Eruvin

GEMARA. Have we not once learnt: With all kinds [of food] may ‘erub and shittuf be effected, except water and salt?1 Rabbah replied: [Our Mishnah was intended] to exclude the view of R Joshua, who ruled that only a LOAF OF BREAD IS admissible2 but no other foodstuff; hence we were informed3 [that ‘erub and shittuf may be effected] WITH ALL [KINDS OF FOOD].4 Abaye raised an objection against him: With all [kinds of bread]5 may an ‘erub of courtyards be prepared and with all [kinds of food]6 may a shittuf of ‘alleys be effected, the ruling that an ‘erub must be prepared with bread being applicable to that7 of a courtyard alone. Now who is it that was heard to rule that only bread is admissible8 but no other foodstuff? R. Joshua, of course; and yet was it not stated: ‘With all’?9 Rather, said Rabbah b. Bar Hana the purpose of our Mishnah is to exclude the view of R. Joshua who ruled that only a WHOLE LOAF is admissible10 but not A BROKEN PIECE, hence we were informed [that an ‘erub may be prepared] WITH ALL [KINDS OF FOOD].11 But why12 should not a slice of a loaf be admissible? — R. Jose b. Saul citing Rabbi replied: On account of possible ill-feeling.13 Said R. Aha son of Raba to R. Ashi: What then is the law, where all the residents contributed slices [of bread to their ‘erub]? — He replied: There may be a recurrence of the trouble.14 R. Johanan15 b. Saul said: If no more than16 the prescribed quantity of the dough-offering17 or the portion to be removed from a mixture of terumah and unconsecrated produce18 was broken off a loaf,19 an ‘erub may be prepared with it.20 But was it not taught: If no more than the portion to be removed from a mixture of terumah and unconsecrated produce was broken off a loaf, all ‘erub may be prepared with it,20 but if the prescribed quantity of dough-offering had been removed from it no ‘erub may be prepared with it? — This is no contradiction, since the former relates to the dough-offering of a baker21 while the latter deals with the dough-offering of a private householder.22 For we learned: The prescribed measure for the dough-offering is one twenty-fourth of the dough; and whether one prepares it for himself or for his son's wedding-feast it must always be one twenty-fourth part. If a baker prepares it for sale in the market and so also if a woman prepares it for sale in the market it need only be one forty-eighth.23 R. Hisda ruled: If parts of a loaf were joined together by means of a splinter, an ‘erub may be prepared with it.24 Was it not, however, taught that no ‘erub may be prepared with it? — This is no contradiction since the latter refers to one whose joints are recognizable while the former deals with one whose joints are unnoticeable. R. Zera citing Samuel ruled: An ‘erub may be prepared with rice bread or with millet bread. Mar Ukba observed: The Master Samuel explained to me that an ‘erub may be prepared with rice bread but not with millet bread. R. Hiyya b. Abin citing Rab ruled: An ‘erub may be prepared with bread of lentils. But this, surely, cannot [be correct]?25 For was not some bread of this kind prepared in the time of26 Samuel27 and he did not eat it but threw it to his dog? — That bread was prepared from a mixture of several28 kinds,29 for so30 it is also written: Take thou also unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentils, and millet, and spelt etc.31 R. Papa replied: That bread was baked with human dung, for it is written: And thou shalt bake it with dung that cometh out of man, in their sight.32 What [is the significance of ‘barley’ in the clause] And thou shalt eat it as barley cakes?32 — R Hisda explained: In rations.33 R. Papa explained: Its preparation34 shall be in the manner of barley bread and not in that of wheat bread.35 MISHNAH. A MAN MAY GIVE A MA'AH TO A SHOPKEEPER36 OR A BAKER37 THAT HE MIGHT THEREBY ACQUIRE A SHARE IN THE ‘ERUB;38 SO R. ELIEZER. THE SAGES, HOWEVER, RULED: HIS MONEY ACQUIRES NO SHARE FOR HIM39 ‘erubs of Sabbath limits, where R. Joshua agrees that bread is not an essential, since his reason infra for his ruling on ‘erubs of courtyards is inapplicable to ‘erubs of Sabbath limits. For another reading and interpretation v. Rashi a.l. Now since our Mishnah might be interpreted so as to yield the same rulings as this Baraitha, what proof is there that WITH ALL bears the latter meaning and the ruling is contrary to the view of R. Joshua seeing that it might equally bear the former meaning and be in agreement with R. Joshua? might arise and ill-feeling would be engendered. contributed whole loaves and again ill-feeling would arise. Never, therefore, must a slice be contributed to an ‘erub. latter case, consisted of a mixture of terumah and unconsecrated flour. Lit., ‘taken from it’. create no resentment among the neighbours and no ill-feeling need be feared. would look upon such bread (cf. Tosaf a.l. Rashi has a different interpretation). his food as is done during a siege, instance, as meshikah, v. Glos. Even if the shopkeeper or baker subsequently conferred possession upon all the residents as a free gift this man does not acquire his share in it, since transfer of possession in the case of ‘erub requires the consent of the beneficiary who, in this case, distinctly expressed his desire to acquire it as a purchase and not as a gift (cf. Tosaf. a.l.).