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- ב"ה - Today in Judaism - Today is Monday, 24 Cheshvan, 5778 · November 13, 2017Torah Reading:
Toldot: Genesis 25:19 - 26:5Toldot: Genesis 25:19 Here is the history of Yitz’chak, Avraham’s son. Avraham fathered Yitz’chak. 20 Yitz’chak was forty years old when he took Rivkah, the daughter of B’tu’el the Arami from Paddan-Aram and sister of Lavan the Arami, to be his wife. 21 Yitz’chak prayed to Adonai on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. Adonai heeded his prayer, and Rivkah became pregnant. 22 The children fought with each other inside her so much that she said, “If it’s going to be like this, why go on living?” So she went to inquire of Adonai, 23 who answered her, “There are two nations in your womb. From birth they will be two rival peoples. One of these peoples will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”
24 When the time for her delivery came, there were twins in her womb. 25 The first to come out was reddish and covered all over with hair, like a coat; so they named him ‘Esav [completely formed, that is, having hair already]. 26 Then his brother emerged, with his hand holding ‘Esav’s heel, so he was called Ya‘akov [he catches by the heel, he supplants]. Yitz’chak was sixty years old when she bore them.
27 The boys grew; and ‘Esav became a skillful hunter, an outdoorsman; while Ya‘akov was a quiet man who stayed in the tents. 28 Yitz’chak favored ‘Esav, because he had a taste for game; Rivkah favored Ya‘akov.
29 One day when Ya‘akov had cooked some stew, ‘Esav came in from the open country, exhausted, 30 and said to Ya‘akov, “Please! Let me gulp down some of that red stuff — that red stuff! I’m exhausted!” (This is why he was called Edom [red].) 31 Ya‘akov answered, “First sell me your rights as the firstborn.” 32 “Look, I’m about to die!” said ‘Esav. “What use to me are my rights as the firstborn?” 33 Ya‘akov said, “First, swear to me!” So he swore to him, thus selling his birthright to Ya‘akov. 34 Then Ya‘akov gave him bread and lentil stew; he ate and drank, got up and went on his way. Thus ‘Esav showed how little he valued his birthright.
26:1 A famine came over the land, not the same as the first famine, which had taken place when Avraham was alive. Yitz’chak went to G’rar, to Avimelekh king of the P’lishtim. 2 Adonai appeared to him and said, “Don’t go down into Egypt, but live where I tell you. 3 Stay in this land, and I will be with you and bless you, because I will give all these lands to you and to your descendants. I will fulfill the oath which I swore to Avraham your father — 4 I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, I will give all these lands to your descendants, and by your descendants all the nations of the earth will bless themselves. 5 All this is because Avraham heeded what I said and did what I told him to do — he followed my mitzvot, my regulations and my teachings.”
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Daily Quote: Intellect and excitement are two separate worlds. Intellect--a world cold and settled; excitement--a world seething and impetuous. Man's avoda (service of G-d) is to combine them, unite them. The impetuousness then becomes transformed into a longing, and the intellect into the guide in a life of service and action. (Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak of Lubavitch (quoted in Hayom Yom, Shevat 12))
Daily Torah Study:
Chumash: Toldot, 2nd Portion Genesis 26:6-26:12 with Rashi
• English / Hebrew Linear Translation
• Video Class
• Daily Wisdom (short insight)
Genesis Chapter 26
6And Isaac dwelt in Gerar. ווַיֵּ֥שֶׁב יִצְחָ֖ק בִּגְרָֽר:
7And the men of the place asked about his wife, and he said, "She is my sister," because he was afraid to say, "[She is] my wife," [because he said,] "Lest the men of the place kill me because of Rebecca, for she is of comely appearance." זוַיִּשְׁאֲל֞וּ אַנְשֵׁ֤י הַמָּקוֹם֙ לְאִשְׁתּ֔וֹ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֲחֹ֣תִי הִ֑וא כִּ֤י יָרֵא֙ לֵאמֹ֣ר אִשְׁתִּ֔י פֶּן־יַֽהַרְגֻ֜נִי אַנְשֵׁ֤י הַמָּקוֹם֙ עַל־רִבְקָ֔ה כִּֽי־טוֹבַ֥ת מַרְאֶ֖ה הִֽוא:
about his wife: Heb. לְאִשְׁתּוֹ, lit., to his wife, about his wife, like (above 20:13):“Say about me (לִי) , ‘He is my brother.’”
לאשתו: על אשתו, כמו (לעיל כ יג) אמרי לי אחי הוא:
8And it came to pass, when he had been there for many days, that Abimelech, the king of the Philistines, looked out of the window, and he saw, and behold, Isaac was jesting with Rebecca his wife. חוַיְהִ֗י כִּ֣י אָֽרְכוּ־ל֥וֹ שָׁם֙ הַיָּמִ֔ים וַיַּשְׁקֵ֗ף אֲבִימֶ֨לֶךְ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים בְּעַ֖ד הַֽחַלּ֑וֹן וַיַּ֗רְא וְהִנֵּ֤ה יִצְחָק֙ מְצַחֵ֔ק אֵ֖ת רִבְקָ֥ה אִשְׁתּֽוֹ:
when he had been there for many days: He said [to himself],“From now on, I need not worry since they have not violated her until now,” and he did not take precautions to beware.
כי ארכו: אמר מעתה אין לי לדאוג מאחר שלא אנסוה עד עכשיו, ולא נזהר להיות נשמר:
that Abimelech…looked, etc: He saw him engaging in marital relations. [Gen. Rabbah 64:5]
וישקף אבימלך וגו': שראהו משמש מטתו:
9So Abimelech called Isaac, and he said, "Behold, she is your wife; so how could you have said, 'She is my sister'?" And Isaac said to him, "Because I said, 'Lest I die because of her. '" טוַיִּקְרָ֨א אֲבִימֶ֜לֶךְ לְיִצְחָ֗ק וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ אַ֣ךְ הִנֵּ֤ה אִשְׁתְּךָ֙ הִ֔וא וְאֵ֥יךְ אָמַ֖רְתָּ אֲחֹ֣תִי הִ֑וא וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ יִצְחָ֔ק כִּ֣י אָמַ֔רְתִּי פֶּן־אָמ֖וּת עָלֶֽיהָ:
10And Abimelech said, "What have you done to us? The most prominent of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us." יוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ מַה־זֹּ֖את עָשִׂ֣יתָ לָּ֑נוּ כִּ֠מְעַ֠ט שָׁכַ֞ב אַחַ֤ד הָעָם֙ אֶת־אִשְׁתֶּ֔ךָ וְהֵֽבֵאתָ֥ עָלֵ֖ינוּ אָשָֽׁם:
The most prominent of the people: Heb. אַחַד הָעָם, the most prominent one of the people, meaning the king. [Gen. Targum Onkelos and Jonathan]
אחד העם: המיוחד בעם זה המלך:
and you would have brought guilt upon us: Had he had relations, you would have brought guilt upon us.
והבאת עלינו אשם: אם שכב, כבר הבאת עלינו אשם:
11And Abimelech commanded all the people, saying, "Whoever touches this man or his wife shall be put to death." יאוַיְצַ֣ו אֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ אֶת־כָּל־הָעָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר הַנֹּגֵ֜עַ בָּאִ֥ישׁ הַזֶּ֛ה וּבְאִשְׁתּ֖וֹ מ֥וֹת יוּמָֽת:
12And Isaac sowed in that land, and he found in that year a hundred fold, and the Lord blessed him. יבוַיִּזְרַ֤ע יִצְחָק֙ בָּאָ֣רֶץ הַהִ֔וא וַיִּמְצָ֛א בַּשָּׁנָ֥ה הַהִ֖וא מֵאָ֣ה שְׁעָרִ֑ים וַיְבָֽרֲכֵ֖הוּ יְהֹוָֽה:
in that land: [The land yielded an abundant harvest] even though it was not considered as esteemed as the Land of Israel itself, i.e., as the land of the seven nations (Gen. Rabbah 64:6).
בארץ ההיא: אף על פי שאינה חשובה כארץ ישראל עצמה, כארץ שבעה גויים:
in that year: Even though it was not as it should have been, for it was a year of famine (Gen. Rabbah ad loc.).
בשנה ההיא: אף על פי שאינה כתקנה, שהיתה שנת רעבון:
in that land…in that year: Why both of them? To tell us that the land was hard and that the year was a hard one.
בארץ ההיא בשנה ההיא: שניהם למה, לומר שארץ קשה והשנה קשה:
a hundred fold: For they had estimated how much it [the land] was fit to produce, and it produced for each measure that they had estimated, one hundred [measures], and our Rabbis said that the purpose of this estimate was for tithing. [Gen. Rabbah 64:6]
מאה שערים: שאמדוה כמה ראויה לעשות ועשתה על אחת מאה שאמדוה. ורבותינו אמרו אומד זה למעשרות היה:
Tehillim: Psalms Chapters 113 - 118• Hebrew text
• English text
Chapter 113
This psalm recounts some of the wonders of the exodus from Egypt.
1. Praise the Lord! Offer praise, you servants of the Lord; praise the Name of the Lord.
2. May the Name of the Lord be blessed from now and to all eternity.
3. From the rising of the sun to its setting, the Name of the Lord is praised.
4. The Lord is high above all nations; His glory transcends the heavens.
5. Who is like the Lord our God, Who dwells on high
6. [yet] looks down so low upon heaven and earth!
7. He raises the poor from the dust, lifts the destitute from the dunghill,
8. to seat them with nobles, with the nobles of His people.
9. He transforms the barren woman into a household, into a joyful mother of children. Praise the Lord!
Chapter 114
This psalm explains why the tribe of Judah merited kingship.
1. When Israel went out of Egypt, the House of Jacob from a people of a foreign tongue,
2. Judah became His holy [nation], Israel, His domain.
3. The sea saw and fled, the Jordan turned backward.
4. The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like young sheep.
5. What is the matter with you, O sea, that you flee; Jordan, that you turn backward;
6. mountains, that you skip like rams; hills, like young sheep?
7. [We do so] before the Master, the Creator of the earth, before the God of Jacob,
8. Who turns the rock into a pool of water, the flintstone into a water fountain.
Chapter 115
A prayer that God bring this long exile to an end, for the sake of His Name-that it not be desecrated.
1. Not for our sake, Lord, not for our sake, but for the sake of Your Name bestow glory, because of Your kindness and Your truth.
2. Why should the nations say, "Where, now, is their God?”
3. Indeed, our God is in heaven; whatever He desires, He does.
4. Their idols are of silver and gold, the product of human hands.
5. They have a mouth, but cannot speak; they have eyes, but cannot see;
6. they have ears, but cannot hear; they have a nose, but cannot smell;
7. their hands cannot touch; their feet cannot walk; they can make no sound in their throat.
8. Those who make them will become like them-all who put their trust in them.
9. Israel, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.
10. House of Aaron, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.
11. You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.
12. The Lord who is ever mindful of us, may He bless: May He bless the House of Israel; may He bless the House of Aaron;
13. may He bless those who fear the Lord, the small with the great.
14. May the Lord increase [blessing] upon you, upon you and upon your children.
15. You are blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
16. The heavens are the Lord's heavens, but the earth He gave to the children of man.
17. The dead cannot praise the Lord, nor any who descend into the silence [of the grave].
18. But we will bless the Lord from now to eternity. Praise the Lord!
Chapter 116
This psalm contains magnificent praises to God. It also describes David's love for God, in light of all the miracles He performed for him. David does not know how to repay God, declaring it impossible to pay back for all God has done for him.
1. I would love if the Lord would listen to my voice, to my supplications;
2. if He would turn His ear to me on the days when I call.
3. The pangs of death encompassed me and the misery of the grave came upon me; I encounter trouble and sorrow.
4. I invoke the Name of the Lord, "Lord, I implore you, deliver my soul!”
5. The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is compassionate.
6. The Lord watches over the simpletons; I was brought low, and He saved me.
7. Return, my soul, to your tranquility, for the Lord has bestowed goodness upon you.
8. For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
9. I shall walk before the Lord in the lands of the living.
10. I had faith even when I declared, "I am greatly afflicted";
11. [even when] I said in my haste, "All men are deceitful.”
12. How can I repay the Lord for all His beneficences to me?
13. I will raise the cup of deliverance and proclaim the Name of the Lord.
14. I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people.
15. Grievous in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His pious ones.
16. I thank you, Lord, that since I am Your servant, I am Your servant the son of Your maidservant, You have loosened my bonds.
17. To You I will bring an offering of thanksgiving, and proclaim the Name of the Lord.
18. I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people,
19. in the courtyards of the House of the Lord, in the midst of Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!
Chapter 117
This psalm of two verses alludes to the Messianic era, when the Children of Israel will enjoy their former glory. All will praise God, in fulfillment of the verse, "All will then call in the Name of God."
1. Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples.
2. For His kindness was mighty over us, and the truth of the Lord is everlasting. Praise the Lord!
Chapter 118
This psalm describes David's immense trust in God. It also contains many praises to God, Who has fulfilled that which He has promised us.
1. Offer praise to the Lord for He is good, for His kindness is everlasting.
2. Let Israel declare that His kindness is everlasting.
3. Let the House of Aaron declare that His kindness is everlasting.
4. Let those who fear the Lord declare that His kindness is everlasting.
5. From out of distress I called to God; with abounding relief, God answered me.
6. The Lord is with me, I do not fear-what can man do to me?
7. The Lord is with me among my helpers, and I will see [the downfall of] my enemies.
8. It is better to rely on the Lord than to trust in man.
9. It is better to rely on the Lord than to trust in nobles.
10. All the nations surrounded me, but in the Name of the Lord I will cut them down.
11. They surrounded me, they encompassed me, but in the Name of the Lord I will cut them down.
12. They surrounded me like bees, yet they shall be extinguished like fiery thorns; in the Name of the Lord I will cut them down.
13. You [my foes] repeatedly pushed me to fall, but the Lord helped me.
14. God is my strength and song, and He has been a help to me.
15. The sound of rejoicing and deliverance reverberates in the tents of the righteous, "The right hand of the Lord performs deeds of valor.
16. The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord performs deeds of valor!”
17. I shall not die, but I shall live and recount the deeds of God.
18. God has indeed chastised me, but He did not give me up to death.
19. Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter them and praise God.
20. This is the gate of the Lord, the righteous will enter it.
21. I offer thanks to You, for You have answered me, and You have been my deliverance.
22. The stone which the builders scorned has become the chief cornerstone.
23. From the Lord has this come about; it is wondrous in our eyes.
24. This is the day which the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice on it.
25. We implore You, Lord, deliver us. We implore You, Lord, grant us success.
26. Blessed is he who comes in the Name of the Lord; we bless you from the House of the Lord.
27. The Lord is a benevolent God and He has given us light; bind the festival offering with cords until [you bring it to] the horns of the altar.
28. You are my God and I will praise You, my God-and I will exalt You.
29. Praise the Lord for He is good, for His kindness is everlasting.
Tanya: Iggeret HaKodesh, Epistle 30• English Text (Lessons in Tanya)
• Hebrew Text
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Monday, Cheshvan 24, 5778 · November 13, 2017
Today's Tanya Lesson
Iggeret HaKodesh, Epistle 30
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This is a reasoned message of encouragement in which the Alter Rebbe urges his chassidim not to reduce their fixed annual commitment to charity for the Holy Land, even though their circumstances may have altered. He reminds them once again (as above in Epistle XXI), that what counts is not only the total of one’s contributionsover a particular period, but also the multiplicity of benevolent action. The potent repercussions of this oft-repeated activity resound all the way up to the World of Atzilut, where they impregnate the Sefirah of Malchut — the mother, so to speak, of all created worlds.
מודעת זאת מה שאמרו רז״ל: כל הרגיל לבא לבית הכנסת, ויום אחד לא בא, הקדוש ברוך הוא שואל עליו, שנאמר: מי בכם ירא ה׳ וכו׳
It is well known that our Sages, of blessed memory, said that1 whoever is accustomed to come to the synagogue, and one day did not come, the Holy One, blessed be He, inquires after him; for it is written,2 “Who among you fears G‑d, [who listens to the voice of His (prophetic) servant; who walked in the darkness, and for whom no light shone]?”
The Gemara understands this verse as referring to a person who went to “a place of darkness”; his path on this occasion did not lead to the performance of a mitzvah, and this was why he did not attend synagogue. In contrast, the commentaries on the Tanach understand the quoted phrase as referring to a person who finds himself in a situation of darkness and travail. And even such an individual should not refrain from attending, but should (as the verse concludes) “trust in the Divine Name, and rely on His G‑d.”
In this spirit, the present letter argues that even in a difficult situation, at a time of “darkness”, a Jew should not think of reducing his accustomed charitable contributions; rather, he should “trust in the Divine Name, and rely on His G‑d.”
To return now to the opening teaching — that whoever is accustomed to come to the synagogue, and one day did not come, G‑d inquires after him. This does not apply only to the communal prayer of which the Gemara speaks; rather:
וכן בכל המצות, ובפרט מצות הצדקה, ששקולה כנגד כל המצות
The same applies to all the commandments, and especially to the precept of charity, which is3“balanced against all the commandments.” Thus, if the above teaching applies to prayer, it surely applies to charity: If a person retreats from his customary charitability, “G‑d inquires after him.”
הגם שהיא בלי נדר, חס ושלום
Though [one’s regular giving] is not bound by a vow, heaven forfend, for one should of course see to it that an accustomed mitzvah should not become subject to the legal force of a vow,4
אף על פי כן, כל החיל אשר נגע יראת ה׳ בלבם, לא יאתה לנפשם האלקית לתת מגרעות בקדש
nevertheless, it is not becoming to the divine soul of all the men of valor whose hearts the fear of G‑d has touched,5 that they should reduce that which is holy, for by restricting their charitable contributions they reduce the downflow of Divine energy from the sublime source which is called Kodesh (lit., “holy”) into the Sefirah of Malchut,
מאשר כבר הורגלו מדי שנה להפריש ממאודם
relative to what they were accustomed to set aside, annually, from their wealth,6
להחיות רוח שפלים ונדכאים, דלית להון מגרמיהון
to revive the spirit of the humble and downcast who have nothing of their own, viz., the impoverished settlers of the Holy Land —
היא בחינת סוכת דוד הנופלת וכו׳
which [during the time of exile] is referred to as7 “the fallen sukkah of David...,” as also is its supernal source, the Sefirah of Malchut in the World of Atzilut,8
לקומם ולרומם וכו׳
to raise and exalt [it]...
למהוי אחד באחד וכו׳
“so that oneness be united with Oneness.”9
In the context of souls in this world, this means that tzedakah unites one Jew with his fellow. In the supernal context of Sefirot, it refers to the desired connection between (a) the “lower level of unity” (Yichuda Tataah)which comes into being when the Sefirah of Malchut becomes a source of creation to lower worlds, and (b) the “higher level of unity” (Yichuda Ilaah) involving the six higher emotive Sefirot, which transcend direct contact with the created worlds. This is the union of Kudsha Brich Hu and His Shechinah, which is also called Malchut of Atzilut.
והכל לפי רוב המעשה וכו׳
And10 “everything is [judged] according to the multiplicity of action....”
As discussed above in Epistle XXI, it is preferable to divide a sum set aside for tzedakah into many individual acts of giving. Maimonides explains11 that this refines the soul. Chassidut adds that each act of giving effects a union (yichud) in the worlds above.
Accordingly, the Alter Rebbe had explained in the above Epistle that one’s annual contribution for the needy of Eretz Yisrael should be given weekly or at least monthly. It could therefore be that here he is warning against reducing one’s contribution one year and compensating for it the following year, because in this way the present year would be lacking the “multiplicity of action.” (It is clear that the Alter Rebbe is not speaking here of a situation in which a person simply thinks of not giving because of his difficult circumstances, because he has already said in Epistle XVI that even if one needs to borrow for food, he should still give tzedakah.)
ולפי החשבון
and according to the account (cheshbon).
As the Alter Rebbe will soon point out, the level of Divinity from which one elicits “G‑d’s greatness” is determined by the magnitude of the total amount — whether it is in hundreds or thousands, or whatever. (Multiples of a hundred, for example, relate to the level known as Keter.) Reducing one’s regular gift thus proportionately reduces both his “great amount” and its cosmic effect.
כמאמר רז״ל: כל פרוטה ופרוטה מצטרפת לחשבון גדול וכו׳
Thus our Sages, of blessed memory, said,12 “All the individual coins [given to charity] add up to a great amount (cheshbon gadol),”
על דרך מאמר רז״ל: אימתי גדול הוי׳, כשהוא בעיר אלקינו וכו׳
and as taught by our Sages, of blessed memory,13 “When is ‘Havayah great’? — When He is ‘in the city of our G‑d’ Malchut, at which]14
I.e., G‑d’s greatness is revealed when the Divine Name Havayah is vested in the Sefirah of Malchut, and illuminates it. Malchut, the realm of speech, is known as “the city of our G‑d,” for just as a city is composed of many dwellings which in turn are composed of many bricks, so too is the realm of speech built up of many letters and combinations of letters. In Sefer Yetzirah,15 letters are termed “stones”, for they are the basic bricks which join to form the ongoing Divine creative utterances which are the source of all worlds and all created beings.16They thus reveal the greatness of G‑d’s glory.
The Alter Rebbe now continues to speak of the “city of our G‑d,” which is the Sefirah of Malchut:
היא בחינת ומקום החשבון
This is the spiritual state and the place of reckoning (cheshbon),17
For reckoning is possible only with entities which are finite and divisible, and Malchut is the source of all finite and divisible created beings.
כמו שכתוב: עיניך ברכות בחשבון
as it is written,18 “Your eyes are wells in Cheshbon.”
Since a well (or a pool) is a receptor for water that flows down into it, “well” serves as a term for Malchut, i.e., the “feminine” Sefirah which receives the downflow of Divine life-force from the higher Sefirot. The word “Cheshbon” is a Biblical place name, but on the non-literal level of derush it is here understood in its dictionary meaning of “reckoning”. The allusion to this verse thus reinforces the identity of the concept of “reckoning” with the Sefirah of Malchut.
The Alter Rebbe now returns to clarify the meaning of his earlier statement that giving a “great amount” (cheshbon gadol) of tzedakah manifests the “greatness of Havayah” in the “city of our G‑d.”
והמכוון, כנודע, כי באתערותא דלתתא, המשכת חיים חן וחסד במעשה הצדקה, ברצון הטוב וסבר פנים טובות, אתערותא דלעילא
As is known, the meaning [of the above statement] is that as a result of an arousal from [man] below — the provision of [the means for] life, grace and kindness by an act of charity with goodwill and a friendly countenance — there is elicited an arousal from above,
יאר ה׳ פניו, הוא הארת והמשכת חן וחסד ורצון עליון
[so that]19 “G‑d will make His Countenance shine forth,” with a radiation and downflow of grace, kindness and Supreme favor
מחיי החיים, אין סוף ברוך הוא, אשר לגדולתו אין חקר והשגה כלל
from the Fountainhead of Life, the blessed Ein Sof,20 “Whose greatness is unfathomable” and utterly incomprehensible (and thus not manifest),
אל בחינת מלכותך מלכות כל עולמים, עלמא דאתגליא
to the level [of Divinity, viz., Malchut, at which]21 “Your kingdom is the kingdom of all worlds,” [i.e.,] the “World of Manifestation.”
המחיה כל הברואים שבכל ההיכלות עליונים ותחתונים, שהן בבחינת מספר וחשבון
This [Sefirah of Malchut] animates all the created beings that are in all the upper and lower Heichalot, which are all subject to counting and reckoning (cheshbon),
כמו שכתוב: אלף אלפים ישמשוניה
as it is written,22 “A thousand thousands (i.e., a finite number of angels) minister unto Him.”
To revert now to our above key phrase, cheshbon gadol (“a great reckoning”): Giving tzedakah with goodwill and a friendly countenance marries the infinite power of gadol Havayah (“G‑d is great”) with the finite framework of cheshbon (“reckoning”) — the Sefirah of Malchut, which is the source of all finite created beings.
וזהו חשבון גדול, שעל ידי רוב מעשה הצדקה, שלום
This, then, is the meaning of the “great amount,” for numerous acts of charity bring about peace, as it is written,23 “And [the reward for] the act of tzedakah will be peace,” as explained above in Epistle 12.
כי פירוש שלום, הוא דבר המחבר ומתווך ב׳ קצוות הפכיים
For “peace” implies the joining and conciliation of two opposite extremes.
שהן קצה השמים לעילא, בחינת ולגדולתו אין חקר
[In our context] these are the extremity of the superior heaven, alluded to in the phrase, “And His greatness is unfathomable,” referring to G‑d’s incomprehensible infinitude,
וקצה השמים לתתא
and the extremity of the inferior heaven, referring to Malchut, the lowest of the Ten Sefirot,
המתלבש בבריאה יצירה עשיה, בחינת גבול ומספר
which becomes vested in [the Worlds of] Beriah, Yetzirah and Asiyah, [i.e.,] in a category of finitude and number.
ודי למבין
This will suffice for the discerning.
| FOOTNOTES | |
| 1. | Cf. Berachot 6b. |
| 2. | Yeshayahu 50:10. |
| 3. | Bava Batra 9b; Yerushalmi, Peah 1:5. |
| 4. | Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah, sec. 203. |
| 5. | Cf. I Samuel 10:26. |
| 6. | Berachot 9:5. |
| 7. | Siddur Tehillat HaShem, p. 93. |
| 8. | Cf. Epistles IV and XXI, above. |
| 9. | From the passage beginning Kegavna, in Zohar II, 135a; cf. Siddur Tehillat HaShem, p. 133. |
| 10. | Avot 3:15. |
| 11. | In his commentary ad loc. |
| 12. | Bava Batra 9b. |
| 13. | Zohar II, 225a, commenting on Tehillim 48:2. |
| 14. | Loc. cit., verse 13. |
| 15. | 4:12. |
| 16. | Cf. Shaar HaYichud VehaEmunah (in Vol. III of the present series), chs. 1 and 2. |
| 17. | Cf. Zohar III, 220b. |
| 18. | Shir HaShirim 7:5. |
| 19. | Bamidbar 6:25. |
| 20. | Tehillim 145:3. |
| 21. | Loc. cit., verse 13. |
| 22. | Daniel 7:10. |
| 23. | Yeshayahu 10:17. |
• Sefer Hamitzvot:
English Text | Hebrew Text
Audio: Listen | Download | Video ClassMonday, Cheshvan 24, 5778 · November 13, 2017
Today's Mitzvah
A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"
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Negative Commandment 320
Working on Shabbat
"You shall not do any manner of work"—Exodus 20:10.
We are forbidden from performing work on Shabbat.
Full text of this Mitzvah »
Working on Shabbat
Negative Commandment 320
Translated by Berel Bell
The 320th prohibition is that we are forbidden to do melachah1 on Shabbos.
The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement2, ["It is Shabbos to the L‑rd, your G‑d;] do not do any melachah."
If the act was intentional, but the court has insufficient proof, Scripture3 specifies the punishment as kores.4 If the act was intentional, and there is sufficient proof,5 the punishment is execution by s'kilah.6 If the act was unintentional, he must bring a sin-offering.7
The details of this commandment are discussed in the tractate Shabbos.
FOOTNOTES
1.Although melachah is commonly translated as "work," it actually indicates any one of 39 specific activities singled out by Torah tradition. Included among the 39 are such actions as writing, carrying outside, and tying a knot, even though they do not correspond to the English word "work."
2.Shmos 20:1. Devarim 5:14.
3.Ex. 31:14.
4.See Principle 14, where the Rambam defines kores as losing one's portion in the World to Come (unless the person does teshuvah before death). See also Hilchos Teshuvah, Chapter 8, Halachah. 1.
5.Literally, "the testimony was accepted." This phrase includes such requirements as prior warning of the defendant (hasra'a), testimony of at least 2 witnesses, etc. See N352.
6.Commonly translated as "stoning," it actually consisted of being thrown from a high platform. Only if the person did not die from the fall were actual stones used. See P229.
7.See P69. This offering is called a "fixed sin-offering" to distinguish it from the offering of adjustable value. See P72.
Rambam:• 1 Chapter A Day: Avodat Kochavim Avodat Kochavim - Chapter Twelve
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Avodat Kochavim - Chapter Twelve
1
We may not shave the corners of our heads as the idolaters and their priests do, as [Leviticus 19:27] states: "Do not cut off the corners of your heads."
One is liable for each corner. Therefore, a person who shaves both his temples - even if he were to do so simultaneously and had received only a single warning – is [liable for] two measures of lashes.
[This prohibition applies equally to] one who shaves off only the corners of his head and leaves the remainder of his hair, and to one who shaves his entire head at once. Since he has shaved the corners, he is [liable for] lashes.
To whom does the above apply? To the person who shaves. The person [whose head] is shaven is not lashed unless he assists the one who is shaving him. One who shaves [the corners of] a child's [head] should be [liable for] lashes.
א
אין מגלחין פאתי הראש כמו שהיו עושין עובדי כוכבים שנאמר לא תקיפו פאת ראשכם וחייב על כל פאה ופאה לפיכך המגלח שני צדעיו אפילו בבת אחת והתראה אחת לוקה שתים אחד המגלח הפאות בלבד ומניח שיער כל הראש ואחד המגלח כל הראש כאחד לוקה הואיל וגילח הפאות בד"א באיש המגלח אבל איש המתגלח אינו לוקה אא"כ סייע למגלח והמגלח את הקטן לוקה:
Commentary on Halachah 1
2
A woman is exempt if she shaves the head of a man or has her own head shaven. [Since Leviticus 19:27] states: "Do not cut off the corners of your heads and do not destroy the corners of your beards," [an association between the two prohibitions is established]. Whoever is liable for shaving is liable for cutting off the corners. Therefore, because women are not liable for shaving - since they do not have beards - they are not liable for cutting off the corners [of their heads]. Accordingly, slaves are forbidden to cut off the corners of their heads, since they do possess beards.
ב
האשה שגלחה פאת ראש האיש או שנתגלחה פטורה שנאמר לא תקיפו פאת ראשכם ולא תשחית פאת זקנך כל שישנו בבל תשחית ישנו בבל תקיף ואשה שאינה בבל תשחית לפי שאין לה זקן אינה בבל תקיף לפיכך העבדים הואיל ויש להם זקן אסורין בהקפה:
Commentary on Halachah 2
3
All the Torah's prohibitions apply equally to men and women, with the exception of the prohibition against shaving, cutting off the corners of one's head, and the prohibition against priests contracting impurity through contact with a dead body.
Women are not obligated with regard to all positive commandments which apply from time to time and are not constant obligations, with the exception of the sanctification of [the Sabbath] day, eating matzah on Pesach night, eating and offering the Paschal sacrifice, hakhel, and the festive peace-offering for which they are obligated.
ג
כל מצות לא תעשה שבתורה אחד אנשים ואחד נשים חייבים חוץ מבל תשחית ובל תקיף ובל יטמא כהן למתים וכל מצות עשה שהיא מזמן לזמן ואינה תדירה נשים פטורות חוץ מקידוש היום ואכילת מצה בלילי הפסח ואכילת הפסח ושחיטתו והקהל ושמחה שהנשים חייבות:
Commentary on Halachah 3
4
The status of a tumtum and an androgynous is doubtful. Therefore, the stringencies applying to both a man and a woman are applied to them, and they are obligated by all [the mitzvot]. If, however, they transgress, they are not [liable for] lashes.
ד
טומטום ואנדרוגינוס הרי הן ספק נותנין עליהן חומרי האיש וחומרי האשה בכל מקום וחייבים בכל ואם עברו אינם לוקין:
Commentary on Halachah 4
5
Although a woman is permitted to shave the corners of her own head, she is forbidden to shave the corners of a man's head. She is even forbidden to shave the corners of a child's [head].
ה
אע"פ שהאשה מותרת לגלח פאת ראשה הרי היא אסורה לגלח פאת ראש האיש ואפילו קטן אסור לה לגלח לו פאה:
Commentary on Halachah 5
6
The Sages did not determine the amount [of hair] which must be left in the corners of our temples. We have, however, heard from our elders that one must leave at least forty hairs.
One may remove the [hairs from] the corners [of our heads] with scissors. The prohibition applies only to total removal with a razor.
ו
ופאה זו שמניחים בצדעים לא נתנו בו חכמים שיעור ושמענו מזקנינו שאינו מניח פחות מארבעים שערות ומותר ללקט הפאות במספריים לא נאסר אלא השחתה בתער:
Commentary on Halachah 6
7
It is customary for pagan priests to remove their beards. Therefore, the Torah forbade the removal of one's beard.
The beard has five "corners": the upper and lower cheek on both the right and left sides, and the hair on the chin. One is [liable for] lashes for the removal of each "corner." A person who removes them all at the same time is [liable for] five measures of lashes.
One is liable only when one shaves with a razor, as [implied by Leviticus 19:27]: "Do not destroy the corners of your beard." [We can infer that this applies only] to shaving which utterly destroys [one's facial hair]. Therefore, a person who removes his beard with scissors is exempt.
A person who allows himself to be shaved is not [liable for] lashes unless he provides assistance. A woman who has facial hair is allowed to shave it. If she shaves a man's beard, she is exempt.
ז
דרך כהני עובדי כוכבים היה להשחית זקנם לפיכך אסרה תורה להשחית הזקן וחמש פאות יש בו לחי העליון ולחי התחתון מימין וכן משמאל ושבולת הזקן ולוקה על כל פאה ופאה ואם נטלן כולן כאחת לוקה חמש ואינו חייב עד שיגלחנו בתער שנאמר ולא תשחית את פאת זקנך גילוח שיש בו השחתה לפיכך אם גלח זקנו במספריים פטור ואין המתגלח לוקה עד שיסייע ואשה מותרת להשחית זקנה אם יש לה שיער בזקן ואם השחיתה זקן האיש פטורה:
Commentary on Halachah 7
8
It is permitted to shave one's mustache - i.e., the hair on the upper lip, and, similarly, the hair which hangs from the lower lip. Even though the removal [of this hair] is permitted, it is customary for the Jews not to destroy it entirely. Rather, its ends may be removed so that it will not interfere with eating or drinking.
ח
השפה מותר לגלחו בתער והוא השיער שעל גב השפה העליונה וכן השיער המדולדל מן השפה התחתונה ואע"פ שהוא מותר לא נהגו ישראל להשחיתו אלא יגלח קצתו עד שלא יעכב אכילה ושתייה:
Commentary on Halachah 8
9
The Torah does not forbid the removal of hair from other portions of the body - e.g., the armpits or the genitalia. This is, however, prohibited by the Rabbis. A man who removes [such hair] is given stripes for rebelliousness.
Where does the above apply? In places where it is customary only for women to remove such hair, so that one will not beautify himself as women do. In places where it is customary for both men and women to remove such hair, one is not given stripes. It is permitted to remove hair from our other limbs with scissors in all communities.
ט
העברת השיער משאר הגוף כגון בית השחי ובית הערוה אינו אסור מן התורה אלא מדברי סופרים והמעבירו מכין אותו מכת מרדות במה דברים אמורים במקום שאין מעבירין אותו אלא נשים כדי שלא יתקן עצמו תיקון נשים אבל במקום שמעבירין השיער הנשים ואנשים אם העביר אין מכין אותו ומותר להעביר שיער שאר איברים במספריים בכ"מ:
Commentary on Halachah 9
10
A woman should not adorn herself as a man does - e.g., she may not place a turban or a hat on her head or wear armor or the like. She may not cut [the hair of] her head as men do.
A man should not adorn himself as a woman does - e.g., he should not wear colored garments or golden bracelets in a place where such garments and such bracelets are worn only by women. Everything follows local custom.
A man who adorns himself as a woman does, and a woman who adorns herself as a man does, are [liable for] lashes. When a man removes white hairs from among the dark hairs of his head or beard, he should be lashed as soon as he removes a single hair, because he has beautified himself as a woman does. Similarly, if he dyes his hair dark, he is given lashes after dyeing a single hair.
A tumtum and an androgynous may not wrap their heads [in a veil] as women do, or cut [the hair of] their head as men do. If they do [either of the above], they are not [liable for] lashes.
י
לא תעדה אשה עדי האיש כגון שתשים בראשה מצנפת או כובע או תלבש שריון וכיוצא בו או שתגלח ראשה כאיש ולא יעדה איש עדי אשה כגון שילבש בגדי צבעונין וחלי זהב במקום שאין לובשין אותן הכלים ואין משימים אותו החלי אלא נשים הכל כמנהג המדינה איש שעדה עדי אשה ואשה שעדתה עדי איש לוקין המלקט שערות לבנות מתוך השחורות מראשו או מזקנו משילקט שערה אחת לוקה מפני שעדה עדי אשה וכן אם צבע שערו שחור משיצבע שיער לבנה אחת לוקה טומטום ואנדרוגינוס אינו עוטף כאשה ולא מגלח ראשו כאיש ואם עשה כן אינו לוקה:
Commentary on Halachah 10
11
The tattooing which the Torah forbids involves making a cut in one's flesh and filling the slit with eye-color, ink, or with any other dye that leaves an imprint. This was the custom of the idolaters, who would make marks on their bodies for the sake of their idols, as if to say that they are like servants sold to the idol and designated for its service.
When a person makes a mark with one of the substances that leave an imprint after making a slit in any place on his body, he is [liable for] lashes. [This prohibition is binding on] both men and women.
If a person wrote and did not dye, or dyed without writing by cutting [into his flesh], he is not liable. [Punishment is administered] only when he writes and dyes, as [Leviticus 19:28] states: "[Do not make] a dyed inscription [on yourselves]."
To whom does this apply? To the person doing the tattooing. A person who is tattooed [by others], however, is not liable unless he assisted the tattooer to the extent that it is considered that he performed a deed. If he did not perform a deed, he is not lashed.
יא
כתובת קעקע האמורה בתורה הוא שישרט על בשרו וימלא מקום השריטה כחול או דיו או שאר צבעונים הרושמים וזה היה מנהג העכו"ם שרושמין עצמן לעבודת כוכבים כלומר שהוא עבד מכור לה ומורשם לעבודתה ומעת שירשום באחד מדברים הרושמין אחר שישרוט באי זה מקום מן הגוף בין איש בין אשה לוקה כתב ולא רשם בצבע או שרשם בצבע ולא כתב בשריטה פטור עד שיכתוב ויקעקע שנאמר וכתובת קעקע בד"א בכותב אבל זה שכתבו בבשרו וקעקעו בו אינו חייב אלא אם כן סייע כדי שיעשה מעשה אבל אם לא עשה כלום אינו לוקה:
Commentary on Halachah 11
12
A person who gouges himself for the dead is lashed, as [Leviticus 19:28] states: "Do not gouge your flesh for the dead." This [prohibition] applies both to priests and to Israelites.
A person who makes a single gouge for five dead people or five gouges for a single dead person is [liable for] five measures of lashes, provided he is given a warning for each individual matter.
יב
השורט שריטה אחת על המת לוקה שנאמר ושרט לנפש לא תתנו בבשרכם אחד כהן ואחד ישראל שרט שריטה אחת על חמש מתים או חמש שריטות על מת אחד לוקה חמש והוא שהתרו בו על כל אחת ואחת:
Commentary on Halachah 12
13
Gashing and gouging oneself are [governed by] a single [prohibition]. Just as the pagans would gouge their flesh in grief over their dead, they would mutilate themselves for their idols, as [I Kings 18:28] states: "And they mutilated themselves according to their custom."
This is also forbidden by the Torah, as [Deuteronomy 14:1] states: "Do not mutilate yourselves." [The difference between the two is that if one gouges himself in grief over] the dead, whether he did so with his bare hands or with an instrument, he is [liable for] lashes; for the sake of idols, if one uses an instrument, one is liable for lashes. If one does so with one's bare hands, one is exempt.
יג
גדידה ושריטה אחת היא וכשם שהיו העכו"ם שורטים בבשרם על מתיהם מפני הצער כך היו חובלין בעצמם לעבודת כוכבים שנאמר ויתגודדו כמשפטם גם זה אסרה תורה שנאמר לא תתגודדו אלא שעל מת בין שרט בידו בין שרט בכלי לוקה לעבודת כוכבים בכלי חייב מלקות בידו פטור:
Commentary on Halachah 13
14
This commandment also includes [a prohibition] against there being two courts which follow different customs in a single city, since this can cause great strife. [Because of the similarity in the Hebrew roots,] the prohibition against gashing ourselves [can be interpreted] to mean: "Do not separate into various different groupings."
יד
ובכלל אזהרה זה שלא יהיו שני בתי דינין בעיר אחת זה נוהג כמנהג זה וזה נוהג כמנהג אחר שדבר זה גורם למחלוקות גדולות שנאמר לא תתגודדו לא תעשו אגודות אגודות:
Commentary on Halachah 14
15
A person who creates a bald spot [on his head] for a dead person is [liable for] lashes, as [Deuteronomy 14:1] states: "Do not make a bald spot between your eyes for a dead person." When either a priest or an Israelite makes a bald spot [on his head] for a dead person, he is [liable for] only a single measure of lashes.
A person who makes four or five bald spots for a single dead person is [liable for] a measure of lashes equivalent to the number of bald spots he made, provided he received a separate warning for each bald spot. There is no difference whether one created the bald spot with his hands or with a potion. If a person dipped his fingers into a potion and positioned them in five places on his head at the same time, since he created five bald spots, he is [liable for] five measures of lashes even though only a single warning was given, for they were all created at the same time.
One is liable [for creating a bald spot] on any part of the head, [not only] "between the eyes" [as is inferred from Leviticus 21:5]: "Do not make a bald spot on your heads."
What is the measure of a bald spot? An area on one's head the size of a gris which is free of hair.
טו
הקורח קרחה על המת לוקה שנאמר ולא תשימו קרחה בין עיניכם למת אחד ישראל ואחד כהן ששרט על המת אינו לוקה אלא אחת הקורח ארבע או חמש קרחות על מת אחד לוקה כמנין הקרחות והוא שהתרו בו על כל קרחה וקרחה אחד הקורח בידו או בסם או הטביל אצבעותיו בסם והניחם בחמשה מקומות בראשו בבת אחת הואיל וקרח חמש קרחות אף על פי שהיא התראה אחת לוקה חמש שהרי כולן באין כאחת וחייב על כל הראש כבין העינים שנאמר לא יקרחו קרחה בראשם וכמה שיעור הקרחה כדי שיראה מראשו כגריס פנוי בלי שיער:
Commentary on Halachah 15
16
16. A person who makes a bald spot on his head or gouges his flesh because his house falls or because his ship sinks at sea is exempt. One is lashed only [if he carries out these acts] for the sake of a deceased person or if he gashes his flesh for the sake of an idol.
[The following laws apply] when a person creates a bald spot on a colleague's head, makes a gash on a colleague's flesh, or tattoos his colleague's flesh while his colleague assists him. If they both intended to violate the prohibition, both receive lashes. If one violated the prohibition inadvertently and the other did so intentionally, the one who performed the act intentionally is [liable for] lashes, and his colleague is exempt.
טז
הקורח ראשו או השורט בבשרו על ביתו שנפל ועל ספינתו שנטבעה בים פטור ואינו לוקה אלא על המת בלבד או השורט לעבודת כוכבים הקורח קרחה בראשו של חבירו והשורט שריטה בבשר חבירו והכותב כתובת קעקע בבשרו של חבירו והיה חבירו מסייע בזמן ששניהן מזידין שניהן לוקין אחד שוגג ואחד מזיד המזיד משניהם לוקה והשוגג פטור:
Commentary on Halachah 16
Rambam:• 3 Chapters A Day: Eruvin Eruvin - Chapter Three, Eruvin Eruvin - Chapter Four, Eruvin Eruvin - Chapter Five
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Eruvin - Chapter Three
1
[The following rules apply when] there is a window between two courtyards: If the window is four handbreadths by four handbreadths1 or larger and it is within ten handbreadths of the ground - whether it is [almost] entirely above ten handbreadths and only a [small] portion is within ten handbreadths, or it is [almost] entirely within ten handbreadths and only a [small] portion is above ten handbreadths - [an option is granted to] the inhabitants of the courtyards.2
If they desire to join in a single eruv, they may. This causes [the entire area] to be considered a single courtyard, and carrying is permitted from one [courtyard] to the other.3 If they desire, they may make two eruvim, each for [the inhabitants of their respective courtyards]. [It is then forbidden] to carry from one courtyard to the other.]
If the windows are smaller than four [handbreadths by four handbreadths] or the entire window is above ten handbreadths from the ground,4 they may make two eruvim, each for [the inhabitants of the respective courtyard].
א
חלון שבין שתי חצירות אם יש בו ארבעה טפחים על ארבעה טפחים או יתר על זה והיה קרוב מן הארץ בתוך עשרה טפחים. אפילו כולו למעלה מעשרה ומקצתו בתוך עשרה או כולו בתוך עשרה ומקצתו למעלה מעשרה אם רצו יושבי שתי החצרות לערב כולן עירוב אחד הרשות בידן ויעשו כחצר אחת ויטלטלו מזו לזו. ואם רצו מערבין שני עירובין אלו לעצמן ואלו לעצמן. היה החלון פחות מארבעה או שהיה כולו למעלה מעשרה מערבין שני עירובין אלו לעצמן ואלו לעצמן:
2
When does the above apply? To a window between two courtyards. When, by contrast, the window lies between two houses,5 [they are permitted to make an eruv] even if the window is above ten handbreadths from the ground.6
Similarly, when there is a window between a house and a loft, if the inhabitants desire to establish a single eruv they may, even if there is not a ladder [leading to the window], provided [the window] is four [handbreadths] by four [handbreadths]. If the window is round and it can circumscribe a square that is four [handbreadths] by four [handbreadths], it is considered as if it were square.
ב
במה דברים אמורים בחלון שבין שתי חצירות אבל שבין שני בתים אפילו היה למעלה מעשרה. וכן חלון שבין בית לעליה אם רצו מערבין עירוב אחד אפילו שאין ביניהם סולם. והוא שיהיה בו ארבעה על ארבעה. היה חלון עגול אם יש בו כדי לרבע בו ארבעה על ארבעה הרי הוא כמרובע:
3
When there is a wall or a mound of hay that is less than ten handbreadths high7 between two courtyards, they must make a single eruv and may not make two eruvim. If [the wall or the mound] is ten or more handbreadths high, they must make two eruvim, each for the respective courtyard.
If there is a ladder8 on either side of the wall,9 it is considered to be an entrance, and if they desire, they may establish a single eruv. Even if the ladder is standing upright, next to the wall, and it is impossible to ascend it without moving its lower portion away from the wall, it permits [them to participate in a single eruv]. [Moreover,] even if the top of the ladder does not reach the top of the wall, if there are less than three handbreadths between them,10 it permits them to participate in a single eruv if they desire.
ג
כותל שבין שתי חצרות או מתבן שבין שתי חצרות פחות מעשרה טפחים מערבין עירוב אחד ואין מערבין שנים. היה גבוה עשרה או יתר על כן מערבין שני עירובין אלו לעצמן ואלו לעצמן. ואם היה ביניהם סולם מכאן וסולם מכאן הרי הן כפתח. ואם רצו מערבין אחד. ואפילו היה הסולם זקוף וסמוך לכותל שהרי אין יכולין לעלות בו עד שימשך ויתרחק מתחתיו מן הכותל הרי זה מתיר. ואפילו לא היה מגיע ראש הסולם לראש הכותל אם נשאר ביניהן פחות משלשה הרי זה מתיר ומערבין אחד אם רצו:
4
If the wall is four [handbreadths] wide and a ladder is positioned on either side of the wall, they may make a single eruv, if they desire.11 If the wall is not four [handbreadths] wide, and there are less than three handbreadths between the [two] ladders, they may make a single eruv.12 If there are more than three handbreadths between [the ladders], they must make two eruvim.13
ד
היה הכותל רחב ארבעה ועשו סולם מכאן וסולם מכאן אף על פי שהסולמות מרוחקים זה מזה אם רצו מערבין אחד. אין ברוחב הכותל ארבעה אם אין בין הסולמות שלשה מערבין אחד. היה ביניהם שלשה מערבין שנים:
5
[The following rules apply when] one builds a bench14 above a bench at the side of a wall [separating two courtyards]: If the lower bench is four handbreadths [high], [we consider it as if the height of the wall] were reduced.15 If the lower [bench] is not four handbreadths [high], but there are less than three handbreadths between it and the upper [bench], [we consider it as if the height of the wall] were reduced.
[In such situations,] if [the inhabitants of the courtyards] desire, they may make a single eruv. Similar [principles apply] regarding wooden steps placed close to a wall.
ה
בנה מצבה על גבי מצבה בצד הכותל. אם יש בתחתונה ארבעה ממעט. אין בתחתונה ארבעה ואין בינה לבין העליונה שלשה ממעט. ואם רצו מערבין אחד. וכן במדרגות של עץ שסמכן לכותל:
6
[The following rules apply when] there is a high wall separating two courtyards, and a projection16 protrudes from the middle of the wall: If less than ten cubits remain from the projection to the top of the wall, one may lean a ladder in front of the projection,17 and [this grants the inhabitants] the option of making a single eruv. If, however, one stands the ladder [against the wall] at the side of the projection, [we do] not [consider it as if the height of the wall were] reduced.18
If the wall is nineteen handbreadths high, [it is sufficient] to have a projection protrude for the inhabitants to have the option of making a single eruv. For there are less than ten handbreadths from the earth to the projection, and less than ten handbreadths from the projection to the top of the wall.19
Were the wall to be twenty handbreadths high, two projections are required for the inhabitants to have the option of establishing a single eruv. [Moreover, the projections] may not be parallel to each other:20 [In this way,] there will be less than ten handbreadths between the lower projection and the ground, and less than ten handbreadths between the upper projection and the top of the wall.
ו
כותל גבוה שבין שתי חצרות וזיז יוצא באמצעיתו אם נשאר מן הזיז עד ראש הכותל פחות מעשרה מניח סולם לפני הזיז ומערבין אחד אם רצו. אבל אם הניח הסולם בצד הזיז אינו ממעט. היה הכותל גבוה תשעה עשר טפחים מוציא זיז אחד באמצע ומערבין אחד אם רצו שהרי מן הזיז עד הארץ פחות מעשרה ומן הזיז העליון עד ראש הכותל פחות מעשרה. היה הכותל גבוה עשרים טפחים צריך שני זיזין זה שלא כנגד זה. עד שיהיה בין הזיז התחתון ובין הארץ פחות מעשרה ובין הזיז העליון ובין ראש הכותל פחות מעשרה. ומערבין אחד אם רצו:
7
If a date palm is chopped down and inclined from the earth to the top of a wall, the inhabitants have the option of establishing a single eruv.21 It is not necessary for them to make it a permanent part of the structure. Similarly, the [very] weight of a ladder22 causes it to be considered as having been placed permanently; it is not necessary to affix it to the structure.
If [the divider] separating two courtyards is made of straw,23 [the inhabitants] may not make a single eruv although there are ladders on either side. A person will not ascend the ladder, because nothing is supporting it.24 If the ladders are in the center, [leaning on a firm support,] and there is straw on either side, [the inhabitants] have the option of making two eruvim.25
ז
דקל שחתכו וסמכו על ראש הכותל ועל הארץ מערבין אחד אם רצו ואינו צריך לקבעו בבנין. וכן הסולם כובדו קובעו ואינו צריך לחברו בבנין. היו קשין מבדילין בין שתי החצרות וסולם מכאן וסולם מכאן אין מערבין אחד שהרי אין כף הרגל עולה בסולם לפי שאין לו על מה שיסמוך. היה סולם באמצע וקשין מכאן וקשין מכאן אם רצו מערבין שנים:
8
When there is a tree at the side of the wall, and it was used as a ladder for the wall, [the inhabitants] have the option of making a single eruv. [Although] it is forbidden to ascend a tree [on the Sabbath], since the prohibition is only a sh'vut,26 [this does not cause the option to be denied].27
If an asherah28 has been made to serve as a ladder for a wall, [the inhabitants do] not [have the option of] making a single eruv. For ascending [the asherah] is forbidden by the Torah, since one is forbidden to derive any benefit from it.29
ח
היה אילן בצד הכותל ועשהו סולם לכותל. אם רצו מערבין אחד הואיל ואיסור שבות הוא שגרם לו שלא יעלה באילן. עשה אשרה סולם לכותל אין מערבין אחד מפני שאסור לעלות עליה מן התורה שהרי היא אסורה בהנייה:
9
[The following rules apply when] a wall is ten handbreadths high, and [the inhabitants] desire [to tear down a portion of the wall] to reduce itsheight so that they will be able to establish a single eruv. They have the option of establishing a single eruv, provided the portion whose height they reduce is [at least] four handbreadths long.30
If [the inhabitants of one of the adjoining courtyards] tear down a portion [of their side] of the wall so that it is less than ten [handbreadths high], they are granted [permission to use] the shorter portion of the wall.31 The remainder of the wall that is high is divided between [the inhabitants of] both courtyards.
ט
כותל שגבוה עשרה ובא למעטו כדי לערב עירוב אחד אם יש באורך המיעוט ארבעה טפחים מערבין אחד. סתר מקצת הכותל עד שנתמעט מעשרה, צדו הקצר נותנין אותו לחצר זו ושאר הכותל הגבוה לבין שתי החצרות:
10
[The following rules apply when] a high wall between [two] courtyards is breached: If the breach is ten cubits [wide] or less, they [still may] establish two eruvin.32 They do, however, have the option of establishing a single eruv, because [the breach] can be considered to be an opening. If [the breach] is more than ten [cubits wide], their only option is to establish a single eruv; they may not establish two eruvin.33
י
נפרץ הכותל הגבוה שביניהן. אם היתה הפרצה עד עשר אמות מערבין שני עירובין. ואם רצו מערבין אחד מפני שהיא כפתח. היתה יתר מעשרה מערבין עירוב אחד ואין מערבין שני עירובין:
11
If the breach is less than ten [cubits wide], and one [desires to] make it more than ten cubits, it is necessary to hollow out34a portion of the wall ten handbreadths high.35 [When this is done, the only option remaining is to] establish a single eruv.
At the outset, if one desires to open a breach larger than ten [cubits] in the wall, it is necessary that the height of the breach be equivalent to that of [an ordinary] person.36
יא
היתה הפרצה פחותה מעשר ובא להשלימה ליתר מעשר חוקק בכותל גובה עשרה טפחים ומערבין עירוב אחד. ואם בא לפרוץ לכתחלה פרצה יתר מעשר בכל הכותל צריך להיות גובה הפרצה מלא קומתו:
12
When there is a trench at least ten handbreadths deep and at least four handbreadths wide between two courtyards, it is necessary for [the inhabitants] to establish two eruvin.37 If its dimensions are less than this, [the inhabitants] must establish a single eruv; [they] do not [have the option of] establishing two eruvin.38
If the depth of the trench is reduced by [adding] earth or pebbles, [the inhabitants] must establish a single eruv; [they] do not [have the option of] establishing two eruvin.39 For it can be assumed that the earth and the stones were intended to become a permanent part of the trench.40 If, by contrast, one reduced [the depth of the trench] by adding straw or hay, the reduction is not [significant] unless one intends41 that they become a permanent part [of the trench].
יב
חריץ שבין שתי חצירות עמוק עשרה ורחב ארבעה או יתר מערבין שני עירובין. פחות מכאן מערבין אחד ואין מערבין שנים. ואם מיעט עומקו בעפר או בצרורות מערבין אחד ואין מערבין שנים שסתם עפר וצרורות בחריץ מבוטלין הן. אבל אם מלאהו תבן או קש אין ממעטין עד שיבטל:
13
Similarly, if one reduces the width [of the trench] with a board or with reeds42 by placing them across the entire length of the trench, [the inhabitants] must establish a single eruv; [they] do not [have the option of] establishing two eruvin.
Any entity that may be carried on the Sabbath43 - e.g., a basket or a cup - is not considered to reduce its depth, unless one affixes it to the earth [firmly], in such a manner that one must dig with a spade to dislodge it.
יג
וכן אם מיעט רחבו בלוח או בקנה שהושיטו באורך כל החריץ מערבין אחד ואין מערבין שנים. וכל הדבר הניטל בשבת כגון הסל והספל אין ממעטין בו אלא אם כן חיברו בארץ חבור שאי אפשר לשומטו עד שיחפור בדקר:
14
When one places a board that is [at least] four handbreadths wide across the trench, [the board is considered to be an entrance]. [Therefore, the inhabitants] may establish a single eruv. They also have the option of establishing two eruvin.
Similar [rules apply when] two balconies are positioned opposite each other [across the public domain], and a board is extended from one balcony to the other.44 [The inhabitants] may establish a single eruv. They also have the option of establishing two eruvin, each one for his own balcony.
If the two balconies are on the same side [of the public domain], but are not at the same height - instead, one is higher than the other [the following rules apply]: If they are within three handbreadths of each other, they are considered to be a single balcony45 and [the inhabitants] may establish only a single eruv. If they are more than three [handbreadths] apart, they must establish two eruvin,46 each one for his own balcony.
יד
נתן לוח שרחב ארבעה טפחים על רוחב החריץ מערבין אחד ואם רצו מערבין שני עירובין. וכן שתי גזוזטראות זו כנגד זו אם הושיט לוח שרחב ארבעה טפחים מזו לזו מערבין עירוב אחד. ואם רצו מערבין שני עירובין אלו לעצמן ואלו לעצמן. היו זו בצד זו ואינן בשוה אלא אחת למעלה מחברתה אם יש ביניהן פחות משלשה טפחים הרי הן ככצוצטרא אחת ומערבין אחת. ואם יש ביניהם שלשה או יתר מערבין שנים אלו לעצמן ואלו לעצמן:
15
[The following rule applies when] between two courtyards, there is a wall four handbreadths wide,47 which is ten handbreadths high from one courtyard, and at ground level48 at the second courtyard: The width of the wall is granted to the inhabitants of the courtyard at which it is at ground level, and it is considered to be an extension of their courtyard. [The rationale is] that since it is easily accessible to the inhabitants [of this courtyard], and more difficult to use for [the inhabitants of the other], it is granted to those for whom it is easily accessible.
Similarly, if there is a trench between the two courtyards that is ten handbreadths deep for the courtyard on one side and at ground level for the courtyard on the other side, the width of the trench is granted to the inhabitants of the courtyard at which it is at ground level. [The rationale is] that since it is easily accessible to the inhabitants [of this courtyard], and more difficult to use for [the inhabitants of the other], it is granted to those for whom it is easily accessible.
טו
כותל שבין שתי חצרות שהוא רחב ארבעה והיה גבוה עשרה טפחים מחצר זו ושוה לקרקע חצר שניה נותנין רחבו לבני החצר שהוא שוה להן ויחשב מחצרן. הואיל ותשמישו בנחת לאלו ותשמישו בקשה לאלו נותנין אותו לאלו שתשמישו להן בנחת. וכן חריץ שבין שתי חצירות עמוק עשרה טפחים מצד חצר זו ושוה לקרקע חצר שניה נותנין רוחבו לחצר שהיא שוה לה. מפני שתשמישו נחת לזה וקשה לזה נותנין אותו לאלו שתשמישו להן בנחת:
16
[The following rules apply when] there is a wall between two courtyards that is lower than the upper courtyard, but higher than the lower courtyard:49 [During the week,] the inhabitants of the upper courtyard may make use of the breadth of the wall by lowering articles to it, and the inhabitants of the lower courtyard may make use of it by throwing articles onto it.
On the Sabbath, the inhabitants of both courtyards are forbidden to use the wall unless they establish a single eruv. If they do not establish an eruv, it is forbidden to bring articles that were left on the breadth of this wall into the homes,50 nor may one bring articles from the homes to the breadth of the wall.
טז
היה הכותל שבין שתי החצירות נמוך מחצר העליונה וגבוה מחצר התחתונה שנמצאו בני העליונה משתמשין בעביו על ידי שלשול ובני התחתונה משתמשין בעביו ע"י זריקה שניהן אסורין בו עד שיערבו שתיהן עירוב אחד. אבל אם לא עירבו אין מכניסין מעובי כותל זו לבתים ואין מוציאין מהבתים לעביו:
17
[The following rules apply when there is] a ruin that is a private domain between two houses: If [the inhabitants of] both houses can use the ruin by throwing objects into it,51 each one causes the other to be forbidden to use it [unless they establish an eruv].
If it is easy for [the inhabitants of] one [of the houses] to use [the ruin], while [the inhabitants of] the other may not throw articles into it [easily], because it is deeper than [their domain], it is granted to those who can use it [more] easily.52 They may use it by throwing articles into it.
יז
שני בתים שביניהן חורבה שהיא רשות היחיד אם יכולין שניהם להשתמש בחורבה ע"י זריקה אוסרין זה על זה. ואם היה תשמישה לזה בנחת והאחר אינו יכול לזרוק לה מפני שהיא עמוקה ממנה הרי זה שהיא לו בנחת משתמש בה ע"י זריקה:
18
All the following are considered to be [parts of] a single private domain:53 all the roofs of the city - despite the fact that some are high and some are low - all the courtyards, all the enclosures that were enclosed for purposes other than dwelling and are each less in area than that required to sow two se'ah,54 the breadths of all the walls, and all the lanes [in which one may carry because] either a post or a beam has been erected.
One may carry articles left in one [of these areas] at the commencement of the Sabbath to another without an eruv. One may not, however, transfer articles left in the homes to these areas unless an eruv is made.
יח
כל גגות העיר אע"פ שזה גבוה וזה נמוך עם כל החצרות ועם כל הקרפיפות שהוקפו שלא לשם דירה שאין בכל אחד מהן יתר על בית סאתים עם עובי הכתלים שבין החצרות עם המבואות שיש להן לחי או קורה כולן רשות אחת הן ומטלטלין בכולן בלא עירוב כלים ששבתו בתוכן. אבל לא כלים ששבתו בתוך הבית אלא אם כן עירבו:
19
What is implied? When an article was left in a courtyard at the commencement of the Sabbath, whether the inhabitants of the courtyards established an eruv for themselves or whether they failed to do so, it is permitted to take the article from the courtyard to the roof or to the top of the wall. Afterwards, it may be taken from the roof to another roof adjacent to it, even if [the second roof] is higher or lower than it.
From the second roof, it may be taken to another courtyard, and from the other courtyard to a third roof in a third courtyard. From this courtyard, it may be taken to a lane, and from the lane to a fourth roof. Indeed, one may carry throughout the entire city through the courtyards and roofs, through the enclosed areas and roofs, or through the courtyards and the enclosed areas, or through [any combination] of these three types of areas, provided one does not bring this article into any of the houses [in the city].55 [The latter is forbidden] unless all [the inhabitants of] these different areas join together in a single eruv.
יט
כיצד כלי ששבת בתוך החצר בין עירבו אנשי החצר בין לא עירבו מותר להעלותו מן החצר לגג או לראש הכותל. ומן הגג לגג אחר הסמוך לו אפילו היה גבוה ממנו כל שהוא או נמוך. ומן הגג האחר לחצר שניה ומחצר שניה לגג שלישי של חצר שלישית. ומגג שלישי למבוי. ומן המבוי לגג רביעי עד שיעבירנו כל המדינה כולה דרך גגות וחצרות או דרך גגות וקרפיפות או דרך חצרות וקרפיפות או דרך שלשתן מזה לזה ומזה לזה. ובלבד שלא יכנס בכלי זה לבית מן הבתים אלא אם כן עירבו אנשי כל המקומות האלו עירוב אחד:
20
[Conversely,] if an article was located in a house at the beginning of the Sabbath, and it was later taken out to a courtyard,56 it may not be taken to another courtyard, to another roof, to the top of a wall, or to an enclosed area unless the inhabitants of all the areas through which the article passes join together in a single eruv.
כ
וכן אם שבת הכלי בבית והוציאו לחצר לא יעבירנו לחצר אחרת או לגג אחר או לראש הכותל או לקרפף אלא אם כן עירבו אנשי כל המקומות שמעבירין בהן כלי זה עירוב אחד:
21
When a cistern is located between two courtyards,57 it is forbidden to draw water from it on the Sabbath unless a partition ten handbreadths high has been erected58 so that everyone would be drawing water from his own property.
Where should the partition be erected? If the partition is above the water, it is necessary that at least one handbreadth of the partition descend into the water.59 If the partition was constructed within the water, it must project a handbreadth outside the water, so that one domain will be distinct from the other.
כא
בור שבין שתי חצרות אין ממלאין ממנו בשבת אלא אם כן עשו לו מחיצה גבוהה עשרה טפחים כדי שיהיה כל אחד דולה מרשותו. והיכן מעמידין את המחיצה. אם היתה למעלה מן המים צריך שיהיה טפח מן המחיצה יורד בתוך המים. ואם היתה המחיצה כולה בתוך המים צריך שיהיה טפח ממנה יוצא למעלה מן המים כדי שתהיה ניכרת רשות זה מרשות זה:
22
Similarly, if a beam four handbreadths wide60 has been placed over the mouth of the cistern, one may fill [his bucket] from this side of the beam, and the other may fill [his bucket] from the other side of the beam. Although the water is not divided below [the beam], it is considered as if one portion [of the cistern] were separated from the other. This is a leniency enacted by the Sages with regard to water.
כב
וכן אם עשו על פי הבור קורה רחבו ארבעה טפחים זה ממלא מצד הקורה וזה ממלא מצדה האחר וכאילו הבדילה חלק זה מחלק זה אף על פי שהמים מעורבין מלמטה קל הוא שהקלו חכמים במים:
23
When a well lies in the midst of a path61 between the walls of two courtyards, [the inhabitants of] both courtyards may draw water from it; there is no necessity for them to extend projections to the well.62 [This ruling applies] even though the well is more than four handbreadths from each of the walls. [The rationale is] that [the presence of] a colleague's [domain] does not cause a person to be forbidden to carry [when he is lifting an entity] through the air.63
כג
באר שבאמצע השביל בין שני כתלי חצרות אע"פ שהיא מופלגת מכותל זה ארבעה טפחים ומכותל זה ארבעה טפחים שניהם ממלאין ממנה ואין צריכין להוציא זיזין על גבה שאין אדם אוסר על חבירו דרך אויר:
24
[The following rules apply when the wall of] a small courtyard is broken down, opening [the courtyard] entirely to a large courtyard before the commencement of the Sabbath:64 The inhabitants of the large courtyard may establish an eruv for themselves and they are permitted to carry, for portions of their wall still remain [standing] on each side.65
The inhabitants of the small courtyard, by contrast, are forbidden to remove articles from their homes to the courtyard until they establish a single eruv together with the inhabitants of the larger courtyard. [The governing principle is that] the dwellings of the larger courtyard are considered to be [part of] the smaller courtyard, while the dwellings of the smaller courtyard are not considered to be [part of] the larger courtyard.66
כד
חצר קטנה שנפרצה במלואה לחצר גדולה מבעוד יום. אנשי גדולה מערבין לעצמן ומותרים שהרי נשאר להן פצימין מכאן ומכאן. ואנשי קטנה אסורין להוציא מבתיהן לחצר שלהן עד שיערבו עם בני הגדולה עירוב אחד. שדיורין של גדולה חשובין כקטנה ואין דיורי קטנה חשובין כגדולה:
25
When two courtyards have established a single eruv together through a shared opening or window, and that opening or window was closed on the Sabbath,67 [the inhabitants of] each of the courtyards may carry within [their own courtyard].68 Since [carrying] was permitted for a portion of the Sabbath, it is permitted for the entire Sabbath.
Similarly, if [the inhabitants of] two courtyards have each established a separate eruv and the wall between them fell on the Sabbath, [the inhabitants of each courtyard] are still permitted [to carry] within their original area.69 They may each take articles from their homes and carry them to the point where they could originally.
[The rationale is that] since [carrying] was permitted for a portion of the Sabbath, it is permitted for the entire Sabbath.70 Although the number of people [within the courtyard] was increased, an increase of people on the Sabbath itself does not cause carrying to be forbidden.
[In the instance mentioned in the first clause, if after the opening or window was closed on the Sabbath,]71 the window was opened inadvertently, or an entrance was made, or gentiles made [an opening] on their own volition, it is again permitted [to carry from one to the other].
Similarly, if two ships were tied to each other and an eruv was established between them, it becomes forbidden to carry from one to the other if the connection between them is severed.72 [This ruling applies] even if they are surrounded by a partition. If the connection was reestablished inadvertently, it is again permitted [to carry from one to the other].
כה
שתי חצרות שעירבו עירוב אחד דרך הפתח שביניהן או דרך החלון ונסתם הפתח או החלון בשבת כל אחת ואחת מותרת לעצמה הואיל והותרה מקצת שבת הותרה כולה. וכן שתי חצירות שעירבה זו לעצמה וזו לעצמה ונפל הכותל שביניהן בשבת אלו מותרים לעצמן ומוציאין מבתיהן ומטלטלין עד עיקר המחיצה ואלו מטלטלין כן עד עיקר המחיצה הואיל והותרה מקצת שבת הותרה כולה. ואף על פי שנתוספו הדיורין שהדיורין הבאין בשבת אינן אוסרין. נפתח החלון ונעשה הפתח בשגגה או שעשו נכרים לדעתן חזרו להיתרן. וכן שתי ספינות שהיו קשורות זו בזו ועירבו ונפסקו אסור לטלטל מזו לזו ואפילו היה מוקפות מחיצה. חזרו ונקשרו בשוגג חזרו להיתרן
FOOTNOTES
1.As reflected by the Rambam's ruling, Hilchot Tum'at Meit 7:1, this is the minimum size that a human being can squeeze through. For this reason, it is necessary that it be at least four handbreadths on each side; a total area of 16 square handbreadths is not sufficient (Shulchan Aruch HaRav 372:5; Mishnah Berurah 372:30). (See also the following halachah.)
2.Since the window is of sufficient size and it is close to the ground, the inhabitants of the courtyards are granted the option of considering it an entrance. If this option is taken, it causes the two courtyards to be considered a single entity.
3.The Mishnah Berurah 372:27 emphasizes that this ruling applies only when the courtyards did not join together in a shituf to permit carrying in the entire lane.
4.The window cannot be considered to be an entrance. Hence, the courtyards are considered to be separate.
5.This refers to an instance when an eruv was not established in the courtyard. Were that the case, it would be possible to transfer articles from house to house through the window, even without a separate eruv.
6.Eruvin 76b explains that a house is considered as if it is full, and thus it is as if there were less than ten handbreadths between the window and the ground.
7.A divider that is less than ten handbreadths high is not significant. Therefore, the entire area is considered to be a single domain, and all the inhabitants must join in one eruv.
8.The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 372:8) states that the ladder must be at least four handbreadths wide and have four rungs. The commentaries question why the Rambam does not include these restrictions.
9.How close the ladders must be to each other is explained in the following halachah.
10.Based on the principle of l'vud, when there is a distance of less than three handbreadths between two entities, it is considered as though they were adjacent.
11.Since the wall is more than four handbreadths wide, it is possible to walk from one ladder to the other ladder on the wall.
12.Based on the principle of l'vud, it is considered as though the ladders were adjacent.
13.Because the ladders are distant from each other, the two courtyards are considered to be separate entities.
14.Our translation is based on Eruvin 77b, the apparent source for the halachah.
15.Since one can climb over the wall easily by ascending onto the bench, the wall is no longer considered an absolute division between the courtyards, and it is possible to establish an eruv, joining both courtyards.
This is the conception of the Rambam. The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 372:9,11) follows the view of Rabbenu Asher which is more stringent and which maintains that a bench does not create the option of fusing the two courtyards into a single entity. The only leniency which is permitted is that the inhabitants of the courtyard where the bench is located may use the top of the wall.
16.The projection must be at least four handbreadths by four handbreadths (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 372:12).
17.In this way, the inhabitants can easily cross over the wall by climbing from the ground to the projection and from the projection to the top of the wall.
18.When the ladder is leaning on the projection, they are considered to be a single unit. When, by contrast, the ladder is leaning against the wall, even if it is in within three handbreadths of the projection, they are not considered to be a single unit (Shulchan Aruch HaRav 372:15; Mishnah Berurah 372:98-99).
19.Thus, they can climb over the wall easily in this fashion.
20.In this way, a ladder can be extended from one projection to another. Also, these projections must lie within ten handbreadths of each other. Thus, the people can climb from the earth to the first projection, from the first projection to the second, and from the second to the top of the wall.
In this instance as well, the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 372:12) follows the view of Rabbenu Asher which is more stringent and which maintains that the projections do not create the option of fusing the two courtyards into a single entity. The only leniency which is permitted is that the inhabitants of the courtyard where the projections are located may use the top of the wall.
21.I.e., the date palm is considered to be a ladder, enabling people to climb across the wall.
22.The Maggid Mishneh notes that Eruvin 78a mentions a Babylonian ladder, for these ladders were large and heavy. The Maggid Mishneh explains that this concept is intimated by the Rambam's words "the [very] weight of the ladder...." These rules do not apply to a light ladder that is easily carried from place to place.
23.Our additions to the text are based on the commentary of the Meiri on Eruvin, loc. cit. A similar approach is also reflected in the gloss of the Maggid Mishneh on this halachah. Rashi offers a different interpretation of that Talmudic passage, and his understanding is quoted in the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 372:13).
24.I.e., the straw divider will not support the weight of a person climbing on the ladder.
25.They also have the option of establishing a single eruv, if they so desire. Certain commentaries suggest amending the text of the Mishneh Torah to include this concept.
26.As the Rambam explains in Hilchot Shabbat 21:1, the Sages specified certain activities as forbidden as a safeguard to the observance of the Sabbath prohibitions. Each of the forbidden activities is referred to as a sh'vut. See also Hilchot Shabbat 21:6 which prohibits climbing trees.
27.For when a mitzvah is involved, we are not bound by the prohibitions in the category of sh'vut during beyn hash'mashot (Hilchot Shabbat 24:10), and that is when the eruv takes effect (Chapter 1, Halachah 21). Since the eruv was acceptable beyn hash'mashot, it is acceptable for the entire Sabbath (Shulchan Aruch HaRav 372:18).
28.A tree that is worshiped. The Torah prohibits deriving any benefit from such a tree. See Exodus 34:13; Deuteronomy 7:5 and 12:3; Hilchot Avodat Kochavim 8:3.
29.The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 372:15) notes that Rabbenu Asher (in his gloss on Eruvin 78b) reverses the rulings and permits the establishment of a single eruv if an asherah is used as a ladder, but not if an ordinary tree is used for that purpose. The later authorities (Shulchan Aruch HaRav, loc. cit.; Mishnah Berurah 372:116) favor the Rambam's interpretation.
30.If the portion of the wall that was torn down is at least four handbreadths wide, it can be considered to be an opening.
31.The interpretation of the passage in Eruvin 77a, the source for this halachah, is a matter of dispute among the commentaries. Our translation is based on the Lechem Mishneh's gloss on the Mishneh Torah.
32.For the breach is not large enough to nullify the importance of the entire divider, provided the entire wall has not been destroyed.
33.An opening of that size causes the entire divider to be considered as having no significance. It is as if there were only one courtyard. (See Hilchot Shabbat 16:16.)
34.This represents the Rambam's interpretation of Eruvin 78b. The Ra'avad and others conceive of this passage in a different light. It is their view that is cited in the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 372:14).
35.This is sufficient, even though there is a portion of the wall that is higher than ten handbreadths.
36.Our translation is based on the commentary of the Maggid Mishneh. Others explain this to mean the full height of the wall.
Making a breach of this height indicates that one desires to pass freely from one courtyard to another. If the breach is not this high, one might think that the opening was made solely for the purpose of transferring articles (Maggid Mishneh).
37.For a trench of this size is not easy to cross and hence is considered to be a divider, and each of the courtyards a distinct entity. (See Hilchot Shabbat 14:23.)
38.A trench of this size can be crossed easily. Therefore, the entire area is considered to be a single courtyard.
39.This refers to a situation in which the depth of the trench is reduced across its entire length. If one reduces the portion in one area alone, that portion is considered to be an entrance from one courtyard to the other, and the inhabitants have the option of establishing either one or two eruvin (Mishnah Berurah 372:122).
40.Inside a dwelling, by contrast, different concepts apply. (See Hilchot Sukkah 4:13. Note, however, Hilchot Tum'at Meit 7:6.)
41.According to Shulchan Aruch HaRav 372:19, one must make an explicit statement, specifying one's intent. The Mishnah Berurah 372:121 cites that view, but also quotes an opinion that maintains that it is sufficient to have such thoughts in one's heart.
42.The width of the board or the reeds themselves is not significant; what is important is that they cause the width of the trench to be reduced (Maggid Mishneh).
43.I.e., which is not forbidden to be carried, because of the prohibitions of muktzeh.
44.Based on the rulings of the Rashba, the Maggid Mishneh states that the same rules apply if there are less than four handbreadths between the two balconies, for it is easy to step from one balcony to the other as mentioned in Halachah 12. The Maggid Mishneh allows only one eruv to be established. The Ramah (Orach Chayim 373:1) gives the people the option of establishing one or two.
45.Because of the principle of l'vud.
46.They do not have the option of extending a board from one balcony to the other, because: a) as stated in Hilchot Shabbat 16:20, an entrance is not made in a corner; b) since the balconies are at different heights, a person will be afraid to walk from one to the other.
47.If it is less than four handbreadths wide, it is a makom patur, and may be used freely by the inhabitants of both courtyards, as stated in Hilchot Shabbat 14:7.
48.Rashi (Eruvin 77a), the Maggid Mishneh, and the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 372:6) explain that this does not mean precisely ground level, but rather less than ten handbreadths high. Similar concepts apply regarding the trench mentioned in the second clause of the halachah.
49.This describes a situation in which both courtyards are situated on an incline.
50.The inhabitants of both courtyards may, however, transfer articles that had been left in their courtyards to the wall as reflected by Halachot 18 and 19 (Maggid Mishneh).
51.I.e., there is not an entrance on either side of the ruin, but the inhabitants can throw articles into the ruin through its windows.
52.This follows the principle stated in Halachah 15. The inhabitants of the other house may not use the ruin at all unless they establish an eruv.
53.Our Sages decreed that although a walled city is a private domain, an eruv is necessary before one may carry freely within. They, nevertheless, restricted the scope of that decree to carrying articles from the houses outside, and from the areas outside the houses to the houses. The rationale for this leniency is that one does not usually leave articles outside. Hence, the Sages did not include this possibility in their original decree (Rashi, Eruvin 89a).
54.See Hilchot Shabbat 16:1 for more particulars.
55.Eruvin 91a gives several examples of how these principles were applied by the Sages.
56.The rule that follows applies even when an eruv was established in this particular courtyard, and it was permitted to bring the article there from the house.
57.Which did not establish an eruv together. Note the accompanying diagram.
58.Separating a portion of the cistern for each individual courtyard. Although there is no prohibition from the Torah against drawing water from such a cistern, the Sages forbade using the cistern, just as they forbade using other property that is jointly owned.
59.A partition that is suspended in the air is not normally acceptable. In this instance, however, additional leniency is granted, because the entire concept of forbidding carrying within water is Rabbinic in origin. (See also Hilchot Shabbat 15:13.)
60.This width is required so that one person will not be drawing water from his colleague's side of the cistern. Eruvin 86b states that the Sages estimated that a bucket would not travel more than four handbreadths under water.
61.The Maggid Mishneh notes that the word "path" implies a private walk and not a public thoroughfare. See Hilchot Shabbat 15:9. With this, he counters the objections of the Ra'avad, who maintains that it is necessary for the well to be surrounded by a partition ten handbreadths high in order to draw water from it.
62.See Hilchot Shabbat 15:14, where such projections are required.
63.I.e., the inhabitants are not carrying the water from the well, but lifting it up through windows that open to the path.
Some commentaries interpret the Rambam's wording as extending the application of this ruling even to an instance where there is an opening from the courtyards to the path. Other authorities (Rashba, as quoted by the Maggid Mishneh; Tur, Orach Chayim 376), by contrast, maintain that if there are entrances from the courtyards to the path, a projection is required. The difference between these two approaches is reflected in the rulings of the Shulchan Aruch and the Ramah (Orach Chayim 376:2).
64.If, however, the wall is broken on the Sabbath itself, the inhabitants of the smaller courtyard may continue to carry since they were permitted to do so at the commencement of the Sabbath (the Rambam's Commentary on the Mishnah, Eruvin 9:2).
65.The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 374:3) states that portions of the wall of the small courtyard must jut into the large courtyard. If that is not the case, it is permitted to carry in the small courtyard as well. From the Rambam's wording and the drawings attributed to him that accompany his Commentary on the Mishnah (Eruvin 9:2), it does not appear that he considers this to be a necessity.
66.See also similar statements in Hilchot Tefillah 8:7 and Hilchot Kilayim 7:19.
67.This refers to a situation in which the window or the opening was buried under an avalanche or the like and could not be opened without violating the Sabbath laws (Rashi, Eruvin 93b).
68.The Ra'avad extends the leniency even further and maintains that the inhabitants of the courtyards may also pass articles from one courtyard to the other - e.g., by passing them over the wall. His opinion is cited by the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 374:1).
69.We do not say that the entire area should now be considered a single courtyard, and since an eruv was not established before the Sabbath, carrying is forbidden.
70.When citing this law, the Shulchan Aruch (loc. cit.:2) makes a point of emphasizing that if the wall between a courtyard and a public domain or a carmelit falls on the Sabbath, carrying is no longer permitted within the courtyard.
71.In this instance, as well, the Shulchan Aruch (loc. cit.:1) mentions a further leniency. If an eruv has been established for an entire year between two courtyards, the opening between them was closed during the week (and thus at the commencement of the Sabbath it was not permitted to carry from one to the other), if an opening were made on the Sabbath, it would be permitted to carry from one to the other.
72.The Rambam's ruling is based on his interpretation of Eruvin 101b. Other authorities have different conceptions of that Talmudic passage.
Eruvin - Chapter Four
1
When the inhabitants of a courtyard eat at the same table1 - even though they have their own individual dwellings - they are not required to establish an eruv; they are considered to be the inhabitants of a single household.
Just as the presence of a person's wife, the members of his household, or his servants does not cause him to be forbidden [to carry], nor does their presence make an eruv necessary, so too, these individuals are considered to be the members of a single household, for they all eat at the same table.2
א
אנשי חצר שהיו כולם אוכלין על שולחן אחד אף על פי שכל אחד ואחד יש לו בית בפני עצמו אין צריכין עירוב מפני שהן כאנשי בית אחד. וכשם שאין אשתו של אדם ובני ביתו ועבדיו אוסרין עליו ואינו צריך לערב עמהן כך אלו כאנשי בית אחד הן מפני שהן כולן סומכין על שולחן אחד:
2
Similarly, if [the inhabitants of this courtyard] must establish an eruv together with the inhabitants of another courtyard, they are required to bring only one loaf to the place where the eruv is established.3
Similarly, if the eruv is established in their [house], they do not have to contribute to the eruv, just as the house in which an eruv is placed does not have to contribute a loaf of bread. [The rationale for both these laws is] that all these dwellings are considered to be a single dwelling.
ב
וכן אם הוצרכו לעשות עירוב עם אנשי חצר אחרת עירוב אחד לכולן ופת אחת בלבד מוליכין לאותו מקום שמערבין עמו. ואם היה העירוב בא אצלן אינן צריכין לערב כמו הבית שמניחין בו העירוב שאינו צריך ליתן את הפת שכל אלו הבתים כבית אחד הן חשובין:
3
Similarly, the inhabitants of a courtyard who established an eruv together are considered to be [the members of] a single household.4 If it is necessary for them to establish an eruv together with the inhabitants of another courtyard, they are required to bring only one loaf to the place where the eruv is established. Similarly, if the eruv is established in their [house], they do not have to contribute a loaf of bread.
ג
וכן אנשי חצר שעירבו נעשו כולן כבית אחד. ואם הוצרכו לערב עם חצר שניה ככר אחד בלבד הוא שמוליכין על ידי כולן למקום שמערבין בו. ואם היה העירוב בא אצלן אינן צריכין ליתן פת:
4
When five people collect an eruv5 [for one courtyard] with the intent of bringing it to the place where an eruv will be established [together with the inhabitants of another courtyard],6 it is not necessary for all five to bring the bread there. Moreover, all th at is necessary is to bring a single loaf of bread. Since the eruv was collected, all [the inhabitants of the courtyard] are considered to be the members of a single household.
ד
חמשה שגבו את העירוב להוליכו למקום שמניחין בו העירוב כשהם מוליכין אינן צריכין להוליך ע"י חמשתן אלא ככר אחת שכיון שגבו כולן נעשו כאנשי בית אחד:
5
When a father and his son, or a teacher and his student7are dwelling in the same courtyard, it is not necessary for them to establish an eruv; they are considered to be a single household. Although at times they eat at a single table and at times they do not eat [together], they are considered to be a single household.
ה
האב ובנו והרב ותלמידו שהן שרויין בחצר אינן צריכין לערב מפני שהן כבית אחד. ואף על פי שפעמים אוכלין על שלחן אחד ופעמים אינן אוכלין הרי הן כבית אחד:
6
[The following rules apply to] brothers, each of whom has a house of his own, and who do not eat at their father's table, and to wives and servants who do not eat at their husband's or master's table at all times, but rather they [occasionally] eat at his table in payment for the work they do for him,8 or as an expression of his favor for a specific amount of time, such as a person who enjoys a colleague's hospitality for a week or a month.9
If there are no other people dwelling together with them in the courtyard, they are not required to establish an eruv. If they establish an eruv with [the inhabitants of] another courtyard, a single eruv suffices for them. If the eruv is established in [one of] their [homes], they are not required to contribute a loaf of bread.
If there are other people living in the courtyard together with them, each of them is required to contribute a loaf of bread [for the eruv] like the other inhabitants of the courtyard. [The rationale is that] they do not eat at one table at all times.
ו
האחים שכל אחד מהם לו בית בפני עצמו ואינן סומכין על שולחן אביהן, וכן הנשים או העבדים שאינן סומכין על שולחן בעליהן או רבן תמיד אבל אוכלין הם על שלחנו בשכר מלאכה שעושין לו או בטובה ימים ידועין כמי שסועד אצל חבירו שבוע או חדש, אם אין עמהן דיורין אחרים בחצר אינן צריכין לערב. ואם עירבו עם חצר אחרת עירוב אחד לכולן. ואם בא העירוב אצלן אין נותנין פת. ואם היו דיורין עמהן בחצר צריכין פת לכל אחד ואחד כשאר אנשי החצר מפני שאינן סומכין על שולחן אחד תמיד:
7
[The following rules apply when] five groups spend the Sabbath together in a single large hall: If a partition that reaches the ceiling10 separates each of the groups [from the others], it is as if each group has a room of its own, or is in a loft of its own. In such an instance, every group must contribute a loaf of bread. If, however, the partition does not reach the ceiling, a single loaf11of bread is sufficient for all of them. For they are all considered to be the members of a single household.
ז
חמש חבורות ששבתו בטרקלין אחד. אם היה מפסיק בין כל חבורה וחבורה מחיצה המגעת לתקרה הרי כל חבורה מהן כאילו היא בחדר בפני עצמו או בעלייה בפני עצמה לפיכך צריכין פת מכל חבורה. ואם אין המחיצות מגיעות לתקרה ככר אחד לכולן שכולן כאנשי בית אחד חשובין:
8
When a person owns one [of the following] structures12 - a gatehouse that people frequently walk through, an exedra,13a porch, a barn, a shed for straw, a shed for wood, or a storehouse - in a courtyard belonging to a colleague, he does not cause [his colleague] to be forbidden to carry. [Our Sages decreed that the presence of a person causes carrying] to be forbidden unless an eruv is established, only when the person possesses a dwelling in the courtyard in which he will [ordinarily] eat [a meal of] bread. The [possession of a] place to sleep, by contrast, does not cause carrying to be forbidden.
For this reason, even if a person decided to eat his meals consistently in a gatehouse or an exedra, his presence does not cause carrying to be forbidden, because this is not considered a dwelling.14
ח
מי שיש לו בחצר חבירו בית שער שרבים דורסין בו או אכסדרה או מרפסת או בית הבקר או בית התבן או בית העצים או אוצר הרי זה אינו אוסר עליו עד שיהיה לו עמו בחצר מקום דירה שהוא סומך עליו לאכול בו פתו ואחר כך יהיה אוסר עליו עד שיערב עמו. אבל מקום לינה אינו אוסר. לפיכך אם קבע לו מקום לאכול בו בבית שער או באכסדרה ומרפסת אינו אוסר עליו לפי שאינו מקום דירה:
9
[The following rules apply when] there are ten dwellings, one within the other:15 [The inhabitants of] the innermost dwelling and the one before it are required to provide the eruv. The eight outer dwellings, by contrast, are not required to contribute to the eruv. [The rationale is that] since many people walk through them, they are regarded as a gatehouse. [As mentioned above,] a person who lives in a gatehouse [does not cause others to be forbidden to carry].16
[The person living in] the ninth [house] does not have many people passing through his property - only one. Therefore, his presence causes [carrying] to be forbidden unless he contributes to the eruv.
ט
עשרה בתים זה לפנים מזה הבית הפנימי והשני לו הם שנותנין את העירוב והשמונה בתים החיצונים אינן נותנין את העירוב הואיל ורבים דורסין בהן הרי הן כבית שער והדר בבית שער אינו אוסר. אבל התשיעי אין דורסין בו רבים אלא יחיד לפיכך אוסר עד שיתן עירובו:
10
[The following rulings apply in the situation to be described:] There are two courtyards [each containing several houses] and three houses [in between them]. The houses have entrances to each other, and [the outer two houses]17 have entrances to the courtyards.
The inhabitants of one courtyard brought their eruv through the house that had an entrance for them and placed it in the middle house. Similarly, the inhabitants of the other courtyard brought their eruv through the house that had an entrance for them and placed it in the middle house.
[The inhabitants of] these three houses do not have to contribute a loaf of bread [to the eruv [for the following reasons]: The middle house is the house in which the eruv was placed. The two houses on its side are each considered to be a gatehouse for the inhabitants of the courtyard.
י
שתי חצרות וביניהן שלשה בתים פתוחים זה לזה ופתוחים לחצרות והביאו בני חצר זו עירובן דרך הבית הפתוח להן והניחוהו בבית אמצעי. וכן הביאו בני החצר האחר עירובן דרך הפתוח להן והניחוהו בבית האמצעי. אותן השלשה בתים אינן צריכין ליתן את הפת. האמצעי מפני שהניחו בו העירוב והשנים שמצדדיו מפני שכל אחד מהן בית שער לאנשי חצר:
11
[Different rules apply, however, if the situation changes. For example,] there are two courtyards [each containing several houses] and two houses [in between them] with entrances to each other. [The inhabitants of one courtyard] bring their eruv through the house that is open to them and place it in the second house, which is adjacent to the other courtyard.
[The inhabitants of the other courtyard also] bring their eruv through the entrance that is open to them and place it in the other house [which is adjacent to the other courtyard]. In such a situation, [the inhabitants of] neither [of the courtyards are considered to have] established an eruv. For each of them has placed his eruv in the gatehouse of another courtyard.18
יא
שתי חצרות ושני בתים פתוחין זה לזה ביניהן והביאו אלו עירובן דרך הבית הפתוח להן והניחוהו בבית השני הסמוך לחצר האחרת והביאו אלו עירובן דרך הפתח הסמוך להן והניחוהו בבית האחר. שתיהן לא קנו עירוב. שכל אחד מהן הניח עירובו בבית שער של חצר אחרת
12
Although one of the inhabitants of a courtyard is in the midst of his death throes,19 even when [it is obvious] that he will not survive the day, his presence causes the other inhabitants of the courtyard to be forbidden [to carry] until they grant him [by proxy]20 a share in a loaf of bread and include him in the eruv.
Similarly, when a minor [owns a house in the courtyard], although he is incapable of eating an amount of food the size of an olive, his presence causes [carrying] to be forbidden until [the inhabitants of the courtyard] include him in the eruv. [The presence of] a guest, by contrast, does not cause [carrying] to be forbidden, as explained above.21
יב
אחד מבני החצר שהיה גוסס אף על פי שאינו יכול לחיות בו ביום הרי זה אוסר על בני החצר עד שיזכו לו בפת ויערבו עליו. וכן קטן אף על פי שאינו יכול לאכול כזית הרי זה אוסר עד שיערבו עליו. אבל האורח אינו אוסר לעולם כמו שבארנו:
13
[The following rules apply when] one of the inhabitants of a courtyard leaves his home and spends the Sabbath in another courtyard, even in a courtyard adjacent [to the one in which his home is located]: If he had no thought of returning to his home on the Sabbath, he does not cause [carrying] to be forbidden.22
When does the above apply? With regard to a Jew.23 With regard to a gentile, by contrast, he causes [carrying] to be forbidden even when he spends the Sabbath in another city,24 unless his domain is rented from him. [The rationale is] that it is possible for him to return on the Sabbath.
יג
אחד מבני חצר שהניח ביתו והלך ושבת בחצר אחרת אפילו היתה סמוכה לחצירו. אם הסיע מלבו ואין דעתו לחזור לביתו בשבת הרי זה אינו אוסר עליהן. במה דברים אמורים בישראל אבל עובד כוכבים אפילו הלך לשבות בעיר אחרת אוסר עליהן עד שישכרו ממנו מקומו שהרי אפשר שיבוא בשבת:
14
When the owner of a courtyard rents houses in the courtyard to others and [stipulates that] he may [continue] to leave articles or types of merchandise in each of these homes, [the presence of the renters] does not cause [carrying] to be forbidden. Since he still has authority in each of the houses, everyone is considered to be his guest.25
When does the above apply? When he left an article that may not be carried26 on the Sabbath - e.g., tevel27 or slabs of metal,28 in these homes. When, by contrast, he leaves articles that may be carried in each of the homes, [the presence of the renters] causes [carrying] to be forbidden unless they establish an eruv. For it is possible that he will remove them [on the Sabbath], and then he will be left without any authority [in these dwellings].
יד
בעל החצר שהשכיר מבתי חצרו לאחרים והניח לו כלים או מיני סחורה בכל בית ובית מהן אינן אוסרין עליו הואיל ויש לו תפיסת יד בכל בית מהן נעשו הכל כאורחין אצלו. במה דברים אמורים בשהניח שם דבר שאסור לטלטלו בשבת כגון טבל ועששיות. אבל אם נשאר לו בכל בית מהן כלים שמותר לטלטלן הואיל ואפשר שיוציאם היום ולא ישאר לו שם תפיסת יד הרי אלו אוסרין עליו עד שיערבו:
15
[The following rules apply when] the inhabitants of a courtyard forgot and did not establish an eruv. They may not remove articles from their homes to the courtyard, nor from the courtyard to their homes. However, concerning articles that were left in the courtyard at the commencement of the Sabbath:29 [the inhabitants] may carry such articles throughout the courtyard and all its extensions.30
[The following rules apply when] there is a porch31 or an upper storey [that opens out to a courtyard],32 and the inhabitants of the courtyard have established an eruv for themselves and the inhabitants of the porch have established an eruv for themselves:33 Regarding articles that were left in their homes at the beginning of the Sabbath, the inhabitants of the porch or the upper storey are permitted to carry them throughout the porch and all of its extensions or throughout the upper storey and all of its extensions. The inhabitants of the courtyard may carry within the courtyard and all its extensions, [but they are forbidden to carry from the courtyard to the upper storey or the porch, or from the upper storey or the porch to the courtyard unless an eruv is established].
Similarly, if one person lives in the courtyard, and another person lives in the upper storey, and they forgot to establish an eruv, the owner of the upper storey may carry within the upper storey and all of its extensions, and the owner of the courtyard may carry within the courtyard and all of its extensions. [They may not, however, carry from one domain to the other without an eruv].
טו
אנשי החצר ששכחו ולא עירבו אין מוציאים מבתים לחצר ולא מחצר לבתים אבל מטלטלין הן כלים ששבתו בחצר בכל החצר ובכל הנחשב עם החצר. ואם היתה שם מרפסת או עליה ועירבו אנשי החצר לעצמן ואנשי המרפסת לעצמן. אנשי המרפסת או אנשי העליה מטלטלין כלים ששבתו בבתיהן בכל המרפסת ובכל הנחשב עמה או בכל רוחב העליה ובכל הנחשב עמה. ואנשי החצר מטלטלין בכל החצר ובכל הנחשב עמה. וכן אם היה יחיד דר בחצר ויחיד דר בעליה ושכחו ולא עירבו. זה מטלטל בכל העליה והנחשב עמה וזה מטלטל בכל החצר והנחשב עמה:
16
What is implied? When there is a rock or a mound within the courtyard that is less than ten handbreadths high, it is considered to be [important to] both the courtyard and the porch, and [the inhabitants of] both are forbidden to bring articles there from their homes.
If [the rock or the mound] is ten handbreadths high and is less than four handbreadths removed from the porch, it is considered to be an extension of the porch, for they are of similar [height]. Therefore, the inhabitants of the porch may carry on it.
If it is four or more handbreadths removed from the porch, even when it is ten [handbreadths high] it is considered to be an extension of both the courtyard and the porch, since both can use it by throwing [objects onto it]. Therefore, [the inhabitants of] both are forbidden to bring articles there from their homes until they establish an eruv.
When there is a pillar four [or more] handbreadths wide in front of the porch [it is considered to be a divider]. [Therefore, the presence of] the porch does not cause [carrying] to be forbidden within the courtyard, for a separation has been made between [one domain and the other].
טז
כיצד הסלע או תל וכיוצא בו שבתוך החצר אם אינן גבוהין עשרה טפחים הרי אלו נחשבין בין החצר וביןהמרפסת ושניהן אסורין להוציא שם כלים שבבתים. ואם גבוהין עשרה והיה ביניהן ובין המרפסת פחות מארבעה טפחים הרי אלו נחשבין עם המרפסת שהרי הן שוין לה ובני מרפסת מותרין בהם. ואם היו רחוקין מן המרפסת ארבעה טפחים או יתר על כן אף על פי שגבוהין עשרה הרי אלו בכלל החצר והמרפסת לפי ששניהן אפשר להשתמש בהן על ידי זריקה. לפיכך שניהן אסורין להוציא לשם כלי הבתים עד שיערבו. היתה מצבה רחבה ארבעה טפחים לפני המרפסת אין המרפסת אוסרת על בני החצר שהרי נחלקה מהן:
17
When projections protrude from the walls [of the courtyard], all those that are below ten handbreadths high are considered to be extensions of the courtyard, and may be used by the inhabitants of the courtyard. All those that are within ten handbreadths of the upper storey may be used by the inhabitants of the upper storey.
The remainder, those that are located more than ten handbreadths above the ground and more than ten handbreadths below the upper storey, are forbidden to them both. Neither may use them for articles from the homes unless an eruv is established.
יז
זיזין היוצאין מן הכותלים. כל שהוא למטה מעשרה טפחים הרי זה נחשב מן החצר ובני החצר משתמשין בו. וכל שהוא בתוך עשרה טפחים העליונים הסמוכין לעליה. אנשי עליה משתמשין בו והנשאר בין עשרה התחתונים עד תחלת עשרה העליונים מן הזיזין היוצאין שם שניהן אסורין בו ואין משתמשין בהן בכלים שבבתים אלא אם כן עירבו:
18
[The following rules apply to] a cistern located in [such] a courtyard: If it is filled with produce that was tevel - and hence is forbidden to be carried on the Sabbath - or with objects of a similar kind, it and the enclosure around it,34 are regarded like a rock or a mound in a courtyard.35 If [the enclosure] is ten handbreadths high and close to the porch, it is considered to be an extension of the porch.
If, by contrast, it is filled with water,36 neither the inhabitants of the courtyard nor the inhabitants of the porch may bring [water] to their homes from it unless they establish an eruv.
יח
בור שבחצר אם היה מלא פירות טבלים שאסור לטלטלן בשבת וכיוצא בהן הרי הוא וחוליתו כסלע או תל שבחצר. אם היה גבוה עשרה סמוך למרפסת הרי הוא נחשב עם המרפסת. אבל אם היה מלא מים אין בני חצר ולא בני מרפסת מכניסין ממנו לבתים עד שיערבו:
19
[The following rules apply when] there are two courtyards, one lying behind the other, and the inhabitants of the inner courtyard enter and exit by passing through the outer courtyard: When [the inhabitants of] the inner courtyard have established an eruv, but [the inhabitants of] the outer courtyard have not, [the inhabitants of] the inner courtyard may carry [within their domain], but [the inhabitants of] the outer courtyard may not.37
When [the inhabitants of] the outer courtyard have established an eruv, but [the inhabitants of] the inner courtyard have not, [the inhabitants of] both are forbidden to carry; [the inhabitants of] the inner courtyard because they did not establish an eruv, and the inhabitants of the outer courtyard because the people who pass through [their domain] did not establish an eruv [even within their own domain].38
If [the inhabitants of] both domains have established separate eruvin,39 they may each carry within their own domain; they may not carry from one [domain] to the other.
יט
שתי חצירות זו לפנים מזו ואנשי הפנימית יוצאין ונכנסין ועוברין על החיצונה. עירבה הפנימית ולא עירבה החיצונה הפנימית מותרת והחיצונה אסורה. עירבה החיצונה ולא עירבה הפנימית שתיהן אסורות. הפנימית מפני שלא עירבה והחיצונה מפני אלו שלא עירבו שעוברין עליהן. עירבו זו לעצמה וזו לעצמה זו מותרת בפני עצמה וזו מותרת בפני עצמה אבל אין מטלטלין מזו לזו:
20
[If the inhabitants of both domains have established separate eruvin,] but one of the inhabitants of the outer courtyard forgot to join in the eruv [in his domain], the inhabitants of the inner courtyard are still permitted to carry.40
When, by contrast, one of the inhabitants of the inner courtyard forgot to join in the eruv [in his domain], [not only are the inhabitants of the inner courtyard forbidden to carry, the inhabitants of] the outer courtyard are also forbidden to do so. [This restriction is instituted] because the inhabitants of the inner courtyard whose eruv is not acceptable pass through their [domain].
כ
שכח אחד מן החיצונה ולא עירב הפנימית בהיתרה עומדת. שכח אחד מן בני הפנימית ולא עירב עמהן אף החיצונה אסורה מפני אלו בני הפנימית שלא עלה להן עירוב שהן עוברין עליהן:
21
[The following rules apply when] both courtyards establish a single eruv: If the eruv is placed in the outer courtyard, and one of the inhabitants - whether an inhabitant of the outer courtyard or of the inner courtyard - forgets to join in the eruv, [all] the inhabitants of both courtyards are forbidden [to carry]41 unless he subordinates [the ownership of] his domain to them. [This is possible for, as we explained,42 one may subordinate the ownership of a domain in one courtyard to [people dwelling in] another.
[Different rules apply when] the eruv is placed in the inner courtyard: If one of the inhabitants of the outer courtyard did not join in the eruv, [the inhabitants of] the outer courtyard are forbidden to carry. [The inhabitants of] the inner courtyard, by contrast, are permitted to carry within their own [domain].43 If one of the inhabitants of the inner courtyard did not join in the eruv, [all the inhabitants of] both [courtyards] are forbidden [to carry]44 unless he subordinates [the ownership of] his domain to them.
כא
עשו שתיהן עירוב אחד אם הניחוהו בחיצונה ושכח אחד מהן ולא עירב בין שהיה מבני החיצונה בין מבני הפנימית שתיהן אסורות עד שיבטל להן שהרי ביארנו שמבטלין מחצר לחצר. ואם הניחו עירובן בפנימית ושכח אחד מבני החיצונה ולא עירב החיצונה אסורה ופנימית מותרת במקומה. שכח אחד מבני הפנימית ולא עירב שתיהן אסורות עד שיבטל להן:
22
If [only] one person45 was dwelling in one [of these] courtyards and [only] one person was dwelling in the other, there is no need for them to establish an eruv;46 each one is permitted to carry in his courtyard.
If, however, a gentile dwells in the inner courtyard, even though he is merely a single [household], he is considered as many individuals, and [his presence] causes [the inhabitants of] the outer courtyard to be forbidden to carry until his domain is rented.47
כב
היה אחד דר בחצר זו ואחד דר בחצר זו אינן צריכין לערב אלא כל אחד מהן משתמש בכל חצירו. ואם היה עובד כוכבים ומזלות בפנימית אף על פי שהוא אחד הרי הוא כרבים ואוסר על החיצונה עד שישכרו מקומו:
23
[The following laws apply when there are] three courtyards with entrances to each other, and there are many people dwelling in each courtyard: When [the inhabitants of] the two outer courtyards have established an eruv together with [the inhabitants of] the inner courtyard,48 [the inhabitants of] the inner courtyard are permitted to carry within the outer courtyards, and [the inhabitants of] the outer courtyards are permitted to carry within the inner courtyard, but the inhabitants of the two outer courtyards may not carry in the other outer courtyard unless all three join in a single eruv.
If a single individual dwells in each courtyard, there is no need for them to establish an eruv, although many individuals pass through the outer courtyard.49 [The rationale is that] each of these individuals is permitted to carry in his own domain. If, however, there are two individuals living in the inner courtyard [different rules apply]. Since [these individuals] are forbidden to carry in their own domain until they establish an eruv, they cause the single individuals in the middle and in the outer domains to be forbidden [to carry] unless the two inhabitants of the inner domain establish an eruv.
This is the governing principle: When a person who is forbidden to carry in his own domain passes through another domain, his passage causes carrying to be forbidden there. When, by contrast, the person may carry in his own domain, his passage through another domain does not cause carrying to be forbidden there.
כג
שלש חצירות הפתוחות זו לזו ורבים בכל חצר מהן. עירבו שתים החיצונות עם האמצעית היא מותרת עמהן והן מותרות עמה ושתים החיצונות אסורות זו עם זו עד שיעשו שלשתן עירוב אחד. היה בכל חצר מהן אחד אף על פי שרבים דורסין בחיצונה אינן צריכין לערב שכל אחד מהן מותר במקומו. היו שנים בפנימית הואיל והן אסורין במקומן עד שיערבו הרי הן אוסרין על היחידים שבאמצעית ושבחיצונה עד שיערבו שנים שבפנימית. זה הכלל רגל האסורה במקומה אוסרת שלא במקומה ורגל המותרת במקומה אינה אוסרת שלא במקומה מפני שעוברת עליהן:
24
[The following rules apply when] there are two balconies positioned over a body of water, and one is positioned above the other: Although [the inhabitants of] each of them have constructed a partition ten handbreadths high descending [to the water],50 if the two balconies are within ten handbreadths of each other,51 it is forbidden for [their inhabitants] to draw water unless they establish a single eruv. [The rationale is that, because of their closeness] they are considered to be a single balcony.52
If the distance between the upper balcony and the lower balcony is more than ten handbreadths, and [the inhabitants of] each have established separate eruvin, they are both permitted to draw [water].
כד
שתי כצוצטריות זו למעלה מזו שהן למעלה מן המים אף על פי שעשתה כל אחת מהן מחיצה גבוהה עשרה טפחים יורדת מכל אחת ואחת. אם היו שתי הכצוצטריות בתוך עשרה טפחים הרי אלו אסורין למלאות עד שיערבו שתיהן עירוב אחד מפני שהן ככצוצטרא אחת. ואם היה בין העליונה והתחתונה יותר על עשרה טפחים ועירבה זו לעצמה וזו לעצמה שתיהן מותרות למלאות:
25
If [the inhabitants of] the upper [balcony] did not make a partition, but the inhabitants of the lower [balcony] did, even [the inhabitants of] the lower balcony are forbidden to draw [water]. [The rationale is that] the buckets of the upper [balcony], which are forbidden, pass through their domain.53
If [the inhabitants of] the upper [balcony] have made a partition, but [the inhabitants of] the lower [balcony] have not, [the inhabitants of] the upper balcony are permitted to draw water,54 but [the inhabitants of] the lower balcony are forbidden.55
If the inhabitants of the lower [balcony] joined together with [the inhabitants of] the upper [balcony] in the construction of the partition, [the inhabitants of] both are forbidden to draw water56 until they establish a single eruv.
כה
לא עשתה העליונה מחיצה ועשתה התחתונה אף התחתונה אסורה למלאות מפני דלי של בני העליונה שהן אסורין שעובר עליה. עשתה העליונה מחיצה ולא עשתה התחתונה העליונה מותרת למלאות והתחתונה אסורה. ואם נשתתפו בני התחתונה עם בני העליונה במחיצה שעשו שתיהן אסורות למלאות עד שיערבו עירוב אחד:
26
[The following rules apply to a building] with three storeys, one above the other; the upper and the lower storeys belong to one individual, and the middle storey belongs to another: One may not lower articles from the top storey to the bottom storey through the middle storey.57 For we may not pass articles from one domain to another domain via a third domain. One may, however, lower articles from the top [storey] to the lower [storey] [if] they do not [pass] through the middle [storey].58
כו
שלש דיאטות זו למעלה מזו עליונה ותחתונה של אחד ואמצעית של אחד לא ישלשל מן העליונה לתחתונה דרך אמצעית שאין משלשלין מרשות לרשות דרך רשות אחר. אבל משלשל הוא מן העליונה להתחתונה שלא דרך אמצעית:
27
[The following rules apply when] two buildings face each other and there is a courtyard below them into which water is poured.59 They should not pour water into the courtyard unless they join together in a single eruv.
If [the inhabitants of one building]60 dig a pit in the courtyard into which to pour water, while [the inhabitants of the other building] do not, those who dig the pit may pour water into it. The others are forbidden to pour water into the courtyard unless they join together in a single eruv.
If [the inhabitants of both buildings] each dig a pit, each may pour water into the pit they have dug, even though they did not establish an eruv.
כז
שתי דיאטות זו כנגד זו וחצר אחת תחתיהן ששופכין לתוכה המים לא ישפכו לתוכה עד שיערבו שתיהן עירוב אחד. עשו מקצתן עוקה בחצר לשפוך בה המים ומקצתן לא עשו. אלו שעשו שופכים לעוקה שלהן ואלו שלא עשו לא ישפכו לחצר עד שיערבו. ואם עשו אלו עוקה ואלו עוקה כל אחת משתיהן שופכת לעוקה שלהן אף על פי שלא עירבו
FOOTNOTES
1.The Kessef Mishneh explains that the Rambam's wording is not to be understood literally; if people eat in the same room, even if they eat at different tables - indeed, even if they eat their own food - they are not required to establish an eruv. These concepts are also reflected in the Rambam's Commentary on the Mishnah (Eruvin 6:7) and quoted as halachah by the Ramah (Orach Chayim 370:4).
The most common application of this concept today would be a hotel or a bungalow colony, where many people eat in the same dining room, and yet have their own private rooms or dwellings.
2.This highlights the principle that it is the place where a person eats, and not where he sleeps, that is most significant in defining his place of residence.
3.In Chapter 1, Halachah 15, the Rambam states that every household participating in the eruv is required to contribute a loaf of bread. Nevertheless, in this instance, since all the inhabitants of the courtyard are considered to be members of a single household, only one loaf is required.
4.Although they eat in separate places, joining together in the eruv causes them to be considered as if they share the same table.
5.I.e., they collected loaves of bread from each household in the courtyard.
6.The Shem Yosef explains that this latter phrase represents the new concept contributed in this halachah, as opposed to the previous one. Although the eruv was originally collected for the purpose of establishing an eruv with the inhabitants of another courtyard, the collection itself causes the inhabitants to be considered members of a single household.
7.Although the Rambam uses a singular term, the same law applies to many sons or many students.
8.The Rambam's comparison of these individuals to hired workers reflects his interpretation of the expression במקבלי פרס in Eruvin 73a. The Ra'avad offers a different interpretation, and his view is quoted in the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 370:5- 6).
9.The Maggid Mishneh explains that the Rambam's intent is not that the presence of a guest causes carrying to be forbidden when there are others living in the same courtyard. For as explained at the beginning of Chapter 2, and in Halachah 12 of this chapter, a guest's presence makes no difference in this context. Rather, the point of the comparison above is to emphasize the intermediate status of these individuals. On one hand, like guests, they are at times considered to be members of the person's household. On the other hand, since they have their own dwellings and often eat there, there is reason to consider them as having separate households.
10.The Maggid Mishneh cites the Rashba, who explains that it is sufficient for the partitions to reach within three handbreadths of the ceiling, since, based on the principle of l'vud, when they are that close it is considered as if they reached the ceiling itself. The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 370:3) quotes this ruling.
11.I.e., they must make an eruv. The Shulchan Aruch (loc. cit.) differs and (following the interpretation of Tosafot, Eruvin 72a and Rabbenu Asher) does not require an eruv at all unless they want to join with others outside the hall.
The Shulchan Aruch, however, emphasizes that we are speaking about temporary partitions, either curtains or pieces of wood. If the partitions are permanent, they are considered as having separate dwellings, and an eruv is required.
12.All these structures have one thing in common - they are not ordinary dwellings where a person will eat his meals on a regular basis.
13.A Greek structure with two or three walls and a roof with a sky-light.
14.For these structures are not fit to serve as dwellings. In contrast, were a person to eat continually in a barn, a wood shed, or a shed for straw, these are considered to be dwellings, and an eruv is necessary (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 370:1; see Chapter 1, Halachah 16).
15.I.e., to get to the inner dwellings, one must pass through the outer ones.
16.The Mishnah Berurah 370:52 extends this principle and applies it to people renting separate rooms in a single home. If the rooms lead through each other, the inhabitants of the outer rooms do not have to contribute to the eruv.
17.But not the middle house. See the accompanying diagram.
18.And an eruv that was placed in a gatehouse is not acceptable, as stated in Chapter 1, Halachah 16.
19.This reflects a general principle in Torah law. Until a person actually stops breathing, he is considered to be alive. There is no difference in his status regarding any of the Torah's laws.
20.See Chapter 1, Halachah 20.
21.See Chapter 2, Halachah 1.
22.The rationale is that a dwelling without an owner is not considered to be a dwelling (Shulchan Aruch HaRav 371:1; Mishnah Berurah 371:1).
23.For it is unlikely that a Jew will return to his home on the Sabbath. Moreover, even if he did so, we apply the principle that since carrying was permitted for a portion of the Sabbath, it is permitted for the entire Sabbath (Maggid Mishneh).
24.The Maggid Mishneh mentions a more lenient view, which states that if the gentile spends the Sabbath at a place that is more than a day's journey from home, the inhabitants are allowed to carry, because it is impossible for him to arrive on the Sabbath. This ruling is quoted by the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 371:1).
The Ramah grants a further leniency and permits the inhabitants to carry when the gentile stays in another courtyard in the same city. If the gentile returns to his home on the Sabbath, the Turei Zahav 371:2 permits the inhabitants to continue to carry. The Mishnah Berurah 371:8, by contrast, rules that this is forbidden.
25.Note the ruling of the Ramah (Orach Chayim 370:2), which states that this decision applies only when there are no other inhabitants in the courtyard besides the owner and the persons to whom he rented dwellings, or the eruv was brought into the house of the owner.
26.The Shulchan Aruch (loc. cit.) adds that this applies also when the articles are too heavy to be lifted on the Sabbath.
27.Produce from which terumah and the tithes have not been separated. These tithes may not be separated on the Sabbath (Hilchot Shabbat 23:9,14), nor is it permitted to carry such produce on the Sabbath (loc. cit. 25:19).
28.Since this metal has not been fashioned into a useful article, it is forbidden to be carried on the Sabbath (loc. cit.:6).
29.See the Be'ur Halachah 372, which explains there are authorities who differ with regard to whether one is permitted to carry an article within a courtyard when an eruv has not been established - if that article hads been placed in one of the homes at the commencement of the Sabbath, but was inadvertently taken from the home and placed in the courtyard. Although the Rambam would appear to forbid carrying the article, Rashi (Shabbat 130b) and Tosafot (Eruvin 91b) maintain that carrying it is permitted within the courtyard.
30.See Chapter 3, Halachah 19.
31.In his Commentary on the Mishnah (Eruvin 8:3), the Rambam describes a porch as an intermediate level, at least ten handbreadths high, through which stairs lead to the courtyard.
32.I.e., the inhabitants of the porch or the upper storey descend through a stairwell into the courtyard, and from the courtyard they proceed to the public domain. The Rabbis consider the stairwell equivalent to an entrance. Hence, they liken the situation to one in which two courtyards are positioned adjacent to each other with an entrance between them.
33.I.e., unless an eruv is established, the inhabitants of these domains are forbidden to carry within the others' domains and within the property shared by both.
34.See Hilchot Shabbat 15:9.
35.I.e., since the cistern is filled with objects that are forbidden to be carried, it is not given any special importance, and instead is considered like any other large, distinct object in the courtyard.
36.It is, by nature, fit to be used by the inhabitants of both domains. Therefore, neither is entitled to do so, unless they establish an eruv.
37.The rationale for these rulings is obvious; the concept is mentioned primarily to show the contrast with the subsequent clauses of the halachah. Unlike the inhabitants of the inner courtyard, who can reach their own dwelling only by passing through the outer courtyard, there is no reason for the inhabitants of the outer courtyard to pass through the inner one.
38.This ruling reflects the principle stated in Halachah 23, that when people are forbidden to carry within their own domain, they cause carrying to be forbidden in the domain through which they pass. Had the inhabitants of the inner courtyard established an eruv for themselves, they would not cause carrying to be forbidden in the outer courtyard, as reflected in the following clause.
39.Similarly, if the single courtyard belongs to a single individual, or the owners are considered to be members of a single household - e.g., a father and his children, their presence does not cause carrying to be forbidden in the outer courtyard (Maggid Mishneh).
40.For their eruv is still intact and there is no necessity for the inhabitants of the outer courtyard to pass through the inner one.
41.The eruv is not acceptable for the inner courtyard, because it is not located within the courtyard itself, and it is not acceptable for the outer courtyard, because one of the inhabitants of the courtyard did not participate.
42.Chapter 2, Halachah 5.
43.For all the inhabitants of this courtyard have joined together in a single eruv. Although they had desired to join together with the inhabitants of the outer courtyard, the failure for this desire to be fulfilled does not cause them to forfeit their initial advantage as a domain joined by an eruv. (See Eruvin 75b.)
44.In this instance, the inhabitants of the inner courtyard are forbidden to carry because one of their number has failed to join in the eruv. This in turn causes carrying to be forbidden in the outer courtyard, as explained above.
45.In his Commentary on the Mishnah (Eruvin 6:10), the Rambam explains that this can refer to members of an extended household - e.g., a father and his children.
46.Needless to say, to carry from one courtyard to the next, an eruv is necessary.
47.Our Sages explained that gentiles are less private about the details of their personal dwellings than the Jews. Thus many people will know of the gentile's presence and the fact that his domain was not rented, but they may not know that only one Jew lives in the outer courtyard. Therefore, they might not realize that this is an exception, and generally, when one courtyard leads to another, an eruv is required (Eruvin 75b). Although when one Jew lives in a courtyard together with a gentile, he is generally not required to rent his domain (Chapter 2, Halachah 9), an exception is made in this instance.
The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 382:17) mentions this as a singular opinion, and the Mishnah Berurah 382:59 states that it is not shared by most authorities. Some have noted that the Rambam himself uses a plural form of the word "rent," and they interpret this as referring to an instance where two Jews live in the outer courtyard.
48.I.e., the inhabitants of the inner courtyard have established two eruvin, one with each of the outer courtyards.
49.The Maggid Mishneh explains that these two clauses refer to different situations. The first clause refers to a situation in which all three courtyards have entrances to the public domain, while this clause refers to a situation where only the outermost courtyard has an entrance to the public domain, and the inhabitants of this courtyard must pass through it.
Based on the Hagahot Maimoniot, Merkevet HaMishneh explains that the fundamental aspect of this ruling is the interpretation of Rabbi Shimeon's statements that the inhabitants of the middle courtyard are permitted to carry in either of the outer courtyards (Eruvin 45b, 48b). Although these statements were made regarding a situation in which only one courtyard opened up to the public domain, one can extrapolate that the same ruling would apply when all three open to the public domain.
50.See Hilchot Shabbat 15:15, which interprets this law as referring to a balcony with a hole in its floor, from which water is drawn and through which it is poured. The partition need not extend the full distance from the balcony to the water. As long as it extends either ten handbreadths below the balcony or ten handbreadths above the water, drawing water and pouring water through the hole in the balcony are permitted.
51.In his Commentary on the Mishnah (Eruvin 8:8), the Rambam explains this as referring to two balconies positioned one on top of the other. Each balcony has a hole in it, and these holes are also aligned one on top of the other.
52.The Ra'avad states that, based on Eruvin 88a, this ruling would appear to apply only when the two balconies are not directly above each other. The Ra'avad's position is shared by Rashi and the Rashba, while the Rambam's interpretation appears to be shared by Rabbenu Chanan'el. Although the Maggid Mishneh attempts to justify the Rambam's position, most authorities (including the Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 355:5) follow the Ra'avad's view.
53.I.e., the Rambam applies the principle stated in Halachah 23 - about people passing from one domain to another - to the buckets used to draw water that pass from domain to domain. In this instance, as well, the Ra'avad, Rashi, and others interpret Eruvin (loc. cit.), the source for this halachah, differently, and their interpretation is cited in the Shulchan Aruch (loc. cit.).
54.The fact that their buckets pass through the area of the lower domain is of no consequence.
55.For they have no partition.
56.Since they both have a share in the partition, they are considered as full partners in a single domain. Hence, it is necessary that they be joined together in an eruv.
57.I.e., through a hole in the building.
58.E.g, from a porch to a porch.
59.As evident from Hilchot Shabbat 15:16-17, this refers to a courtyard larger than four cubits by four cubits. It is forbidden to pour water into a smaller courtyard unless one digs a pit, as reflected in the second clause of this halachah.
60.The bracketed additions are based on the Rambam's Commentary on the Mishnah (Eruvin 8:11).
Eruvin - Chapter Five
1
[The following rules apply when] the inhabitants of a lane join in a business partnership with regard to a particular food - i.e., they have bought wine, oil, honey, or the like [for sale]:1 They need not establish another shituf for the sake [of carrying on] the Sabbath. Instead, they may rely on the partnership they have established for business reasons.
[When does this leniency apply?] When their business partnership involves one type of produce, and [this produce] is stored in a single container. But if their partnership is such that one possesses wine and the other oil,2 or they both possess wine but hold it in two different containers, they are required to establish another shituf for the sake of the Sabbath.
א
אנשי מבוי שהיה ביניהן שיתוף במאכל אחד לענין סחורה כגון שקנו יין בשותפות או שמן או דבש וכיוצא בהן אינן צריכין שיתוף אחר לענין שבת אלא סומכין על שיתוף של סחורה. והוא שיהיה המין שהן שותפין בו מין אחד ובכלי אחד. אבל אם היה אחד מהן שותף לזה ביין ולאחר בשמן או שהיה הכל יין והיה בשני כלים הרי אלו צריכין שיתוף אחר לענין שבת.
2
If one of the inhabitants of a lane asks another for wine or oil before the Sabbath, and the latter refuses to give it to him, the shituf is nullified.3 [The rationale is that this individual] revealed that his intent was that they are not all to be considered partners who do not object to each other's [use of the combined resources].
When one of the inhabitants of a lane who usually participates in a shituf fails to do so,4 the inhabitants of the lane may enter his home and take [his share for] the shituf against his will. If one of the inhabitants of a lane refuses5 to join with the others in the shituf, he may be compelled to do so.6
ב
אחד מבני המבוי שבקש מחבירו יין או שמן קודם השבת ולא נתן לו בטל השיתוף. שהרי גלה דעתו שאינן כולן כשותפין שאין מקפידין זה על זה. אחד מבני המבוי שרגיל להשתתף עם בני המבוי ולא נשתתף. בני מבוי נכנסין לביתו ונוטלין ממנו שיתוף בעל כרחו. ואחד מבני המבוי שאינו רוצה להשתתף כלל עם בני המבוי כופין אותו להשתתף עמהן:
3
When one of the inhabitants of a lane owns a storeroom of wine, oil, or the like, he may grant a small share to all the inhabitants of the lane and establish a shituf on their behalf. The shituf is acceptable even though he did not separate or designate [the wine he granted them, but rather left it] mixed together [with the remainder] in the storeroom.
ג
אחד מבני המבוי שהיה לו אוצר של יין או שמן וכיוצא בהן הרי זה מזכה ממנו מעט לכל בני המבוי להשתתף בו ומערב בו עליהם. ואף על פי שלא הפרישו ולא יחדו אלא הרי הוא מעורב באוצר הרי זה שיתוף:
4
[When the inhabitants of] a courtyard that has two entrances, each leading to a different lane, establish a shituf with one of [the lanes] and not the other,7 [they] are forbidden to bring articles to and from the second lane.
Therefore, if a person [sets aside food for a shituf], grants a portion to all the inhabitants of the lane, and establishes a shituf on their behalf, he must notify the inhabitants of that courtyard. For they must make a conscious decision to join the shituf, since this is not [necessarily] to their benefit,8 because it is possible that they desire to join in a shituf with [the inhabitants of] the other lane, and not with this one.
ד
חצר שיש לה שני פתחים לשני מבואות אם נשתתפה עם אחד מהן בלבד נאסרה במבוי השני ואינה מוציאה ומכניסה בו. לפיכך אם זיכה אחד בשיתוף לכל בני המבוי ושיתף עליהן צריך להודיע לאנשי החצר זו. שאינן משתתפין אלא מדעתן שאינה זכות להן שמא במבוי השני רוצים להשתתף ולא בזה:
5
A person's wife may participate in an eruv on his behalf without his knowledge, provided he does not [intend to cause] his neighbors to be forbidden [to carry].9 If he does [intend to cause] them to be forbidden [to carry], however, she may not join an eruv on his behalf, nor may she join a shituf on his behalf unless he consents.
What is meant by "[intend to cause] them to be forbidden [to carry]"? That he says, "I will not join in an eruv or a shituf with them."
ה
אשתו של אדם מערבת לו שלא מדעתו והוא שלא יאסרו על שכיניו. אבל אם אוסר אינה מערבת עליו ולא משתתפת עליו אלא מדעתו.
6
[The following rules apply when a courtyard opens up to two lanes and] the inhabitants of the courtyard have established a shituf with [the inhabitants of] one of the lanes: If they had originally established the shituf with one type of produce, even if the produce in the shituf was consumed entirely, one may establish a second shituf and grant them a portion; there is no need to inform them a second time.10
If they have established the shituf with two types11 of produce,12 and the amount of food was reduced [from the minimum required],13 one may add to it and grant the others a share; there is no need to inform them. If [the produce] was consumed entirely, one may [establish a second shituf and] grant them a portion; it is, however, necessary to inform them.14
If the number of inhabitants within the courtyard is increased, one may grant [the newcomers] a portion in the shituf, but one must notify them.15
ו
נשתתפו אנשי חצר זו עם אחד משני המבואות אם במין אחד נשתתפו אפילו כלה אותו המין הרי זה עושה שיתוף אחר ומזכה להן ואינו צריך להודיעם פעם שניה. ואם בשני מינין נשתתפו ונתמעט האוכל מוסיף ומזכה ואינו צריך להודיען. ואם כלו מזכה להם וצריך להודיעם. נתוספו שכנים בחצר זה מזכה להם וצריך להודיעם:
7
If the inhabitants of this courtyard have established a shituf with the inhabitants of this lane from one entrance, and have established another shituf with the inhabitants of the other lane from the other entrance, they are permitted [to carry to and from] both [of these lanes]16, and [the inhabitants of] both [lanes] are permitted [to carry within the courtyard]. [The inhabitants of] both lanes are, however, forbidden [to carry] from one [lane] to the other.17
If [the inhabitants of the courtyard] have not established a shituf with either of them, they cause [the inhabitants of] both to be forbidden [to carry].18
ז
נשתתפה חצר זו עם בני המבוי זה מפתח זה ועם בני המבוי השני מן הפתח האחר מותרת עם שניהן והן מותרין עמה ושני המבואות אסורין זה עם זה. לא עירבה עם אחד מהם אוסרת על שניהן:
8
[The following rules apply when the inhabitants of] this courtyard usually [pass] through one entrance [into one lane], but do not usually [pass] through a second entrance [into another lane]: They cause carrying to be forbidden [in the lane to which] the entrance through which they usually [pass opens].19 They do not cause carrying to be forbidden [in the lane to which] the entrance through which they do not usually [pass opens].20
If [the inhabitants of this courtyard] have established a shituf with [only] the lane through which they do not usually [pass], [the inhabitants of] the other lane are allowed [to carry];21 they do not have to establish a shituf with [the inhabitants of this courtyard].
ח
היתה חצר זו רגילה בפתח אחד והפתח השני אינה רגילה. זה שרגילה להכנס ולצאת בו אוסר ושאינה רגילה בו אינו אוסר. עירבה עם מבוי שאינה רגילה בו הותר המבוי האחר לעצמו ואינו צריך לערב עמה:
9
[A leniency is granted in the following situation.] The inhabitants of the lane [through] which [the inhabitants of] this courtyard usually pass established a shituf by themselves. [The inhabitants of the courtyard] did not joined in this shituf, nor have they joined in a shituf with the inhabitants of the lane [through] which they do not usually pass. The inhabitants of the latter lane [also] did not established a shituf for themselves.
Since [the inhabitants of the courtyard] have not joined in a shituf at all, they are considered part of the lane [through] which they do not usually pass. Since both these groups of individuals have not established a shituf, they are classed together, so that they will not cause [the inhabitants of] the lane who established the shituf to be forbidden [to carry].22
ט
עירבו בני המבוי שהיא רגילה בו לעצמן והיא לא עירבה עמו ולא עם בני המבוי האחר שאינה רגילה בו וגם לא עירבו בני המבוי שאינה רגילה בו. דוחין אותה אצל זה המבוי שאינה רגילה מפני שלא עירב. הואיל והיא לא עירבה והוא לא עירב דוחין אותה אצלו כדי שלא תאסור על מבוי זה שעירב לעצמו:
10
[The following rules apply when] a courtyard has an entrance to a lane and another entrance to a valley or to an area enclosed for purposes other than habitation, which is larger than the area [needed] to sow two se'ah:23 Since it is forbidden to transfer articles from the courtyard to that enclosed area, [the inhabitants of the courtyard] rely only on the entrance to the lane. Therefore, they cause the inhabitants of the lane to be forbidden [to carry] unless they join together with them in a shituf.
If, however, the enclosed area is the size of the area [needed] to sow two se'ah or less, its presence does not cause the inhabitants of the lane to be forbidden [to carry]. Since carrying is permitted within the entire enclosed area, [the inhabitants of the courtyard] rely on the entrance that is exclusively theirs.24
י
חצר שיש לה פתח למבוי ופתח אחר לבקעה או לקרפף יתר מבית סאתים הואיל ואסור לטלטל מחצר לאותו הקרפף אינו סומך אלא על פתח של מבוי לפיכך אוסר על בני המבוי עד שישתתף עמהן. אבל אם היה הקרפף בית סאתים או פחות אינו אוסר על בני המבוי שעל הפתח המיוחד לו סומך הואיל ומותר לטלטל בכל הקרפף:
11
When one of the inhabitants of a lane goes away and spends the Sabbath in another place, [the fact that he owns a domain in the lane] does not cause carrying to be forbidden.25
Similarly, if one of the inhabitants of a lane builds a pillar that is four handbreadths wide [or more] before his entrance, [the fact that he owns a domain in the lane] does not cause carrying to be forbidden. For he has separated himself from [the other inhabitants], and has made his domain a distinct entity.26
יא
אחד מבני מבוי שהלך לשבות במבוי אחר אינו אוסר עליהן. וכן אחד מבני מבוי שבנה מצבה רחבה ארבעה טפחים על פתחו אינו אוסר עליהן שהרי הפריש עצמו מהן וחלק רשותו:
12
[The following rules apply when] the inhabitants of a lane have joined together in a shituf, but several of the inhabitants forgot and did not join: [Those who forgot] should subordinate the ownership of their domain to those who joined in the shituf. The laws governing the subordination of the ownership of their domain are the same as the laws governing the subordination of the ownership of a domain when one or more of the inhabitants of a courtyard forgot to join in an eruv.27
We have already explained28 that a person and [all] the members of his household who are dependent on him for meals are considered to be a single entity with regard to the establishment of an eruv for a courtyard and a shituf for a lane.
יב
אנשי מבוי שנשתתפו מקצתן ושכחו מקצתן ולא נשתתפו מבטלין רשותן לאלו שנשתתפו. ודינם לענין ביטול רשות כדין אנשי חצר ששכח אחד מהן או שנים ולא עירבו. וכבר אמרנו שכל אדם עם אנשי ביתו הסמוכים על שולחנו כאיש אחד הן חשובין בין לעירובי חצירות בין לשתופי מבואות:
13
[The following rules apply when the inhabitants of] all the courtyards established eruvin for each of the courtyards, and afterwards they all joined in a shituf for the lane: When one of the inhabitants of a lane forgot to join in the eruv with the other inhabitants of his courtyard, he does not lose any [privileges]. For all of them have joined together in a shituf, and it is on the shituf that they rely.
The only reason it was required to establish an eruv within the courtyards, together with the shituf, is so that the children will not forget the law of the eruv.29 [And in this instance, that requirement has been met,] for eruvin were established in the courtyards.
If, however, one of the inhabitants of the lane forgot to join in the shituf, carrying is forbidden in the lane.30 The inhabitants of the courtyards, however, may carry in their [respective] courtyards. [When a shituf is not established,] the relationship between courtyards and a lane is parallel to that between homes and a courtyard.31
יג
מבוי שעירבו כל חצירות שבו כל חצר וחצר בפני עצמה ואחר כך נשתתפו כולן במבוי. שכח אחד מבני החצר ולא עירב עם בני חצירו לא הפסיד כלום. שהרי כולם נשתתפו ועל השתוף סומכין ולא הצריכו לערב בחצירות עם השתוף אלא שלא לשכח לתינוקות תורת עירוב והרי עירבו בחצירות. אבל אם שכח אחד מבני המבוי ולא נשתתף אסורים במבוי ומותרין כל בני חצר לטלטל בחצרן שהמבוי לחצירות כחצר לבתים:
14
[The following rules apply when the inhabitants of all the courtyards] have joined in a shituf, but all have forgotten to establish eruvin for their respective courtyards: If they do not stint on sharing their bread,32 they may rely on the shituf for one Sabbath alone. This leniency is granted, however, only because of the difficulty [of their immediate circumstance].33
יד
נשתתפו במבוי ושכחו כולן לערב בחצירות. אם אין מקפידין על פרוסתן סומכין על השתוף בשבת הראשונה בלבד. ואין מתירין להן דבר זה אלא מדוחק:
15
When eruvin have been established between the courtyards and the homes [of a lane], but a shituf has not been established, carrying [an article] more than four cubits [within the lane] is forbidden, as [would be the law] within a carmelit.
[The rationale is that] since eruvin were established between the courtyards and the homes, the lane is considered as though it opened only to homes, and not to courtyards. Therefore, we are not allowed to carry within its area at all.34
If the inhabitants of the courtyards have not established eruvin, they may carry articles left in the [lane] at the commencement of the Sabbath throughout its entire area, as is the law regarding a courtyard in which an eruv was not established.35
טו
מבוי שלא נשתתפו בו אם עירבו חצירות עם הבתים אין מטלטלין בו אלא בארבע אמות ככרמלית. מאחר שעירבו חצירות עם הבתים נעשה המבוי כאילו אינו פתוח לו אלא בתים בלבד בלא חצירות. ולפיכך אין מטלטלין בכולן. ואם לא עירבו אנשי החצירות מטלטלין בכולן כלים ששבתו בתוכו כחצר שלא עירבו בה:
16
The laws that the inhabitants of a lane must follow with regard to a gentile36 or a Sadducee37 who dwells in one of the courtyards of a lane are the same as must be followed by the inhabitants of the courtyard. They must rent the gentile's domain within the courtyard from him or from one of the members of his household, and the Sadducee must subordinate the ownership of his domain.
If [only] one Jew and a gentile were dwelling in the lane, a shituf is not necessary.38 The same laws apply when many individuals [are members of one household and] rely on that household for their substance [and these individuals share a lane with a gentile].39
טז
עובד כוכבים או צדוקי השרוי בחצר שבמבוי דינו עם בני המבוי כדינו עם בני החצר ששוכרים מן העובד כוכבים או מאחד מבני ביתו רשותו שבמבוי. או מבטל להן הצדוקי. ואם היה במבוי עובד כוכבים וישראל אחד אינו צריך שיתוף. ודין ישראל אחד ודין רבים שהן סומכין על שלחן אחד דין אחד הוא:
17
When a gentile living in a lane has an opening40 from his courtyard to a valley, his presence does not cause [carrying] to be forbidden within the lane [although his courtyard also opens to the lane].41 Even if this entrance is small - merely four [handbreadths] by four [handbreadths] - and the gentile leads his camels and his wagons out through the other entrance, his presence does not cause [carrying] to be forbidden. For he is concerned only with the entrance that is distinctly his own - i.e., [the one leading to] the valley.
Similarly, if he has an entrance leading to an area that was enclosed for purposes other than habitation, [and that entrance] is larger than the area needed to sow two se'ah [of grain], it is regarded like an entrance to a valley, and his presence does not cause [carrying] to be forbidden. If, however, the enclosed area was the size needed to sow two se'ah of grain or less, [the gentile] is not concerned with [this area],42 and his presence causes [carrying] to be forbidden,43 unless [his domain] is rented from him.
יז
עובד כוכבים שהיה דר במבוי אם יש לו בחצירו פתח אחד לבקעה אינו אוסר על בני המבוי. ואפילו היה פתח קטן ארבעה על ארבעה אף על פי שמוציא גמלים וקרונות דרך הפתח שבמבוי אינו אוסר עליהן שאין דעתו אלא על פתח המיוחד לו שהוא לבקעה. וכן אם היה פתוח לקרפף שהוא יתר על בית סאתים הרי זה כפתוח לבקעה ואינו אוסר עליהן. היה בית סאתים או פחות אינו סומך עליהן ואוסר עליהן עד שישכרו ממנו:
18
[The following rule applies when] there is a lane that has gentiles living [in the courtyards] on one side and Jews living [in the courtyards] on the other side, and there are windows that open from each of the courtyards in which the Jews [live] to the other: Although they established eruvin via the windows, and thus are joined together as the members of a single household - and are, therefore, permitted to transfer [articles] to and from [one courtyard to another] via the windows - they are, nevertheless, forbidden to use the lane via its entrances44 unless they rent the domains from the gentiles. For the principle that [because of an eruv] the many become considered a single entity does not apply when there are gentiles involved.45
יח
מבוי שצדו אחד עובד כוכבים וצדו אחד ישראלים והיו חלונות פתוחות מחצר לחצר של ישראל ועירבו כולן דרך חלונות. אף על פי שנעשו כאנשי בית אחד ומותרין להוציא ולהכניס דרך חלונות הרי אלו אסורין להשתמש במבוי דרך פתחים עד שישכרו מן העובד כוכבים. שאין נעשים כיחיד במקום עובד כוכבים:
19
How is a shituf established in a city?46 Every courtyard should establish an eruv for itself, so that the children will not forget [the laws of eruvin]. Afterwards, all the inhabitants of the city join together in a shituf in the same way as a shituf is established in a lane.
If the city had once been the property of a single individual, even if later it became the property of many individuals, it is possible for all [the inhabitants] to join in a single shituf and [be permitted] to carry throughout the entire city.47 Similarly, although a city is owned by many, if it has only one entrance, all [the inhabitants] may join in a single shituf.48
יט
כיצד משתתפין במדינה. כל חצר וחצר מערבת לעצמה שלא לשכח התינוקות. ואחר כך משתתפין כל אנשי המדינה כדרך שמשתתפין במבוי. ואם היתה המדינה קנין יחיד אפילו נעשית של רבים משתתפין כולן שיתוף אחד ויטלטלו בכל המדינה. וכן אם היתה של רבים ויש לה פתח אחד משתתפין כולן שתוף אחד:
20
If, by contrast, [a city] was originally built as the property of many individuals,49 and it has two openings used for entrance and egress, the entire [city] may not be included in the eruv. [This applies even if the city later] becomes the private property of one individual. Instead, one area - even one house in one courtyard - is set aside,50 and a shituf is established in the remainder [of the city].
All the individuals who participate in the shituf are permitted [to carry] throughout the entire city with the exception of the place that was set aside. If there are many people [living in] the place [that was set aside], they are permitted to carry in that place if they make a shituf for themselves. They are, however, forbidden to carry throughout the remainder of the city.
כ
אבל אם היתה של רבים ויש לה שני פתחים שהעם נכנסין בזה ויוצאין בזה אפילו נעשית של יחיד אין מערבין את כולה אלא מניחין ממנה מקום אחד אפילו בית אחד בחצר אחת ומשתתפין השאר. ויהיו אלו המשתתפין כולן מותרין בכל המדינה חוץ מאותו מקום ששיירו. ויהיו אותן הנשארים מותרין במקומן בשיתוף שעושין לעצמן אם היו הנשארים רבים ואסורין לטלטל בשאר כל המדינה:
21
This was instituted to make a distinction, so that [the inhabitants know that the eruv made carrying possible in this large city through which many people pass.51 [For they will see] the place that was set aside, which did not join in the shituf, in which carrying is forbidden. [Each group of individuals, the inhabitants of the city and the inhabitants of the area that was set aside] will have their separate [area].
כא
ודבר זה משום היכר הוא כדי שידעו שהעירוב התיר להן לטלטל במדינה זו שרבים בוקעין בה. שהרי המקום שנשאר ולא נשתתף עמהן אין מטלטלין בו אלא אלו לעצמן ואלו לעצמן:
22
When a city belonging to many individuals has one entrance and has a ladder52 [that could be used to enter or depart] at another place [in its wall], it [is possible to include] the entire [city] in the eruv; no portion need be set aside. For a ladder in the wall is not considered to be an entrance.53
The houses that are set aside [and are not included in the shituf] need not face the city. Even if they face the outside area, and their back is towards the city, they may be [designated as the houses that are] set aside, and then an eruv may be established throughout the remainder [of the city].54
כב
מדינה של רבים שיש לה פתח אחד וסולם במקום אחר מערבין את כולה ואינה צריכה שיור שאין הסולם שבחומה חשוב כפתח. הבתים שמניחין אותו שיור אף על פי שאינן פתוחין לעיר אלא אחוריהן לעיר ופניהם לחוץ עושין אותו שיור ומערבין את השאר:
23
When a person grants a portion in the shituf to all the inhabitants of a city,55 if all the inhabitants join in the same shituf56 he is not required to inform them, for [being included] is to their advantage.
The laws that apply to a person who forgot and did not join in a shituf with the inhabitants of a city,57 to one who spent the Sabbath in another city,58 or to a situation in which gentiles are present59 in the city are the same as those that apply in a courtyard and in a lane.60
כג
המזכה בשיתוף לבני המדינה. אם עירבו כולן עירוב אחד אינו צריך להודיען שזכות הוא להן. ודין מי ששכח ולא נשתתף עם בני המדינה או מי שהלך לשבות בעיר אחרת או עובד כוכבים שהיה עמהן במדינה דין הכל כדינם בחצר ומבוי:
24
When all the inhabitants of a city with the exception of the inhabitants of a single lane join together in a shituf, [the presence of these individuals] causes [carrying] to be forbidden for all. [The inhabitants] should61 build a pillar62 at the entrance to the lane, so that [carrying] is not forbidden.
For this reason, a shituf is not established in half a city.63 Either the entire city joins in the shituf or [separate shitufim are made], each lane for itself. Each lane should build a pillar at its entrance to keep its domain distinct from the others, so that it will not cause [the inhabitants of] the other lanes to be forbidden [to carry].
כד
מדינה שנשתתפו כל יושביה חוץ ממבוי אחד הרי זה אוסר על כלן. ואם בנו מצבה על פתח המבוי אינו אוסר לפיכך אין מערבין מדינה לחצאין אלא או כולה או מבוי מבוי. ובונה כל מבוי ומבוי מצבה על פתחו אם רצה לחלוק רשותו מהן כדי שלא יאסור על שאר המבואות
FOOTNOTES
1.A shituf established by the inhabitants of a lane is mentioned because it can be established with other types of food besides bread. In contrast, an eruv for a courtyard may be established only with bread (Chapter 1, Halachah 8). The Rashba (as quoted by the Maggid Mishneh) states that the same principle would apply if the inhabitants of a courtyard established a business partnership for the sale of bread.
2.The Tur (Orach Chayim 366) states that even if the partnership involves several types of produce, as long as it is stored in a single container, the inhabitants may rely on it for the sake of the Sabbath. The Ramah (Orach Chayim 386:3) quotes this ruling.
3.The Rambam's ruling is based on Eruvin 68a. In his commentary on that passage, Rashi explains that this refers to the food set aside for the shituf. If the person asks for some of this food and it is not given to him, the eruv is nullified.
Although this does not appear to be the Rambam's intent, the Kessef Mishneh explains that his words can be interpreted in this manner. [And in the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 366:5), Rav Yosef Karo rules according to his explanation in the Kessef Mishneh]. The Ra'avad goes further and explains that this law applies only when one person has granted others a share in his produce for the purpose of establishing a shituf. If, afterwards, he refuses to allow one of the members of the lane to take from the shituf, the shituf is nullified.
4.With the intent of nullifying the shituf.
5.I.e., in contrast to the previous law, this person was not a regular participant in the shituf.
6.I.e., the communal court may compel him to join the shituf. Nevertheless, in contrast to the previous law, the matter may not be dealt with by the inhabitants of the lane themselves (Maggid Mishneh). This ruling is quoted by the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 367:1).
The Noda BiY'hudah (Vol. II, Choshen Mishpat, Responsum 39) points to Hilchot Sh'chenim 5:12 (quoted in the Shulchan Aruch, Choshen Mishpat 162:1), which appears to contradict this interpretation, for it states that the members of the lane may compel each other to build a pole or a beam for a courtyard. The Noda BiY'hudah explains, however, that there is a difference between the structure of a courtyard (i.e., the pole or the beam) and participation in an eruv.
7.According to most authorities, the inhabitants of such a courtyard have the right to establish a shituf with the inhabitants of both lanes, if they desire. If they chose this option, they may bring articles to and from both lanes. The Maggid Mishneh maintains that the Rambam accepts this view, as well.
There are opinions (see Rabbenu Yehonatan) that maintain that Rabbenu Yitzchak Alfasi differs with this view, and maintains that in such a situation, the inhabitants of the courtyard may join in a shituf with the inhabitants of only one lane. Some maintain that the Rambam also accepts this view. This is surely the opinion of the Ra'avad, who objects to the Rambam's ruling here.
This interpretation cannot be justified in light of the Rambam's ruling in Halachah 7. Accordingly, Merkevet HaMishneh offers a different interpretation of Rabbenu Yitzchak Alfasi's view, as is explained in the following note.
8.In Chapter 1, Halachah 20, the Rambam states: "A person need not inform the inhabitants of a lane or a courtyard that he has granted them [a portion of food] and established an eruv for them, for these deeds are to their benefit, and a person may grant a colleague benefit without the latter's knowledge."
The rationale behind that ruling is that it is surely to the benefit of the inhabitants of a courtyard to be able to bring articles to and from areas outside their courtyard. In this instance, however, the establishment of a shituf is not necessarily to the benefit of the inhabitants of that courtyard, and they must therefore be notified beforehand.
The Maggid Mishneh explains that the shituf is not necessarily to their benefit, because they have another alternative to transfer articles to and from the courtyard from outside. Hence, it is possible that the inhabitants of the courtyard do not desire to join in the shituf with this lane, lest doing so increase the amount of human traffic in their courtyard.
According to Rabbenu Yitzchak Alfasi's view, the question facing the inhabitants of this courtyard is: If they do not join in a shituf with either of the lanes, they are allowed to transfer articles left in the courtyard at the commencement of the Sabbath to and from both the lanes. Should they join in a shituf with only one of the lanes, although their opportunities are greatly increased with regard to transferring articles to and from the lane with which they established the shituf, they lose the opportunity to transfer articles to and from the other lane. Perhaps they would desire to maintain the situation as it was originally rather than forfeit this opportunity.
9.In this ruling, the Rambam's interpretation of Eruvin 80a (the source for this halachah) parallels that of Rabbenu Chanan'el. Rashi, the Ra'avad, and others offer a directly opposite interpretation of that passage. The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 367:1) follows the latter view.
The Ra'avad's objection to the Rambam's ruling revolves around the interpretation of the passage cited above, which begins:
A [gentile] officer lived in Rabbi Zeira's neighborhood. [The Jews] offered to rent his domain on the Sabbath, but he refused.
They came to Rabbi Zeira and asked whether they could rent it from his wife. He told them, "...A person's wife may establish an eruv on his behalf without his knowledge."
According to the Rambam, the law Rabbi Zeira cites as support is not entirely analogous to the situation regarding which he was asked. A Jew's wife may establish an eruv without his knowledge, but not against his will. A gentile's wife, by contrast, may rent out his domain even when he has already refused (Sefer HaKovetz).
10.Since they agreed to join in the shituf previously, we assume that they desire to continue the arrangement (Levush, Orach Chayim 368:1).
11.Rashi (Eruvin 80b) explains that this refers to establishing the second shituf with a different type of produce, rather than establishing the first eruv with two types of produce. His approach is cited by the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 368:1).
12.Note Chapter 1, Halachah 11, where the Rambam states that a shituf can be established using two types of produce. The Ra'avad objects both there and here.
13.See Chapter 1, Halachah 9.
14.Merkevet HaMishneh explains that, even according to the Rambam, using two types of produce for a shituf is undesirable. Therefore, if the shituf must be established anew, it is necessary to check whether the inhabitants of the lane consent.
15.For perhaps they would desire to establish the shituf with the inhabitants of the other lane.
16.See the notes on Halachah 4.
17.Unless they join together in a shituf.
18.Since there is a courtyard in their lane that has not joined in the shituf, all the inhabitants of the lane are forbidden to carry.
19.Unless they join in a shituf.
20.Even when they do not join in a shituf.
21.Provided they establish an eruv for themselves.
22.Based on the principles stated in the previous halachah, it would seem that the fact that the inhabitants of this courtyard have not joined in the shituf of the lane through which they usually pass would cause carrying to be forbidden in this lane. Nevertheless, since the inhabitants of this courtyard have another alternative, they are considered part of the courtyard through which they do not usually pass. The rationale is that through this decision, one group of people (the inhabitants of the lane who established a shituf) benefits (for their shituf is considered acceptable), and another group (the inhabitants of the courtyard in question) does not lose (for they are forbidden to carry regardless) [Eruvin 49a].
23.As the Rambam explains in Hilchot Shabbat 16:3, this is an area of 5000 square cubits. The Sages forbade carrying in such an area, even when it is surrounded by a proper partition (loc. cit.:1-2).
24.I.e., we assume that the entrance that is more important to them is the entrance to the enclosed area and not the entrance to the lane. Hence, the fact that they have an entrance to the lane is of no significance.
25.See Chapter 4, Halachah 13.
26.See also Halachah 24 and Chapter 4, Halachah 16.
27.See Chapter 2, Halachot 1-5.
28.Chapter 4, Halachah 1.
29.I.e., an eruv established within a courtyard will be seen by the children, and they will know that it is only because of this eruv that the restrictions against carrying are relaxed. If, however, there is only a shituf in the lane, it is unlikely to be noticed by the children, and they will not know about the restrictions established by our Sages (Eruvin 73b). (See, however, the notes on the following halachah.)
30.For the shituf requires the participation of all the inhabitants of the lane.
31.See Halachah 15.
32.I.e., if one person will give a colleague bread - other than the bread of the shituf - when asked (Ra'avad, Maggid Mishneh, based on the Jerusalem Talmud, Eruvin 6:8).
33.Rav Moshe HaCohen notes an apparent contradiction between this halachah and Chapter 1, Halachah 19, which states that if a shituf was established with bread, there is no need for eruvin within the courtyards, because the children will be aware of the collection of loaves of bread. He maintains that this leniency may be accepted at all times. The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 387:1) accepts this view.
The Ramah mentions an even greater leniency. He maintains that we may rely on the shituf although eruvin were not established, even when the shituf was established with wine or other foods. His rationale is that in Talmudic times, the shituf was established by one member of each courtyard, who acted on behalf of all the inhabitants. At present, however, all the inhabitants of the lane contribute individually to the shituf.
This rationale is not accepted by the later authorities; Shulchan Aruch HaRav 387:1 and the Mishnah Berurah 387:12 suggest following the opinion of the Shulchan Aruch.
34.The Rambam's ruling is based on his conception [Hilchot Shabbat 17:8; Commentary on the Mishnah (Eruvin 6:8)] that a lane must have several courtyards and several houses open to it.
The Ra'avad, Rav Moshe HaCohen, and others object to the Rambam's ruling, explaining that it follows the opinion of Rav (Shabbat 131a). Nevertheless, the halachah ultimately follows the view of Shmuel (Eruvin 74a), who maintains that the lane and the courtyards are considered to be a single entity. According to this view, when a shituf has not been established, there is no difference whether or not eruvin have been established within the courtyards. Shulchan Aruch HaRav 388:1 and the Mishnah Berurah 388:4 rule according to this view.
The Mishnah Berurah adds that the stringency suggested by the Rambam applies only when the open side of the lane is adjusted with a pole or a beam. If, however, the open side is adjusted with a frame of an entrance, even the Rambam would agree that one is permitted to carry articles that were left in the lane at the beginning of the Sabbath.
35.See Chapter 3, Halachot 18-19.
36.See Chapter 2, Halachah 10.
37.See Chapter 2, Halachah 16.
38.See Chapter 2, Halachah 9.
39.See Chapter 4, Halachah 1.
40.We have translated the Hebrew פתח as "opening," rather than "entrance," in light of the ruling of the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 389:1) that a window is sufficient.
41.As reflected by Halachah 10, when a person has one entrance that is semi-private and another that is more public, the entrance that is more private is considered to be the one he will prefer. Since the gentile has an alternative of this nature, his presence does not cause carrying to be forbidden within the lane.
42.Because of its small size.
43.Significantly, these laws are directly opposite to those applying to a Jew, as mentioned in Halachah 10.
44.I.e., one might think that since they are joined together as a single entity, the leniency mentioned in the final clause of Halachah 16 would apply. This, however, is not the case, as the Rambam proceeds to state.
45.See Chapter 2, Halachah 15.
46.This refers to a city surrounded by a wall that has gates, for in this way it is a private domain according to the Torah (Maggid Mishneh). Other authorities - and these are the views accepted by many today - accept the possibility of a city's being encompassed by an eruv consisting of wires or string that forms an imaginary wall. The acceptability of such an enclosure is discussed in Hilchot Shabbat 16:16 and notes.
47.I.e., in contrast to the situation mentioned in the following halachah, there is no need to set a certain area outside the eruv.
48.Since the city has only one entrance, it does not resemble a public domain, and the chance that people will develop a misconception is far less. Hence, no additional measure is necessary (Mishnah Berurah 292:5).
49.This represents the Rambam's interpretation of Eruvin 59a,b. The Rashba and the Ritba offer similar, but slightly different interpretations of the passage. Significantly, Rashi interprets the Hebrew עיר של רבים as referring to a city populated by more than 600,000. His view is cited in Shulchan Aruch HaRav 392:1 and the Mishnah Berurah 392:7 as an explanation for the reason that this law is not practiced at present.
50.For the reasons explained in the following halachah.
51.Since the city resembles a public domain, allowing people to carry might create a misconception. Unless a portion of the city were set aside, it is possible that some might entirely lose awareness of the prohibition against carrying.
52.Or even several ladders (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 392:2).
53.Although at times a ladder is considered to be an entrance (e.g., Chapter 3, Halachah 2), this instance is judged by different criteria.
54.These individuals are less likely to be upset about being excluded from the eruv of the city. (See Eruvin 60a.)
55.See Chapter 1, Halachah 20.
56.The Maggid Mishneh (cited also by the Mishnah Berurah 392:34) notes that the Rambam's wording implies that if only a portion of the inhabitants of a city join in the shituf, we do not automatically assume that a person would prefer to be part of them. Perhaps he would prefer to be associated with those who were not included.
57.See Chapter 2, Halachah 1.
58.See Chapter 4, Halachah 13.
59.See Chapter 2, Halachah 9; Chapter 4, Halachah 13; and Halachah 16 of the present chapter.
60.Today, when eruvin are made in cities where Jews and gentiles live together, the gentiles' domains are usually rented through an arrangement negotiated with the municipal authorities. Since these authorities have a certain dimension of control over all land under their jurisdiction, and can enter all homes with a court order, they are entitled to rent the domain for all the gentiles living in this area.
61.Merkevet HaMishneh explains that the Rambam's wording implies that the inhabitants must either join in the shituf or erect a pillar.
62.See Chapter 4, Halachah 16; and Halachah 11 of the present chapter.
63.The Maggid Mishneh (in his gloss on Halachah 19) and the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 392:5) interpret this to be referring to a city that is surrounded by a wall with gates.
The Rambam's intent is interpreted to mean that if the pillar is erected in the middle of the public domain, it is not sufficient to divide one part of the city from the other.
If the city is not surrounded by a wall, it is not a private domain according to Torah law. It is possible to enclose a portion by using a Halachic conception of an enclosure, a tzurat hapetach, "a frame of an entrance," but the entire city may not be enclosed in this manner.
Hayom Yom:
• English Text | Video ClassMonday, Cheshvan 24, 5778 · 11/13/2017"Today's Day"
Monday, Cheshvan 24, 5704
Torah lessons: Chumash: Tol'dot, Sheini with Rashi.
Tehillim: 113-118.
Tanya: XXXI. Well-known (p. 587) ...all the limbs... (p. 591).
In material matters one should always look at he whose situation is lower than one's own, and thank the good G-d for His kindness to him.
In spiritual matters one should always look at he who is higher than oneself, and plead with G-d to grant him the intelligence to learn from the other, and the ability and strength to rise higher.1
FOOTNOTES
1.See Sivan 30.
Daily Thought:
Love & Trust
Trust is the child of love, for where love showers down, trust will grow.
And since it is a child, the reciprocal is also true: As the child’s call awakens a parent from deep sleep, so trust awakens the love that gave birth to it.
Provide love; trust will be born from it.
Demonstrate your trust, and it will awaken love.
So it is with a child and a parent. So it is with two good friends. So it is with any marriage. Your love may hibernate in deep sleep, but you have trust that the other holds love inside, and in that trust, love awakens once more.
So it is with the love affair between your soul and her Beloved above. Trust that He is in love with you, and your love will awaken.
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