Eruvin

In agreement with whose view did he act?1 Was it in agreement with that of R. Joseph according to R. Jose son of R. Judah?2 No;3 in agreement with Rabbah according to R.Judah.4 R. MEIR RULED: WHOSOEVER IS ABLE TO PREPARE AN ‘ERUB etc. Have we not already learnt this5 once: If this is doubtful, the man, said R. Meir and R. Judah, [is in the position of both] an ass-driver and a camel-driver?6 — R. Shesheth replied: Do not say that R. Meir's view is that only where it is doubtful whether a man had a valid ‘erub or not is he in the position of an ass-driver and a camel-driver and that where it is certain that he prepared no ‘erub he is not in such a position; but rather even where it is certain that he prepared no ‘erub he is in the position of an ass-driver and camel-driver; for here, surely, it is a case where It is certain that the man had prepared no ‘erub and yet he is put in the position of an ass-driver and a camel-driver. MISHNAH. HE WHO WENT OUT BEYOND HIS SABBATH LIMIT7 EVEN ONLY A DISTANCE OF ONE CUBIT MUST NOT RE-ENTER. R. ELIEZER RULED: [IF A MAN WALKED] TWO CUBITS BEYOND HIS SABBATH LIMIT HE MAY RE-ENTER,8 [AND IF HE WALKED] THREE CUBITS HE MAY NOT RE-ENTER.9 GEMARA. R. Hanina ruled: If a man had one foot within his Sabbath limit and his other foot without that Sabbath limit, he may not re-enter, for it is written in Scripture: If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath,10 the written form being ‘thy foot’.11 But was It not taught: If a man had one foot within his Sabbath limit and his other foot without, he may re-enter? — This represents the view of ‘Others’.12 For it was taught: Others maintain that a man is deemed to be13 where the greater part of his body is.14 Some there are who read: R. Hanina ruled: If a man had one foot within his Sabbath limit and his other foot without, he may re-enter, for it is written in Scripture: If thou turn away thy foot from Sabbath15 which is read as ‘thy feet’.16 But was it not taught: He may not re-enter? — He17 maintains the same view as ‘Others’, it having been taught: A man is deemed to be where the greater part of his body is. R. ELIEZER RULED: [IF A MAN WALKED)] TWO CUBITS BEYOND HIS SABBATH LIMIT HE MAY RE-ENTER [AND IF HE WALKED] THREE CUBITS HE MAY NOT RE-ENTER. But was it not taught: R. Eliezer ruled: If he walked one cubit beyond his Sabbath limit he may re-enter and if two cubits he may not reenter? — This is no difficulty, since the former18 refers to a person who left the first cubit but was still within the second,19 while the latter refers to one who left the second and was within the third.20 But was it not taught: R — Eliezer ruled: Even if he was one cubit beyond his Sabbath limit he may not re-enter? — This was taught concerning a measurer,21 for we have in fact learnt: And to the measurer of whom the Rabbis have spoken a distance of two thousand cubits only is allowed22 even if the end of his permitted measure terminated within a cave.23 MISHNAH. IF A MAN24 WAS OVERTAKEN BY DUSK WHEN ONLY ONE CUBIT OUTSIDE THE SABBATH LIMIT,25 HE MAY NOT ENTER IT. R. SIMEON RULED: EVEN IF HE WAS FIFTEEN CUBITS AWAY26 HE MAY ENTER SINCE THE SURVEYORS27 DO NOT MEASURE EXACTLY28 ON ACCOUNT OF THOSE WHO ERR.29 GEMARA. It was taught:30 On account of those who err in their measures.31 MISHNAH. HOW32 ARE THE SABBATH BOUNDARIES TO TOWNS EXTENDED?33 IF34 ONE HOUSE35 RECEDES36 AND ANOTHER PROJECTS,36 IF37 ONE TURRET [OF THE WALL] RECEDES AND ANOTHER PROJECTS, IF THERE WERE35 RUINS TEN HANDBREADTHS HIGH,38 Sabbath base between the two Sabbath limits on the sole ground that he had set out on the journey, though he made no explicit declaration. against those of R. Joseph are (with only three exceptions) the accepted law? base in question. Joseph according to R. Judah, but Rabbah is mentioned in preference (cf. prev. n.). opinion of R. Meir, in the position of an ass-driver and a camel-driver. Meir, is to be placed in the position of an ass-driver and a camel-driver. Is not then the ruling in our Mishnah, which could have been deduced From the Mishnah, superfluous? are to be measured with ‘him in the middle’, i.e.,two cubits only in either direction. Hence the ruling that he may re-enter. between the kere and the kethib of this word but some MSS. actually have lhkdr as the kethib. within the third one. Sabbath base, and who in consequence is entitled to measure with his foot two thousand moderate steps in the direction he desires to proceed. Should the two thousand Steps, plus the four cubits to which every person is entitled as his Sabbath base, terminate even a single cubit distance from his town he may not enter it. ground. Aliter: The surveyors themselves err in their measurements, because what they reckon as two thousand cubits is really only one thousand nine hundred and eighty-five. This is arrived at as follows: Since Sabbath limits are measured by a rope that was fifty cubits in length (cf. infra 59b) a Sabbath limit would equal in length 2000/50 = 40 ropes. As the rope was held by two men, one at either end covering in his grip a portion of the rope to the extent of one hand breadth and half a finger, each rope length actually represented 50-2 handbreadths and one finger. In 40 rope lengths the deficit amounted to 2 X 40 = 80 handbreadths plus 40 X 1 = 40 fingers. Four fingers being equal to one handbreadth and six handbreadths to one cubit, the total deficit amounted to 80 + 40/4 = 90 handbreadths 90/60 = 15 cubits (Rashi).