Study Bava Batra folio 14A with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
ואם בא לחתוך – חותך. מאי קאמר? הכי קאמר: שאם בא לחתוך – חותך.
And if he wishes to cut the scroll, he may cut it. The Talmud is surprised at this: What is the tanna saying? Why is mention made here of cutting the scroll? The Talmud answers: This is what the tanna is saying: He arranges the text so that if he finishes a book at the bottom of one column, he begins the next book at the top of the next column without leaving any empty space, so that if he wishes to cut the scroll, he may cut it. If he does not begin the next book at the top of the next column, he will not be able to cut the scroll, because it is not fitting for a scroll to begin with an empty space.
ורמינהי: תחלת ספר וסופו – כדי לגול. כדי לגול מאי? אי כדי לגול עמוד – קשיא הקף; אי כדי לגול הקף – קשיא עמוד!
The Talmud raises a contradiction between this baraita and another baraita that teaches: Enough parchment should be left at the beginning of the scroll and at its end for winding. The Talmud clarifies: For winding around what? If it means for winding around the pole to which the beginning of the scroll is fastened, this is difficult in light of what is taught in the first baraita, that at the end of the scroll enough parchment should be left for winding around the entire circumference of the scroll. And if it means for winding around the entire circumference, this is difficult in light of what is taught in the first baraita that at the beginning of the scroll enough parchment should be left for winding around the pole.