יום ד Date: 27 Teves, 5777 (1/25/17) – Bava Basra Daf 3 ~ Eliezer Guterman

27 Teves’s Learning is In Memory of:
ר׳ דוד אברהם בן חייא קהת ~ R’ Dovid Winiarz ~
On his 2nd Yartzeit. May his Neshama have a continued Aliyah…

VICIOUS VINES

[3a top] Braisa: [One is not allowed to plant vines within four amos of someone’s grain unless there is a wall separating them.] If a wall of one’s vineyard (which is adjacent to a field of grain belonging to his fellow) falls down, the owner of the grain may tell the owner of the vineyard to rebuild the wall (for otherwise, the new grain that grows will be prohibited as Kilayim (a prohibited growth mixture) of the vineyard. If the owner of the vineyard abandoned the wall and did not rebuild it, he has caused his fellow’s grain to become unfit (Kilayim) and he will be liable for the damages.
RambaN: The vineyard owner is the one responsible because (unlike wheat which grows up) the vines are “attacking” as they grown in various directions. The grape vines invade others’ spaces.
Radbichai: As a product of the vineyards, wine causes intoxication and invasion of Evil. Just like the vines, if left unchecked, The Yetzer Hara will maliciously takes over other spaces and rights.

D-E-ep Thoughts: Before we think about letting loose the reigns of the Yetzer Hara, we must know its tools and tricks. Sometimes, the Evil Inclination tries to trick us into doing Mitzvos, but for very inappropriate and wrong reasons. We must always keep our walls strong and our vines in check.

Today’s P.I.P. (Put Into Practice) TIP: Instead of just going with the flow, it is important to always analyze which direction our motivations are moving us towards. We must stay straight and only grow upwards.