Eruvin

where the onion has not grown [to the length of] a span but where it has grown to that length there can be no objection.1 R. Papa said: This has been said only where one drank no beer [with them] but where one did drink some beer2 there can be no danger.1 Our Rabbis taught: No one should eat onion on account of the poisonous fluid3 it contains; and it once happened that R. Hanina ate half an onion and half of its poisonous fluid and became so ill that he was on the point of dying. His colleagues, however, begged for heavenly mercy, and he recovered because his contemporaries needed him.4 R. Zera laid down in the name of Samuel: From beer an ‘erub may be prepared and [if it consists of a quantity] of three log5 it renders a ritual bath6 ineffectual.7 R. Kahana demurred: Is not this8 obvious? For what [difference is there in this respect] between it and dye-water concerning which we learned: R. Jose ruled: Dye-water of a quantity of three log renders a ritual bath ineffectual?9 -It may be replied: There9 [the liquid] is called dye-water10 but here it is called beer.11 And with what quantity [of beer] may an erub be prepared? — R. Aha son of R. Joseph proposed to say before R. Joseph: With two quarters12 of beer, as we learned, ‘If a man carries out13 wine [he incurs guilt if its quantity was] sufficient for mixing the cup’,14 and in connection with this it was taught: ‘[It must be] sufficient for mixing a handsome cup . What [is meant by] ‘a handsome cup’? The cup of benediction. And R. Nahman stated in the name of Rabbah b. Abbuha, ‘The cup of benediction must contain a quarter of a quarter,15 so that when one dilutes it16 it consists of a quarter;’ this being in agreement with Raba who land down that ‘any wine which cannot stand [an admixture of] three [parts of] water to one [of wine] is no proper wine’. And in the final clause17 it was stated: And in the case of any other liquids [the prescribed quantity]18 is a quarter’ and in that of any liquid refuse’ it is also a quarter’.’ Now since there19 [the quantities prescribed are] four20 to one21 so here22 also [the quantity prescribed should be] four20 to one.23 [The ruling,] however, is not so. There19 the reason24 is that less than that quantity is of no importance, but here22 [this does] not [apply, for] it is usual for people to drink one cup25 in the morning and another25 in the evening and to rely upon these [as their meals].26 With how much dates [may an ‘erub be prepared]? — R. Joseph replied: With one kab. Sand R. Joseph: Whence do I derive this? From what was taught: ‘If a man27 consumed [unwittingly] dried figs28 and paid for them with dates, may a blessing come upon him.’29 How [is this repayment to] be understood? If it be suggested [to be one] corresponding to the value30 [of the figs, viz.,] that he ate of the priest's figs31 the value of one zuz32 and repays him for it [dates] for a zuz,32 why [it may be asked] should a blessing come upon him, seeing that he consumed the value of a zuz and repays only the value of a zuz? Must it not then [be concluded that this repayment] corresponded in quantity, [viz.], that he ate a grivah33 of the priest's34 dried figs that was worth one zuz and repaid him a qrivah33 of dates that was worth four zuz, and [because of this] it was stated: ‘May a blessing come upon him’. Thus it clearly follows that dates are more valuable.35 Said Abaye to him:36 As a matter of fact the man may have consumed the priest's34 figs for a zuz and repaid him [dates] for a it and [in reply to your objection,] ‘why should a blessing come upon him?’ Because he consumed from the priest34 something which is not much in demand37 and repaid him with something for which there is a big demand.38 [What quantity is required39 in the case of] shattitha?40 — R. Aha b. Phinehas replied: Two ladlesfull. Of roasted ears?- Abaye replied: Two Pumbedithan handfuls. Abaye stated: Nurse41 told me that roasted ears are beneficial to the heart and they banish morbid thought. Abaye further stated: Nurse told me: If a man suffers from weakness of the heart let him fetch the flesh of the right flank of a male beast and42 excrements of cattle43 [cast in the month] of Nisan, and if excrements of cattle are not available let him fetch some willow twigs, and let him roast it,44 eat it, and after that drink some diluted wine.45 Rab Judah stated in the name of Samuel: Any relish46 [must consist of a quantity that is] sufficient to eat with it [a quantity of bread for two meals] but any [foodstuff] that is no relish [must consist of a quantity] sufficient in itself for two meals.47 Raw meat [also must consist of a quantity] sufficient for two meals.’ As to roasted meat, Rabbah ruled [that it must be] sufficient to eat with it [a quantity of bread required for two meals], and R. Joseph ruled, [It must be] sufficient in itself for two meals.47 ‘Whence said R. Joseph, ‘do I derive this?48 [From the practice] of the Persians who eat chunks of roasted meat without bread’. Said Abaye to him: Are the Persians a majority of the world?49 Was it not in fact taught,50 The webs of the poor51 [are susceptible to uncleanness in the case] of the poor and the webs of the rich52 [are susceptible to uncleanness even in the case] of the rich means of a vessel, and beer of course comes under the category of ‘drawn’. water. required for its dilution before it can be drunk, has been added. quarter. log two quarters of a lab should be the quantity prescribed. much more so in the case of dates. Hence R. Joseph's ruling. former might be required for and erub. superstitions he often quoted.