Eruvin 155

זיז היוצא מן הכותל ד' על ד' והניח עליו סולם כל שהוא מיעטו

If on a moulding of an area of four handbreadths by four handbreadths that projected from a wall<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Between two courtyards.');">¹</span> a ladder of the smallest size<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 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 the ground.');">²</span> was rested<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' So that the moulding formed a kind of platform which the ladder resting on it joined with the courtyard floor below.');">³</span>

ולא אמרן אלא דאותביה עליה אבל אותביה בהדי' ארווחי ארוחיה

a valid reduction is thereby effected.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Because the platform above is of the prescribed size and, together with the ladder, constitutes a valid means of access between the courtyards.');">⁴</span> This, however, applies only where the ladder was resting on it,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The moulding.');">⁵</span> but if it was placed at the side<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The top of the ladder resting on the wall itself'.');">⁶</span>

ואמר רב נחמן אמר רבה בר אבוה כותל תשעה עשר צריך זיז אחד להתירו

of its the latter is thereby merely extended.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 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.');">⁷</span> R'Nahman further stated in the name of Rabbah B'Abbuha: A wall<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Between two courtyards.');">⁸</span> that was nineteen handbreadths high requires only one projection<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In the middle of its height on which the top of a ladder may be supported.');">⁹</span>

כותל עשרים צריך שני זיזים להתירו אמר רב חסדא והוא שהעמידן זה שלא כנגד זה

to enable it to be used as a means of access,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 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.');">¹⁰</span> but a wall<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Between two courtyards.');">⁸</span> twenty handbreadths high requires for the purpose two projections.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' One below the lower ten handbreadths of the height of the wall and the other within ten handbreadths from the top.');">¹¹</span>

אמר רב הונא עמוד ברה"ר גבוה עשרה ורחב ארבעה ונעץ בו יתד כל שהוא מיעטו

R'Hisda observed: This,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That the two projections form, valid reduction.');">¹²</span> however, applies only where they are not situated exactly one above the other.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' So that it is possible to connect the two to each other by means of a second ladder.');">¹³</span> R'Huna ruled: If in a public domain there was a post ten handbreadths high and four handbreadths wide<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 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.');">¹⁴</span>

אמר רב אדא בר אהבה ובגבוה שלשה אביי ורבא דאמרי תרוייהו אף על פי שאין גבוה שלשה

and a peg of the smallest size had been inserted on it,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In its surface on the top so that uppermost area was reduced to one of less than four handbreadths.');">¹⁵</span> a valid reduction is thereby effected.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The post loses the status of a private domain.');">¹⁶</span> R'Adda B'Ahabah observed: Provided the peg was three handbreadths high.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' if it was smaller it is regarded as part of the surface of the top of the post.');">¹⁷</span>

מאי טעמא לא משתמש ליה

Both Abaye and Raba, however, maintain: Even if it<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The peg.');">¹⁸</span> was not three handbreadths high. What is their reason? - Because it<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The top of the post.');">¹⁹</span>

רב אשי אמר אפילו שגבוה שלשה מאי טעמא אפשר דתלי' ביה מידי

is no longer suitable for use.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since the peg, however low it may be, breaks up the top's surface.');">²⁰</span> R'Ashi ruled:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The post is still regarded as a private domain.');">²¹</span> Even if it<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The peg.');">¹⁸</span>

אמר ליה רב אחא בריה דרבא לרב אשי מלאו כולו ביתדות מהו

was three handbreadths high. What is the reason? - It is possible to suspend some object from it.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 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.');">²²</span> R'Aha son of Raba asked R'Ashi, 'What is the ruling where it<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The top of the post.');">¹⁹</span>

א"ל לא שמיע לך הא דאמר רבי יוחנן בור וחולייתה מצטרף לעשרה

was completely covered with pegs? '<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In consequence of which it cannot be used 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?');">²³</span> - 'Did you not hear', the other replied: 'the following ruling of R'Johanan:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'that which . . said'.');">²⁴</span> A pit and the bank around it<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'and its segment', Sc. a segment of the earth excavated from the pit and placed around its rim.');">²⁵</span>

ואמאי הא לא משתמש ליה אלא מאי אית לך למימר דמנח מידי ומשתמש הכא נמי דמנח מידי ומשתמש

combine to constitute a depth of ten handbreadths?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 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) .');">²⁶</span> Now seeing that [the bank] cannot be used<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since a part of the prescribed minimum is the hole (cf. prev. n.) .');">²⁷</span> why [should it be regarded as a private domain]?

אמר רב יהודה אמר שמואל כותל עשרה צריך סולם ארבעה עשר להתירו רב יוסף אמר אפילו שלשה עשר ומשהו

What then can you say in reply? That some object<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A board or a flat stone.');">²⁸</span> might be placed over it and thereby it is made available for use.

אביי אמר אפילו אחד עשר ומשהו

Well then, here also<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Where the top of a post is covered with pegs.');">²⁹</span> some object<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Having a surface of four handbreadths by four.');">³⁰</span> might be placed [over them]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Over the Pegs.');">³¹</span>

רב הונא בריה דרב יהושע אמר אפילו שבעה ומשהו

and thereby it is made available for use'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The post the top of which is completely covered with pegs is, therefore, regarded as a private domain.');">³²</span> Rab Judah citing Samuel ruled: A wall<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Between two courtyards.');">³³</span> ten handbreadths high requires a ladder of fourteen handbreadths in length<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Placed in a slanting position at a distance of ten handbreadths from the wall with its top resting on the top edge of the wall (v. foll. n.) .');">³⁴</span>

אמר רב סולם זקוף ממעט גמרא ולא ידענא מ"ט

to render it permissible for use<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 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.) .');">³⁵</span> R'Joseph ruled: Even [a ladder] of thirteen handbreadths<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A handbreadth less than the length required by Rab Judah.');">³⁶</span> and a fraction [is sufficient].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 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.) .');">³⁷</span>

אמר שמואל ולא ידע אבא טעמא דהא מלתא מידי דהוה אאיצטבא על גבי איצטבא

Abaye ruled: Even one of eleven handbreadths<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Three handbreadths less than the length required by Rab Judah.');">³⁸</span> and a fraction suffices.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 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.) .');">³⁹</span> R'Huna son of R'Joshua ruled: Even one of seven handbreadths and a fraction suffices.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 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.');">⁴⁰</span>

אמר רבה אמר רבי חייא דקלים שבבבל אינן צריכין קבע מאי טעמא כבידן קובעתן

Rab stated: That a ladder in a vertical position effects a reduction is a tradition but I do not know the reason for it.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Sc. why should a ladder in such a position, in which one can hardly climb upon it, effect a reduction?');">⁴¹</span> 'Does not Abba',<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Sc. Rab. His proper name was Abba while Rab ('Master') was a title of distinction he earned as the foremost Master of his time.');">⁴²</span> Samuel said to him,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Samuel was merely explaining the tradition. He himself, as stated supra by Rab Judah, requires a standing ladder of fourteen handbreadths.');">⁴³</span>

ורב יוסף אמר רבי אושעיא סולמות שבבבל אינן צריכין קבע מ"ט כבידן קובעתן

'know the reason for this ruling? The case is in fact similar to that of a balcony above a balcony'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 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.');">⁴⁴</span> Rabbah citing R'Hiyya said: The palm-trees of Babylon<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If their cut trunks were placed beside a wall that intervened between two courtyards.');">⁴⁵</span>

מאן דאמר סולמות כל שכן דקלים ומאן דאמר דקלים אבל סולמות לא

need not be fixed to the ground.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 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.');">⁴⁶</span> What is the reason? Their heaviness imparts permanency of position to them.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since no one would be likely to shift them from their place during the Sabbath.');">⁴⁷</span>

בעא מיניה רב יוסף מרבה סולם מכאן וסולם מכאן וקשין באמצע מהו

R'Joseph, however, citing R'Oshaia, ruled: The ladders in Babylon<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. Supra n. 2 mut. mut.');">⁴⁸</span> need not be fixed in position.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 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.');">⁴⁶</span> What is the reason?

אמר ליה אין כף הרגל עולה בהן

Their heaviness imparts permanency of position to them. He<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' R. Oshaia.');">⁴⁹</span> who spoke of ladders would a fortiori apply the same ruling to palm-trees.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If ladders that are not so heavy as the palm-trees effect reduction how much more so the latter.');">⁵⁰</span>

קשין מכאן וקשין מכאן וסולם באמצע מהו אמר ליה הרי כף הרגל עולה בהן

He,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' R. Hiyya.');">⁵¹</span> however, who spoke of palm-trees does not apply the same ruling to ladders.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. supra n. 7 mut. mut.');">⁵²</span> R'Joseph enquired of Rabbah: What is the ruling where two ladders<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Each less than two handbreadths wide.');">⁵³</span> were held together by straw links between them?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 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'.');">⁵⁴</span> The sole of the foot, the other replied, cannot ascend upon them.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 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.');">⁵⁵</span> What is your ruling if the ladder<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Whose width was less than the prescribed minimum of four handbreadths.');">⁵⁶</span> was in the middle and the straw links were on each side?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'straws from here and straws from here and a ladder in the middle'.');">⁵⁷</span> - Behold, the other replied, the sole of the foot does ascend upon them.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 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.');">⁵⁸</span>