עירובין 78 — Soncino English Talmud

¹If on a moulding of an area of four handbreadths by four handbreadths that projected from a wall a ladder of the smallest size was rested a valid reduction is thereby effected. This, however, applies only where the ladder was resting on it, but if it was placed at the side of its the latter is thereby merely extended. R. Nahman further stated in the name of Rabbah b. Abbuha: A wall that was nineteen handbreadths high requires only one projection to enable it to be used as a means of access, but a wall twenty handbreadths high requires for the purpose two projections. R. Hisda observed: This, however, applies only where they are not situated exactly one above the other. R. Huna ruled: If in a public domain there was a post ten handbreadths high and four handbreadths wide and a peg of the smallest size had been inserted on it, a valid reduction is thereby effected. R. Adda b. Ahabah observed: Provided the peg was three handbreadths high. Both Abaye and Raba, however, maintain: Even if it was not three handbreadths high. What is their reason? — Because it is no longer suitable for use. R. Ashi ruled: Even if it was three handbreadths high. What is the reason?- It is possible to suspend some object from it. R. Aha son of Raba asked R. Ashi, ‘What is the ruling where it was completely covered with pegs?’ — ‘Did you not hear’, the other replied: ‘the following ruling of R. Johanan: A pit and the bank around it combine to constitute a depth of ten handbreadths? Now seeing that [the bank] cannot be used why [should it be regarded as a private domain]? What then can you say in reply? That some object might be placed over it and thereby it is made available for use. Well then, here also some object might be placed [over them] and thereby it is made available for use’. Rab Judah citing Samuel ruled: A wall ten handbreadths high requires a ladder of fourteen handbreadths in length to render it permissible for use R. Joseph ruled: Even [a ladder] of thirteen handbreadths and a fraction [is sufficient]. Abaye ruled: Even one of eleven handbreadths and a fraction suffices. R. Huna son of R. Joshua ruled: Even one of seven handbreadths and a fraction suffices. Rab stated: That a ladder in a vertical position effects a reduction is a tradition but I do not know the reason for it. ‘Does not Abba’, Samuel said to him, ‘know the reason for this ruling? The case is in fact similar to that of a balcony above a balcony’. Rabbah citing R. Hiyya said: The palm-trees of Babylon need not be fixed to the ground. What is the reason? Their heaviness imparts permanency of position to them. R. Joseph, however, citing R. Oshaia, ruled: The ladders in Babylon need not be fixed in position. What is the reason? Their heaviness imparts permanency of position to them. He who spoke of ladders would a fortiori apply the same ruling to palm-trees. He, however, who spoke of palm-trees does not apply the same ruling to ladders. R. Joseph enquired of Rabbah: What is the ruling where two ladders were held together by straw links between them? The sole of the foot, the other replied, cannot ascend upon them. What is your ruling if the ladder was in the middle and the straw links were on each side? — Behold, the other replied, the sole of the foot does ascend upon them.58^ᵃ^ᵇ^ᶜ^ᵈ^ᵉ^ᶠ^ᵍ^ʰ^ⁱ^ʲ^ᵏ^ˡ^ᵐ^ⁿ^ᵒ^ᵖ^ᵠ^ʳ^ˢ^ᵗ^ᵘ^ᵛ^ʷ^ˣ^ʸ^ᶻ^ᵃᵃ^ᵃᵇ^ᵃᶜ^ᵃᵈ^ᵃᵉ^ᵃᶠ^ᵃᵍ^ᵃʰ^ᵃⁱ^ᵃʲ^ᵃᵏ^ᵃˡ^ᵃᵐ^ᵃⁿ^ᵃᵒ^ᵃᵖ^ᵃᵠ^ᵃʳ^ᵃˢ^ᵃᵗ^ᵃᵘ^ᵃᵛ^ᵃʷ^ᵃˣ^ᵃʸ^ᵃᶻ^ᵇᵃ^ᵇᵇ^ᵇᶜ^ᵇᵈ^ᵇᵉ^ᵇᶠ

^ᵃnote:Between two courtyards.
^ᵇnote:Sc. even one whose width was less than four handbreadths, but whose rungs were fixed within three handbreadths from one another, and the lowest one was within three handbreadths from tºe ground.
^ᶜnote:So that the moulding formed a kind of platform which the ladder resting on it joined with the courtyard floor below.
^ᵈnote:Because the platform above is of the prescribed size and, together with the ladder, constitutes a valid means of access between the courtyards.
^ᵉnote:The moulding.
^ᶠnote:The top of the ladder resting on the wall itself’.
^ᵍnote:But as the ladder now forms no connection between it and the ground it is, on account of the distance of the latter from it, no valid reduction.
^ʰnote:Between two courtyards.
^ⁱnote:In the middle of its height on which the top of a ladder may be supported.
^ʲnote:Between the courtyards. Lit., ‘to make it permitted’. A projection in the middle point of a height of nineteen handbreadths leaves a distance of less than ten handbreadths both below and above it.
^ᵏnote:One below the lower ten handbreadths of the height of the wall and the other within ten handbreadths from the top.
^ˡnote:That the two projections form, valid reduction.
^ᵐnote:So that it is possible to connect the two to each other by means of a second ladder.
^ⁿnote:Sc. four by four. A post of such dimensions constitutes a private domain from which into the public domain and from the public domain into which the movement of objects on the Sabbath is forbidden.
^ᵒnote:In its surface on the top so that uppermost area was reduced to one of less than four handbreadths.
^ᵖnote:The post loses the status of a private domain.
^ᵠnote:if it was smaller it is regarded as part of the surface of the top of the post.
^ʳnote:The peg.
^ˢnote:The top of the post.
^ᵗnote:Since the peg, however low it may be, breaks up the top's surface.
^ᵘnote:The post is still regarded as a private domain.
^ᵛnote:And since the post can still be used as a private domain for this purpose, the peg cannot effect any valid reduction in the surface of its top which, consequently, remains a private domain.
^ʷnote:In consequence of which it cannot be use‘ at all. Is its size in this case deemed to be reduced and the post, therefore, loses its status as a private domain or is the law in the case of many pegs the same as in that of one peg?
^ˣnote:Lit., ‘that which . . . said’.
^ʸnote:Lit., ‘and its segment’, Sc. a segment of the earth excavated from the pit and placed around its rim.
^ᶻnote:The prescribed minimum of depth constituting a private domain. The thickness of the bank similarly combines with the hole of the pit to constitute the prescribed minimum of four handbreadths by four (cf. Shab, 99a).
^ᵃᵃnote:Since a part of the prescribed minimum is the hole (cf. prev. n.).
^ᵃᵇnote:A board or a flat stone.
^ᵃᶜnote:Where the top of a post is covered with pegs.
^ᵃᵈnote:Having a surface of four handbreadths by four.
^ᵃᵉnote:Over the Pegs.
^ᵃᶠnote:The post the top of which is completely covered with pegs is, therefore, regarded as a private domain.
^ᵃᵍnote:Between two courtyards.
^ᵃʰnote:Placed in a slanting positHon at a distance of ten handbreadths from the wall with its top resting on the top edge of the wall (v. foll. n.).
^ᵃⁱnote:Sc. to allow free movement of objects between the courtyards. As the ladder, the wall, and the part of the courtyard floor between the latter and the foot of the former represent respectively the hypotenuse and the two sides of an isosceles right-angled triangle, and since the wall is ten handbreadths high and the distance between the foot of the ladder and the wall is also (cf. prev. n.) ten handbreadths, the length, or height of the ladder must be (10 + 10 X 2/5 approx. = 10 + 4 =) 14 handbreadths approx. (cf. Tosaf. a.l.).
^ᵃʲnote:A handbreadth less than the length required by Rab Judah.
^ᵃᵏnote:In his opinion it is either not necessary (cf. Supra n. 5) to remove the foot of the ladder as much as ten handbreadths from the wall, or it suffices if its top reaches only to within one handbreadth from the top of the wall (cf. R. Han.).
^ᵃˡnote:Three handbreadths less than the length required by Rab Judah.
^ᵃᵐnote:Since a distance of three handbreadths may be disregarded in accordance with the principle of labud, it suffices for the ladder to reach the wall at a height of seven handbreadths and a fraction (cf. supra n. 7 mut. mut.).
^ᵃⁿnote:He maintains that a ladder in a vertical position effects the same permissibility as one in a slanting position. By putting the ladder close to the wall in a vertical position its top reaching a point within three handbreadths from the top of the wall, on the principle of labud (cf. prev. n.) this point may be regarded as the top of the wall.
^ᵃᵒnote:Sc. why should a ladder in such a position, in which one can hardly climb upon it, effect a reduction?
^ᵃᵖnote:Sc. Rab. His proper name was Abba while Rab (‘Master’) was a title of distinction he earned as the foremost Master of his time.
^ᵃᵠnote:Samuel was merely explaining the tradition. He himself, as stated supra by Rab Judah, requires a standing ladder of fourteen handbreadths.
^ᵃʳnote:Supra 77b, where reduction is effected though the balconies are exactly one above the other and one can hardly climb from the one into the other.
^ᵃˢnote:If their cut trunks were placed beside a wall that intervened between two courtyards.
^ᵃᵗnote:Sc. they effect reduction, though, being suitable as seats, they have the status of articles that may be moved from their places on the Sabbath.
^ᵃᵘnote:Since no one would be likely to shift them from their place during the Sabbath.
^ᵃᵛnote:Cf. Supra n. 2 mut. mut.
^ᵃʷnote:R. Oshaia.
^ᵃˣnote:If ladders that are not so heavy as the palm-trees effect reduction how much more so the latter.
^ᵃʸnote:R. Hiyya.
^ᵃᶻnote:Cf. supra n. 7 mut. mut.
^ᵇᵃnote:Each less than two handbreadths wide.
^ᵇᵇnote:That formed rungs similar to those of the ladders and supplemented their width to the prescribed minimum of four handbreadths. Lit., ‘a ladder from here and a ladder from here and straws in the middle’.
^ᵇᶜnote:The straw links. Since it is the middle of the ladder, on which one's foot is usually put when ascending, and since that middle part consists of straw links that are unsuitable for the purpose, the ladder cannot effect any reduction.
^ᵇᵈnote:Whose width was less than the prescribed minimum of four handbreadths.
^ᵇᵉnote:Lit., ‘straws from here and straws from here and a ladder in the middle’.
^ᵇᶠnote:The rungs of the ladder. When ascending on these which are in the middle, one uses the straw links on either side as supports for one's hands. The entire structure may, therefore, be regarded as a unit of the prescribed size and reduction may thereby be effected.

²If grooves to supplement the width of the ladder, were cut in the wall, up to what height must this be carried? — To ten handbreadths, the other replied. If, he again asked him, all the ladder was cut in the wall, up to what height must this be carried? — Up to its full height, the other replied. Wherein, however, lies the difference? In the former case the other replied, one can easily ascend [to the top of the wall], while in the latter case this cannot be done. R. Joseph enquired of Rabbah: What is the ruling if a tree was set aside as a ladder? The enquiry is made with reference to the view of Rabbi and it is also made with reference to that of the Rabbis. It is made with reference to the view of Rabbi’ since It is possible that Rabbi applied the principle that ‘any act that is forbidden as shebuth is not subject to that prohibition during twilight’ only there where the crucial moment is at twilight, but [not where] the entire day [is involved]; or is it possible that even according to the Rabbis the tree may have the status of a doorway, except that it is one at the side of which a lion crouches? What again is the ruling where an Asherah was set aside to serve as a ladder? The enquiry is made with reference to the view of R. Judah and it is also made with reference to that of the Rabbis. It ‘is made with reference to the view of R. Judah’ since it is possible that R. Judah applied the principle that a house may be bought with objects the benefit from which is forbidden, only there, because after the ‘erub had enabled hint to acquire the place its owner derives no further satisfaction from its preservation; or is it possible that even according to the Rabbis an Asherah has the status of a doorway, except that a lion crouches at its side? — A tree, the other replied, is permitted but an Asherah is forbidden. R. Hisda demurred: On the contrary! A tree the restriction on the use of which is due to the incidence of the Sabbath should be forbidden, while an Asherah the restrictions on which are due to an external cause should not be forbidden. So it was also stated: When Rabin came he reported in the name of R. Eleazar or, as others say: R. Abbahu reported in the name of R. Johanan: Any object the restriction of the use of which is clue to the incidence of the Sabbath is forbidden, while in object the restriction on which is due to an external cause is permitted. R. Nahman b. Isaac taught thus: [The permissibility of] a tree is a question at issue between Rabbi and the Rabbis and that of an Asherah is a question at issue between R. Judah and the Rabbis. MISHNAH. IF A TRENCH BETWEEN TWO COURTYARDS WAS TEN HANDBREADTHS DEEP AND FOUR HANDBREADTHS WIDE, TWO ‘ERUBS MAY BE PREPARED BUT NOT ONE, EVEN IF IT WAS FULL OF STUBBLE OR STRAW. IF, HOWEVER, IT WAS FULL OF EARTH OR GRAVEL, ONLY ONE ‘ERUB MAY BE PREPARED, BUT NOT TWO. IF A BOARD FOUR HANDBREADTHS WIDE WAS PLACED ACROSS IT, AND SO ALSO WHERE TWO BALCONIES WERE OPPOSITE ONE ANOTHER, THE TENANTS MAY PREPARE TWO ‘ERUBS OR, IF THEY PREFER, ONLY ONE. IF THE BOARD WAS OF A LESSER WIDTH TWO ‘ERUBS MAY BE PREPARED, BUT NOT ONE. GEMARA. But does not straw constitute a proper filling seeing that we have learnt: If a heap of straw between two courtyards was ten handbreadths high two ‘erubs may be prepared but not one? — Abaye replied: As regards the formation of a partition no one disputes the ruling that straw is regarded as a valid partition; with regard, however, to its serving as a valid filling it is only in the case where one completely abandoned it that it constitutes a valid filling, but not otherwise. IF, HOWEVER, IT WAS FULL OF EARTH. This then applies even where one's intention was not known. But have we not learnt: If a house was filled with straw or gravel and the owner announced his intention to abandon it, it is duly abandoned, from which it follows, does it not, that only if the owner expressly abandoned it is it regarded as abandoned 66^ᵇᵍ^ᵇʰ^ᵇⁱ^ᵇʲ^ᵇᵏ^ᵇˡ^ᵇᵐ^ᵇⁿ^ᵇᵒ^ᵇᵖ^ᵇᵠ^ᵇʳ^ᵇˢ^ᵇᵗ^ᵇᵘ^ᵇᵛ^ᵇʷ^ᵇˣ^ᵇʸ^ᵇᶻ^ᶜᵃ^ᶜᵇ^ᶜᶜ^ᶜᵈ^ᶜᵉ^ᶜᶠ^ᶜᵍ^ᶜʰ^ᶜⁱ^ᶜʲ^ᶜᵏ^ᶜˡ^ᶜᵐ^ᶜⁿ^ᶜᵒ^ᶜᵖ^ᶜᵠ^ᶜʳ^ᶜˢ^ᶜᵗ^ᶜᵘ^ᶜᵛ^ᶜʷ^ᶜˣ^ᶜʸ^ᶜᶻ^ᵈᵃ^ᵈᵇ^ᵈᶜ^ᵈᵈ^ᵈᵉ^ᵈᶠ^ᵈᵍ^ᵈʰ^ᵈⁱ^ᵈʲ^ᵈᵏ^ᵈˡ^ᵈᵐ^ᵈⁿ^ᵈᵒ^ᵈᵖ^ᵈᵠ^ᵈʳ^ᵈˢ^ᵈᵗ

^ᵇᵍnote:On either side of the rungs of the ladder.
^ᵇʰnote:To the prescribed minimum of four handbreadths.
^ᵇⁱnote:Between two court yards, on which the ladder was leaning.
^ᵇʲnote:Lit., ‘he cut to supplement in a wall, by how much’.
^ᵇᵏnote:From the ground. Whatever the height of the wall, valid steps on a width of four handbreadths and a height often handbreadths are regarded as a valid doorway between the courtyards (Rashi). Aliter: The grooves must be cut to a height within ten handbreadths from the top of the wall (R. Tam.).
^ᵇˡnote:Lit., ‘he cut it all’.
^ᵇᵐnote:Sc. instead of a movable ladder, grooves were cut in the wall on a width of four handbreadths.
^ᵇⁿnote:The wall's.
^ᵇᵒnote:Between the last two cases. Sc. why is a height of ten handbreadths sufficient in the former case while in the latter the grooves are required to reach to the very top of the wall?
^ᵇᵖnote:Where the ladder reached the top of the wall and the grooves were only supplementary to its width.
^ᵇᵠnote:By means of the ladder itself. As ascent is easy it is sufficient for the supplementary grooves to reach to a height of ten handbreadths only.
^ᵇʳnote:Where there was no ladder at all.
^ᵇˢnote:Unless grooves are cut to the full height of the wall.
^ᵇᵗnote:For a wall that intervened between two courtyards whose tenants desired to have free access to each other.
^ᵇᵘnote:Who laid down (supra 32b) that an ‘erub of Sabbath limits deposited in a tree is valid.
^ᵇᵛnote:Who regard such an ‘erub as invalid.
^ᵇʷnote:V. Glos.
^ᵇˣnote:So MS.M.
^ᵇʸnote:The case of ‘erub of Sabbath limits.
^ᵇᶻnote:The time the ‘erub must take effect.
^ᶜᵃnote:Provided an ‘erub of Sabbath limits was valid and effective at that moment its subsequent consumption or loss does not in any way deprive its owner of any of the privileges the ‘erub had conferred upon him. Since the prohibition against the use of a tree is only Rabbinical, and since such a prohibition may be suspended at twilight, Rabbi may well have maintained that the ‘erub was valid.
^ᶜᵇnote:As in the case of ‘erub of courtyards under discussion.
^ᶜᶜnote:Since access through a closed door is obviously impossible the doorway between the two courtyards must remain open and be available for use throughout the day if the ‘erub is to retain its validity until the termination of the Sabbath. Now since the use of a tree is forbidden on the Sabbath the tree appointed cannot possibly serve as a virtual ‘doorway’ even according to Rabbi.
^ᶜᵈnote:And if one is appointed to serve as a ladder access between the courtyards is thereby permitted.
^ᶜᵉnote:Metaphor. The tree may be a valid ‘doorway’ that cannot be used on account of a Rabbinical prohibition as an ordinary open door that cannot be used on account of a lion that crouched beside it. As in the latter case, though debarred from the use of the doorway itself, the tenants are nevertheless permitted access to one another through any holes or crevices in the intervening wall so are they permitted in the former case even according to the Rabbis.
^ᶜᶠnote:If in the last case the ruling is that a tree may be regarded as a proper ladder and valid ‘doorway’.
^ᶜᵍnote:A tree or grove devoted to idol worship from which no benefit may be derived.
^ᶜʰnote:Who laid down (supra 31a) that an ‘erub deposited on a grove is valid though one may derive no benefit from a grove.
^ᶜⁱnote:Who, contrary to the view of R. Judah, consider an ‘erub on a grove as invalid.
^ᶜʲnote:In the case of ‘erub of Sabbath limits whose validity is determined at the moment the Sabbath begins.
^ᶜᵏnote:As his Sabbath abode.
^ᶜˡnote:In which it was deposited.
^ᶜᵐnote:Throughout the Sabbath.
^ᶜⁿnote:He derives, therefore, no benefit from the grove. The benefit he may seem to derive at twilight, when the ‘erub acquires validity, is in fact no benefit in the material sense, since an erub of Sabbath limits is allowed only for the purpose of enabling one to perform a religious act the benefit from which is purely spiritual. In the case of an ‘erub of courtyards, however, which does serve the tenants’ material benefits, and a doorway between courtyards the benefit of which is enjoyed throughout the Sabbath, R. Judah may well agree that an Asherah as a ‘doorway’ is invalid.
^ᶜᵒnote:Since the tenants do not use the Sabbath itself.
^ᶜᵖnote:By means of which the tenants of both courtyards are enabled to merge their two domains into one.
^ᶜᵠnote:Cf. supra p. 546, n. 4 mut. mut.
^ᶜʳnote:To be assigned as a ladder and to assume the status of a valid doorway.
^ᶜˢnote:Cf. prev. n. mut. mut.
^ᶜᵗnote:Since it is desired to use it for the purpose of relaxing a Sabbath law.
^ᶜᵘnote:Lit., ‘another’, one not connected with the Sabbath but with idolatry.
^ᶜᵛnote:In agreement with R. Hisda's submission.
^ᶜʷnote:By Amoras.
^ᶜˣnote:From Palestine to Babylon.
^ᶜʸnote:To be assigned as a ladder and to assume the status of a valid doorway.
^ᶜᶻnote:Separating them completely from each other.
^ᵈᵃnote:On for each courtyard.
^ᵈᵇnote:Jointly for the two courtyards. A trench of such dimensions is regarded as a complete separation between the two courtyards. One that was narrower than four handbreadths, since it is easy to step across it, is disregarded and the tenants of the two courtyards may join in one ‘erub.
^ᵈᶜnote:Since these were not intended to remain there permanently.
^ᵈᵈnote:So that there was no substantial break between the courtyards.
^ᵈᵉnote:Because, by so doing, the tenants of the one courtyard would impose restrictions on those of the other who (cf. prev. n.) ‘virtually occupied the same courtyard.
^ᵈᶠnote:To form a sort of bridge between the courtyards.
^ᵈᵍnote:The trench.
^ᵈʰnote:Belonging to two different owners.
^ᵈⁱnote:And a board of the width mentioned connected them. [According to Rashi, the two balconies, it appears, were on the same side of the street, v. Strashun, a.l.].
^ᵈʲnote:One for each courtyard.
^ᵈᵏnote:Infra 79a; which proves that straw, though not intended to remain permanently in its position, constitutes nevertheless a valid partition. Why then does it not equally constitute a valid filling?
^ᵈˡnote:So long as it remains in its place; as is the case with other movable objects which (cf. supra 15b) constitute a valid partition.
^ᵈᵐnote:Sc. to be treated as a part of the ground.
^ᵈⁿnote:By announcing his intention to leave it permanently in the trench.
^ᵈᵒnote:The ruling that ONLY ONE ‘ERUB MAY BE PREPARED because, obviously, the two courtyards are regarded as one.
^ᵈᵖnote:Since no qualifying conditions were specified.
^ᵈᵠnote:To keep the gravel permanently in the trench.
^ᵈʳnote:The straw or the gravel,
^ᵈˢnote:And the house is regarded as filled in respect of the laws of ohel. (Cf. Ohal. XV, 7 the contents of which is here quoted in a summarized form).
^ᵈᵗnote:Lit., ‘yes’.