Eruvin

— That1 [refers to beet] that was only partially cooked.2 There are [others] who read: R. Hamnuna ruled: No "erub may be prepared from raw beet, for R. Hisda stated: ‘Raw beet kills a healthy man’.3 Do we not see, however, that people do eat [such beet] and yet do not die? — There4 [it is ‘case of beet] that was only partly cooked.2 R. Hisda stated: A dish of beet is beneficial for the heart and good for the eyes and even more so for the bowels. Abaye added: This applies only [to such beet] that remained5 on the stove until it was thoroughly cooked.6 Raba [once] said: ‘I am [to-day] in the condition of Ben Azzai in the markets of Tiberias’.7 Sand one of the younger Rabbis to him, ‘With what quantity of apples [may an ‘erub be prepared]?’ — ‘Is it permissible’, the other replied: ‘to prepare an erub from apples?’ — ‘Is it not [permitted]? Have we not in fact learnt: All kinds of food8 may be combined9 [to make up the prescribed quantity] of half of a half loaf10 in respect of rendering the body11 unfit,12 or [to make up the quantity of] food for two meals required for an ‘erub, or the size of an egg in respect of imparting food defilement?’13 — Rut what objection is this? If it be contended: Because it was stated: ‘all kinds of food’ and these’14 also are eatable, surely [it could be retorted] did not R. Johanan lay down that no inference may be drawn from general rulings even where an exception was been specified?15 — [The objection] rather is because it was stated: ‘or [to make up the quantity of] food for two meals required for an ‘erub or the size of an egg in respect of imparting food defilement’,16 and these14 also are subject to food defilement.17 Now with what quantity?18 — R. Nahman replied: In the case of apples it must be a kab.19 An objection was raised: R. Simeon b. Eliezer ruled: [The poor man's tithe20 must be21 of no less a quantity than] an ‘ukla22 of spices, a pound of vegetables, ten nuts, five peaches, two pomegranates or one ethrog;23 and Gursak b. Dari stated in the name of R. Menashia b. Shegobli who had it from Rab that [the same quantities were] also [applicable] to an ‘erub.24 Why then should not apples25 also be compared to peaches?26 — The others25 are valuable but these are not so valuable.27 ‘May the Lord’, exclaimed R. Joseph, ‘pardon R. Menashia b. Shegobli [this oversight; for] I made that statement28 in connection with a Mishnah and he29 applied it to a Baraitha! For we learned: Any poor man [applying] at the threshing floor [must be given]30 no less than half a kab of wheat, a kab of barley (R. Meir said: Half a kab of barley), a kab and a half of spelt, a kab of dried figs or a maneh31 of pressed figs (R. Akiba said: A half),32 half a log of wine (R. Akiba said: One quarter)33 or a quarter33 of oil (R. Akiba said: One eighth);33 and [in respect of] all other kinds of produce, Abba Saul ruled, [The quantities given must consist] of so much [food] as [would enable the recipient to] sell them and buy with their proceeds34 food for two meals.35 And [it was in connection with this Mishnah that] Rab stated that ‘[the same quantities were] also [applicable in the case] of an ‘erub’. On what ground, however, is preference given36 to the one rather than to the other?37 If it be suggested: Because in the Baraitha38 spices were mentioned, and spices are not eatables,39 [it might be retorted:] Are not wheat and barley mentioned in the Mishnah40 though they also41 are not eatables?42 — [The ground]43 rather is this:44 Because [in the Mishnah] ‘half a log of wine was mentioned and Rab has land down that an ‘erub may be prepared with two quarters [of a log] of wine’45 it may be concluded46 that when Rab said: ‘And the same quantities were also applicable to an ‘erub’ he must have been referring to this Mishnah. This is conclusive. The Master said: ‘Or [to make up the quantity of] food for two meals required for an ‘erub’. R. Joseph intended to lay down that [no ‘erub may be prepared] unless there is sufficient food of each kind to provide for a complete meal,47 but Rabbah said to him: Even [if each kind of food consisted only] of a half, a third or a quarter [of a meal].48 [To revert to] the main text: ‘Rab has land down that an ‘erub may be prepared with two quarters [of a log] of wine’. But do we require so much? Was it not in fact taught: R. Simeon b. Eleazar ruled: Wine [for an ‘erub must] suffice for soaking in it the bread,49 vinegar must suffice to dip in it [the meat], and olives and onions must suffice to provide a relish for the bread for two meals?50 — There51 [the reference is] to boiled wine.52 The Master said: ‘Vinegar must suffice to dip in it [the meat]’. Sand R. Giddal in the name of Rab, [It must] suffice to dip in it the food of two meals of vegetables.53 Others read: R. Giddal said in the name of Rab, [It must suffice to dip in it a quantity of) vegetables consumed in the course of two meals.54 The Master said: ‘Olives and onions must suffice to provide a relish for bread for two meals’. Is it, however, permitted to prepare all erub from onions? Was it not in fact taught: R. Simeon b. Eleazar stated: R. Meir once spent the Sabbath55 a’ Ardaska56 when a certain man appeared before him and said to him, ‘Master, I have prepared an ‘erub’ from onions [to enable me to walk] to Tibe'in’,57 and R. Meir ordered him to remain within his four cubits?58 — This is no difficulty, since one ruling deals59 with the leaves while the other refers to the bulbs.60 For it was taught: ‘If a man ate an onion and [was found] dead early [on the following morning] there is no need to ask what was the cause of his death’, and in connection with this Samuel stated: This was taught in respect of the leaves only but against [the eating of] the bulbs there call be no objection;61 and even regarding the leaves this has been said only place of Tiberias (cf. Bek. 58a). Raba felt so elated on the day this remark was made that he was prepared to accept any dialectical challenge. not thereby become unclean. any foodstuffs that are fit for the one are also suitable for the other. two meals was not meant to imply so much food as would provide two fully satisfying meals but only the quantity of any particular kind of food that is usually consumed in the course of two meals. While of peaches which are expensive no more than five would be consumed in the course of two meals, as much as a kab of apples would be consumed in the course of two such meals. applied to the former as much as to the latter? could not, therefore, be applied to them. kind suffices for One full meal of the two meals prescribed. Were more than two kinds of food to be allowed, each would represent less than the quantity required for one full meal. latter quantity? used as a drink only, no less than two quarters of a log are required. down, and Ardaska was on the way between the ‘erub and Tibe'in. move beyond his four cubits (cf. infra 41a) it is obvious that he regarded, an ‘erub of onions as ineffective. An objection against R. Simeon R. Eleazar.