Commentary for Eruvin 207:8
א"ל רב אחא בריה דרבא לרב אשי האי מלח ה"ד אי דמבטליה קא מוסיף אבנין (וכתיב (דברי הימים א כח, יט) הכל בכתב מיד ה' עלי השכיל)
But is not this inconsistent with the following: If a courtyard floor was damaged by rainwater one may bring straw and level it?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Or 'make a path in'. Which shows that even in the country it is permissible to scatter straw on the ground. How then is this to be reconciled with our Mishnah which allows salt to be scattered in the Temple court only?');"><sup>22</sup></span> - Straw is different<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' From salt.');"><sup>23</sup></span> since its owner does not renounce it.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' But intends to collect it later and to use it as fodder for cattle or to mix it in a mortar. The scattering of materials on the ground on the Sabbath is forbidden as 'levelling' which is a form of 'building', but since the straw is not to remain on the ground permanently the act of scattering cannot be regarded as 'building'. Salt, on the other hand, being useless after it has once been scattered on the ground, is presumed to have been renounced by its owner once it has been scattered. The act, therefore, is permitted in the Temple court only but not in the country.');"><sup>24</sup></span> Said R'Aha son of Raba to R'Ashi: How are we to understand the case of the SALT?
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