(דברים טז,יח) שְׁעָרֶיךָ-לְׁךָ בְׁכָל-שֹׁפְׁטִים וְׁשֹׁטְׁרִ ים, תִתֶן
In the prayer יקום פורקן which is said after the Krias Torah on Shabbos prior to Musuf, we are requesting there should be a salvation from the Heavens on everyone. In the prayer we specify various leaders of the community for the blessing.
Included in the list are the דיני דבבא. Who are these civic leaders?
In the simple meaning, the word בבא is the Aramaic word for “gates.” Thus, these are the community judges that serve at the gates of the city. Thus, Rambam cites in halacha that any town with at least 120 residents should have a minor group (Sanhendrin) of judges available, as is said in Amos (5,15), “establish justice in your gate.”
Some do not accept this suggestion. This prayer of Y’kom Purkan was established in the Geonic period when the judges no longer sat by the gates of the city, but had buildings housing the court system.
Thus, some say these “Judges of Bava”, were actually experts in the jurisdiction of monetary matters. Since the major part of the Jewish source of monetary matters are within the three Bava’s: Bava Kama, Bava Metzia, and Bava Basra. Thus, these community judges were referred by the title “Judges of the Bava” (three of them).
דַיָּנֵי בָּבָּא
The Tikunei Zohar also mentions that the word בבא is an acronym for לקיםארא בראשית ב. This alludes to the concept that the Creation included the ancient wisdom of judgement of monetary matters that became the three Gemaras of Bava. As the popular saying of Chaza”l, one that wishes to gain wisdom should engage in the study of monetary matters within the three Bava’s.
Further, in the early sefer Smichas Chachumim, that the word בבא in the Gematria system of A”t Bash (exchanging letters alef for Tav, Bais for Shin, etc.) brings forth שש"ת, referring to the six thousand years of the world.
Further Gemara (Avordah Zara 9a) that this six-thousand-years of the world are divided into three periods of roughly two thousand years each. The first 2000 years are Tohu, confused years without Torah. The second period is called the years of Torah. And the third set is called the days of Moshiach for which the world is preparing.
The three Gemaras of Bava reflect these three sets of the world’s history.
The first 2000-year period was without Torah and was reflected is the atmosphere of violence, wounding, stealing, etc. as reflected in the Generations of the Flood and of the Dispersion. Bava Kama presents the society standards in dealing with this uncivilized behavior.
The second 200-year period is called the “middle period” (אמצע) or “foundation period” (מציעות) when the world saw the establishment of just societies influenced by Matan Torah and the Bais haMikdash. This period saw wonders and miracles. Bava Metzia reflects this establishment of civilization.
Bava Basra reflects the final period which discusses Chazakah and inheritance, the final settlings for the accomplishment of the history of the world. The period will see the fulfillment of the visions of the prophets and the reestablishment of Eretz Yisrael as the moral center of the world, speedily in our days.
