַזְקִי לָהּ לַבּוֹר, אֶלָּא בּוֹר לְמַעְלָה וְאִילָן לְמַטָּה – אַמַּאי? אָמַר רַבִּי חַגָּא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹסֵי: מִפְּנֵי שֶׁמַּחֲלִידִין אֶת הַקַּרְקַע וּמַלְקִין קַרְקָעִיתָהּ שֶׁל בּוֹר.

The Gemara discusses the mishna’s statement that a tree must be distanced if it is above a cistern. A Sage taught: This is the halakha whether the cistern is below and the tree is above, or whether the cistern is above and the tree is below. The Gemara asks: Granted, if the cistern is below and the tree is above, it will cause damage, as the roots extend and damage the cistern when they breach its walls. But if the cistern is above and the tree is below, why should he have to distance the tree, considering that the roots extend downward? Rabbi Ḥagga says in the name of Rabbi Yosei: He must distance the tree because its roots form holes in the ground and ruin the floor of the cistern.

רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר: אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהַבּוֹר קוֹדֶמֶת לָאִילָן – לֹא יָקוֹץ, שֶׁזֶּה חוֹפֵר בְּתוֹךְ שֶׁלּוֹ וְזֶה נוֹטֵעַ בְּתוֹךְ שֶׁלּוֹ. אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: הֲלָכָה כְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי. אֲמַר רַב אַשִׁי, כִּי הֲוָאן בֵּי רַב כָּהֲנָא הֲוָה אָמְרִינַן: מוֹדֵי רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּגִירֵי דִּידֵיהּ.

Rabbi Yosei says: Even if the cistern preceded the tree, the owner of the tree need not cut down the tree. This is due to the fact that this one digs in his own property, and that one plants in his own property. Rav Yehuda says that Shmuel says: The halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Yosei. Rav Ashi said: When we were studying in the study hall of Rav Kahana, we would say that Rabbi Yosei concedes with regard to one’s arrows, i.e., one must distance his activities from his neighbor if his actions will cause immediate damage to his neighbor, even if he is acting on his own property.

פָּאפֵּי יוֹנָאָה עָנִי וְהֶעֱשִׁיר הֲוָה, בָּנָה אַפַּדְנָא, הָווּ הָנָךְ עָצוֹרֵי בְּשִׁיבְּבוּתֵיהּ, דְּכִי הָווּ דָּיְיקִי שׁוּמְשְׁמֵי הֲוָה נַיְידָא אַפַּדְנֵיהּ; אֲתָא לְקַמֵּיהּ דְּרַב אַשִׁי, אֲמַר לֵיהּ, כִּי הֲוָאן בֵּי רַב כָּהֲנָא הֲוָה אָמְרִינַן: מוֹדֵי רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּגִירֵי דִּילֵיהּ.

The Gemara relates that a man called Pappei Yona’a was poor and became wealthy. He built a mansion [appadna] on his land. There were these sesame seed pressers in his neighborhood who would work, and when they would press the sesame seeds their activity would shake his mansion. He came before Rav Ashi to complain. Rav Ashi said to him: When we were studying in the study hall of Rav Kahana, we would say that Rabbi Yosei concedes with regard to one’s arrows. Here too, because the sesame seed pressers cause immediate damage they must distance themselves.

וְכַמָּה?

The Gemara asks: And how much must the mansion shake for the owner to have the right to compel the sesame seed pressers to distance themselves?