Eruvin

Now, why [should this1 at all be necessary]? Let it rather be land down:2 Since one could carry it3 if one wished, [the ‘erub], though one had not actually carried it, is deemed to have been carried? — R. Zera replied: This1 is a preventive measure against the possibility of [not carrying it3 even when] a festival occurred on a Sunday.4 He pointed out to him [another] objection: If a man, intending to acquire his Sabbath abode in a public domain, deposited his ‘erub in a wall5 lower than ten handbreadths [from the ground], his ‘erub is effective,6 [but if he deposited it] above [a height of] ten handbreadths [from the ground]7 his ‘erub is ineffective.8 If he intended to make his abode on the top of a dove-cote, or on the top of a turret, his ‘erub is valid [if it lay9 at a height] above ten handbreadths [from the ground;10 but if it lay at a level] below ten handbreadths [from the ground]11 his ‘erub is ineffective.12 but why?13 Could it not be said here also14 [that the ‘erub is effective] ‘since one could incline [the dove-cote or the turret] and so lower it to a level of less than15 ten [handbreadths from the ground]’?16 — R. Jeremiah replied: Here we are dealing with a turret17 that was nailed [to the wall].18 Raba replied: It19 may be said to refer even to a turret17 that was not nailed [to a wall], for we might be dealing with a high turret20 which, were one to incline it a little,21 it would project22 beyond [the original area of] four cubits.23 But how is one to imagine [the circumstance]? If [the turret] had a window, and a cord [also was available, why should not the ‘erub] be taken up through the window by means of the cord?24 — This is a case where there was neither window nor cord. IF HE DEPOSITED IT IN A CISTERN EVEN IF IT IS A HUNDRED CUBITS DEEP etc. Where was this CISTERN situated? If it be suggested that it was situated in a private domain, the required spot on the Sabbath eve. It cannot be taken there on the Sabbath when the carrying of objects is forbidden. Consequently, had it not been instituted that an ‘erub must always be carried to the required spot, one might erroneously have formed the opinion that even in the case postulated the carrying of the ‘erub to the required spot is unnecessary; and this would have had the result that the ‘erub could be ineffective, since in this case carrying on the Sabbath being forbidden, the principle, ‘Since it might be carried etc.’ is obviously inapplicable. following cases as explained supra in the case of a tree. carrying is forbidden on the Sabbath proper by a Rabbinical measure only; and, as the twilight of the Sabbath eve is regarded as Sabbath proper also by a Rabbinical measure only and as one Rabbinical measure cannot he imposed upon another, the carrying in small stages has not been forbidden at twilight when the acquisition of the ‘abode’ takes place. the man would be standing when taking down the ‘erub from the wall). intervened between his private domain and that in which the ‘erub lay (cf. Shab. 96a) he could well descend to the level where the ‘erub was deposited and consume it there, since in respect of ‘erub and ‘abode’ all space above ten handbreadths from the ground is regarded as one and the same domain. lower ones. turret on account of the public domain that intervened between them. Should the man descend to the level of the ‘erub to consume it there, he would be leaving the domain of his abode for another domain which is contrary to the requirement that the ‘erub must be in a positioned from which it can be taken to the abode and eaten there. two Rabbinical measures are not imposed upon one another, it is permitted at twilight of the Sabbath eve to carry from a karmelith. This Baraitha obviously represents the view of Rabbi (v. Supra 32b) since its first clause recognizes the validity of an ‘erub that was deposited in a wall below ten handbreadths from the ground though in such circumstances the man's abode is in a public domain while his ‘erub is in a karmelith. be consumed within four cubits of the original position of the abode. apply to the twilight if Sabbath eve when the Sabbath abode is acquired. (This note follows Rashi's second, while the previous notes on the passage are based on Rashi's first explanation.)