Bava Batra

Because it over-manures it. MISHNAH. CARRION, GRAVES, AND TANYARDS MUST BE KEPT FIFTY CUBITS FROM A TOWN.  A TANYARD MUST ONLY BE PLACED ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE TOWN. R. AKIBA, HOWEVER, SAYS IT MAY BE PLACED ON ANY SIDE EXCEPT THE WEST, PROVIDING IT IS KEPT FIFTY CUBITS AWAY. FLAXWATER  MUST BE KEPT AWAY FROM VEGETABLES AND LEEKS FROM ONIONS AND MUSTARD PLANTS FROM A BEEHIVE. R. JOSE. HOWEVER, DECLARES IT PERMISSIBLE [TO COME NEARER] IN THE CASE OF MUSTARD. GEMARA. The question was asked: How are we to understand R. Akiba's ruling?  [Does he mean to say that] IT [a tanyard] MAY BE PLACED ON ANY SIDE, namely, be set close to the city, EXCEPT ON THE WEST, where also it may be set, but only at a distance of fifty cubits? Or IT MAY BE PLACED ON ANY SIDE … PROVIDING IT IS KEPT FIFTY CUBITS AWAY, EXCEPT ON THE WEST, where it must not be placed at all? — Come and hear: R. Akiba says: [A tanyard] may be set on any side at a distance of fifty cubits, save on the west side, where it must not be placed at all, because it is a constant abode. Said Raba to R. Nahman: A constant abode of what? Shall I say of winds? How can this be, seeing that R. Hanan b. Abba has said in the name of Rab: Four winds blow every day and the north wind with all of them, for without this the world could not endure a moment. The south wind is the most violent, and were it not that the Son of the Hawk  stays it with his wings it would destroy the world, as it says, Doth the hawk soar by the wisdom, and stretch her wings towards the south?  — No; what it means is that it is the constant abode of the Shechinah.  For so said Joshua b. Levi: Let us be grateful to our ancestors  for showing us the place of prayer, as it is written, And the host of heaven worshippeth thee.  R. Aha bar Jacob strongly demurred to this [interpretation]. Perhaps, he said, [the sun and moon bow down to the east], like a servant who has received a gratuity from his master and retires backwards, bowing as he goes.  This [indeed] is a difficulty. R. Oshaia expressed the opinion that the Shechinah is in every place. For R. Oshaia said: What is the meaning of the verse, Thou art the Lord, even thou alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, etc.?  Thy messengers are not like the messengers of flesh and blood. Messengers of flesh and blood report themselves [after performing their office] to the place from which they have been sent, but thy messengers report themselves to the place to which they are sent, as it says. Canst thou send forth lightnings that they may go and say to thee, here we are.  It does not say, 'that they may come and say,' but 'that they may go and say,' which shows that the Shechinah is in all places. R. Ishmael also held that the Shechinah is in all places, since R. Ishmael taught: From where do we know that the Shechinah is in all places?  — Because it says, And behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him.  It does not say, 'went out after him,' but went out to meet him.' This shows that the Shechinah is in all places. R. Shesheth also held that the Shechinah is in all places, because [when desiring to pray] he used to say to his attendant:  Set me facing any way except the east. And this was not because the Shechinah is not there, but because the Minim  prescribe turning to the east. R. Abbahu, however, said that the Shechinah is in the west; for so said R. Abbahu: What is the meaning of 'Uryah'?  It is equivalent to avir Yah  [air of God]. R. Judah said: What is the meaning of the verse, My doctrine shall drop [ya'arof]  as the rain?  This refers to the west wind which comes from the back ['oref]  of the world. My speech shall distil [tizzal]  as the dew:  this is the north wind which makes gold flow,  and so it says: Who lavish [ha-zalim] gold from the purse.  As the small rain [se'irim]  upon the tender grass:  this is the east wind which rages through the world like a demon [sa'ir].  And as showers upon the herb:  this is the south wind which brings up showers and causes the grass to grow. It has been taught: R. Eliezer says that the world